Local

Counties would be graded by new bill

CARL MCKINNEY
Thursday, February 27, 2020
Tallahassee is considering a plan to issue letter grades to Florida’s counties and cities on a variety of economic and non-economic criteria, but the vagueness of the proposal has a top local official concerned about how the initiative would affect the community’s efforts to attract new businesses...
Facebook post from Glenel Bowden

Facebook post from Glenel Bowden

Racially-charged post roils CRC

CARL MCKINNEY
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
A Facebook post by a former Democratic congressional aide serving on the county’s charter review board accused the Columbia County Republican Party chairman of racism for wearing a Trump baseball cap to the group’s meeting Tuesday night and placing the hat in view while business was being discussed.
Artist’s rendition of the completed Blanche Hotel. (COURTESY INTEGRITY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS)

Artist’s rendition of the completed Blanche Hotel. (COURTESY INTEGRITY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS)

Blanche up and running: Apartments full with no commercial tenants yet

CARL MCKINNEY
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
The Blanche Hotel project is complete and ready to celebrate its grand opening in a private ceremony on Thursday. Its residences are fully leased, but the renovated landmark is struggling to secure commercial tenants, which leaves city taxpayers on the hook for up to $4.
Sheriff Mark Hunter addresses the Charter Review Commission on Tuesday. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Sheriff Mark Hunter addresses the Charter Review Commission on Tuesday. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Sheriff makes his case on jail

CARL MCKINNEY
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Sheriff Mark Hunter on Tuesday pushed back against a proposal to take control of the county jail away from his agency and place it into the hands of a new department that would answer to the county manager.

Suspect is jailed in November robbery

TONY BRITT
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
A Lake City man was arrested on a warrant Monday for his alleged involvement in a November robbery at Club Rodeo, where two suspects held up a man at gunpoint in the club’s parking lot.
The woman authorities say left a baby unattended in a car Monday afternoon sits in the vehicle at Lake City Plaza as the baby’s mother holds the child. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

The woman authorities say left a baby unattended in a car Monday afternoon sits in the vehicle at Lake City Plaza as the baby’s mother holds the child. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Passerby sees child left in car, makes life-saving call to cops

TONY BRITT
Monday, February 24, 2020
First responders rescued a baby left unattended in a car Monday afternoon as the child’s caregiver shopped nearby. Units from the Lake City Police Department, Lake City Fire Department and Century Ambulance responded to the scene at Lake City Plaza at 1:37 p.m.