Regional

Gov. Ron DeSantis still has to sign the $114.5 billion state budget, which is set to go into effect July 1, the start of the state’s fiscal year. (FILE)

Gov. Ron DeSantis still has to sign the $114.5 billion state budget, which is set to go into effect July 1, the start of the state’s fiscal year. (FILE)

Data center regulations among July 1 new laws

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Friday, June 26, 2026
TALLAHASSEE — About 140 laws from the regular session and a trio of special sessions are set to take effect July 1, the start of the state’s fiscal year.The changes range from regulations for massive data centers and renaming Palm Beach International Airport for President Donald Trump to...
Suwannee County School Board member Ronald White, who represents District 5 and is seeking re-election, said he opposes the half-cent sales tax because of a lack of information from district officials. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County School Board member Ronald White, who represents District 5 and is seeking re-election, said he opposes the half-cent sales tax because of a lack of information from district officials. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee school board candidates disagree on sales tax push

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Does the Suwannee County School District need a half-cent sales tax?

Teen sentenced to life for Hamilton County murder

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
JASPER — A Lake City teen will spend the rest of his life in state prison for the murder of a White Springs teen last year.Cameron Fine, 19, was sentenced to life in prison for second degree murder by Hamilton County Judge Jamie Tyndal on Tuesday.

Armed robbery suspect caught quickly in Suwannee

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
An armed robbery attempt early Wednesday morning has landed a Live Oak man in the Suwannee County Jail.According to a Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office release, deputies and Live Oak police officers responded early Wednesday morning to the Quality Inn on U.S. Highway 129 for a reported robbery.The...
Crews from the Live Oak Fire Department and Suwannee County Fire Rescue extinguished a fire in a dump truck last Friday afternoon. (COURTESY LIVE OAK FIRE DEPARTMENT)

Crews from the Live Oak Fire Department and Suwannee County Fire Rescue extinguished a fire in a dump truck last Friday afternoon. (COURTESY LIVE OAK FIRE DEPARTMENT)

Fire crews extinguish dump truck blaze

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Live Oak and Suwannee County crews extinguished a burning vehicle last week.Around 3 p.m. Friday, Live Oak firefighters, as well as Suwannee County firefighters, were dispatched to a fully engulfed dump truck on the northern side of Live Oak.According to a Live Oak Fire Department release, crews...
Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency Director Nicholas Frigiola, speaking to the CRA board earlier this year, told the board Tuesday that the approval of the revised CRA plan would keep it in place until 2055. (FILE)

Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency Director Nicholas Frigiola, speaking to the CRA board earlier this year, told the board Tuesday that the approval of the revised CRA plan would keep it in place until 2055. (FILE)

Live Oak CRA board approves revised, expanded plan

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
The revised Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency plan is now headed to the Live Oak City Council.During a brief meeting Tuesday night, the Live Oak CRA board unanimously approved the revised plan, which includes an expansion of the CRA district, as well as new goals and visions for the CRA.

Unemployment rate remains 4.8%

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
An upward trend in the state’s unemployment rate paused in May, with hiring by small businesses considered “flat.”The Department of Commerce on Friday posted a 4.8% jobless rate for the state.The rate is unchanged from April and marks the first time the figure didn’t go up since the rate held at...
Eddie Dixon with Culpepper Construction provides documents to the Lafayette County School Board as he updated them on the status of state funding for a new PK-12 school for the district at Tuesday’s board meeting. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Eddie Dixon with Culpepper Construction provides documents to the Lafayette County School Board as he updated them on the status of state funding for a new PK-12 school for the district at Tuesday’s board meeting. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

New Lafayette school funding delayed a year

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
MAYO — State funding that the Lafayette County School District was expecting to receive from the state for construction of a new county school won’t be coming this school year.