Regional

Taylor County sustained flooding and other widespread damage in Hurricane Idalia. (COURTESY NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA)

Taylor County sustained flooding and other widespread damage in Hurricane Idalia. (COURTESY NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA)

States say flood insurance battle should continue

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
TALLAHASSEE — Florida and other states are trying to fend off an attempt by the Biden administration to end a lawsuit challenging changes to the National Flood Insurance Program that have led to higher premiums for many property owners.
Chris Christie (left) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (right) stand for the national anthem with former Vice President Mike Pence at the GOP debate Aug. 23. (PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

Chris Christie (left) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (right) stand for the national anthem with former Vice President Mike Pence at the GOP debate Aug. 23. (PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

Christie: DeSantis put ‘politics ahead of his job’

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Republican presidential hopeful Chris Christie says Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had put “politics ahead of his job” by declining to meet with President Joe Biden during the Democrat’s weekend visit to survey Hurricane Idalia’s damage in DeSantis’ state.

Suwannee River Jam canceled

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
LIVE OAK — Pushed to the fall already, the Suwannee River Jam is now off for the year. Jam organizers announced Saturday that the country music festival, which had been slated for Sept.
President Joe Biden visits with Gary Caldwell, a Live Oak resident, during a visit Saturday to assess the damages from Hurricane Idalia. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

President Joe Biden visits with Gary Caldwell, a Live Oak resident, during a visit Saturday to assess the damages from Hurricane Idalia. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Biden views Idalia damage in Live Oak

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, September 2, 2023
LIVE OAK — After surveying the damage — both from the sky and on the ground — in Suwannee County, President Joe Biden said Saturday Hurricane Idalia could have inflicted far worse pain.
A road leading toward Suwannee High School is littered with fallen tree branches Thursday afternoon. Suwannee County Superintendent Ted Roush said there’s no definitive timeline for school to resume following Hurricane Idalia. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

A road leading toward Suwannee High School is littered with fallen tree branches Thursday afternoon. Suwannee County Superintendent Ted Roush said there’s no definitive timeline for school to resume following Hurricane Idalia. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee County schools closed until further notice

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, September 1, 2023
LIVE OAK — School is out in Suwannee County until further notice. Ted Roush, the superintendent of Suwannee County schools, said there is no definitive time for what that further notice may be following Hurricane Idalia. “I do not have an estimated time of going back,” Roush said Friday.

United Way launches hurricane relief fund

TONY BRITT
Friday, September 1, 2023
With thousands of residents in Columbia, Hamilton, Suwannee and other surrounding counties struggling to bounce back from Hurricane Idalia, the United Way of Suwannee Valley has launched a hurricane relief fund.
Food and supplies were given out Thursday afternoon at this Point of Distribution at Lafayette High School following Hurricane Idalia. (COURTESY)

Food and supplies were given out Thursday afternoon at this Point of Distribution at Lafayette High School following Hurricane Idalia. (COURTESY)

Five arrested for violating Lafayette County curfew

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, September 1, 2023
MAYO — With a vast majority of residents still without power, Lafayette County is doing its best to bring aid and comfort to its population while keeping it safe in the fallout of Hurricane Idalia.
Trucks from Emergency Disaster Services line a parking lot at Suwannee High, which is serving as a mobile command center for the county’s emergency response. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Trucks from Emergency Disaster Services line a parking lot at Suwannee High, which is serving as a mobile command center for the county’s emergency response. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee response has been ‘controlled chaos’

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, September 1, 2023
LIVE OAK — The response to Hurricane Idalia, with help from all across the state, has been “controlled chaos” in Suwannee County. Sheriff Sam St.