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Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., smiles after winning the 15th vote in the House chamber as the House enters the fifth day trying to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, early Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/ALEX BRANDON/Associated Press)

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., smiles after winning the 15th vote in the House chamber as the House enters the fifth day trying to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, early Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/ALEX BRANDON/Associated Press)

McCarthy elected House speaker in vote 15 after chaotic week

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Saturday, January 7, 2023
WASHINGTON — Republican Kevin McCarthy was elected House speaker on a historic post-midnight 15th ballot early Saturday, overcoming holdouts from his own ranks and floor tensions boiling over after a chaotic week that tested the new GOP majority’s ability to govern.

Live Oak manager job in jeopardy

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, January 7, 2023
LIVE OAK — Two years after being named Live Oak’s city manager, George Curtis could be exiting the city. At Tuesday’s Live Oak City Council meeting, the council will discuss, with possible action, canceling Curtis’ contract with termination, effective immediately.
Thomas, Messer and Howard

Thomas, Messer and Howard

Cold cases to be featured in presentation

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, January 7, 2023
BRANFORD — Three cold cases from Columbia and Suwannee counties will have some extra light shined on them Monday. The Suwannee River Regional Library System and Suwannee Valley Unsolved are hosting the second “Cold Cases of the Suwannee Valley” presentation at 6 p.m.

Outline emerges on Reedy Creek changes

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Friday, January 6, 2023
TALLAHASSEE — Lawmakers are moving forward with plans that would give the state more control over the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which Gov. Ron DeSantis targeted last year after the Walt Disney Co. criticized a controversial education law.

Bell man arrested for June murder

NEWS STAFF
Friday, January 6, 2023
BELL — Authorities claim a Bell man was doing more than helping a dog give birth at a residence there in June. Joseph O’Brian Rush, 22, was arrested Thursday for second-degree murder, according to a release from the  Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office.
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks to reporters as he leaves the House floor after the House voted to adjourn for the evening as the House met for a third day to try and elect a speaker on Capitol Hill on Thursday. (JOSE LUIS MAGANA/Associated Press)

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks to reporters as he leaves the House floor after the House voted to adjourn for the evening as the House met for a third day to try and elect a speaker on Capitol Hill on Thursday. (JOSE LUIS MAGANA/Associated Press)

McCarthy fails in 3rd day of House speaker fight

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, January 5, 2023
WASHINGTON — For a long and frustrating third day, divided Republicans kept the speaker’s chair of the U.S. House sitting empty Thursday, as party leader Kevin McCarthy failed again and again in an excruciating string of ballots to win enough GOP votes to seize the chamber’s gavel.

Jasper man faces murder charge

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, January 4, 2023
JASPER — A Jasper man faces murder charges following a New Year’s Day shooting over an apparent drug deal gone wrong. Diovion Quanshey Ash, 23, was arrested Tuesday afternoon after authorities said they believe he shot a man in his torso twice, according to a heavily redacted police report.
Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., pats Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on the back after she nominated him as speaker for the sixth round of voting in the House chamber as the House meets for a second day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington on Wednesday. (ANDREW HARNIK/Associated Press)

Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., pats Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on the back after she nominated him as speaker for the sixth round of voting in the House chamber as the House meets for a second day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington on Wednesday. (ANDREW HARNIK/Associated Press)

Three more failed votes for House speaker

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, January 4, 2023
WASHINGTON — House Republicans flailed through a long second day of fruitless balloting Wednesday, unable to either elect their leader Kevin McCarthy as House speaker or come up with a new strategy to end the political chaos that has tarnished the start of their new majority.
The Live Oak Big Lots is hosting its ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration Saturday morning. The weekend-long celebration includes scratch-off cards worth up $250 off a purchase. (FILE)

The Live Oak Big Lots is hosting its ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration Saturday morning. The weekend-long celebration includes scratch-off cards worth up $250 off a purchase. (FILE)

Big Lots celebrating grand opening Saturday in Live Oak

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, January 4, 2023
LIVE OAK —Big Lots’ newest store will celebrate its opening this weekend. The grand opening and ribbon cutting for the Live Oak location, 1530 Ohio Avenue S. in the South Oaks Square shopping plaza, is set for Saturday at 8:45 a.m.

Delegation hearings set next week

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, January 4, 2023
State legislators will spend time next week in North Florida. The legislative delegation hearings for Lafayette and Suwannee counties will be held Friday, Jan. 13. Lafayette County’s hearing is set for 1-2 p.m. at the Lafayette County Courthouse, 120 W. Main Street in Mayo.