Regional

State stuffs more cash into N. Fla.

LIVE OAK — The stockings are about to be stuffed in Suwannee County. After receiving $764,601 in state funding Tuesday, Suwannee County was awarded an additional $750,000 Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced.
North Florida received more rain than normal in November according to the Suwannee River Water Management District. (COURTESY)

North Florida received more rain than normal in November according to the Suwannee River Water Management District. (COURTESY)

District: November wetter than normal

LIVE OAK — November featured more rain than normal for North Florida. The Suwannee River Water Management District’s hydrologic conditions report for November shows the 15-county area received an average of 3 inches of rain in November, 29% higher than the historical average of 2.33 inches.

Legislative delegation hearing set for January

MAYO — Lafayette County officials and residents will have a chance to ring in the new year with state legislators. Lafayette County’s legislative delegation hearing is scheduled for Jan. 13 from 1-2 p.m. at the Lafayette County Courthouse, 120 W. Main Street in Mayo, Rep. Jason Shoaf (R-Port St.
Big Lots has opened a location in Live Oak with a grand opening set for Jan. 7-8. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Big Lots has opened a location in Live Oak with a grand opening set for Jan. 7-8. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Big Lots hosting Live Oak grand opening next month

LIVE OAK — While it opened last week, the grand opening of Live Oak’s newest home discount retailer will have to wait to the New Year. Big Lots is hosting the grand opening of its location at 1530 Ohio Avenue South in the South Oaks Square shopping plaza in Live Oak on Saturday, Jan. 7.

45 area students obtain degrees, certificates from NFC

MADISON — Forty-five area students earned degrees or certificate from North Florida College last weekend. Out of the college’s 111 students honored at the conclusion of the fall term during Saturday’s commencement ceremony, nearly half are from Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette and Suwannee counties.
Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., right, react as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presents lawmakers with a Ukrainian flag autographed by front-line troops in Bakhmut, in Ukraine's contested Donetsk province, as he addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday. (JACQUELYN MARTIN/Associated Press)

Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., right, react as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presents lawmakers with a Ukrainian flag autographed by front-line troops in Bakhmut, in Ukraine's contested Donetsk province, as he addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday. (JACQUELYN MARTIN/Associated Press)

Zelenskyy tells Biden: ‘No compromises’ in path to peace

WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid a defiant wartime visit to Washington on Wednesday to thank U.S. leaders and “ordinary Americans” for their support in fighting off Russia’s invasion and pledged there would be “no compromises” in trying to bring an end to the war.

Report: Insurance changes will help

TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers last week made changes that will provide “much needed relief” in the troubled property-insurance system, but effects of the legislation won’t be immediate, the AM Best financial-rating agency said in a new report.

Suwannee rakes in rural funding for infrastructure

LIVE OAK — Additional state funding is flowing into Suwannee County — and White Springs — for infrastructure improvements. Suwannee County received $764,601 from the state’s Rural Infrastructure Fund on Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced, while $300,000 is going to the Town of White Springs.

House panel to release report on Trump tax returns

WASHINGTON — The Democratic-controlled House Ways and Means Committee voted along party lines Tuesday to publicly release a report on Donald Trump’s tax returns, which the former president has long tried to shield. Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass.