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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, right, is sworn by Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Muniz, left, to begin his second term during an inauguration ceremony outside the Old Capitol on Tuesday in Tallahassee. Looking on is DeSantis’ wife Casey, second from right, and their son Mason. (LYNNE SLADKY/Associated Press)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, right, is sworn by Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Muniz, left, to begin his second term during an inauguration ceremony outside the Old Capitol on Tuesday in Tallahassee. Looking on is DeSantis’ wife Casey, second from right, and their son Mason. (LYNNE SLADKY/Associated Press)

DeSantis focuses on ‘freedom’ in inauguration speech

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis was sworn in Tuesday for a second term, offering a theme of “freedom” in Florida to counter “faddish ideology” nationally.
Will Carpenter, a 2021 Suwannee High graduate, is battling a rare form of cancer called alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. (COURTESY)

Will Carpenter, a 2021 Suwannee High graduate, is battling a rare form of cancer called alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. (COURTESY)

Quiet Will needs cards from readers

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
  Live Oak, Florida. Population 6,843. A tiny town in north central Florida, the county seat of Suwannee County. There are oaks everywhere, hence the name. Each limb is draped in Spanish moss, which, ironically, is neither. Meet Quiet Will Carpenter. He’s a soft spoken kid. He doesn’t talk much.
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (left) reacts after being nominated for the third round of votes for Speaker of the House on the opening day of the 118th Congress at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday in Washington. (ALEX BRANDON/Associated Press)

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (left) reacts after being nominated for the third round of votes for Speaker of the House on the opening day of the 118th Congress at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday in Washington. (ALEX BRANDON/Associated Press)

McCarthy fails in marathon votes for House speaker

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
WASHINGTON — Unable to elect Republican leader Kevin McCarthy as the new House speaker Tuesday, the Republicans adjourned for the day in disarray as the party tries to regroup from his a historic defeat after a long, messy start for the new Congress.

Gas prices top national average

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Florida has topped the national average as fuel costs increase. The AAA auto club said Tuesday the average price in Florida was $3.29, with the national average at $3.23. Local averages in Florida ranged from $3.
Suwannee County firefighters battle a house fire Sunday morning in western Suwannee County. Nobody was injured in the fire. (COURTESY SUWANNEE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE)

Suwannee County firefighters battle a house fire Sunday morning in western Suwannee County. Nobody was injured in the fire. (COURTESY SUWANNEE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE)

No injuries in Suwannee blaze

NEWS STAFF
Monday, January 2, 2023
LIVE OAK — A house fire Sunday morning took nearly an hour for Suwannee County firefighters to extinguish, although nobody was injured in the blaze. Adam McCook, safety officer for Suwannee County Fire Rescue, said the fire, which was reported around 6 a.m.

$50K reward offered to solve 2017 murder

NEWS STAFF
Friday, December 30, 2022
JASPER — Information solving a five-year-old murder case can net someone $50,000. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced Friday a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction for the person or person who murdered Jaworski Williams.

Trump's tax returns released after long fight with Congress

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, December 30, 2022
​​​​​​Democrats in Congress released thousands of pages of former President Donald Trump’s tax returns Friday, providing the most detailed picture to date of his finances over a six-year period, including his time in the White House, when he fought to keep the information private in a break with...

Restaurant shooting ends with one killed

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, December 29, 2022
JASPER — A Jasper man is in custody after authorities believe he was the triggerman behind a morning shooting that left one dead. Kenneth Cody Izell, 26, was arrested Thursday evening after a shooting incident at Mama’s Burgers, located at 450 5th Ave. NW.