Regional

Florida jobless rate down to 2.6%

TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s unemployment rate dipped to 2.6% in November, after a brief surge in claims following Hurricane Ian. The November rate was down from 2.7% in October, as Gov. Ron DeSantis credited the state’s “resilience in this economy.

Jan. 6 panel considering three criminal charges against Trump

WASHINGTON — The House panel investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol is considering recommending the Justice Department pursue an unprecedented criminal charge of insurrection and two other counts against former President Donald Trump.

K-9 Officer Loki passes away after cancer diagnosis

LIVE OAK — The end of watch for one of Suwannee County’s most loved officers came yesterday morning. Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Officer Loki, a veteran of five years with the agency, passed away Thursday after doctors diagnosed the pup with cancer last month.

Altmaier steps down as insurance commissioner

TALLAHASSEE — After lawmakers this week passed an overhaul of the state’s property-insurance system, Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier on Thursday submitted his resignation to Gov. Ron DeSantis. Altmaier, who made the resignation effective Dec.

3 officials resign in Florida town where building collapsed

SURFSIDE — The town manager, police chief and assistant town manager resigned from their posts this week in the small South Florida community where 98 people died last year in a beachfront condominium collapse.

Armed carjacking suspect found hiding

LIVE OAK — A robbery suspect ran from authorities but couldn’t hide. Monte Deandre Ellis, a 21-year-old wanted for a string of armed robbery attempts earlier in December, was arrested Wednesday morning by Live Oak police officers and Suwannee County sheriff’s deputies.

LO Council seeks to clear growth deterrence

LIVE OAK — It seemed simple enough. Matt Campbell, a Live Oak city councilman, wanted to put up a metal building next to his house. It took two weeks to secure a building permit to do that.

Legislation aims to calm property insurance storm

TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers took three days to try to fix a home insurance problem that’s been stormy for three decades, approving legislation designed more to keep private insurers in the state than to immediately save property owners money.

Trump Org. secretly held in contempt

NEW YORK — Donald Trump’s company impeded a grand jury investigation last year by repeatedly failing to turn over evidence in a timely fashion, leading to a secret contempt finding and a $4,000 fine, according to court records made public Tuesday.

Senate passes property insurance overhaul

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed a bill aimed at shoring up the troubled property insurance system by curbing lawsuits, injecting tax dollars into reinsurance coverage and trying to shrink the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp.