Regional

Orange trees branches and the fruit rots on the ground on Oct. 12, 2022, at Roy Petteway’s Citrus and Cattle Farm in Zolfo Springs after they were knocked down from the effects of Hurricane Ian. (CHRIS O’MEARA/AP File)

Orange trees branches and the fruit rots on the ground on Oct. 12, 2022, at Roy Petteway’s Citrus and Cattle Farm in Zolfo Springs after they were knocked down from the effects of Hurricane Ian. (CHRIS O’MEARA/AP File)

USDA: Florida orange crop down 36% after two hurricanes

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, December 9, 2022
ST. PETERSBURG — Production of oranges in Florida this season is forecast to be down 36% from earlier estimates, in part a reflection of twin hurricanes that battered growing regions, according to U.S. Agriculture Department figures released Friday.
Customers and employees gather outside Trulieve’s Lake City location at its grand opening on Nov. 18, 2020. (FILE)

Customers and employees gather outside Trulieve’s Lake City location at its grand opening on Nov. 18, 2020. (FILE)

Trulieve faces lawsuit over layoffs

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Thursday, December 8, 2022
Workers laid off by Trulieve, Inc., the state’s largest medical-marijuana operator, have filed a potential class-action lawsuit alleging the Tallahassee-based company failed to give adequate notice before letting them go.

Suwannee administrator Randy Harris fired

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
LIVE OAK — At the top of the Suwannee County Commission’s Christmas list is a new county administrator. During Tuesday night’s regular commission meeting, the board voted 3-2 to terminate County Administrator Randy Harris. Don Hale and Maurice Perkins dissented.
Former President Donald Trump announces a third run for president as he speaks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach on Nov. 15. As a businessman and president, Trump faced a litany of lawsuits and criminal investigations yet emerged from the legal scrutiny time and again with his public and political standing largely intact. (REBECCA BLACKWELL/AP File)

Former President Donald Trump announces a third run for president as he speaks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach on Nov. 15. As a businessman and president, Trump faced a litany of lawsuits and criminal investigations yet emerged from the legal scrutiny time and again with his public and political standing largely intact. (REBECCA BLACKWELL/AP File)

Report: Classified items found in Trump storage unit in Florida

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
WASHINGTON — At least two items marked as classified were found in a storage unit in West Palm Beach, Florida, after lawyers for former President Donald Trump arranged for a firm to search for additional classified material, according to a published report Wednesday.

State seeks OK on race instruction

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
TALLAHASSEE —Attorneys for the state have asked a federal appeals court to put on hold a judge’s ruling that blocked a controversial new law restricting the way race-related concepts can be taught in universities. The attorneys Monday asked the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for a stay of U.S.
Santa and Mrs. Claus get their picture taken with a child at a previous year’s Christmas at Heritage Park and Gardens event. (COURTESY)

Santa and Mrs. Claus get their picture taken with a child at a previous year’s Christmas at Heritage Park and Gardens event. (COURTESY)

Heritage Park ready for Christmas unwrapping

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
LIVE OAK — Christmas is returning to Heritage Park and Gardens. For the first time since 2019, the Friends of Heritage Park and Gardens are hosting their community Christmas festival at the park, 1004 Helvenston Street in Live oak. The festival is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Jan. 6 panel to issue criminal referrals

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
WASHINGTON — The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol will make criminal referrals to the Justice Department as it wraps up its probe and looks to publish a final report by the end of the year, the panel’s chairman said Tuesday. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.