Regional

Lafayette schools grade out among state’s best

JAMIE WACHTER

Thursday, July 14, 2022

MAYO — Another year, another trip near the front of the class for the Lafayette County School District. In the Florida Department of Education’s School Grades, the Lafayette County district as well as Lafayette High School received ‘A’ grades. Lafayette Elementary was not far behind with a ‘B.

Abortion law remains in effect during court battle

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

TALLAHASSEE — A new Florida law preventing abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy will remain in effect while a legal battle plays out. Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper last week issued a temporary injunction to block the law, finding that it violated the Florida Constitution.

Nikki Fried, speaking at a Lake City event Saturday, is challenging federal law that bars medical-marijuana patients from purchasing firearms. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fried takes aim at guns, medical marijuana law

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

TALLAHASSEE — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is relying on a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to support arguments in a challenge to federal regulations that make it illegal for medical-marijuana patients to buy guns.

Two people were shot and killed Saturday morning at the intersection of 167th Road and 40th Path in western Suwannee County. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

SCSO: Husband, wife shot and killed

JAMIE WACHTER

Monday, July 11, 2022

FALMOUTH — The mystery of what led to the shooting of a Suwannee County couple is coming together, piece by piece. Suwannee County Sheriff Sam St.

SCSO, FDLE investigating double homicide

JAMIE WACHTER

Sunday, July 10, 2022

FALMOUTH — Suwannee County and state investigators continue to investigate a Saturday morning double homicide. Suwannee County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the intersection of 40th Path and 167th Road in western Suwannee County around 6:30 a.m. Saturday after a 911 call about a death.

Fatal crash, shooting connected

TONY BRITT

Friday, July 8, 2022

A shooting early Friday morning in western Columbia County and a fatal ATV accident not far away are believed to be connected, according to authorities.

Jesse Lamb was caught trying to swim away from Suwannee County Sheriff’s deputies in the Suwannee River on July 2. (COURTESY SCSO)

Skinny dipping suspect caught in river

NEWS STAFF

Friday, July 8, 2022

BRANFORD — After an extended game of “Marco Polo” with deputies, a skinny dipping Gainesville man was pulled from the Suwannee River and arrested last weekend.

Biden signs order on abortion access

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Friday, July 8, 2022

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday condemned the “extreme” Supreme Court majority that ended a constitutional right to abortion and delivered an impassioned plea for Americans upset by the decision to “vote, vote, vote vote” in November.

Wayne Kelly, an investigator with the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, talks with suspects Jacqueline White, Bridget Parks and Travis Eshleman following a drug bust Thursday night in Live Oak. (COURTESY SUWANNEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE)

SCSO nabs three in late night drug bust

NEWS STAFF

Friday, July 8, 2022

LIVE OAK — An undercover drug purchase Thursday led to three arrests on possession charges later that night. According to a release, the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office purchased narcotics at a White Avenue SE residence in Live Oak on Thursday.

A member of Columbia County Fire Rescue looks at an overturned semi along U.S. Highway 27 in Suwannee County on Wednesday afternoon in which the driver was trapped and suffered serious injuries. (COURTESY SUWANNEE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE)

Distracted driver flips truck

NEWS STAFF

Thursday, July 7, 2022

BRANFORD — Attempting to grab something off the floor of his 2015 Peterbilt truck led to a much bigger problem for a Dunnellon man. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the Peterbilt tractor and the cement tanker trailer it was hauling that overturned on U.S.