Regional

A fast-moving wildfire looms over homes outside of Panama City on Friday. More than 200 firefighters and emergency workers from throughout the Florida Panhandle worked overnight into Saturday, to strengthen containment lines and protect homes. (MIKE FENDER/News Herald/AP)

A fast-moving wildfire looms over homes outside of Panama City on Friday. More than 200 firefighters and emergency workers from throughout the Florida Panhandle worked overnight into Saturday, to strengthen containment lines and protect homes. (MIKE FENDER/News Herald/AP)

1,100 homes evacuated in panhandle

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monday, March 7, 2022
PANAMA CITY — Veterans forced to evacuate a nursing home because of a Florida Panhandle wildfire were allowed to return home Monday, officials said, but mandatory evacuations remained in place for two larger fires.

SOSMP set for weekend activities

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, March 3, 2022
LIVE OAK — Front porch music is coming back to Live Oak, alongside a major sporting tournament. Godiva will take The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park front porch stage on March 4 to kick off the weekend of musical guests and outdoor activities.
Brannan

Brannan

House passes attack on public notice

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
TALLAHASSEE — You can’t always believe what you see online. Especially on a government website. When the Florida House of Representatives passed a bill — HB 7049 — that attacks the public’s right to know on Wednesday afternoon, the vote registered as 78-39 in favor.
Shackelford (from top left, clockwise), Wiltgen and Burkett.

Shackelford (from top left, clockwise), Wiltgen and Burkett.

Inmate assault leads to federal sentence for guards

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
JACKSONVILLE — Three former Hamilton Correctional Institution Annex officers were sentenced to federal prison Monday for violating an inmate’s civil rights. The U.S.
Dorice Donegan “Dee Dee” Moore said publicly identifying recipients and details about big lottery payouts puts their lives at risk. (COURTESY)

Dorice Donegan “Dee Dee” Moore said publicly identifying recipients and details about big lottery payouts puts their lives at risk. (COURTESY)

Killer of lottery winner backs keeping names secret

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
GAINESVILLE — A bill awaiting the governor’s signature that would temporarily keep secret the names of lottery winners in Florida has at least one unexpected supporter: the woman in prison for murdering the winner of a $30 million lottery payout.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference after announcing a $20 million dollar program to create cybersecurity opportunities through the Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida Wednesday in Tampa. (CHRIS O’MEARA/Associated Press)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference after announcing a $20 million dollar program to create cybersecurity opportunities through the Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida Wednesday in Tampa. (CHRIS O’MEARA/Associated Press)

DeSantis to masked students: Time to end ‘covid theater’

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
TAMPA — A visibly annoyed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis admonished a group of students for wearing face masks at an indoor news conference Wednesday, saying it was time to stop what he called “this covid theater.
North Florida College recently graduated 32 area students. Among them was Amandia Smith of Lafayette County. (COURTESY)

North Florida College recently graduated 32 area students. Among them was Amandia Smith of Lafayette County. (COURTESY)

NFC announces fall graduates

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
MADISON — More than 30 area students were recognized during North Florida’s Fall 2021 commencement. The college commencement was held at Van H. Priest Auditorium on Dec. 17.
President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Washington. (Saul Loeb/Associated Press)

President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Washington. (Saul Loeb/Associated Press)

Biden vows to check Russia, fight inflation in State of the Union address

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
WASHINGTON — Addressing a concerned nation and anxious world, President Joe Biden vowed in his first State of the Union address Tuesday night to check Russian aggression in Ukraine, tame soaring U.S. inflation and deal with the fading but still dangerous coronavirus.