Regional

“Sushi,” portrayed by Gary Marion, is lowered to the ground in a giant facsimile of a woman’s red high heel on Duval Street on Jan. 1, 2015, at the Bourbon Street Pub in Key West. (BOB O'NEAL/Associated Press)

“Sushi,” portrayed by Gary Marion, is lowered to the ground in a giant facsimile of a woman’s red high heel on Duval Street on Jan. 1, 2015, at the Bourbon Street Pub in Key West. (BOB O'NEAL/Associated Press)

New Year’s celebrations in Florida adjust to omicron

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, December 30, 2021
MIAMI — There are no plans for the neon Big Orange to rise up the side of the Intercontinental Hotel in Miami this year, and a festival with food trucks and performers in a northeast Florida beach town has been canceled. But Key West’s maroon-heeled shoe will descend from a Duval Street bar.

Branford woman killed in overnight wreck

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
WHITE SPRINGS — A Branford woman was killed in a single-vehicle wreck early Wednesday morning in southeastern Hamilton County. A two-door car was headed south on County Road 135 toward White Springs around 12:30 a.m.
In this photo taken by a drone, cars wait in long lines at a drive-up covid-19 testing center at Tropical Park, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in Miami. (REBECCA BLACKWELL/Associated Press)

In this photo taken by a drone, cars wait in long lines at a drive-up covid-19 testing center at Tropical Park, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in Miami. (REBECCA BLACKWELL/Associated Press)

Florida’s university leaders urge masks, booster shots

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
TALLAHASSEE — Leaders of Florida’s university system on Wednesday urged students and workers on campus to wear masks, get vaccinated with a booster shot and get tested for covid-19 when needed when they return to campus next month.
Publix announced new paid parental leave benefits to new parents on its payroll Wednesday. (GENE J. PUSKARA/Associated Press)

Publix announced new paid parental leave benefits to new parents on its payroll Wednesday. (GENE J. PUSKARA/Associated Press)

Publix grocery chain starts offering paid parental leave

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
LAKELAND — The Publix grocery store chain will start offering paid parental leave to employees who are new parents, company officials announced Wednesday.
In this courtroom sketch, Ghislaine Maxwell, center, sits in the courtroom during a discussion about a note from the jury, during her sex trafficking trial, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in New York. (ELIZABETH WILLIAMS/Associated Press)

In this courtroom sketch, Ghislaine Maxwell, center, sits in the courtroom during a discussion about a note from the jury, during her sex trafficking trial, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in New York. (ELIZABETH WILLIAMS/Associated Press)

Ghislaine Maxwell convicted in Epstein sex abuse case

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
NEW YORK — The British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted Wednesday of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by the American millionaire Jeffrey Epstein.
“I appreciate all of the work that the administration and teachers have put into helping students achieve their goals,” Norris said in a release. (COURTESY)

“I appreciate all of the work that the administration and teachers have put into helping students achieve their goals,” Norris said in a release. (COURTESY)

NFC recognizes Dillon Norris as Student of the Month

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
MADISON — The North Florida College Office of Dual Enrollment is now featuring a Student of the Month to bring attention to the outstanding students in our district that dual enroll in college courses during their high school years.

SCOTUS to weigh Florida Medicaid fight

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
TALLAHASSEE — The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to take up a dispute about how much money Florida’s Medicaid program should be able to recoup after a legal settlement involving a Lee County girl who suffered catastrophic injuries when she was struck by a truck after getting off a school bus in 2008.