Regional

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during an event to give out bonuses to first responders held at the Grand Beach Hotel Surfside on Aug. 10 in Surfside. (JOE RAEDLE/Getty Images/TNS)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during an event to give out bonuses to first responders held at the Grand Beach Hotel Surfside on Aug. 10 in Surfside. (JOE RAEDLE/Getty Images/TNS)

Judge blocks DeSantis’ order banning mask mandates

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, August 27, 2021
FORT LAUDERDALE  — Florida school districts can legally require their students to wear masks to prevent the spread of covid-19, a judge ruled Friday, saying Gov. Ron DeSantis overstepped his authority when he issued an executive order banning such mandates. Leon County Circuit Judge John C.

U.S. airstrike targets ISIS member in Afghanistan

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, August 27, 2021
WASHINGTON — Acting swiftly on President Joe Biden’s promise to retaliate for the deadly suicide bombing at Kabul airport, the U.S. military said it used a drone strike to kill a member of the Islamic State group’s Afghanistan affiliate Saturday.
Smoke rises from a deadly explosion outside the airport in Kabul on Thursday. Two suicide bombers and gunmen targeted crowds massing near the Kabul airport. (WALI SABAWOON/Associated Press)

Smoke rises from a deadly explosion outside the airport in Kabul on Thursday. Two suicide bombers and gunmen targeted crowds massing near the Kabul airport. (WALI SABAWOON/Associated Press)

Kabul airport attack kills 60 Afghans, 13 U.S. troops

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, August 26, 2021
KABUL, Afghanistan — Two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul’s airport Thursday, transforming a scene of desperation into one of horror in the waning days of an airlift for those fleeing the Taliban takeover. The attacks killed at least 60 Afghans and 13 U.S.
State Senator Jennifer Bradley address a Kiwanis Club of Lake City meeting Tuesday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

State Senator Jennifer Bradley address a Kiwanis Club of Lake City meeting Tuesday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Legislators pledge support for north Florida

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
LIVE OAK — Urged by Live Oak Mayor Frank Davis, Suwannee County’s state legislators offered their support for home rule. Still, both Rep. Chuck Brannan (R-Macclenny) and Sen.
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the covid-19 response and the vaccination program at the South Court Auditorium at Eisenhower Executive Office Building on Monday in Washington, D.C. (KEN CEDENO/Pool/ABACAPRESS.COM/TNS)

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the covid-19 response and the vaccination program at the South Court Auditorium at Eisenhower Executive Office Building on Monday in Washington, D.C. (KEN CEDENO/Pool/ABACAPRESS.COM/TNS)

U.S. troops surge evacuations out of Kabul with looming threats

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monday, August 23, 2021
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military pulled off its biggest day of evacuation flights out of Afghanistan by far on Monday, but deadly violence that has blocked many desperate evacuees from entering Kabul's airport persisted, and the Taliban signaled they might soon seek to shut down the airlifts.