Regional

Child with lighter sparks mattress

LIVE OAK — A child with a lighter led to an early-morning house fire Thursday in western Suwannee County. Nobody was injured in the fire at a double-wide mobile home off County Road 252 that happened before 4 a.m. Thursday. “It was started by a minor that was playing with a lighter.

Pickup bursts into flames on I-10

LIVE OAK — Mechanical issues did more than force a truck off Interstate 10 on Wednesday afternoon. After pulling onto the shoulder near mile marker 272 on the eastbound side of I-10, the man’s 2016 Ford F250 burst into flames around 3:18 p.m. Wednesday.

DeSantis: ‘We’re working’ on budget review

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday he is continuing to review parts of a record $101.5 billion budget proposal as he prepares to sign it before the July 1 start of the fiscal year.  “We’re going to be signing that budget, hopefully within the next couple weeks.

Florida firefighting helicopter crashes; no survivors found

LEESBURG — A firefighting helicopter carrying four people on a training exercise crashed near an airport in central Florida, killing all aboard. The helicopter crashed into a marsh near Leesburg International Airport around 4 p.m. Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a news release.

Siegmeister trial continued

JACKSONVILLE — The former Third Judicial Circuit state attorney’s trial for extortion and bribery has been pushed back. In a brief telephonic status conference Monday, U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard granted Jeff Siegmeister’s request for continuance.

DeSantis signs gambling bills

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed into law a series of gambling-related measures approved by state legislators during a special session held earlier this month.

Motorcyclist killed in Suwannee County crash

SUWANNEE RANCHETTES — A Lake City man was killed in a motorcycle accident Tuesday morning in southeastern Suwannee County. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the 70-year-old was traveling south on County Road 137 on his 2016 Harley Davidson when he veered off the road around 7:25 a.m.

Live Oak Memorial Day ceremony, BBQ planned

LIVE OAK — Some final details are still needing ironed out, but the annual Memorial Day ceremony is slated for Monday morning. The American Legion Harry C. Gray II Memorial Post 107, Disabled Veterans Chapter 126 and Suwannee High School NJROTC cadets are hosting the ceremony at 11 a.m.

GOP senators ready $1T infrastructure counteroffer to Biden, Democrats

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans revived negotiations Tuesday over President Joe Biden’s sweeping investment plan, preparing a $1 trillion infrastructure proposal that would be funded with covid-19 relief money as a counteroffer to the White House ahead of a Memorial Day deadline toward a bipartisan...

SHS honors 237 graduates over weekend

LIVE OAK — There was a time when the members of the Suwannee High Class of 2021 felt like Saturday night would never arrive. But as the final days, hours and minutes to graduation approached, time was rapidly disappearing from their grasp.