Regional

Branford's graduation centers around gratitude, thankfulness

BRANFORD — As Barrett Young addressed the graduating class at Branford High School, his message focused on gratitude.  He was grateful to be on the stage with fellow classmates after some challenging times. “We ended last school year with many uncertainties.

Suwannee High student arrested for fake shooting threat on bathroom wall

LIVE OAK — The threat at Suwannee High School is not real. The consequences for an SHS student, though, are. A juvenile SHS student was arrested Monday morning after graffiti found on a bathroom wall threatened a shooting at the school for today. Suwannee County Sheriff Sam St.

Florida shutting down federal jobless aid

TALLAHASSEE — Florida plans to stop providing $300 a week in additional federal unemployment benefits as it pushes for people to return to work during the covid-19 pandemic.

FDLE seeks info in 2019 homicide

JENNINGS — Twenty months after a Bellville man was found shot in a crashed car, authorities are still seeking the public’s help.

DeSantis signs crackdown on social media sites

TALLAHASSEE — Taking aim at Silicon Valley, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a measure to crack down on large social-media companies that block users from their platforms.

Blinken off to Mideast to secure Gaza truce, push for aid

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Antony Blinken took off for the Middle East on Monday to press the Israelis, Palestinians and regional players to build on and strengthen last week’s Gaza cease-fire, start an immediate flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and lay the groundwork for an eventual...

Additional businesses eye moves to LO Commons

LIVE OAK — A month after approving one startup grant for a business at the Live Oak Commons, the Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency will now consider three more. At its April meeting, the CRA approved a grant to assist The Gathering restaurant to move into the shopping plaza along U.S.

Hamilton’s jobless rate highest in state

Climbing up slightly in April, the highest unemployment rate in Florida resides in North Florida. Hamilton County’s 6.9% jobless rate was the state’s highest, tied with Miami-Dade, according to figures released Friday by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

SPB prevention program open for applications

Private North Florida forest landowners can seek state assistance in protecting their land from the southern pine beetle.

Florida will see three tax ‘holidays’

TALLAHASSEE — Floridians preparing for the looming hurricane season can avoid paying sales taxes on many types of disaster gear starting late next week, after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a $196.3 million tax package on Friday.