Regional

Hurricane season forecast ratcheted up

With Florida and other states entering the thick of the annual hurricane season, a federal forecast released Wednesday ratcheted up expectations of an above-average year for storms.

Head-on collision kills one

WELLBORN — One person was killed in a head-on collision Wednesday afternoon on U.S. Highway 90. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a Davenport man was headed west on U.S. 90 when his SUV crossed the center line near 134th Place right after the Suwannee and Columbia County line.

Some school districts defy DeSantis, require masks

MIAMI — Despite a ban by Gov. Ron DeSantis, two Florida school districts have decided to require masks when children return to classrooms because of dramatic rises in coronavirus infections, with the state leading the country in hospitalizations.

Jennings teen killed in rollover

JENNINGS — Driving through a field in northern Hamilton County Friday evening, a Jennings teen lost control and was killed when his pickup overturned. A Florida Highway Patrol report states an 18-year-old Jennings man was driving west in a grass field near 2600 NW U.S. Hwy. 41 around 5 p.m.

Hospitals continue seeing covid-19 surge

TALLAHASSEE — The number of people hospitalized in Florida because of covid-19 continued at a record pace Monday, according to the Florida Hospital Association.

Logging some extra miles

An overturned log truck closed a section of County Road 137 for more than two hours Friday morning when its logs fell off the overturned trailer and blocked both lanes of travel. According to preliminary Florida Highway Patrol reports, authorities were dispatched at 8:32 a.m.

DeSantis says order will block mask requirements in schools

TALLAHASSEE --- Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday he will issue an executive order to prohibit school districts from imposing mask-wearing requirements as students return to classes in August.

Universities plan ‘normal’ operations amid covid spike

TALLAHASSEE --- State universities are staying on track for a return to normal “pre-pandemic” operations as the fall semester approaches, while Florida grapples with a surge in covid-19 cases. Classes begin Aug. 23 for most universities.

Florida pediatricians back masks in schools

A statewide group of pediatricians Thursday called for “universal” use of masks in schools as the academic year gets ready to start and as Florida deals with a surge in covid-19 cases.

Biden urges $100 payments for covid shots

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is asking states and localities to offer unvaccinated residents $100 to get their covid-19 shots. The cash reward for vaccination was one idea in Biden’s latest plan to boost lagging vaccination rates in many parts of the nation.