Regional

A construction site working on bringing an upgraded rest stop sits along the side of Interstate 10. The construction is part of a project that began about a year ago. (COURTESY)

A construction site working on bringing an upgraded rest stop sits along the side of Interstate 10. The construction is part of a project that began about a year ago. (COURTESY)

I-10 rest stops part of $25.7M FDOT project

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Work continues on the new Interstate 10 rest areas in Columbia and Suwannee counties. The Florida Department of Transportation construction project, which began about a year ago, is currently ongoing on both the eastbound site in Suwannee County and the westbound location in Columbia County.

Judge seeks answers in FCADV cases

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
TALLAHASSEE — With several lawsuits on hold amid mediation, a Leon County circuit judge wants an update on the status of negotiations in the state’s attempt to recoup millions of dollars paid to former leaders of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

DeSantis roundtable opposes masks in schools

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis quietly held a roundtable discussion Monday at the Capitol that focused on opposition to mask mandates in schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, with DeSantis’ office not giving prior public notice and excluding reporters.

CDC changes course on indoor masks

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed course Tuesday on some masking guidelines, recommending that even vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the delta variant of the coronavirus is fueling infection surges.

Branford woman charged after low blow

NEWS STAFF
Monday, July 26, 2021
BRANFORD — When an argument turned physical, authorities say a Branford woman got personal. According to a Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office report, Lacey Wilson, a 36-year-old from Branford, and a man were engaged in a verbal argument when things got physical around 5:50 a.m. Sunday.

LO council to discuss future of water

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, July 26, 2021
LIVE OAK — The City of Live Oak has a chance to flush a bad water and wastewater deal. The Live Oak City Council will consider a contract with the Florida Department of Corrections on water and wastewater usage at a special called meeting tonight. The council meets at 6 p.m.
Workers search the site of the collapsed Champlain Towers South building in Surfside on July 11. The search was called off Friday after a month of painstaking work. (MEGHAN McCARTHY/Palm Beach Post/TNS)

Workers search the site of the collapsed Champlain Towers South building in Surfside on July 11. The search was called off Friday after a month of painstaking work. (MEGHAN McCARTHY/Palm Beach Post/TNS)

Search concludes at condo collapse site

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Friday, July 23, 2021
MIAMI — Firefighters on Friday declared the end of their search for bodies at the site of a collapsed Florida condo building, concluding a month of painstaking work removing layers of dangerous debris that were once piled several stories high.

2 seriously hurt after pickup flipped

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, July 22, 2021
BRANFORD — A Wednesday morning accident sent two people to hospital in serious condition after their vehicle overturned. A Florida Highway Patrol report said a Ford F-350 pickup was turning left into the Dollar General Market entrance off U.S. Highway 27 just before 10 a.m.