Regional

Ramping up the celebration: Motorcyclist jumps over Branford bar to begin weekend festival.

BRANFORD — Trevor Cartmill was in his own world. Outside of his teammates, he didn’t stop to talk to any one of the dozens of patrons roaming the grounds at Ellie Ray’s Bar on Saturday.

Fire, waste fees could rise in Suwannee

LIVE OAK — Suwannee County property owners may face increased — and even new — assessments depending on the results of several studies. During an April 13 workshop, the Suwannee Board of County Commissioners agreed to place the studies on the agenda for today’s meeting, which will be held at 5 p.m.

LO man charged for child porn

LIVE OAK — Videos sent through a messaging app earlier this year led to the arrest last week of a Suwannee County man on a dozen counts of child pornography. According to an arrest warrant affidavit, a CyberTip was generated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on Feb.

McAlpin man dies in single-vehicle wreck

LIVE OAK — A single vehicle accident Saturday night claimed the life of a McAlpin man. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 49-year-old man from McAlpin was headed south on 129th Road around 7:40 p.m. Saturday when his pickup crossed the centerline and onto the east shoulder.

DeSantis signs protest bill as controversy continues

TALLAHASSEE — Flanked by uniformed law-enforcement officers, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed into law a controversial law-and-order measure sparked by nationwide protests that erupted last year after George Floyd’s death.

Hutto case continued to June

During a brief zoom appearance Friday morning in Palm Beach County Court, the former Salt Life founder charged with manslaughter’s case was continued to June.

House, Senate launch budget talks

TALLAHASSEE — With two weeks left in the legislative session, the Florida House and Senate began formal negotiations Friday night on what could be a record $100 billion state budget for the fiscal year that will start July 1.

Floridian Graham tapped for federal education post

President Joe Biden announced Friday that he plans to nominate former Florida Congresswoman Gwen Graham to serve as an assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Education.  Graham, an attorney, represented the Tallahassee area and other parts of North Florida in the U.S.

Live Oak council extends wastewater loan

LIVE OAK — Facing a funding shortfall, the Live Oak City Council unanimously approved extending a loan agreement to lower its biannual payments. At Tuesday’s meeting, the council agreed to extend the loan with the Florida Water Pollution Control Financing Corporation to a 30-year term.

One killed in I-75 crash

ELLISVILLE — An Illinois woman was killed Wednesday morning in a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 in southern Columbia County. A 2020 Ford Explorer headed south on I-75 struck a tire on the trailer of a parked semi-truck around 7 a.m.