Regional

Florida citrus picture trends up

TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s beleaguered citrus growers got a slight bump Thursday in their production forecast as the 2020-2021 season approaches its end. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday raised the projected output from Florida growers to be enough oranges to fill 52.

Demings launches Senate bid

TALLAHASSEE — With the theme “Never Tire,” Orlando Democratic Congresswoman Val Demings on Wednesday formally launched her campaign to try to unseat U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio in 2022.

Medicare paying more for homebound vax shots

WASHINGTON — Medicare is announcing a significant increase in what it will pay to vaccinate homebound older people against the coronavirus as, part of the Biden administration’s “last mile” effort to get shots in the arms of as many Americans as possible.

FPL rate hearings slated

The state Public Service Commission is scheduled June 21 to begin a series of online customer hearings about a proposal that would lead to base-rate increases for Florida Power & Light.

State readies for ‘Freedom Week’ tax holiday

The Department of Revenue has set up a webpage for the state’s first “Freedom Week” sales-tax holiday from July 1 through July 7.  The page — Floridarevenue.

U.S. increasingly unlikely to meet Biden’s July 4 vax goal

WASHINGTON — For months, President Joe Biden has laid out goal after goal for taming the coronavirus pandemic and then exceeded his own benchmarks. Now, though, the U.S. is unlikely to meet his target to have 70% of Americans at least partially vaccinated by July 4.

Wellborn Blueberry Festival attracts vendors, visitors from all over Florida

WELLBORN — Annita Leonard thought it may not happen.  Back around January, when she and the rest of the Wellborn Community Association were planning the 2021 Wellborn Blueberry Festival, the covid-19 pandemic had halted everything short of professional sports championships.

Courts getting rid of covid-19 protocols

TALLAHASSEE — The chief justice of Florida’s Supreme Court says the state’s justice system will soon be allowed to resume in-person court proceedings without masks and social-distancing rules put in place last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lake Butler girl competing for $10K at international pageant

LAKE BUTLER — Julia Miller’s outfits may have done it for the judges over Memorial Day weekend at Lake Buena Vista. The not-quite-2-year-old pageant contestant’s teal and pink clothes with matching suspenders or her red, white and blue bell bottom ensemble could have swayed them.

NFC recognizes top students at convocation

As part of its annual honors convocation ceremony, North Florida College recognized 29 outstanding students across 33 academic and student leadership areas. Six Suwannee County residents and two Hamilton County students were among the Sentinels honored during the virtual event.