Regional

Appeals court targets Alachua mask mandate

TALLAHASSEE — Pointing to privacy rights, a divided state appeals court Friday overturned a circuit judge’s decision last year that allowed Alachua County to keep in place a mask requirement to try to prevent the spread of covid-19.

SRWMD considers Suwannee for spring recharge

LIVE OAK — Could the key to restoring flow levels to the Ichetucknee Springs be water from the Suwannee River?

Critical race theory banned from Florida classrooms

TALLAHASSEE — Backing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign against critical race theory, the State Board of Education on Thursday approved a rule that places controversial guidelines on the way U.S. history is taught in public schools.

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.

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.

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.