Regional

Sen. Corey Simon said the ‘Rural Renaissance’ bill that was passed by the Senate on Wednesday will provide things that are needed in rural communities, like transporation, health care and education improvements. (FILE)

Sen. Corey Simon said the ‘Rural Renaissance’ bill that was passed by the Senate on Wednesday will provide things that are needed in rural communities, like transporation, health care and education improvements. (FILE)

Senate quickly passes ‘Rural Renaissance’

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved a “rural renaissance” plan that is a priority of Senate President Ben Albritton, a Hardee County citrus grower, but its fate remains unclear in the House. The bill (SB 250), sponsored by Sen.
Johnny Bullard (left) performs Stephen Foster’s ‘Hard Times Come Again No More,’ accompanied by his sister-in-law, Amanda Bullard, on piano during Sunday’s Stephen Foster Day celebration at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Johnny Bullard (left) performs Stephen Foster’s ‘Hard Times Come Again No More,’ accompanied by his sister-in-law, Amanda Bullard, on piano during Sunday’s Stephen Foster Day celebration at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center remembers life, legacy of songwriter

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
WHITE SPRINGS — The state park that bears his name is doing what it can to keep Stephen Foster’s memory alive. The Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park held its own remembrance of the father of American music on Sunday.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delivers his State of the State address as Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez (left) and Florida Senate President Ben Albritton (right) listen Tuesday. (MATIAS J. OCNER/Miami Herald/TNS)

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delivers his State of the State address as Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez (left) and Florida Senate President Ben Albritton (right) listen Tuesday. (MATIAS J. OCNER/Miami Herald/TNS)

DeSantis touts ‘bold agenda’ success

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday used his final State of the State address to tout accomplishments over the past seven years but offered few details about priorities for the 2026 legislative session.
Jason Furry, Suwannee County’s interim administrator, is set to become the county’s permanent administrator. The County Commission will vote on his proposed five-year contract Tuesday. (FILE)

Jason Furry, Suwannee County’s interim administrator, is set to become the county’s permanent administrator. The County Commission will vote on his proposed five-year contract Tuesday. (FILE)

Suwannee set to hire admin

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, January 2, 2026
LIVE OAK — Suwannee County could have a permanent administrator as soon as Tuesday. The Suwannee County Commission at its 5:30 p.m. meeting Tuesday at the Suwannee County Judicial Annex, 218 Parshley St.

One killed in New Year’s Eve crash

NEWS STAFF
Friday, January 2, 2026
JENNINGS —  A De Leon Springs man was killed late Wednesday night in a single-vehicle crash in northern Hamilton County. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the 58-year-old man’s sedan was traveling south on U.S. Highway 41 when it left the roadway around 11:30 p.m.
Sheriff Sam St. John speaks at a Suwannee County Commission meeting in April where an independent audit was ordered on the Emergency Operations Center. That audit led to the county taking emergency management away from the sheriff’s office. (FILE)

Sheriff Sam St. John speaks at a Suwannee County Commission meeting in April where an independent audit was ordered on the Emergency Operations Center. That audit led to the county taking emergency management away from the sheriff’s office. (FILE)

Audit into $38M in lost grants top regional story of 2025

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
There were plenty of stories to cover in the first year of the Live Oak Reporter.

Lafayette seeking $44M for new school

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
The Lafayette County School District would like to combine its two existing facilities into one new combined school and is seeking special facilities state funding to make it possible. Ahead of next month’s start to the legislative session, Rep. Jason Shoaf (R-Port St. Joe) and Sen.
The Wellborn Community Association donated last week toward a scholarship fund at RIVEROAK Technical College to help students pursue Career and Technical Education degrees and certificates. Presenting the check to RTC Principal Clay Tomlinson were Fran Martin (from left), Sherm Stanley, Mayso Martin, Tomlinson, Austin Little, Bob Huffman, Pedro Faria, Lynn King, Pam Mikitta and Bill Muller. (MONJA SLATER/Lake City Reporter)

The Wellborn Community Association donated last week toward a scholarship fund at RIVEROAK Technical College to help students pursue Career and Technical Education degrees and certificates. Presenting the check to RTC Principal Clay Tomlinson were Fran Martin (from left), Sherm Stanley, Mayso Martin, Tomlinson, Austin Little, Bob Huffman, Pedro Faria, Lynn King, Pam Mikitta and Bill Muller. (MONJA SLATER/Lake City Reporter)

Wellborn group supports trades at RIVEROAK

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
The Wellborn Community Association cooked up more than just a festival with tasty treats this fall. Instead, the group’s Cornbread Festival also has served up the opportunity for long-term training in the trades.