Regional

Duke Energy rate increase deal approved

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Wednesday, May 5, 2021
TALLAHASSEE — With backing from representatives of consumers and businesses, the state Public Service Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a settlement that will increase base electric rates for customers of Duke Energy Florida.
Students at Riveroak Technical College take part in the SkillsUSA National Signing Day event Tuesday. (COURTESY)

Students at Riveroak Technical College take part in the SkillsUSA National Signing Day event Tuesday. (COURTESY)

Riveroak celebrates SkillsUSA signing day

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, May 5, 2021
LIVE OAK — Riveroak Technical College teamed up with SkillsUSA and its industry partners to celebrate SkillsUSA National Signing Day on Tuesday.
U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, pictured on Election Day on Nov. 3, 2020, in St. Petersburg, announced Tuesday his campaign for governor in 2022. (MARTHA ASENCIO RHINE/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, pictured on Election Day on Nov. 3, 2020, in St. Petersburg, announced Tuesday his campaign for governor in 2022. (MARTHA ASENCIO RHINE/Tampa Bay Times/TNS)

Crist throws hat back into governor’s race

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Tuesday, May 4, 2021
TALLAHASSEE — More than a decade after walking away from the governor’s office, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist launched a campaign Tuesday to try to unseat Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022. Crist, a St. Petersburg Democrat, was the first major candidate to formally enter the 2022 gubernatorial race.

Facilities manager killed in electrical accident

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, May 4, 2021
BRANFORD — A maintenance worker was killed in an accident Tuesday afternoon at the Branford McDonald’s. Suwannee County Sheriff Sam St. John said the 42-year-old man from Jacksonville was working on the restaurant’s air conditioning unit on top of the building around 3 p.m. Tuesday when he touched...

Woman killed in Gilchrist County wreck on Friday

NEWS STAFF
Monday, May 3, 2021
TRENTON — A Lake City woman was killed late Friday in a southern Gilchrist County wreck. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 61-year-old woman from Lake City was headed north behind a tractor trailer on U.S. Highway 129 south of Trenton around 10:10 p.m. Friday.
Earl Mills celebrated his birthday with friends and family at Tiger Lake Baptist Church on April 24. The 100-year-old veteran saw action as a member of the 101st Airborne in World War II. (COURTESY)

Earl Mills celebrated his birthday with friends and family at Tiger Lake Baptist Church on April 24. The 100-year-old veteran saw action as a member of the 101st Airborne in World War II. (COURTESY)

Live Oak D-Day veteran celebrates 100th birthday

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, April 30, 2021
LIVE OAK — On June 6, 1944, Earl Mills jumped out of the door of a C-47 in Normandy, France. Six months later, the Live Oak native and the rest of the 101st Airborne Division was called in as reinforcements in Bastogne, Belgium, after the Germans pierced the Allies’ line at the Battle of the Bulge.
Brooke Bass (left) mixes up a drink at Suwannee Brew Coffee Co. alongside her husband Aaron. They just opened up their shop a couple of weeks ago to great reception. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Brooke Bass (left) mixes up a drink at Suwannee Brew Coffee Co. alongside her husband Aaron. They just opened up their shop a couple of weeks ago to great reception. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Basses brewing up business in Branford

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, April 30, 2021
BRANFORD — Brooke and Aaron Bass had no doubts that their southern Suwannee County community would embrace their new business venture. But the Basses had no idea just how big Suwannee Brew Coffee Co. would be to Branford.

Senate confirms Nelson to lead NASA

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, April 29, 2021
WASHINGTON — The Senate has confirmed former Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, who once flew on the space shuttle, to be the next NASA administrator. Lawmakers agreed to President Joe Biden’s choice to lead the space agency by consensus late Thursday, without a roll call vote.