Regional

Siegmeister indicted: Former State Atttorney arrested in Arizona on bribery, extortion charges

The former Third Judicial Circuit State Attorney has been indicted on a host of charges including bribery and extortion for misdeeds committed while in office.

Covid, budget crunch confront state legislators

State legislators have already been hard at work in Tallahassee. That work will gain speed for the 60-day sprint of the regular session, which begins Tuesday. “It will go by in the blink of an eye, too,” said Rep.

Senate could take aim at toll road plan

TALLAHASSEE — Two years after Florida lawmakers approved a controversial toll-road plan, a Senate committee is slated next week to consider a bill that could undo major parts of it.

U.S. bombs Syrian facilities used by Iran-backed militia

WASHINGTON — The United States launched airstrikes in Syria on Thursday, targeting facilities near the Iraqi border used by Iranian-backed militia groups.

Donor issues challenge after $10k United Way donation

The United Way of Suwannee Valley recently received an anonymous donation of $10,000 following a fundraising campaign by the charity. According to a release from the organization, the donor hopes the donation sparks competition among others to match or beat the amount given.

Jordan warns of new drivers license rules

Floridians with expired driver licenses may need to be retested to earn their renewals warns Suwannee County Tax Collector Sharon Jordan.

Questions swirl around ‘resiliency’ funding

TALLAHASSEE — A few years ago, Republican lawmakers were averse to publicly acknowledging climate change, outside of rising sea levels affecting some coastal South Florida communities.

School safety app swamped by ‘spam’

An online “suspicious activity reporting tool” set up by the state to bolster school safety has been inundated with false or “spam” reports, and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission wants to take a closer look.

Court focuses on ‘Holy Spirit’ remark in Brown appeal

TALLAHASSEE — A federal appeals court appeared divided Tuesday as it heard arguments about whether to overturn the conviction of former Florida Congresswoman Corrine Brown, who contends that a juror was improperly removed from her 2017 trial because he said the “Holy Spirit” told him Brown was not...

Covid vaccination access expanded to teachers, cops

TALLAHASSEE — Marking a significant change in Florida’s vaccination strategy, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday said teachers and law enforcement officers ages 50 and older will have access to covid-19 vaccine doses in the coming days as four federally supported vaccination sites open in the state.