Regional

Tropical Storm Laura is tracking further west into the Gulf of Mexico, where it could meet up with Tropical Depression 14. (NOAA)

Tropical Storm Laura is tracking further west into the Gulf of Mexico, where it could meet up with Tropical Depression 14. (NOAA)

Storms pose double threat to Gulf Coast

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, August 21, 2020
Two tropical systems could become almost simultaneous threats to the U.S. Gulf Coast early next week. They could even get sucked into an odd dance around each other. Or they could fall apart as they soak the Caribbean and Mexico this weekend.

Drowsy driver wrecks, closes I-75 for hours

NEWS STAFF
Friday, August 21, 2020
Driving drowsy led to a truck overturning on Interstate 75, diverting southbound traffic for several hours Thursday. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a Penske rental truck was headed south on I-75 around 10:45 a.m.

Unemployment rate rises in July across the region

NEWS STAFF
Friday, August 21, 2020
The jobless rate in Columbia and Suwannee counties jumped from 6.8% in June to just over 8% last month, according to figures released Friday by the state. The unemployment rate in Hamilton County rose from 8.4% to more than 10%. Statewide, more than 11% of Floridians lacked jobs.

Home invasion suspect caught after car crash

CARL MCKINNEY
Thursday, August 20, 2020
LIVE OAK — Multiple intruders broke into a Live Oak woman’s home Wednesday night and robbed her at gunpoint, making off with her phone, handgun and a large sum of cash, according to a Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office report.

Suwannee standoff ends tragically

CARL MCKINNEY
Thursday, August 20, 2020
O’BRIEN — After an eight-hour standoff with law enforcement, the suspect in an armed disturbance in Suwannee County took his own life on Thursday morning, deputies say. Around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home off 256th Street near Ichetucknee Springs.
Tropical Depression 13's early track showed it potentially could reach Florida by Monday as a hurricane. (NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE)

Tropical Depression 13's early track showed it potentially could reach Florida by Monday as a hurricane. (NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE)

TS Genevieve whips Mexico’s Baja, new storms in Atlantic

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, August 20, 2020
CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico — Hurricane Genevieve weakened to a tropical storm Thursday after lashing Mexico's Los Cabos tourist resorts with hurricane-force gusts and heavy rains. And two new tropical depressions formed in the Atlantic Basin — both on potential tracks toward the United States.

Improvements underway on I-75 weigh station

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
WHITE SPRINGS —The weigh stations on Interstate 75 in Hamilton County are undergoing a facelift from the Florida Department of Transportation. The DOT project will enhance lighting at the weigh stations near White Springs. Work is already begun on the improvements on the northbound weigh station.

Suwannee County up to 50 covid-19 deaths

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
LIVE OAK — The covid-19 pandemic has now caused 50 deaths in Suwannee County. The Suwannee County Health Department announced three new deaths in positive residents on Wednesday, increasing the death toll from the virus to 50.
John Durrett and his family were all smiles Tuesday night after he won the race for State Attorney for the Third Judicial Circuit. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

John Durrett and his family were all smiles Tuesday night after he won the race for State Attorney for the Third Judicial Circuit. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Durrett takes state attorney race

CARL MCKINNEY
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
Local prosecutor John Durrett secured victory by a comfortable margin in the race for Third Circuit state attorney, beating out opponent Tina Seifert.  The results came in quickly after the polls closed.