Regional

Report details state’s financial woes

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, September 10, 2020
TALLAHASSEE — State legislative budget chiefs anticipate “short-term challenges” during the next legislative session as economists project a $2.7 billion shortfall because of the coronavirus-fueled recession. The shortfall would be in the 2021-2022 fiscal year, which will start July 1.
Josh Wehinger, (from left) Lake City Fire Department assistant chief and Andy Mangrum, a Lake City Police Department investigator, fold the American Flag after a brief 9/11 memorial ceremony rehearsal Wednesday afternoon at the city’s Public Safety building. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Josh Wehinger, (from left) Lake City Fire Department assistant chief and Andy Mangrum, a Lake City Police Department investigator, fold the American Flag after a brief 9/11 memorial ceremony rehearsal Wednesday afternoon at the city’s Public Safety building. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

'We don't ever forget': First responders plan 9/11 memorial service

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
The Lake City police and fire departments will hold a memorial 9/11 service Friday in honor of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

DeSantis vetoes raising smoking age to 21

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
TALLAHASSEE — Saying the proposal would have driven Floridians “to the hazardous black market,” Gov. Ron DeSantis late Tuesday vetoed a measure that would have banned the sale of nearly all flavored electronic-cigarette products and raised the state’s smoking age from 18 to 21.

Regan recalled for love of Suwannee County, Democrat

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
LIVE OAK — Barely two months after Live Oak and Suwannee County lost its newspaper, the community lost another institution in longtime former Suwannee Democrat publisher Myra Regan. Regan, 64, passed away Monday in Jacksonville after an extended illness.

Father, son duo charged in dispute

CARL MCKINNEY
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
A father and son both face criminal charges in the aftermath of a domestic dispute on Main Boulevard early Monday morning, according to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office report. Raymond Wesley Thomas Sr., 55, and Raymond Wesley Thomas Jr.
A truck sits in the middle of Branford Fitness and Tanning after ramming into the gym late Monday night. Nobody was injured in the crash. (COURTESY BILL PROCKO)

A truck sits in the middle of Branford Fitness and Tanning after ramming into the gym late Monday night. Nobody was injured in the crash. (COURTESY BILL PROCKO)

Shredded workout: Drunk driver crashes into Branford gym

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
BRANFORD — Instead of crashing after a trip to the gym, a Branford man crashed into the gym late Monday night, according to the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office. Deputied arrested Kyle Brandon Pettigrew, a 28-year-old of SE Owens Ave.

Amazon awards 500 warehouse jobs to … Jacksonville

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
Amazon has announced plans for opening another fulfillment center in northeast Florida, which will create 500 new full-time jobs. The site will be located in Jacksonville and is expected to open by the fall of 2021 and will hire 500 full-time workers.

New toll road project raises local concerns

CARL MCKINNEY
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
Anxieties are still running high over the potential economic impact of a new state toll road project that would give travelers another freeway to Central and South Florida — one that doesn’t require them to pass through Columbia County.

Pair of local deaths linked to covid-19

NEWS STAFF
Monday, September 7, 2020
A pair of local deaths reported over the weekend were linked to the covid-19 pandemic. The Hamilton County Health Department announced the death of a 70-year-old man on Saturday, while a 40-year-old man was reported dead Sunday in Columbia County, both tied to the coronavirus.