Regional

Teachers want staggered school schedules amid virus

TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s largest association of educators called Tuesday for changing how schools operate in the era of the coronavirus — including staggering school schedules, suspending active-shooting drills and imposing social distancing rules on buses and campuses.
In this 2004 file photo, Tiffany Carr, executive director of Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, left, speaks at a news conference held by Gov. Jeb Bush, background right. The House Public Integrity and Ethics Committee is investigating the agency after officials learned that Carr received $7.5 million in compensation during her final three years leading the agency that was, by law, the only entity that could funnel state money to domestic abuse shelters around Florida. (AP FILE PHOTO)

In this 2004 file photo, Tiffany Carr, executive director of Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, left, speaks at a news conference held by Gov. Jeb Bush, background right. The House Public Integrity and Ethics Committee is investigating the agency after officials learned that Carr received $7.5 million in compensation during her final three years leading the agency that was, by law, the only entity that could funnel state money to domestic abuse shelters around Florida. (AP FILE PHOTO)

Carr seeks to scuttle suits over salary

Accusing the state of “speculation and ambiguity,” the embattled former chief of a domestic-violence organization is asking a circuit judge to dismiss twin lawsuits seeking the repayment of millions of dollars in compensation.
Fifteen state prisoners had died after contracting the virus.

Fifteen state prisoners had died after contracting the virus.

3 more inmates die of covid-19

Three Florida inmates died over the weekend from complications of covid-19, the state Department of Corrections reported on Monday.  The identities of the three inmates and the prisons where they were housed were not immediately disclosed.
Columbia editor-in-chief Anan-Eya Hardman holds in her hands the culmination of a months-long collaborative effort. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia editor-in-chief Anan-Eya Hardman holds in her hands the culmination of a months-long collaborative effort. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Award-winning CHS yearbook takes a different approach

Page by page, they toiled away the school year to tell a story. To capture a little slice of life at Columbia High School circa 2020. “And now you know” — those words were the inspiration behind the 2020 edition of CHS’s yearbook, “The Columbian.
The SpaceX Falcon 9, with the Crew Dragon spacecraft on top of the rocket, sits on Launch Pad 39-A on Monday at Kennedy Space Center. (DAVID J. PHILLIP/AP Photo)

The SpaceX Falcon 9, with the Crew Dragon spacecraft on top of the rocket, sits on Launch Pad 39-A on Monday at Kennedy Space Center. (DAVID J. PHILLIP/AP Photo)

SpaceX launch set for take 2

CAPE CANAVERAL — SpaceX pressed ahead with its second attempt to launch astronauts for NASA — a historic first for a private company — but more stormy weather threatened more delays.

Hurricane sales tax holiday starts today

Starting today, shoppers in Florida emerging from coronavirus stay-at-home orders can avoid paying sales taxes while putting together disaster-preparation stockpiles for the 2020 hurricane season.
Hurricane Irma left its mark on Lake City in September 2017. (FILE)

Hurricane Irma left its mark on Lake City in September 2017. (FILE)

Hurricane season meets covid-19

With the six-month Atlantic hurricane season starting Monday, emergency-management officials have changed how Florida will respond to storms as they grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.
Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Shands Lake Shore hangs in the balance

Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center isn’t profitable enough to be worthwhile for the corporation running the facility, casting uncertainty on the future of an institution at the crossroads of public and private interests.
The SpaceX Falcon 9, with the Crew Dragon spacecraft on top of the rocket, sits on Launch Pad 39-A on Monday at Kennedy Space Center. Two astronauts will fly on the SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station scheduled for launch on Wednesday. (DAVID J. PHILLIP/AP Photo)

The SpaceX Falcon 9, with the Crew Dragon spacecraft on top of the rocket, sits on Launch Pad 39-A on Monday at Kennedy Space Center. Two astronauts will fly on the SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station scheduled for launch on Wednesday. (DAVID J. PHILLIP/AP Photo)

NASA astronauts go back to the future with capsule launch

CAPE CANAVERAL — It’s back to the future as NASA astronauts launch again from the U.S. — aboard a retro-style “Right Stuff” capsule. Make no mistake: This is not your father’s — or grandfather’s — capsule. SpaceX’s Dragon crew capsule outshines NASA’s old Apollo spacecraft in virtually every way.