Regional

The Department of Economic Opportunity estimate for April showed 1.218 million Floridians qualified as unemployed from a statewide workforce of 9.44 million. That was up from 457,000 people unemployed in March. The overall labor force also fell by nearly 9 percent last month.

The Department of Economic Opportunity estimate for April showed 1.218 million Floridians qualified as unemployed from a statewide workforce of 9.44 million. That was up from 457,000 people unemployed in March. The overall labor force also fell by nearly 9 percent last month.

Jobless rate in county jumps to 9.6 percent

NEWS STAFF
Friday, May 22, 2020
More than three-quarters of a million Floridians — 2,561 of them from Columbia County — joined the ranks of the unemployed as the coronavirus pandemic fully took hold in April, pushing the state’s jobless rate to 12.9%, according to state figures released Friday. The rate was up from a revised 4.
Laborers continue work on the roughly $500K CHS remodeling project, which will also include installation of new bathrooms as well as learning labs. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Laborers continue work on the roughly $500K CHS remodeling project, which will also include installation of new bathrooms as well as learning labs. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

CHS library getting major overhaul during summer

CARL MCKINNEY
Thursday, May 21, 2020
The sound of footsteps and teenage chitchat may be missing from the halls of Columbia High School, but the campus isn’t entirely lifeless. In what used to be the library, heavy machinery moved about to the tune of power tools on Thursday afternoon.
LifeSouth workers pose in front of the Bloodmobile on West U.S. 90 in this file photo from April. Pictured from left are donor services technician Savannah Thornton, team leader Brittany Shehan and donor services technician Bailee Mangrum. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

LifeSouth workers pose in front of the Bloodmobile on West U.S. 90 in this file photo from April. Pictured from left are donor services technician Savannah Thornton, team leader Brittany Shehan and donor services technician Bailee Mangrum. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Blood donors needed in wake of covid-19

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
The impact of covid-19 continues to affect the local blood supply, as canceled blood drives throughout the coming months are causing a significant drop in donations.  Many businesses, schools and churches remain closed during this time, and all typically host drives with LifeSouth.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference at a covid-19 testing site at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on May 6. (AP PHOTO)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference at a covid-19 testing site at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on May 6. (AP PHOTO)

States accused of fudging covid-19 test data

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
PROVIDENCE, R.I.— Public health officials in some states are accused of bungling coronavirus infection statistics or even using a little sleight of hand to deliberately make things look better than they are.
Students walk near the Marshall Student Center on the University of South Florida campus in Tampa. State officials said Monday that they will make recommendations on May 28 on how campuses will reopen in the fall. (TAMPA BAY TIMES/TNS)

Students walk near the Marshall Student Center on the University of South Florida campus in Tampa. State officials said Monday that they will make recommendations on May 28 on how campuses will reopen in the fall. (TAMPA BAY TIMES/TNS)

Universities look to reopen in fall

NEWS STAFF
Monday, May 18, 2020
State university system Chancellor Marshall Criser next week will present guidelines for reopening university campuses in the fall, after students were sent home in March to curb the spread of covid-19.
The Scott family floats down the Ichetucknee River in this file photo from the 2016 summer tubing season. Ichetucknee Springs State Park is allowing guests inner tubes, canoes and kayaks back in for some outdoor fun. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

The Scott family floats down the Ichetucknee River in this file photo from the 2016 summer tubing season. Ichetucknee Springs State Park is allowing guests inner tubes, canoes and kayaks back in for some outdoor fun. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Ichetucknee Springs open to tubers once again

CARL MCKINNEY
Friday, May 15, 2020
The stir-crazy masses have something to rejoice about. Ichetucknee Springs State Park is open for day use. Some limitations are in place, but visitors are otherwise free to float, paddle and hike to their heart’s content.  The south entrance off U.S.
Chris Shillito gets to work at Tire Mart of Lake City in late April. Business was slow then but has since ramped back up as cars return to the road. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Chris Shillito gets to work at Tire Mart of Lake City in late April. Business was slow then but has since ramped back up as cars return to the road. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Tire Mart keeps rolling along

CARL MCKINNEY
Friday, May 15, 2020
After business stalled out in April, Tire Mart of Lake City has rounded a corner and is actually on track to see more sales than last year, one of the co-owners said as cars continued returning to the roads Thursday.
A construction crew gathers Thursday on the north side of U.S. Highway 90, where work is underway to construct a rail spur connecting the North Florida Mega Industrial Park to cities throughout the region. A stack of railing is visible in the back left. The project has been years in the making, with county officials frequently vowing it will pave the way for major economic growth in the community. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

A construction crew gathers Thursday on the north side of U.S. Highway 90, where work is underway to construct a rail spur connecting the North Florida Mega Industrial Park to cities throughout the region. A stack of railing is visible in the back left. The project has been years in the making, with county officials frequently vowing it will pave the way for major economic growth in the community. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Industrial park RR spur underway, construction crews prep for historic step

CARL MCKINNEY
Thursday, May 14, 2020
The future is on rails, Columbia County officials say, and construction crews have begun working on the railroad all the livelong day.

DeSantis extends order barring evictions

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday he is extending until June 2 an executive order aimed at preventing foreclosures and evictions as people struggle financially during the coronavirus pandemic.