Regional

ork continues on the county’s project to construct a rail spur at North Florida Mega Industrial Park. Years in the making, work on the project began in February. (RAY CARPENTER PHOTOGRAPHY)

ork continues on the county’s project to construct a rail spur at North Florida Mega Industrial Park. Years in the making, work on the project began in February. (RAY CARPENTER PHOTOGRAPHY)

Rail-spur work continues, long-term project holds big promise

CARL MCKINNEY
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Workers were out installing a railroad crossing at North Florida Mega Industrial Park on Tuesday, part of a larger rail spur construction project. The crossing will likely be done some time next week, according to the county.
Free drive-thru covid-19 testing events will be taking place throughout June in Columbia and Hamilton counties.

Free drive-thru covid-19 testing events will be taking place throughout June in Columbia and Hamilton counties.

More local covid-19 testing scheduled in Columbia and Hamilton counties

CARL MCKINNEY
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Free drive-thru covid-19 testing events will be taking place throughout June in Columbia and Hamilton counties. The events, which are organized by the Florida Department of Health’s local office in the two counties, are accessible to anyone who wants a test.
Tropical Storm Cristobal forecast.

Tropical Storm Cristobal forecast.

Cristobal forms as 3rd storm of year

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Tropical Storm Cristobal formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, the third named storm of 2020 as the hurricane season gets underway.  The National Hurricane Center said the slow-moving system, with 35 mph sustained winds, was located about 140 miles west of Campeche, Mexico.

Teachers want staggered school schedules amid virus

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
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

NEWS STAFF
Monday, June 1, 2020
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

NEWS STAFF
Monday, June 1, 2020
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

CARL MCKINNEY
Friday, May 29, 2020
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

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, May 29, 2020
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

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, May 28, 2020
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

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, May 28, 2020
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.