Regional

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.

Scott balks at more stimulus spending

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
A growing number of Florida Republicans are clamoring for Congress to reject providing an additional round of stimulus funding that they say would go beyond helping state and local governments deal with the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Concealed carry decision challenged

NEWS STAFF
Monday, May 11, 2020
Amid political fighting about the issue, a Northwest Florida resident has filed a lawsuit challenging a decision by state Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried to suspend accepting online applications for concealed-weapons licenses because of the covid-19 pandemic.
Gov. Ron DeSantis posted a video Friday afternoon featuring Orlando barbershop owner John Henry, who announced that starting Monday, barbershops, hair salons and nail salons will be allowed to reopen in most of the state after being shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Gov. Ron DeSantis posted a video Friday afternoon featuring Orlando barbershop owner John Henry, who announced that starting Monday, barbershops, hair salons and nail salons will be allowed to reopen in most of the state after being shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Governor gives go-ahead for barbershops, salons to open

NEWS STAFF
Friday, May 8, 2020
Coronavirus hair can soon be professionally snipped.
The complaints have dealt with issues such as vacation rental properties, restaurants, sale of alcoholic beverages, barbering and cosmetology.

The complaints have dealt with issues such as vacation rental properties, restaurants, sale of alcoholic beverages, barbering and cosmetology.

Complaints filed over non-compliance with coronavirus pandemic

NEWS STAFF
Friday, May 8, 2020
Floridians have filed more than 2,200 complaints to the state over the past two months about businesses failing to comply with executive orders that imposed restrictions because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The plan, announced by Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, includes most campgrounds, primitive campsites and trailheads in state forests. 

The plan, announced by Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, includes most campgrounds, primitive campsites and trailheads in state forests. 

State reopening forest campgrounds

NEWS STAFF
Friday, May 8, 2020
After closing because of the coronavirus pandemic, Florida State Forest campgrounds started to reopen with limited capacity Friday under a phased plan.  The plan, announced by Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, includes most campgrounds, primitive campsites and trailheads in state forests.
Martha Aitken, who owns a goat farm near Fort White with her husband, holds up a weeks-old kid. Americans haven’t generally been big on goat meat in the past, but with the beef, pork and chicken industries facing a shortage, that may change. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

Martha Aitken, who owns a goat farm near Fort White with her husband, holds up a weeks-old kid. Americans haven’t generally been big on goat meat in the past, but with the beef, pork and chicken industries facing a shortage, that may change. (CARL MCKINNEY/Lake City Reporter)

With a beef shortage on the horizon, get ready for goat

CARL MCKINNEY
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Got goat?  As the nation braces for a shortage of beef, pork and chicken, Martha and Milt Aitken, owners of Long Grey Line Farm near Fort White, say goats may be the solution to satisfy America’s hunger for meat.  “It’s healthier, believe it or not,” Martha said.