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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., accompanied by his chief of staff, Sharon Soderstrom, after the Senate voted to not allow witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. (AP PHOTO)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., accompanied by his chief of staff, Sharon Soderstrom, after the Senate voted to not allow witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. (AP PHOTO)

Senate rejects witnesses, ensuring Trump's acquittal

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, January 31, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Senate narrowly rejected Democratic demands to summon witnesses for President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial late Friday, all but ensuring Trump’s acquittal in just the third such trial to face a president in U.S. history.
Jay Morrow, a retired Marine, asks questions during a town hall meeting on services that are no longer available at the Lake City VA Medical Center. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Jay Morrow, a retired Marine, asks questions during a town hall meeting on services that are no longer available at the Lake City VA Medical Center. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

Piecemeal privatizing at VA?

TONY BRITT
Thursday, January 30, 2020
National Nurses United, the largest nurses union in the country, said some medical services once offered at the Lake City VA Medical Center have been transferred to the VA facility in Gainesville, while two new federal laws have led to concerns about future privatization.
Confederate soldiers fire at Union troops during the 2018 Battle of Olustee Re-enactment on the site of the original 1864 battle. The re-enactment and Olustee Battle Festival, which is held in Lake City, are set for mid-February. (FILE)

Confederate soldiers fire at Union troops during the 2018 Battle of Olustee Re-enactment on the site of the original 1864 battle. The re-enactment and Olustee Battle Festival, which is held in Lake City, are set for mid-February. (FILE)

A small break with tradition at Olustee

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
James Montgomery had a impact on the local community through politics, education, theology and scouting.

Pre-K changes OK’d by panel

NEWS STAFF
Monday, January 27, 2020
A proposal that would revamp Florida’s voluntary pre-kindergarten program was approved by a Senate panel on Monday as Democrats expressed concern about “high-stakes” testing for the state’s youngest learners. The proposal, sponsored by Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, emerged after Gov.
Nick Albrecht takes time off from his job at the Florida Department of Transportation to donate blood at the Lake City Police Department’s “Public Safety Blood Drive” on Friday. (MICHAEL PHILIPS/Lake City Reporter)

Nick Albrecht takes time off from his job at the Florida Department of Transportation to donate blood at the Lake City Police Department’s “Public Safety Blood Drive” on Friday. (MICHAEL PHILIPS/Lake City Reporter)

LCPD sponsors blood donation drive for LifeSouth

MICHAEL PHILIPS
Friday, January 24, 2020
On Friday, the Lake City Police Department hosted the LifeSouth Blood Mobile for its “Public Safety Blood Drive,” and those who donated received a free T-shirt with the hashtag #LocalHeroes and the LifeSouth logo on it.

Military training may soon count in college

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, January 23, 2020
TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers are fast-tracking legislation that would allow service members and veterans to receive college credits for their military training, with the goal of saving time and money.

Parental consent goes to Senate floor

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
TALLAHASSEE — Girls under the age of 18 would need to get a parent’s permission before having an abortion in Florida under a bill that received its final Senate committee approval Wednesday. The Senate Rules Committee voted 9-7 in favor of the bill Thursday, on the 47th anniversary of the U.S.

Trump says he’s open to witnesses

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
WASHINGTON — The US Senate plunged into President Donald Trump’s  impeachment trial with Republicans abandoning plans to fit opening arguments into two days but solidly rejecting for now Democratic demands for more witnesses to expose what they call Trump’s “trifecta” of offenses.