Regional

Change sought in Medicaid eligibility fight

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
TALLAHASSEE — Nearly two years after filing a class-action lawsuit alleging Florida did not provide adequate notices when dropping people from the Medicaid program, plaintiffs are seeking to revise the lawsuit because of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia speaks as Governor Ron DeSantis looks on during a news conference Tuesday at the FDOT District 4 office in Fort Lauderdale announcing an audit of Broward County’s spending. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel/TNS)

Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia speaks as Governor Ron DeSantis looks on during a news conference Tuesday at the FDOT District 4 office in Fort Lauderdale announcing an audit of Broward County’s spending. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel/TNS)

State probing Broward, Gainesville finances

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia announced Tuesday that state officials will probe spending by the governments in Democratic-leaning Broward County and Gainesville.

Uthmeier seeks OK for out-of-state lawyers

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Friday, July 18, 2025
TALLAHASSEE — Citing a staffing shortage, Attorney General James Uthmeier is seeking a new way for out-of-state government lawyers to practice in Florida for up to three years without having to take The Florida Bar exam or undergo a “character and fitness” evaluation.
Hamilton County Director of Tourism Mia Hunter Mauldin (left) and Carol Stob, the owner of Bud’s Suds, pose next to a finished planter. (COURTESY)

Hamilton County Director of Tourism Mia Hunter Mauldin (left) and Carol Stob, the owner of Bud’s Suds, pose next to a finished planter. (COURTESY)

Planters bringing color to White Springs

TONY BRITT
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
WHITE SPRINGS — An established Hamilton County tourism program has been extended to White Springs, bringing vibrant colors to the area for residents and tourists alike.
Suwannee County Administrator Greg Scott is planning to retire in September after working for 36-plus years for the county. (FILE)

Suwannee County Administrator Greg Scott is planning to retire in September after working for 36-plus years for the county. (FILE)

Suwannee County admin retiring in September

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, July 11, 2025
LIVE OAK — Suwannee County is looking for help to fill its county administrator’s shoes. Greg Scott, who has served as the county’s administrator since 2022, plans to retire in September. At its 5:30 p.m.
Beds are seen inside a migrant detention center, dubbed ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ in Ochopee. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Beds are seen inside a migrant detention center, dubbed ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ in Ochopee. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Dems sue over access to ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Friday, July 11, 2025
TALLAHASSEE — A group of Democratic state lawmakers who were denied entry to a controversial immigrant-detention center in the Everglades asked the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday to force Gov.

Citrus production lowest in century

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Friday, July 11, 2025
Hammered by hurricanes and citrus greening disease, Florida’s citrus industry ended the 2024-2025 growing season with the lowest production in more than a century, according to numbers released Friday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Colorado State University researchers updated their forecast for the current storm season, decreasing the number of expected storms and major storms slightly. (FILE)

Colorado State University researchers updated their forecast for the current storm season, decreasing the number of expected storms and major storms slightly. (FILE)

Storm forecast dialed back slightly

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
While still anticipating above-normal hurricane activity through the end of November, Colorado State University researchers Wednesday trimmed their forecast for the Atlantic storm season.
Most of North Florida received between 3-7 inches of rain in June, although some parts of Lafayette County received more than 9 inches of rain in the month. (COURTESY)

Most of North Florida received between 3-7 inches of rain in June, although some parts of Lafayette County received more than 9 inches of rain in the month. (COURTESY)

District: June drier than normal

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
June was drier than usual across North Florida according to the Suwannee River Water Management District. In its June hydrologic conditions report released Wednesday, the district’s 15-county area across North Florida received 5.46 inches of average rainfall in June.
Live Oak City Council President Matt Campbell received silence from the rest of the council when he asked if there was interest in a workshop to discuss merging the city and county fire departments. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak City Council President Matt Campbell received silence from the rest of the council when he asked if there was interest in a workshop to discuss merging the city and county fire departments. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak Council douses fire merger idea

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
LIVE OAK — The idea of a possible consolidation of fire departments was quickly extinguished Tuesday night.