Regional

Bob Hochmuth stands among hydroponically grown cucumbers during a Small Farms Academy session at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research & Education Center – Suwannee Valley (NFREC-SV) in Live Oak. (TYLER JONES/UF/IFAS)

Bob Hochmuth stands among hydroponically grown cucumbers during a Small Farms Academy session at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research & Education Center – Suwannee Valley (NFREC-SV) in Live Oak. (TYLER JONES/UF/IFAS)

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Hochmuth earns Hall of Fame honor

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
UF/IFAS Bob Hochmuth grew up on a 1,000-acre vegetable farm on Maryland’s eastern shore. As a child, he watched his father and two uncles manage the farm, and the three men were always busy. They didn’t allow anyone to disrupt their work. Except one man.
Live Oak City Manager Larry Sessions recommended the City Council adopt a reduced millage as its maximum but not the rollback rate to provide flexibility during the budget process. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak City Manager Larry Sessions recommended the City Council adopt a reduced millage as its maximum but not the rollback rate to provide flexibility during the budget process. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

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Live Oak proposes slight tax rate decrease

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
LIVE OAK — Property owners in the City of Live Oak will pay a reduced tax rate next year. In the Live Oak City Council’s meeting Tuesday night, the council unanimously approved setting the city’s maximum millage rate for the 2025-26 fiscal year at 9.25 mills. The city’s current millage rate is 9.
Live Oak Councilwoman Vanessa Brown Robinson said she would not stop pushing on getting answers on what caused the city to lose $450,000 in a cyber attack in February. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Live Oak Councilwoman Vanessa Brown Robinson said she would not stop pushing on getting answers on what caused the city to lose $450,000 in a cyber attack in February. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

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Robinson pushes forward on cyber security audit

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
LIVE OAK — The Live Oak City Council took a second shot at trying to address is cyber security and payment processes.
H2O Senior Vice President Derrel Wilson said the company was willing to work with the city moving forward, including a possible incentivized contract to garner full payment. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

H2O Senior Vice President Derrel Wilson said the company was willing to work with the city moving forward, including a possible incentivized contract to garner full payment. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

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Live Oak seeking public works bids

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
LIVE OAK — The City of Live Oak will continue utilizing a hybrid approach to public works services.

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Overturned semi blocks I-10 for hours

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
WELLBORN — A semi truck and trailer overturning on westbound Interstate 10 closed the roadway for three hours early Monday morning. The Florida Highway Patrol said a westbound semi left the roadway before overcorrecting and flipping over onto its right side around 1:30 a.m.
Aerial view of structures including gigantic tents built at the recently opened migrant detention center, Alligator Alcatraz, located at the site of the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Ochopee on Friday. (PEDRO PORTAL/Miami Herald/TNS)

Aerial view of structures including gigantic tents built at the recently opened migrant detention center, Alligator Alcatraz, located at the site of the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Ochopee on Friday. (PEDRO PORTAL/Miami Herald/TNS)

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Groups say state, feds partners in ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Detention Center

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
TALLAHASSEE — As they urge a U.S. district judge to halt an immigrant-detention center in the Everglades, environmental groups are pushing back against Trump administration arguments seeking to distance the federal government from responsibility for the project.

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Supreme Court refuses to halt Bell execution

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to halt next week’s scheduled execution of Michael Bell in the 1993 murders of two people outside a Jacksonville bar, as the state continues moving toward a modern-era record for executions in a year.

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Live Oak Council President seeks talk on fire merger

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, July 3, 2025
LIVE OAK — Consolidating Live Oak’s fire department into the county’s service could be up for discussion. Live Oak City Council President Matt Campbell is requesting a discussion at the council’s Tuesday meeting set for 5:30 p.m.