Regional

Charissa Setzer, Suwannee County’s marketing coordinator for the Tourist Development Council, said House Bill 7033, which would eliminate TDCs across the state, would be a ‘job killer.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Charissa Setzer, Suwannee County’s marketing coordinator for the Tourist Development Council, said House Bill 7033, which would eliminate TDCs across the state, would be a ‘job killer.’ (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Commission opposes anti-TDC bill

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
LIVE OAK — Suwannee County “vigorously” opposes the Florida House proposal to get rid of tourist development councils.
RIVEROAK Technical College honored 18 students Tuesday with a SkillsUSA National Signing Day event. The event recognized students who plan to pursue a career in the skilled trades. (COURTESY)

RIVEROAK Technical College honored 18 students Tuesday with a SkillsUSA National Signing Day event. The event recognized students who plan to pursue a career in the skilled trades. (COURTESY)

RIVEROAK students sign for CTE careers

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
LIVE OAK — Students and teachers at RIVEROAK Technical College teamed up with SkillsUSA and its industry partners to celebrate SkillsUSA National Signing Day on Tuesday.
Columbia County’s J5 Farms (Bryan Jones) received a County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) Award from the Florida Farm Bureau. (ROB WOLFE/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia County’s J5 Farms (Bryan Jones) received a County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) Award from the Florida Farm Bureau. (ROB WOLFE/Lake City Reporter)

Farms honored for environmental practices

NEWS STAFF
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
LIVE OAK — Eleven North Florida farm families, including six from Columbia, Suwannee, Hamilton and Lafayette counties, were honored last week for their care for the environment.
Friends and family of William Powell Jr., the 18-year-old shot and killed in White Springs on Saturday, which includes Hunter Daniels, Stormy Smith, Jake Cribbs, Joedy Powell, Briana Powell, Jamie Blankenship and Sherry Blankenship wait for the press briefing to begin Tuesday morning outside of the Hamilton County Courthouse. (JASON WILKINSON/Lake City Reporter)

Friends and family of William Powell Jr., the 18-year-old shot and killed in White Springs on Saturday, which includes Hunter Daniels, Stormy Smith, Jake Cribbs, Joedy Powell, Briana Powell, Jamie Blankenship and Sherry Blankenship wait for the press briefing to begin Tuesday morning outside of the Hamilton County Courthouse. (JASON WILKINSON/Lake City Reporter)

Two teens charged in murder of 18-year-old found in Suwannee River

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
JASPER — Two days after two teens were arrested for the murder of an 18-year-old in White Springs, Hamilton County Sheriff Brian Creech said those arrests should be a warning to anybody else who wreaks havoc on the rural community.
House Speaker Daniel Perez said extending the session was necessary because ‘I believe it is better to do it right than to do it fast.’ (NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA)

House Speaker Daniel Perez said extending the session was necessary because ‘I believe it is better to do it right than to do it fast.’ (NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA)

Lawmakers returning next week on budget

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
TALLAHASSEE — House and Senate leaders said late Friday they had reached agreement on a “framework” for a budget deal that would include $2.8 billion in tax cuts, with lawmakers expected to return to the Capitol during the week of May 12 to negotiate details.

10 big issues from the 2025 legislative session

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
TALLAHASSEE — Though they will have to return to Tallahassee to hammer out a budget, Florida lawmakers Friday night finished most of the business of the 2025 legislative session. Here’s a look at 10 big issues from the session — some that passed, some that didn’t and some that remain up in the air.

No budget, means no end to session

NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
Friday, May 2, 2025
TALLAHASSEE — With House and Senate budget leaders continuing to struggle to reach agreement on spending totals and tax breaks, lawmakers will not meet next week. The 60-day legislative session was scheduled to end Friday, but lawmakers have blown past a budget deadline to make that happen.
Lincoln Gaddy shows off ‘Bone Snake,’ his custom diecast monster truck, and the championship trophy the truck won in OurTime4Adventures’ Kids Custom Easter tournament. Harper, his sister, previously defeated him in a 1-on-1 race on her birthday. (COURTESY)

Lincoln Gaddy shows off ‘Bone Snake,’ his custom diecast monster truck, and the championship trophy the truck won in OurTime4Adventures’ Kids Custom Easter tournament. Harper, his sister, previously defeated him in a 1-on-1 race on her birthday. (COURTESY)

Racing down a ‘monster’ title: Live Oak child wins custom diecast YouTube racing tourney

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
LIVE OAK — When the two monster trucks approached the start line, the pressure was almost too much for 5-year-old Lincoln Gaddy to bear.