Regional

Owens elected to Live Oak council

LIVE OAK — Live Oak’s District 5 will have new representation. In the city’s runoff election Tuesday, Gladys Owens received 74 votes to defeat incumbent Tesie Allen, who received 34 votes.

DeSantis budget review in ‘last stages’

As he makes final decisions about the state budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday touted a $200 million increase to help raise teacher salaries. Lawmakers included the teacher-pay money in a $117.46 billion budget they passed in March.
Sen. Corey Simon will receive support from incoming Senate President Ben Albritton as he runs for re-election. (NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA FILE)

Sen. Corey Simon will receive support from incoming Senate President Ben Albritton as he runs for re-election. (NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA FILE)

Senate president all in on backing Simon

TALLAHASSEE — Incoming Senate President Ben Albritton said he’s prepared to do “whatever it takes” financially to protect a North Florida seat held by Sen. Corey Simon (R-Tallahassee).

LO runoff election set for Tuesday

LIVE OAK — The newest member of the Live Oak City Council will be known Tuesday. The runoff election for the council’s District 5 seat will be held Tuesday.
Jonnie Whittington, one of the founders of Writers Ink, holds up one of her books as she talks to the group Monday about not always getting full support in the venture from family members. Writers Ink, a group of authors, meets monthly at the Lafayette County Public Library. Delores Walker, another founder of the group, looks on. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Jonnie Whittington, one of the founders of Writers Ink, holds up one of her books as she talks to the group Monday about not always getting full support in the venture from family members. Writers Ink, a group of authors, meets monthly at the Lafayette County Public Library. Delores Walker, another founder of the group, looks on. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Writers Ink meets by the book

MAYO — As Gail Massey read a piece of her recent works Monday, she was quickly asked by Jonnie Whittington to start it again.

Lamb seeking re-election as Lafayette County sheriff

MAYO — Lafayette County Sheriff Brian Lamb is seeking re-election to his fifth term in office. “The office of Sheriff is both an honor and great responsibility that I take seriously,” Lamb said in an announcement of his campaign.