Ahead of New Year’s Eve on Sunday, freezing weather is expected to impact nine states in the South. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued winter weather advisory warnings for parts of nine states as freezing temperatures are expected to hit Texas, Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Alabama. The blast… Read More »

Police are cracking down on an existing Florida law by expanding its rules starting January 1, 2024. The state’s Move Over Law now has three additional situations that will require drivers to switch lanes. Starting January 1, it will be mandatory for drivers to move over when a disabled motor vehicle is stopped and displaying warning lights or hazard lights. Another situation in… Read More »

On the brink of a new year, the state of California is making the historical decision to offer an expanded version of Medi-Cal – the state’s own version of the federal Medicaid program – offering health insurance benefits to all undocumented immigrants, regardless of age. The newest version of this program, which is an expansion of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s… Read More »

National Resolution Planning Day is on December 30 and we are getting a head start on setting goals for next year! Did you know that one in three people fail their New Year’s resolutions in the first month? And only 10% of people are successful at keeping their resolutions throughout the year? While there are… Read More »

Respiratory pathogens are on the rise this winter in the U.S., with signs so far pointing toward a significant, but not outlandish, season—perhaps a bit of a respite after last winter’s “tripledemic.”  The wildcard in the forecast, however, could change the scene entirely. “Pirola” JN.1, the highly mutated Omicron strain, could send COVID infections skyrocketing to… Read More »

The City of Vernon, Florida will hold a Regular Monthly Workshop on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 5:30PM, as seen in the agenda (below). 20231229155033

Historically, nothing has separated a photo enthusiast from a casual picture taker like the sight of a DSLR camera slung around their neck. The camera industry, however, is in transition.  DSLR cameras, formerly occupying flagship positions in manufacturer portfolios, are being phased out in favor of lighter, smaller mirrorless cameras. If you’re a DSLR lover, the… Read More »

A41-year-old who follows most of the guidelines for a healthy heart may have an actual biological age of 36. Then there’s the 53-year-old who doesn’t get enough sleep, doesn’t exercise regularly and has high levels of bad cholesterol who may actually have a biological age closer to 57, according to a new analysis presented at… Read More »

Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Washington and Holmes counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities. Washington County: U.S. 90 Resurfacing from State Road (S.R.) 277 (Vernon Highway) to End of Four-Lane east of Chipley – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures Wednesday, Jan. 3 through Friday, Jan. 5 for… Read More »

Scientists are worried that Covid may have morphed into a stomach bug as cases rise. They’ve noticed “huge spikes” in Covid traces in wastewater plants across Europe, which could be from infected people’s fecal matter. Virologist Marc Johnson told MailOnline: “There were some huge spikes in wastewater in Europe, and a lot of us were pondering what the possible… Read More »

On Thursday, Dec. 28, around 2:45 p.m., the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of two vehicle burglaries at a local establishment. When deputies and investigators arrived on scene, they gathered surveillance footage of the suspect and learned that one of the items stolen was a handgun. Shortly after the burglaries, the suspect attempted… Read More »

A food that encourages passion, many people would consider chocolate to be a gift to the world. Whether eaten in the form of a chocolate bar, enjoyed as a chocolate beverage or used to bake a variety of desserts, chocolate has a rich history and a bright future!  Dating back more than 2000 years, chocolate… Read More »

Several changes in Florida laws will take hold as 2024 begins, from an expansion of the state’s “move over” traffic law to stricter rules involving investments in Iran. State lawmakers during the 2023 regular legislative session and during special sessions approved five laws that will take effect in January. But the arrival of 2024 will… Read More »

For many of us, the Pledge of Allegiance was something we knew by heart and recited each morning in school. With our right hands over our hearts and our eyes cast upward at the flag on the wall, we were taught to show our patriotism. The history of the Pledge is long and fraught with… Read More »