Columbia County Observer

Federal Unemployment Programs on tap
Newly Extended Payments Begin

 AWI - Tallahassee  (posted April 21, 2010  05:55 pm)

Agency for Workforce Innovation Director Cynthia R. Lorenzo today announced the agency has begun making additional federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) payments, less than a week after President Obama signed legislation extending eligibility dates for the program by two months.  AWI Unemployment Compensation and Information Technology staff worked diligently to update programming required by the changes so that payments could begin as quickly as possible.

Court - Citizens don't have right to speak at government meetings

Talahassee, FL (posted Mar 12, 2010 • 04:45 pm)

By Paul Flemming - Florida Capital Bureau

A Tallahassee appellate court will soon weigh in on whether Florida's Sunshine Law gives citizens the right to be participants, not merely spectators, in government meetings.

Court to decide public's right to speak, be heard

Tallahassee, FL (posted Feb 19, 2010 • 08:10am)

By Jim Ash - Florida Capital Bureau Chief

A Tallahassee appellate court will soon weigh in on whether Florida's Sunshine Law gives citizens the right to be participants, not merely spectators, in government meetings.

North Florida Broadband Authority Receives $30,000,0000 Grant

Columbia County, FL (posted Feb 19, 2010 • 07:10am)

Thanks to the dedicated commitment of the local governments who comprise the North Florida Broadband Authority, the initiative and leadership of the North Florida Economic Development Partnership and its Board of Directors, and the financial support of Enterprise Florida and the Governor’s

Meeting Notice • The Requirements

Columbia County, FL (posted April 1, 2009)

In January of 2006, the Observer contacted the First Amendment Foundation for an opinion regarding the improper meetings by County Commissioners and improper meeting notices posted by County Manager, Dale Williams, on behalf the County Commission. The Observer would like to report that things have changed, but that is not the case in Columbia County.

Florida Crown Affair moves to Gilchrist County

Gilchrist County, FL (posted June 2, 2009 • 06:55am)

This story began in December of 2007, when Gilchrist County Commission Chairperson, Sharon Langford, who was also the Chairperson of the Florida Crown Workforce Board Consortium, was deposed in a coup orchestrated by Columbia County Commissioner, Stephen Bailey.

(photo - Sharon Langford)