Highlands News-Sun

2 days ago | midfloridanewspapers.com | Sharon Keeble

Dozens of kids met with Clermont Police Department’s community police officers for a yummy boba to celebrate the start of summer on June 4. Sip, Chill and Chat, was held at the city’s Teamont Boba in Montrose Street and like Coffee with a Cop, it was a place to meet and hang out with the city’s law enforcement officers. However, this time, it was a chance for kids to get to know their local police heroes in a cool setting and ask questions or share great conversations.

3 days ago | midfloridanewspapers.com | Sharon Keeble

The Groveland’s Historical Society has unveiled its plans to make the city’s history more accessible to the public. At a recent Groveland Strategic Plan Committee meeting, the society’s President Jason Brown gave an informative two-hour presentation. President Brown told the committee: “Our vision for the historical society is the continuation of the core values of Groveland, shared by our diverse Founding Families.

3 days ago | midfloridanewspapers.com | Colleen Slevin |Eric Tucker

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — A man accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at demonstrators in Boulder who were calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, injuring 12 of them, had planned to kill them all but apparently had second thoughts, authorities said. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, who was disguised as a gardener, had 18 Molotov cocktails but threw just two during Sunday’s attack in which he yelled “Free Palestine,” police said.

3 days ago | midfloridanewspapers.com | Jim Turner

TALLAHASSEE — When lawmakers began budget conference talks Tuesday, a couple of priorities of Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, and House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, likely were already off the table. Lawmakers aren’t expected to approve Albritton’s “rural renaissance” plan, which seeks to bolster health care, education, transportation and economic development in rural areas, or Perez’s push to reduce the state’s overall sales-tax rate.

3 days ago | midfloridanewspapers.com | Marc Valero

A total of 63.5 positions were cut in Superintendent Brenda Longshore’s second draft of personnel allocations for 2025-26 including a total of 33 school-level instructional and school-level support positions. At the School Board budget workshop on Thursday, Longshore said it has been an interesting journey this year – much different from anything she has experienced while being the superintendent. The District is still waiting on the state budget.