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Unemployment improves in Franklin County

Joblessness in both Forgotten Coast counties dropped slightly in February, with Gulf County doing one-half of 1 percentage point better than Franklin in overall unemployment. According to preliminary data released Friday by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, both Franklin and Gulf County joblessness improved by two-tenths of 1 percentage point last month over January’s…

Trump dominates Republican preference primary
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Trump dominates Republican preference primary

The results in the March 19 Republican Presidential Preference primary were clear in both Gulf and Franklin counties. About nine out of 10 GOP voters prefer that Donald Trump be their nominee for president. Turnout was pretty modest, 13 percent in Franklin and 19 percent in Gulf, and of those Republicans who cast ballots, about…

Franklin Correctional tops in regional K-9 tracking
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Franklin Correctional tops in regional K-9 tracking

K-9 tracking teams from 14 Florida Department of Corrections institutions gathered from across the Panhandle to exhibit their superior tracking abilities in Bristol earlier this month. Taking first was the team from Carrabelle’s Franklin Correctional Institution, with second place going to the team from Chipley’s Northwest Florida Reception Center, and third place to Blountstown’s Calhoun…

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Outdoors Brief

FWC law enforcement achieves highest accreditation level The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Division of Law Enforcement was awarded the Excelsior Status, the most prestigious achievement in Florida accreditation, by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation at their February 2024 conference.  Excelsior Recognition is reserved for criminal justice agencies that have received accreditation…

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Outdoor Briefs

FWC OKs new alligator harvest opportunity At its February meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved rule changes to establish a special-use alligator harvest opportunity to take effect for the 2024 alligator harvest season. The new opportunity will complement the existing statewide alligator hunt and create a flexible alternative that allows permittees to…

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Outdoors Briefs

FWC OKs new alligator harvest opportunity At its February meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved rule changes to establish a special-use alligator harvest opportunity to take effect for the 2024 alligator harvest season. The new opportunity will complement the existing statewide alligator hunt and create a flexible alternative that allows permittees to…

Recreational harvest of snook re-opens
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Recreational harvest of snook re-opens

The recreational harvest of snook in the Panhandle and Big Bend, as well as the Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor and Southwest management regions opened March 1, and remains open through April 30.  This includes all Florida state and inland waters as well as adjacent federal waters within each management region.  These regions and…