LAKE

Lake and Trumbull counties were able to convince the jury that the pharmacies played an outsized role in creating a public nuisance.

Lake and Trumbull counties were able to convince the jury that the pharmacies played an outsized role in creating a public nuisance.

Opioid Crisis Lawsuits FILE - Attorneys and staff associated with a federal trial of pharmacies, CVS, Walgreens, Giant Eagle and Walmart leave the Carl B. Stokes Federal Courthouse in Cleveland, Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. The pharmacies are being sued by Ohio counties Lake and Trumbull for their part in the opioid crisis. The counties blamed pharmacies operated by CVS, Walgreens and Walmart for not stopping the flood of pills that caused hundreds of overdose deaths and cost each of the two counties about $1 billion, their attorney said. This was the first time pharmacy companies had completed a trial to defend themselves in a drug crisis that has killed a half-million Americans over the past two decades. Lake and Trumbull counties were able to convince the jury that the pharmacies played an outsized role in creating a public nuisance in the way they dispensed pain medication into their communities.

Anything you can do I can do better. Another strong cold front will slice through Central Florida delivering even colder air to Sunshine State early Thanksgiving week.

SEATTLE — (AP) — Washington fired head coach Jimmy Lake on Sunday, less than two years after he was chosen to succeed Chris Petersen. Lake was suspended without pay for Saturday’s 35-30 loss to Arizona State after a sideline incident the previous week against Oregon, when Lake swatted at and then shoved one of his players. The incident only added to the heat on Lake and the suspension seemed a precursor to an eventual separation. Including Saturday's game, the Huskies went 7-6 under Lake. —-More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25Copyright 2021 The Associated Press.

Washington has fired football coach Jimmy Lake, less than two years after he was chosen to succeed Chris Petersen.

Opioid Crisis Lawsuits FILE - Attorneys and staff associated with a federal trial of pharmacies, CVS, Walgreens, Giant Eagle and Walmart, leave the Carl B. Stokes Federal Courthouse in Cleveland, Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. The pharmacies are being sued by Ohio counties Lake and Trumbull for their part in the opioid crisis. The settlement by Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle includes Lake and Trumbull counties, whose federal lawsuits are being heard in a bellwether trial in Cleveland that began in early October. Rite-Aid agreed to pay Trumbull County $1.5 million. The amount Lake County will receive has not been disclosed.

One of the four retail pharmacy companies on trial for their alleged roles in fostering an opioid crisis in two Ohio counties announced Friday it had settled a lawsuit with 10 government entities in the state.

Much of Central Florida is under a tornado watch today as storms move across the state. Flagler, Lake, Sumter, Marion and Volusia Counties are all...

Read live weather updates below:4:30 a.m. updateRain and storms will begin to race in Thursday from the west to the east. Meteorologist Brian Shields said some storms could be strong, with a few severe storms. In any severe storms, damaging winds are possible. Click here to download the WFTV weather app for live updates to your phone, and click here to stream weather coverage on the WFTV now app. Visit our hurricane section: EYE ON THE TROPICSFollow our Severe Weather team on Twitter for live updates:Severe risk for rain and storms (Brian Shields)©2021 Cox Media Group

Lake and Trumbull counties are set to face off against four of the nation’s largest chain pharmacies in a federal trial that could serve as a litmus test for thousands of cities and counties looking to hold them accountable.

(AP Photo/Hiro Komae) (Hiro Komae)LAS VEGAS — Nevada hospitals are seeing a severe shortage of nurses and some northern Nevada hospitals are nearly out of staffed beds for patients, state health officials said Thursday. Nevada had a shortage of nurses even before the pandemic, when each wave of cases and crush of hospitalizations left nurses demoralized and drove some to leave the profession. ___ROME — Italian Premier Mario Draghi called COVID-19 vaccine opponents “cowardly” for threatening or harassing Italian ministers, governors, journalists and doctors. Last week, more than 70% of people 12 and older had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Hadjipantela says booster shots will be given to those who are eligible once a six-month period elapses from the time they completed their vaccination.

State health officials in Nevada say hospitals are seeing a severe shortage of nurses and some northern Nevada hospitals are nearly out of staffed beds for patients.

ORLANDO, Fla. — As the many in the Gulf Coast deal with the impact of Hurricane Ida, Central Florida is seeing drier than normal conditions due to the massive storm. WATCH: Eye of “extremely dangerous” Category 4 Hurricane Ida moves on shoreIda is passing about 500 miles to the west of Central Florida and pulling in drier air from the east into our area. As a result, Central Florida will only see spotty rain chances. Drier than normal in Central Florida as Ida passes ~500 miles west...highest chance of spotty rain will be around Lake, Sumter, Marion, Polk Counties through evening. Visit our hurricane section: EYE ON THE TROPICSVisite la sección en español: Temporada de huracanesChannel 9 will continue to monitor Hurricane Ida and give live updates on Eyewitness News.

ORANGE CITY, Fla. — Frustrations are rising among people in some of the Orlando area’s outlying counties over the lack of available testing appointments. Brevard’s will open on Monday at 2555 Judge Fran Jamieson Way in Viera, while Volusia’s new site is at the Department of Health building in Orange City. Dept of Health expands COVID-19 PCR testing. Available M, Tu, Th & F @ Orange City location (775 Harley Strickland Blvd., Suite 110) & M-F @ Daytona Beach location (1845 Holsonback Dr.) by appt only for symptomatic individuals & those exposed. READ: Brevard County is seeing a high demand for COVID-19 testing, but few options availableHowever, testing can’t be the end-all, he said.

Divers from a number of Lake County fire departments were still searching for the man late Friday afternoon using sonar detection equipment.

Students in Orange, Seminole, Brevard, Lake, Sumter, Marion, Flagler and Polk counties will return Tuesday. Osceola County students will return to school on Thursday, and students in Volusia County will return Aug. 16. READ: Back-to-school: What you need to know for your 1st day backStudents have the option to leave masks at home in Brevard, Polk, Volusia, Osceola, Sumter, Flagler, Lake and Marion counties. In Seminole County, hundreds of school buses will hit the road for the start of the new school year. In Orange County, district leaders are going as far as discouraging bus riding for parents who have extra time in the mornings.

ORLANDO, Fla. — You might want to grab an umbrella as you head out the door. Storms will start to roll into Central Florida around lunchtime Wednesday. Some storms will move through Marion and Lake counties through the early morning. Temperatures will be slightly cooler due to the storms, with highs in the mid 80s. Visit our hurricane section: EYE ON THE TROPICSVisite la sección en español: Temporada de huracanesFollow our Severe Weather team on Twitter for live updates:Click here to download the WFTV weather app for live updates to your phone, and click here to stream weather coverage on the WFTV now app.

The Board of Sumter County Commissioners formally declared a State of Emergency on Tuesday morning ahead of Elsa.

Marion, Lake and Sumter school districts announced students and staff would be asked to stay home Wednesday.

The Orlando real estate market — which covers Orange, Osceola, Lake and Seminole counties — is seeing the highest rent hikes in history right now, according to market analysts' part of the CoStar group.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Showers and storms are moving through parts of Central Florida on Monday morning. Most of the storms are in Marion and Lake counties. READ: FDA approves weight-loss drug after more than 50% of trial subjects shed at least 15% of body weightSpotty showers are moving through the Orlando area. READ: Florida man searching riverbed for shark’s teeth bitten in head by alligatorDaytime highs will climb to the 90s. Visit our hurricane section: EYE ON THE TROPICSVisite la sección en español: Temporada de huracanesFollow our Severe Weather team on Twitter for live updates:Click here to download the WFTV weather app for live updates to your phone, and click here to stream weather coverage on the WFTV now app.

As drought conditions persist across the Chicago area, occasional bouts of rain are predicted throughout the coming week, according to the National Weather Service.

Crystal Lagoons Crystal Lagoons said it plans to open “Public Access Lagoons” in five Central Florida counties: Lake, Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Sumter. But one company is working to change that by recreating white sand beaches and turquoise waters in landlocked Central Florida communities. Crystal Lagoons said it plans to open “Public Access Lagoons” in five Central Florida counties: Lake, Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Sumter. The company said it specializes in creating “crystal-clear lagoons that bring the luxury of a beachfront experience anywhere in the world at very low costs.”READ: Farms in downtown Orlando? See photos provided by Crystal Lagoons below:

Lake founded the online styling service a decade ago and took the company public in 2017.

Strong storms are moving through Central Florida.

A Red flag warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for interior Central Florida including Lake, Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and interior Volusia county through Saturday evening.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Florida received its first doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine late Thursday and by Friday morning officials were preparing to give out the first shots to law enforcement officers from Polk, Lake, Hardee and Highlands County. [TRENDING: Where school staff, child care workers can get the vaccine| 80th annual Daytona Beach Bike Week starts | When could Orange County could lift its mask mandate]Ad“This will do here 2,000 law enforcement personnel age 50 and up in all those counties,” Gov. “We have statewide about 20,000 sworn law enforcement officers who are 50 or older,” DeSantis said. “So we’re not getting any more Johnson & Johnson for, I think, two more weeks. The FEMA vaccine site in Orlando is also administering the J&J vaccine.

The smell of smoke pushed through Orange County on Thursday. ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The smell of smoke pushed through Central Florida on Thursday. Crews with the Maitland Fire Rescue Department said the smoky haze is from state-prescribed controlled burns in Lake and Marion counties. Here’s how to find out what’s burning near you]Fire crews said conditions are expected to last through the evening. SMOKY SKIES | Skies getting smoky in parts of Lake and Seminole county from a burn in Lake county.

“As mayors on the front line of the pandemic response, we have taken necessary steps to keep our communities safe and continue flattening the curve to save lives,” the letter sent Thursday said. “Undoubtedly, these steps have come with severe financial hardship. Not only have tax revenues been dropping drastically, but funding essential services critical to the health and safety of our residents has and continues to be challenged.”

The system expected late Wednesday into early Thursday was expected to bring “the chance for some light snow, mainly under an inch, but then there could be some kind of additional lake effect that develops into (Thursday) that could move along the lakeshore there, into Lake and Cook counties that could add another, say, inch or so on top of that, depending on where that band ultimately sets up,” Petr said.

The weather service reported Friday and Saturday snow totals were 2 to 4 inches across most of the Chicago area, including 3.3 inches at O’Hare International Airport and 3.6 inches in Joliet. Lake-effect snow in northwest Indiana bumped up the count to 7 inches in Chesterton and 6 inches in Portage. Overnight, the lows were expected to drop to as low as about 10 below zero in outlying areas and closer to zero near Lake Michigan.

“If the month ended now, it would rank as the third coldest on record, but we don’t think we’re gonna finish there,” Borchardt said Thursday morning. “Toward the end of the month we’re going trend back to normal. It looks like toward the end of next week, we should start to get back to normal.”

The Tornado Watch that had been in effect has been allowed to expire for all of Central Florida. SEVERE WEATHER THREAT SUNDAY MORNINGA cold front is moving through Central Florida producing downpours and storms. A few storms could be strong through the late morning, but the severe threat is lowering across Central Florida. An isolated damaging wind gust or brief tornado is still possible southeast of I-4, but the severe weather threat has come to an end along and northwest of I-4. Future radarMost of Central Florida is dry by noon.

ORLANDO, Fla. – There was yet another cold start across Central Florida as temperatures dropped into the 30s and 40s Wednesday. Feels-like temperatures dipped into the upper 20s in parts of Flagler and Brevard counties, with Ocala reaching a wind chill of 32. [TRENDING: How to get a vaccine in Fla. | Wanted: Man accused of shooting at detective | Cops: Fla. man decapitated hamster]There’s a freeze warning in effect for Orange, Lake, Flagler, Marion, Sumter, Volusia and Brevard counties through Thursday. There is also a wind chill advisory for most of the region as the wind will continue to kick up through 9 a.m. Wednesday. Expect highs in the upper 60s Thursday and the mid-70s Friday and Saturday, with rain chances returning for the weekend.

Forecasters had warned that most of the 5 to 8 inches expected in the Chicago area from a storm system that blanketed much of the Midwest would fall before 3 a.m. Tuesday, but many areas only saw a few inches. The total snowfall varied by north and south locations across the metro area, Castro said.

St. Ambrose, St. Anselm, Corpus Christi and St. Elizabeth will close for Sunday Masses, and the future of the buildings is yet to be determined. St. Thomas the Apostle will remain in its current structure, and there are no anticipated changes to Holy Angels or St. Thomas schools, officials said.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Sunshine returns by Saturday afternoon, but it will be a blustery sunshine. Winds will gust up to 25 mph an hour at times through the early evening. Even with abundant sunshine, temperatures only top out in the low 60s. Patchy frost will be possible west of I-95 with the best chance north of Orlando into Lake, interior Volusia and Marion counties. Frost potential Sunday morningSunshine will help to burn off the frost early Sunday, but clouds are quick to return by the early afternoon.

Cold weather shelters will open this weekend in Lake and Brevard counties. In Lake County, the Trinity Assembly of God shelter at 200 Urick St. in Fruitland Park will be open from 5 p.m. Saturday until 7 a.m. on Sunday. | Fla. begins COVID vaccine appointment system]Masks will be required at the shelter. In Brevard County, officials said a shelter will open at 6 p.m. Saturday at HELPS Community Initiatives, Inc. at 2833 Palm Bay Rd. in Palm Bay, and closes the following day at 7 a.m. Dinner and breakfast will be served at the location.

Arwady cited data from the Archdiocese of Chicago, which operates about 200 schools in Cook and Lake counties that have been mostly open for in-person classes since last fall. That data showed students in school had half the infection rate of those out of school, and teachers had been infected at rates similar to “adults in the community,” Arwady said.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Expect a cold start Tuesday across Central Florida, with many areas in the 30s and 40s. There is a frost advisory in effect until 8 a.m. Wednesday for Marion, Lake and inland Volusia counties. The record low is 25, set in 1937Highs will remain in the 60s on Wednesday and Thursday. We can expect highs back in the low and mid-70s by Friday. Low rain chances return by the weekend, with highs in the mid- and upper 70s.

The district includes all or parts of seven counties: DuPage, Kane, Lake, Will, McHenry, DeKalb and Kendall. Nov. 17 is the deadline for any mail-in votes to be counted if they were postmarked before or on Election Day on Nov. 3.

OCALA, Fla. – Several Central Florida school districts have canceled classes because of potential impacts from Tropical Storm Eta. The Sumter County School District said its schools will be closed Thursday but classes will resume Friday. UCF is monitoring Tropical Storm #Eta and its possible impacts in Central Florida, which could begin on Thursday morning. — UCF 😷 (@UCF) November 11, 2020Classes at the University of Florida were canceled Thursday and the campus will be closed, according to the university. UF Alert UF classes canceled, campus offices closed Thursday, Nov. 12 because of TS Eta.

The Lakeland commissioner has operated a small business in the city for 20 years. He said he never voted for a tax increase while serving as a Lakeland commissioner. The Lakeland commissioner said he will fight for the Second Amendment. Alan Cohn (D)Cohn is a Peabody Award-winning television investigative journalist and is making another run for the District 15 seat. As part of his platform, Cohn describes health care as a human right hoping to bring more affordable care to Americans and hopes to create effective policies to curb the climate crisis.

“In governor’s news conference today, one of the speakers talked about all the experts he listens to, but he’s not listening to members of the General Assembly,” Butler said. “He’s not listening to the public. He’s not listening to the owners of these businesses that are going to be gutted by these mitigations that are going into effect.”

The weather service issued a warning for significant frost risk late Sunday and early Monday, “away from the urban center of Chicago,” according to its website. Counties listed under the hazardous weather outlook were: Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry, Ogle, Will and Winnebago in Illinois and Benton, Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter in Indiana.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Election officials in three Central Florida counties will be sending mail-in ballots ahead of the November election. Officials say voters should receive their ballots by next week. : Here’s how to track your ballot]Election officials in Seminole County say their ballots will be mailed by Oct. 1. [TRENDING: Gang feud leaves 3-year-old dead | Man steals cat blood from clinic | How can I tell difference between flu and COVID-19?] Orange County officials will start sending mail-in ballots on Sept. 30.

Parents in several Central Florida counties are getting their kids ready to go back to school. Monday marks the first day of school for students in Osceola, Flagler, Brevard, Sumter, Marion and Lake counties. In Marion County, school district officials said 70% of students signed up for traditional learning with the remainder of students learning online. On Friday, Emerald Shores Elementary School principal Stacy Houston said the school was putting the final touches on their safety measures. Lake County schools held a nearly two-hour-long Question and Answer session this weekend to help students and families prepare for Lake County Virtual School.

The reenergized movement against racial inequality and police brutality following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis has amplified the voices of Black candidates across the country. Its just a total shift.The reenergized movement against racial inequality has amplified the voices of Black candidates, in some cases pushing the political debate over race into Republican-leaning areas. Democrats say they've seen a significant boost in fundraising and other engagement for candidates running on racial justice issues, and believe it could help the party flip some Republican-held districts in November. It was the kind of fundraising appeal that typically would bring in about $1.50 for every $1 a congressional campaign spent on the ad buy. Other Black candidates are seeing a similar trend, she said.

ORLANDO, Fla. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation received 278 complaints against Central Florida businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, according to records obtained by News 6. Records show complaints were made against a variety of business, including restaurants, retail stores, hair salons and rental properties. Kissimmee businesses saw the most complaints with 45 registered with the state, while Orlando saw the second highest number with its businesses receiving 39 complaints. This is one of the complaints filed with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation amid the coronavirus pandemic. RG also saw a single complaint during the coronavirus shutdown claiming it was open when it should have been closed.

Meanwhile local hospitals are keeping their guard up with coronavirus policies and those in the real estate industry are hoping for a rebound after the virus slowed a boom. And many shops are going to shorter hours,But theres an air of positivity among the small business community. While they stayed open, real estate companies like Grizzard were forced to adapt. And as the economy begins to rebound, the hope is for a quick turnaround and not just in the real estate market. Twenty years ago when they were remodeling the streets, everyone said it would take out the small businesses but here we are.

TAVARES AdventHealth said on Saturday that its partnership with a third-party COVID-19 testing lab was terminated after the lab failed to deliver timely, or reliable, results. In other cases, test results were considered unreliable, with some symptomatic patients receiving a negative result. Letters and some phone calls will be sent out to patients impacted. If a person had unreliable negative results but are asymptomatic, they will be offered retesting if they ask for it. AdventHealth also reminded people that if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, the general rule of thumb is that they should sign up for testing.

"We are accepting cash, checks (payable to Project SOS) or grocery store gift cards," said Kadow. Individual donors or organizations wishing to make large, in-kind donations are encouraged to contact Gary direct at 352-430-0567 or via e-mail at gkadow@aol.com. But one of its major tenets -- the idea of "getting it right" in the very beginning -- was a sound one. I love the direct simplicity of our forgiving Lord who, post-event, said: Go and sin no more (John 8:11).Make a mistake? Join Keith Friday mornings on 1410 AM with station manager James Floyd and Air Force Vietnam veteran Bob Peters.

No Senior Night, when players walk the field with parents, while their memories and future goals are read aloud to teammates and an adoring crowd. Theres still a chance albeit very slight something can be salvaged out of what seems like a lost spring season. "Today, I would been preparing everything to make sure it was perfect for your Senior Night. Tonight, I would have been a big fat emotional mess reading your Senior Night scripts. Thank you to those in the Class of 2020 playing spring sports.

No Senior Night, when players walk the field with parents, while their memories and future goals are read aloud to teammates and an adoring crowd. Theres still a chance albeit very slight something can be salvaged out of what seems like a lost spring season. "Today, I would been preparing everything to make sure it was perfect for your Senior Night. Tonight, I would have been a big fat emotional mess reading your Senior Night scripts. Thank you to those in the Class of 2020 playing spring sports.

LEESBURG According to the Florida Department of Healths most recent report, Lake and Sumter Counties each have 29 coronavirus cases. However, according the the DOHs interactive COVID-19 map, Lake County cases were found in people ages 21 to 85, the average age being 55. In the neighboring Sumter County, where most of The Villages is, the average age for infected people is 66. The map also showed that nine people have been hospitalized in Sumter and eight have been in Lake. Currently, there have been no deaths from coronavirus in either Lake or Sumter county.

In the Department of Healths Thursday afternoon coronavirus update, the number of Lake cases jumped to 25 and Sumters to 24. LEESBURG In the Department of Healths Thursday afternoon coronavirus update, the number of Lake cases jumped to 25 and Sumters to 24. Here are the seven new Lake cases:A 74-year-old woman who recently traveled to Europe tested positive.A 58-year-old woman tested positive. (This case was previously listed as a Lake County case by the Florida Department of Health. One is unknown and two of the Lake cases were found in a non-Florida resident.

Food will be available for pickup starting next week at most schools in Lake, rather than the initial five announced earlier this week. The meals will be available starting March 23 and will be distributed by staff at school car loops from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. TAVARES In response to Governor Ron DeSantis announcement extending school closures to April 15, the Lake County School District will expand free meal distribution in the weeks ahead. Food will be available for pickup starting next week at most schools in Lake, rather than the initial five announced earlier this week. This content is being provided for free as a public service to our readers during the coronavirus outbreak.

Boys basketball coaches in Lake and Sumter counties have been working quietly since the season ended about two weeks ago to create an in-season tournament designed to crown a true area champion. Thats what boys basketball coaches in Lake and Sumter counties have been up to since the season ended a couple of weeks ago. For the first time ever, one team will be able to boast it is the best in Lake and Sumter counties. Kudos to the boys basketball coaches in Lake and Sumter counties. Its truly a gift for all area basketball fans.

ORLANDO, Fla.- – Be mindful of open flames across Central Florida Saturday. The dry vegetation combined with low relative humidity and gusty winds is creating dangerous fire conditions. Gusty northeast winds could quickly spread any fire that got started. The fire danger is elevated across of Central Florida, but the counties not included in the warning don’t quite meet the warning criteria. As the sun goes down, the relative humidity increases improving the situation.

So Lake and Sumter counties will not be represented at the Florida High School Athletic Association state basketball championships this week and next in Lakeland. Did the level of basketball fall this season off in Lake and Sumter counties? Six boys and girls teams Wildwood (boys and girls), Eustis (girls), Mount Dora Christian Academy (boys), The Villages (boys) Leesburg (boys) reached the regional semifinals this season, with both Wildwood teams playing in regional championship games. In Class 1A, Wildwood boys and girls teams fell victim to the postseason brackets. For years now, Ive boasted that Lake and Sumter counties differ from other areas in Florida.

And during that span, area programs delivered six state championships Leesburgs boys team won titles in 2011, 2017 and 2018; Wildwoods girls earned back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018; and, the Wildwood boys won it all in 2018. Marcus Niblack, in his final game at Wildwood, led all scorers with 27 points and Buster Corbin added nine. Ricardo Wright, in his final game with the Buffalo, led all scorers with 28 points. OCP will host Ocoee Central Florida Christian Academy in Fridays regional championship game. Its losses were to CFCA in the District 10 championship game and OCP.

Laramy Strickland grew up fishing many of the waterways in Lake and Sumter counties. However, it was largely the knowledge he gained duck hunting on the Harris Chain of Lakes that paid off in a big way on Sunday. LEESBURG Laramy Strickland grew up fishing many of the waterways in Lake and Sumter counties. However, it was largely the knowledge he gained duck hunting on the Harris Chain of Lakes that paid off in a big way on Sunday. The 2015 South Sumter High School graduate landed 15 bass over three days, totaling 61 pounds, 4 ounces, to win the FLW Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit stop on the Harris Chain of Lakes.

For this reason, the two organizations have partnered up to bring free, reputable tax preparation to Lake County at the Leesburg Goodwill for tax season. Its often the middle class that gets cut short so we are offering completely free tax prep.The United Ways Volunteer Income Tax Assistant (VITA) program trains volunteers to become certified tax preparers through their program in the fall so they are ready for tax season. Each preparer must pass the certified IRS exam and each tax return undergoes a two-stage process to ensure the best service. We assist about 600 people each tax season here in Leesburg, McKeam said. She got $3,000 back but the tax preparer kept $1,000 in fees and then months later the IRS asked her to prove her income.

Six boys basketball teams from Lake and Sumter counties will continue towards next months state finals in Lakeland later this week when regional play begins. Six area boys basketball programs begin play Thursday in the Florida High School Athletic Association regional playoffs, based winning district tournaments and rankings. Wildwood and The Villages will host opening-round games as district champions in classes 1A and 4A, respectively, while Leesburg, Eustis, Mount Dora Christian Academy and First Academy of Leesburg earned at-large bids based on MaxPreps computer rankings. The four highest-ranked teams in each region which did not win district titles earned at-large bids. A win would catapult Wildwood in the regional finals against Pahokee or Hawthorne (21-3).

click to enlarge Photo via Central Florida Jobs with JusticeBrevard, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole and Volusia counties. Fund Our Future campaign started by Florida Education Association, which fights for further investment in teachers, public schools and students. "After the rally in Tallahassee, the momentum continues as educators and all public school employees ask the Legislature to fund our future," said Wendy Doromal, president of the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association, in a press release. "We will be gathering at Lake Eola to let policymakers know that we want to make sure this is really the 'Year of the Teacher.'" Lake Eola Park, at 512 E. Washington St., on Saturday from 1 - 3 p.m. "The Rally Continues" rally at the Northeast lawn ofclick to enlarge Photo via Central Florida Jobs with JusticeFollowing the January teacher rally in Tallahassee to demand higher wages, which saw tens of thousands of participants, Central Florida educators are holding another rally at Lake Eola Park for more funding for public education.Some 1,500 people are expected to join in, according to rally organizers, including educators, teachers, students and union reps fromThe January "Take on Tallahassee" rally at the capitol and downtown Orlando's "The Rally Continues" this weekend both sparked by the statewide

Registration is required for each event, and can be handled by visiting the school district website. TAVARES Roughly a year after offering them in 2019, Lake County Schools will once again offer a four-part Become a Teacher series beginning this month for people interested in careers in Lake schools. A virtual job fair and open house is scheduled for 4p.m. Finally, the 2020 teacher job fair, the countys biggest hiring event each year, is set for April 25 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Registration is required for each event, and can be handled by visiting the school district website.

click to enlarge Photo via Google MapsIt's Leesburg, not "Skeezburg," High SchoolIf you spotted "Tatas High School" on Google last week, that's not the name of a new Lake County magnet school. It turns out, hackers changed the names of schools in Seminole and Lake counties on the world's most popular search engine.Fox 35 reported that Leesburg High School administrators discovered their new "Tatas" rebranding, along with the location changed to "Skeezburg," and the principal's name to "Megamind. "Lake Mary High School, unfortunately, had their name on Google changed to the lazily homophobic "Lake Mary Gay School," putting a serious damper on the fun.Officials from both school districts immediately set out to have their search results changed back. This juvenile prank, however, hasn't been so easy to reverse.Lake Mary Schools officials say that when they changed their name back on Google, it remained stalled as "Lake Mary School" on the site, without the "High." As of Monday night, a Google search still displays the abbreviated "Lake Mary School.

The Argonauts transformed that turnover into a field goal for a 24-14 lead and sparked West Florida to a 38-21 lead at halftime. From there, West Florida held off the Mavericks for a 48-40 win and the first national championship in program history. a redshirt sophomore who transferred to West Florida and was redshirted in 2018 following his freshman season at Houston Baptist, also broke up one pass and forced a fumble. The Bulldogs won the Cletus Stutzman Holiday Classic on Dec. 21 with a 38-36 win in the title game against Orlando Freedom. A week later, MDCA cruised past Starke Bradford 95-66 to win the MDCA Holiday Classic.

We had the chance to visit with 94-year-old WWII fighter pilot Charlie Konsler in Clermont; Umatilla's Russell Collins, a two-service NCO whose Air Force buddies included Johnny Cash; and Martha Monroe, a Desert Storm warrior who made a career of breaking glass ceilings. Robert Dunston, who stood up against racial injustice in the Armed Forces before it was in vogue to do so. EDITOR'S NOTE: We're betting you know a hard-charging veteran at work or in your neighborhood (or perhaps in your own family!) who should be featured on these pages. Please give us an e-shout via lzlakehawk@gmail.com.

LEESBURG With less than a week until Christmas, the Salvation Army finds itself falling behind in its 2019 Red Kettle Campaign goal of collecting $330,898. "Less days has resulted in us falling significantly behind as we work towards our 2019 kettle goal," Lt. Chris Doborwicz, administrator for The Salvation Army for Lake and Sumter Counties, said in a statement. The bells will continue to ring outside stores through Christmas Eve. "We are so grateful for the ongoing financial support and generosity shown to The Salvation Army," Doborwicz said. Donations to The Salvation Army may also be made online at SalvationArmyFlorida.org/give or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

We just have so many donations this year, we hardly have enough room for it all.Donations are at an all-time high for the Toys for Tots of Lake and Sumter County, with 32,000 toys and bicycles already packaged and ready for distribution with more donations still rolling in. Weve already given over 2,000 toys with bicycles to Sumter County juvenile court and the Salvation Army for distribution, Ward said. However, he has already purchased more than $100,000 in toys from monetary donations that he said is largely spent on toys for older kids. For those who have registered to receive gifts, distribution begins Monday and goes through Friday. However, for those who have not registered, open distribution will begin Dec. 21 at 8 a.m. on a first come, first served basis.

There are three Wreaths Across America events in Lake, and one in Sumter County. LEESBURG Leesburgs Lone Oak Cemetery will join memorial grounds across the nation in holding a Wreaths Across America memorial ceremony for fallen soldiers and veterans. Elsewhere in Lake, Wreaths Across America events are happening in two locations:Residents of South Lake County can attend a ceremony at Oak Hill Cemetery at 945 East Ave., Clermont. The cemetery is holding a centralized ceremony for others in the area, including Astatula Cemetery, Ferndale Cemetery, Oakland Cemetery, Minneola Cemetery and Montverde Cemetery. The ceremony is sponsored by the Friends of South Lake County, the American Legion Auxilliary South Lake Memorial Unit 55 among others, according to the Wreaths Across America organizing page.

ORLANDO – We are heading into the coldest night of the winter so far this season. Freeze warnings are in effect for Marion, Flagler, Lake, Sumter, and Inland Volusia counties. The low in Orlando will be 38Tomorrow will bring the turn-around. The low tomorrow night will be in the 40s. By Thursday we go all the way back to normal with a high in the 70s.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Storm storms swept across Central Florida Sunday bringing lots of rain and hail in some areas. Tornado warnings were issued for Marion, Flagler and Volusia Counties and expanded into Seminole, Lake, Orange and Brevard as the line of storms moved through the afternoon. Daytona International Speedway officials evacuated the grandstands after the Daytona 500 Race had to be stopped because of the storms. Several fans told Local 6 they couldn't stand the rain, so many called it a night early, missing most of the race. Several viewers sent pictures to Local 6 of hail that came down in Sanford.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Thick fog blanketed much of Central Florida on Tuesday morning, and temperatues in the 80s are expected for the region through the end of the week. Dense fog advisories for Volusia, Lake, Osceola, Brevard, Seminole and Orange counties expired at 9 a.m. Rain on Monday saturated the ground, trapping moisture and causing the fog to form. Overnight lows into Wednesday morning will hover near 63 degrees. No rain is forecast through the rest of the week.