A nonprofit, affordable housing developer in Jacksonville has started a crowdfunding campaign to help homeless people transition into their new homes, a man opened fire in a movie theater in Louisiana, killing three people including himself and injuring seven others, the Jacksonville Cannons, the city’s first professional ultimate frisbee team, is heading to the playoffs this week, and seven other stories you don’t want to miss.
Welcome to WJCT First Read, your daily weekday morning round-up of stories from the First Coast, around Florida and across the country.
Here are 9 stories you don’t want to miss.
Nonprofit Using Crowdfunding To Help Move Homeless People Into Homes
Ability Housing, a Jacksonville nonprofit, is turning to an Internet crowdfunding campaign to help ease people’s transition from the streets to their own homes.
3 Dead, 7 Injured In Shooting At Louisiana Movie Theater
Emergency personnel in Lafayette, La., say a gunman opened fire in a movie theater during a Thursday night screening of ‘Trainwreck,’ and that the gunman and two other person were killed, and seven were injured.
Florida's Infant Mortality Rate Lowest in State History, But Increasing In Duval
According to recently released state data, Florida’s infant-mortality rate is dropping, but Duval County’s infant mortality rate continues to increase, year over year.
Walkway On UNF Campus Damaged By Truck
The area of UNF Drive under the walkway connecting UNF Arena to the Arena parking garage will be closed until at least Monday after a truck hit the walkover Thursday afternoon.
Beaches Library Hosts Forum To Answer More Questions
Renovations at the Beaches public library are nearly a year behind schedule. At a public forum earlier this month, library patrons left with some unanswered questions about the project.
Jacksonville Cannons Head To Playoffs In Inaugural Season
The Jacksonville Cannons are the city’s first-ever professional Ultimate Frisbee team, and this weekend they're heading to the playoffs of the American Ultimate Disk League in their inaugural season.
Push For Open Primary Begins In Florida As NPA, Independent Voters Gain More Clout
A non-partisan organization wants to change the way Florida’s elected officials are chosen. That means tapping into the state’s nearly 2.9 million No Party Affiliated voters, who are largely locked out of state primaries.
Wal-Mart Doesn't Want To Pay Conservation Charge
Wal-Mart doesn't think it should have to pay energy conservation charges like everyone else. The retail giant says it can conserve more power on its own its own.
Florida Attorney General Bondi Joins Fight Against Robocall Scams
In a joint-letter Florida’s Attorney General Pam Bondi and 44 other state Attorneys General are asking mobile phone carriers to make call-blocking technology available to customers. The letter asks companies that already provide the technology to alert customers about their options to block scam phone calls.
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