Former JTA CEO Michael Blaylock, a high-speed police chase in San Marco, and the city's fight against blight are all in the headlines today.
Welcome to WJCT First Read, your daily weekday morning round-up of stories from the First Coast, around Florida, and across the country. We'll also preview some of WJCT's upcoming news programming.
Today's Weather
In Jacksonville expect patchy fog before 10 a.m. and isolated showers after 4 p.m. Otherwise, skies will be partly sunny, with a high near 83 degrees. Breezy, with a south wind 7 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent. Tonight there should be scattered showers and thunderstorms. Skies will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 54 degrees. West wind 8 to 14 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.
At the Beaches there will be patchy fog before 10 a.m. and isolated showers after 5 p.m. Otherwise, skies will be partly sunny, with a high near 75 degrees. South wind 6 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 10 percent. Tonight expect isolated showers before 8 p.m., then scattered showers and thunderstorms between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m., then scattered showers after 1 a.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 52 degrees. Breezy, with a west wind 7 to 12 mph becoming north 13 to 18 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. (National Weather Service)
Headlines
The city of Jacksonville debuted a smartphone app to help clean up blight. The MyJax app can be used to take a picture of spotted urban blight and report it to the city so it can be fixed. (WJCT)
The winter storm affecting most of the country has shut down almost 30 flights at Jacksonville International Airport to and from Chicago, New York, Texas and Washington. (News4Jax)
According to a report by a city auditor, former Jacksonville Transportation Authority CEO Michael Blaylock was overpaid by $130,000 in salary and severance. (The Florida Times-Union)
A group challenging the Congressional district maps drawn in 2012 are asking Florida Supreme Court Justices to order the maps be redrawn, alleging that the redistricting process was highly partisan. (WJCT)
A high-speed police chase ended in San Marco. Police chased the man accused of grand theft auto, possession of marijuana and driving under the influence from Emerson Street, down Hendricks Avenue and finally forced the man to stop by bumping the rear side panel of the car with a police vehicle on San Marco. The maneuver, known as the precision immobilization technique, caused the car to spin and come to a stop. (News4Jax)
Will Rogers, a former St. Johns County inspector, pleaded guilty to extortion charges, and could face up to 20 years in prison. (WJCT)
A poll conducted by the Public Opinion Research Laboratory at the University of North Florida finds voters largely undecided in upcoming Jacksonville election. (WJCT)
Today on First Coast Connect, Lawrence Datz joins Melissa Ross to discuss how the legalization of gay marriage could lead to an adoption boom. The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville presents international lecturer Vito Di Bari, a preview of the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library Book Sale, and Kerry Speckman shares all the events happening this weekend Around Town.
You can get all the latest headlines online at WJCTNews.org, on our Facebook page and on Twitter @WJCTJax. You can follow Ray Hollister on Twitter @RayHollister.
