Christmas on Crystal Springs, the House District 13 special election, and the Laura Street Trio 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 there will be areas of dense fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 74 degrees. Tonight partly cloudy, with a low around 49 degrees.
At the Beaches today will be sunny, with a high near 70 degrees. Tonight should be partly cloudy, with a low around 50 degrees. (National Weather Service)
Jacksonville's House District 13 special election primary held today
The primary election for the Florida House of Representatives District 13, which includes most of Downtown Jacksonville and surrounding neighborhoods, is today. This special election is occurring because of a mistake on former state Rep. Reggie Fullwood's paperwork. (WJCT)
GOP Chairman Rick Hartley offers apology for GOP leader's insensitive tweets
Leaders from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) met with outgoing GOP Chairman Rick Hartley to discuss the comments that Duval GOP Secretary Kim Crenier made on Twitter after the grand jury decision to not indict Missouri police officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown. Hartley wrote a letter to the SCLC in which he and the Republican Party of Duval County condemned the tweets and apologized for them. (News4Jax)
Bondi asks Supreme Court for emergency stay on gay marriage
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a request with the U.S. Supreme Court to keep the hold on gay marriage in place after her earlier request to the federal appeals court had been rejected. (WJCT)
Westside family's home featured on "The Great Christmas Light Fight"
Darren Huffty's house in the Crystal Springs neighborhood with its 91,800 Christmas lights was featured on the ABC reality show. (First Coast News)
Laura Street Trio to become home to Courtyard by Marriott
Winegardner & Hammons of Cincinnati has signed an agreement to run the hotel, and construction in the historic downtown buildings will start early next year. The hotel is expected to open in late 2016. (The Florida Times-Union)
The state of Florida's budget surplus nearing $1 billion
Governor Scott recommended that the additional revenue be used to increase spending in education and cut taxes. (The Florida Times-Union)
Today on First Coast Connect, Action News law and safety expert and former FBI agent Dale Carson joins Melissa Ross to discuss the U.S. Department of Justice's investigation into Florida prisons. Food historian Jeff Spear joins the show to talk about holiday cuisine traditions.
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.
