UF Health Jax CEO presents his plan to keep Jacksonville’s only Level I trauma center open, federal officials are fighting back against Gov. Scott’s claims that the Obama administration is trying to force Florida to expand Medicaid in order to receive the ‘LIP’ funding that would keep UF Health Jax open, and CSX and Amtrak officials are investigating whether the crossing arms came down at an intersection where an Amtrak passenger train ripped a car into two pieces Tuesday afternoon.
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 6 stories you don’t want to miss.
UF Health Jax CEO Proposes Independent Tax District To Keep Hospital Open
UF Health Jax CEO Russ Armistead proposes the City of Jacksonville help fund UF Health through an independent tax district. He says this is how other cities like Tampa, Miami or Orlando provide funding for safety net hospitals.
School Board Members, Civic Leaders Meet To Find Solution To Stop Gang Violence
Concerned neighbors met at a church on the northwest side of Jacksonville to talk about how to help kids in their community.
Florida Reveals New NASCAR Specialty Tag
Three race cars rounding the banked turn of the Daytona speedway adorn the new NASCAR plates.
Feds Take Aim At Scott 'LIP' Lawsuit
Describing the state's arguments as "baseless," federal officials this week fired back in court against Gov. Rick Scott's contention that the Obama administration has unconstitutionally tried to link expanding Medicaid with the continuation of a key health-care funding program.
Three Injured In Attempt To Outrun Train In Riverside
Family members of the victims said that crossing arms were not down when the train came through the crossing, and video from a nearby business appears to show the arms up at the time.
Mayo Clinic: Don’t Skimp On Sunscreen, Jacksonville
Dr. Richard Joseph, an oncologist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, says men need to get better at putting on sunscreen every time they go outside. That’s because their risk of developing deadly melanoma skin cancer is 1 in 37. For women, that risk is 1 in 60.
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.
