Operation Ceasefire, the Bostwick Building, and Rep. Charles Van Zant are 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.
Jax Sheriff announces program to combat gun violence: Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford, along with other city leaders, revealed at a Tuesday press conference the details of an anti-crime initiative called Operation Ceasefire, which began at the start of May in response to increased gun violence. (WJCT)
SWAT arrests suicidal gunman: A man armed with a handgun and threatening suicide inside a Westside apartment with two children and a woman was taken into custody early Wednesday morning by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office SWAT Team. (News4Jax)
Jacksonville ranked third most dangerous city for walking: A new report ranks the Jacksonville metro area as the third most dangerous place for pedestrians in the country with 359 pedestrian deaths from 2003 to 2012. (WJCT)
Bostwick Building scheduled for auction in July: A circuit court judge has ordered as part of foreclosure proceedings that the historic Bostwick Building in downtown Jacksonville be sold at auction on July 21. (Jacksonville Business Journal)
Van Zant stands by AIR gay comments: Palatka State Rep. Charles Van Zant is sticking by statements he made at a conference in March that the company contracted to design Florida's new standardized tests is part of an agenda to turn kids in the state gay. (First Coast News)
Lawmakers, law enforcement unsure how 'Warning Shot' bill affects Stand Your Ground: Some State lawmakers aren't clear on whether the so-called "warning shot" bill now awaiting the signature of Gov. Rick Scott would strengthen or weaken the state's Stand Your Ground statute. (Bradenton Herald)
U.S. House approves port funding: The U.S. House on Tuesday approved the Water Resources Development Act, which includes funding for two port projects in Jacksonville. (South Florida Sun Sentinel)
South Florida man acquitted in uranium case: A federal jury in West Palm Beach has acquitted a Sierra Leone man on charges of attempting to illegally broker uranium ore shipments to Iran. (CBS News)
FSU holds hearing in Winston assault case: Florida State University held it's first student disciplinary hearing in connection with rape allegations made against star quarterback Jameis Winston in 2012. (The New York Times)
Jasper woman pleads guilty to anthrax hoax letters: A woman from the small town of Jasper pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Friday to mailing two letters with cornstarch to U.S. Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio in 2011 as part of a gossip campaign aimed at an interracial couple who lived next door. (Florida Times-Union)
This morning WJCT's Cyd Hoskinson will be reporting from JAXPORT as Gov. Rick Scott pays a visit as part of his reelection campaign.
Today on First Coast Connect, what impacts do Floridians face from the threat of climate change? We'll speak with Alexandra L. Parsons, archeologist with the National Park Service's Southeast Archaeological Center, and Adam Markham, director of the Climate Impacts Initiative with the Union of Concerned Scientists.
You can get all the latest headlines online at WJCTNews.org, on our Facebook page, and on Twitter @WJCTJax. You can follow Patrick Donges on Twitter at @patrickhdonges.
