City lawmakers debate into the wee hours, balloons to fly in hopes for justice, and county officials allowing "Navigators" in their health offices are in headlines this morning.
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 City Council ends budget debate at 2 a.m., set to reconvene this afternoon: City lawmakers only made it through about half of more than 40 amendments proposed for the 2013-2014 budget before ending their meeting this morning at around 2:15 a.m.
State lawmakers hold opening meeting on sex offense reform: At a hearing in Tallahassee yesterday, state lawmakers discussed reforming how the state deals with sex offenders following the kidnapping, sexual assault, and murder of 8-year-old Jacksonville resident Cherish Perrywinkle earlier this year. (Florida Times-Union)
Event to keep justice for teen shooting victims in sight: Friends and family members of slain Jacksonville teenagers Jazmine Shelton and Megan Simmons will release balloons tonight to keep the case in the public eye. No arrests have been made in the shootings. (News4Jax)
Jaxport gets chunk of state port funding: Jacksonville's shipping terminal will get $27 million from the state for wharf rehabilitation and other projects. The funding is part of $150 million in bond proceeds approved for distribution to state ports. The funding will not be used for dredging in Jacksonville. (Jacksonville Business Journal, Sunshine State News)
Counties buck Scott ban on healthcare 'Navigators': Officials in Pinellas and Broward Counties say they will allow federally appointed "Navigators" to help residents get insurance through the Affordable Care Act despite Gov. Rick Scott denying the Navigators access to state health department offices. (Florida Center for Investigative Reporting)
Drug deaths down 9 percent: State law enforcement officials say that drug-related deaths are down 9 percent when compared to 2011. (WCTV Tallahassee)
Today on First Coast Connect, "Laverne and Shirley" star Cindy Williams will join us in studio. She's starring in Alhambra Theatre's latest production, Weekend Comedy.
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.
