Crowdfunding the classroom, state lawmakers hear gambling debate, and glitches with the state's new unemployment benefits website 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.
PowerUp Jax brings crowdfunding to the classroom: A new program from the Jacksonville Public Education Fund will allow teachers to solicit donations for education initiatives online.
St. Johns deepening proponents to make another push for approval: JaxPort officials and local politician advocating for Congressional approval to deepen Jacksonville's shipping lane will lobby again when the House and Senate meet to reconcile their versions of the Water Resources Development Act. (Florida Times-Union)
Jury instructions delivered in Heinze murder trial: Jurors in Brunswick will decide whether 26-year-old Guy Heinze Jr. killed 8 people, including his father, in 2009. (News4Jax)
Gov. Scott in Gainesville to welcome businesses to Florida: Governor Rick Scott helped break ground on a manufacturing center and attended the opening of a Philadelphia-based advertising firm's new offices in Gainesville on Wednesday. (WUFT)
Florida lawmakers hear both sides of gambling debate: At the first of four hearings before the Florida Senate Gaming Committee, residents told state legislators their pros and cons of expanding gambling in the state. (Tampa Bay Times)
State admits ongoing glitches with new unemployment website: The state's Department of Economic Opportunity is admitting 'Obamacare-esque' problems with it's new unemployment benefits website. (Miami Herald)
Seminole County teacher suspended for taping students: From our ONLY IN FLORIDA file, high school science teacher Greg Sims will be suspended for five days after he taped a student's hands and attempted to tape their mouth shut for disruptive activity. (Fox News)
Today on First Coast Connect, the First Coast leads the state for number of incarcerated juvenile girls. We'll speak with Lawanda Ravoria, president and CEO of the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center.
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.
