Five Star Veterans get volunteer boost, Bondi challenges marijuana bill, and a deadlocked jury in the Heinze murder trial 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.
Five Star Veterans Center gets volunteer renovations: Jacksonville's Five Star Veterans Center, which could've closed after getting wrapped up in the Allied Veterans of the World gambling scandal, is getting some work done through volunteers and a grant from the Hope Depot.
AG Bondi challenging medical marijuana bill: Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has asked the state's top court to review the legality of an amendment to allow medical marijuana in the state. (AP)
Heinze jury to return after deadlock: After working for a second day with no agreement, the jury in the Guy Heinze Jr. multiple murder trial will return to deliberations in Brunswick this morning. (News4Jax)
Khan pushes for more Jags play in London: Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan wants the team to play at Craven Cottage in London, home of his other sports venture, Fulham Football Club. (Jacksonville Business Journal)
Another mistakenly released inmate back in state custody: John Lanard Baker, convicted burglar and inmate, is back in custody after officials mistakenly did not place a detainment order as he appeared in court to answer other charges in a jurisdiction away from where he was jailed. (WPTV)
Cops looking for brother of escapee murder victim: Orlando Police are looking to find Willie Slater Jr., the brother of Cedric Slater, who was killed by recently escaped and recaptured state prison inmate Charles Walker, for making threats against Walker's family. (NBC News)
Florida students score above nation averages, below foreign nations in math and science: Florida eighth-graders ranked 39th in math and 42nd in science in recently released international rankings based on 2011 test results. (Orlando Sentinel)
Today on First Coast Connect, we start the show with our Friday media roundtable. Also, live chamber music from Beaches Fine Arts.
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.
