The University of Florida, Marissa Alexander, and marijuana 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.
Stabbing suspect still at large at University of Florida: Police in Gainesville are investigating a stabbing this morning at the University of Florida with a suspect still at large. (News4Jax)
Florida Legislature to convene for session this week: State legislators are set to start their annual 60-day lawmaking session on Tuesday with taxes, marijuana, and gambling among the top issues up for discussion. (Orlando Sentinel)
Corey seeks 60 year sentence for Marissa Alexander: The Office of State Attorney Angela Corey will seek to put Marissa Alexander in prison for 60 years if it succeeds in convicting her for a second time for firing a shot in the direction of her estranged husband. (Florida Times-Union)
Feds to fine Florida for limiting Medicaid ER visits: The federal government will penalize the state by withholding a portion of Medicaid funding after discovering that Florida has been limiting Medicaid patients to six emergency room visits a year. (Bradenton Herald)
Recreational marijuana bill filed in Florida Senate: A bill that would allow Florida residents 21 or older to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and cultivate up to six marijuana plants has been filed in the Florida Senate. (News Service of Florida)
Florida NAACP to launch social justice campaign: The NAACP Florida State Conference, in partnership with several other state organizations, will launch a social justice campaign today in Tallahassee. (WTXL)
U.S. Supreme Court to discuss Florida execution policy: The U.S. Supreme Court will consider today whether Florida's bright-line rule for determining whether defendants are "mentally retarded" and thus ineligible for the death penalty violates the Constitution. (Wall Street Journal)
Venezuela, Ukraine crises put spotlight back on Marco Rubio: Having recently faded from public view, Republican junior U.S. Senator Marco Rubio is making the rounds again on cable news. (Miami Herald)
Today on First Coast Connect, former Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Hazouri on the city's pension crisis. Also, WJCT's David Luckin on tomorrow night's Electro Lounge Live event at Lillie's Coffee Bar in Neptune Beach.
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.
