Nikolai Vitti, bikini bars, and Florida CONNECT 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.
Vitti proposes creation of four K-6 schools: As part of his efforts to keep kids in Duval County Public Schools, Superintendent Nikolai Vitti has proposed adding sixth grade class to four underutilized elementary schools. (WJCT)
Plane, bodies found in Brunswick: On Wednesday afternoon, investigators found the wreckage of the small plane that crashed Monday evening near Brunswick and the bodies of the two people who were on board . (News4Jax)
Jax lawmakers amend city bikini bar regulations: At a Tuesday meeting, the Jacksonville City Council added language to city code that would apply regulations for bikini bars to “any establishment where during its hours of operation any worker wearing sexually provocative attire dances erotically.” (Florida Times-Union)
Key part of Florida unemployment system still incomplete: Officials with the U.S. Department of Labor say they will continue to monitor Florida's CONNECT system and that a key function is still not available to all users. (Bradenton Herald)
Nelson lobbies for alternative Medicaid expansion plan: In a letter to the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson outlined a plan to use local funding to support statewide Medicaid expansion. (Tampa Bay Times)
Florida Senate approves flood insurance bill: The Florida Senate unanimously passed a bill Wednesday to encourage more private companies to offer flood insurance policies in the state with the gial of driving prices down. (Naples Daily News)
Pharmacy fraud spreading across state: During a hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Aging, a federal investigator told lawmakers pharmaceutical fraud has become a rampant problem across Florida. (South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Brevard judge rules EDC records are public: A judge in Brevard County has ruled that that records of the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast are open to the public. (Florida Today)
Thirteen of 24 Florida public colleges offering $10,000 degrees: The Florida Department of Education says that 13 of 24 Florida College System schools are offering $10,000 bachelor's degree programs, an initiative Gov. Rick Scott has been pushing since 2012. (WTSP)
Gators to take on Bruins in Sweet Sixteen action: The Florida Gators men's basketball team will face the UCLA Bruins tonight at 9:45 p.m. in Memphis during the Sweet Sixteen round of NCAA March Madness. (Orlando Sentinel)
Today on First Coast Connect, University of North Florida student body government president and Florida Student Association Chairman Carlo Fassi on increased higher education funding and allowing in-state tuition rates for the children of undocumented immigrants.
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.
