Bridge to Success, Hemming Plaza, and water taxis 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.
Duval Bridge to Success program gets mixed grades: Duval County Public Schools will offer teachers who are part of the district's Bridge to Success academies a $3,000 raise in hopes of boosting the number of highly effective teachers in the program. (WJCT)
Public-private partnership formed for Hemming Plaza revitalization: The Jacksonville Parks Department and the Downtown Investment Authority have partnered to provide $1 million to revamp Hemming Plaza in downtown Jacksonville over the next 18 months. (WJCT)
Arrest made in Jax cab driver's murder: Rohbanni Wilson, 23, was arrested and booked into the Duval County jail Wednesday night and charged with the June 7 murder of Jacksonville taxi driver Stuart Carson. (News4Jax)
Water taxi manufacturer refuses refund, will ship second boat: The boat manufacturer from whom Jacksonville officials purchased two water taxis this month has already received payment for both vessels and will not be issuing a refund. (Jacksonville Business Journal)
Moody's downgrades Jacksonville's debt rating over pension costs: Moody’s has downgraded Jacksonville's issuer rating and the rating on some special revenue bonds due to the rising cost of the city's pension obligations. (Florida Times-Union)
Third execution following botch Oklahoma lethal injection: Convicted killer John Ruthell Henry was executed lethal injection Wednesday at Florida State Prison, becoming the third inmate to be put to death since the botched execution of an Oklahoma prisoner in April. (NPR)
Today on First Coast Connect, Evan Nison, director of the east coast cannabis division of agricultural technology firm TerraTech, on growing medical marijuana in Florida following this week's passage of the so-called "Charlotte's Web" law allowing the use of some strains for medical treatment.
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.
