The USS Roosevelt, St. Johns River taxi and a motorcycle ride to honor Jordan Davis 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.
Crew of USS Roosevelt makes it home for the holidays
Smiles, tears and even a marriage proposal were all in the mix as the USS Roosevelt came home to Naval Station Mayport after being deployed for nine months. (WJCT via News4Jax)
Motorcyclists ride in honor of Jordan Davis
On the two-anniversary of the shooting that took the 17-year-old's life, bikers celebrated his life with a motorcycle ride through Jacksonville. Harold McLeod, a member of the No Laughing Matter Bike Club organized the ride to honor Davis. (News4Jax, Action News Jax)
9-year-old boy completes cross-counry bike trip, ending in St. Augustine
C.J. Burford dipped his bicycle's back wheel in the Pacific Ocean on September 1 and dipped his front wheel into the Atlantic Ocean November 22. The homeschooled 4th grader began his trip in Oceanside, California and traveled almost 2,700 miles across the country. Burford raised $25,000 for the National Children's Cancer Society. (Action News Jax)
Jacksonville area retails stores hiring seasonal employees for the holidays
Target, Walmart, Toys R Us and JC Penney are all on the list of companies hiring seasonal employees to brace for the holiday shopping rush. (News4Jax)
St. John's River taxi offering new attractions for tourists
Lakeshore Marine, the company operating the river taxi service that crisscrosses the St. Johns River is expanding the service with new ideas to attract riders including wine tastings, ecotourism trips, and even having Jolly Old St. Nick. (The Florida Times Union)
Today on First Coast Connect, Ericka Curran, who runs the immigration clinic for Florida Coastal School of Law, joins Melissa to discuss the president’s executive order on immigration. Also, local reactions to the allegations against BIll Cosby and sports with Cole Pepper. Get plugged in!
You can get all the latest headlines online at WJCTNews.org, on our Facebook page, and on Twitter @WJCTJax. You can follow Ray Hollister on Twitter@RayHollister.
