Protesters blocking traffic, an FSU professor's rant on Facebook, and Duval County School Boards middle school plan are all making 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.
Today's Weather
In Jacksonville today looks mostly sunny, with a high near 61. Northwest wind 11 to 14 mph. Tonight skies should be mostly clear, with a low around 40. Northwest wind 9 to 11 mph.
At the Beaches it should be mostly sunny, with a high near 59. Breezy, with a northwest wind 13 to 15 mph. Tonight should be mostly clear, with a low around 42. Northwest wind around 14 mph. (National Weather Service)
Protesters blocked I-95 at Emerson in the morning, Hart Bridge in the evening
A group calling themselves Kemetic Empire, protesting the recent grand jury decisions in Ferguson and Staten Island, blocked traffic on Interstate 95 northbound during rush hour yesterday morning, holding up traffic for over an hour. The same group blocked traffic on the Hart Bridge during rush hour later that evening. All of the protesters on the Hart Bridge were arrested and charged with misdemeanors. One protester was also charged with a felony for assaulting a police officer. (WJCT via News4Jax, Action News Jax)
FSU professor resigns after rant on Facebook
A conversation on Facebook about the police killings in Ferguson, Staten Island and Cleveland became especially heated when a Florida State University instructor, Deborah O’Connor, interjected her comments which were laced with racial and homophobic epithets. O'Connor turned in her resignation shortly after the university was contacted about her public outburst by Folio Weekly and the person who started the thread on Facebook. (Folio Weekly)
ACLU accuses Rick Scott of wasting taxpayer money on welfare drug-testing appeals
A law requiring citizens applying for TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) to submit to a drug test has been found unconstitutional for the fourth time. Over $300,000 has been spent by the state in legal fees and court costs defending the law. Howard Simon, ACLU of Florida Executive Director, says its time for Scott to concede defeat. (News4Jax)
New Vietnam War monument planned for Jacksonville National Cemetary
A monument designed and funded by Jacksonville's Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1046 to honor First Coast veterans of the Vietnam War has received the approval it needs to begin construction. The monument is expected to be completed by 2015. (WJCT)
Duval County School Board votes unanimously to approve middle school plan
The Middle School Reform Plan, intended to help improve Duval County's poor performing middle schools, encourages military and single-gender themes that were tested at Joseph Stillwell and Butler Leadership Academy this year and blended learning which integrates Internet and technology into classrom lessons. (WJCT)
Today on First Coast Connect, Tom and Carol Rykalsky, owners of Edgewood Bakery join Melissa Ross to discuss Jaguars Owner Shad Khan's lawsuit against Edgewood Bakery over control of ownership.
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.
