The Police and Fire Pension Fund, Tim Tebow and the protesters on the Hart Bridge are all 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.
Today's Weather
In Jacksonville today should be sunny, with a high near 59. Tonight expect the skies to be mostly clear, with a low around 39.
At the Beaches expect it to be sunny, with a high near 57. Tonight should be mostly clear, with a low around 40. (National Weather Service)
Jacksonville City Council passes Police and Fire Pension reform bill
The reform package which severely reduces benefits for newly hired law enforcement officers and fire fighters should save Jacksonville taxpayers $1.6 billion. (WJCT)
18 out of 19 Hart Bridge protesters released from jail
All 19 of the protesters that blocked the Hart Bridge during rush-hour traffic were arrested and charged with a misdemeanor of obstructing a highway. Siddie Friar, a Deerfield Beach resident, is the only remaining protester still in jail. Friar is facing charges of resisting arrest and battery on a police officer. (News4Jax)
Shad Khan's Stache Investments says it owns Edgewood Bakery; Tom and Carol Rykalsky disagree
Tom and Carol Rykalsky claim to be the rightful owners of Edgewood Bakery and claim that Stache only has 20% ownership of the company for its investment of $800 thousand. Tom and Carol Rykalsky and their attorney, former Jacksonville City Councilman Jack Webb joined Melissa Ross to discuss the dispute. (WJCT)
St. Johns County section of old A1A destroyed
Repairs are underway to restore the section of road damaged by flooding from a nor'easter. (News4Jax)
Tim Tebow surprises Orlando Wal-Mart shoppers
Good Morning America sent former University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow to a Wal-Mart store in Orlando to surprise customers by paying off their layaway purchases for Christmas. (First Coast News)
Today on First Coast Connect, Melissa Ross talks to a representative from the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition about the local protests in response to the grand jury decisions in Ferguson, Missouri and Staten Island, New York.
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.
