Charlie's Cafe, conjoined twins and Clerk of Courts Ronnie Fussell 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 it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 68 degrees. Tonight, skies will be mostly clear, with a low around 42 degrees.
At the Beaches skies should be mostly sunny, with a high near 67 degrees. Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low around 45 degrees. (National Weather Service)
Miami judge decides same-sex couples do not have to wait until Tuesday to wed. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Sarah Zabel, who ruled earlier this year that the Florida voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage violated the U.S. Constitution, ruled Monday that couples did not need to wait any longer. Zabel then married two couples in a dual ceremony. (News4Jax via AP and WPLG-TV)
Outdoor cafe opens in Hemming Park. Charlie's Cafe, named after Congressman Charles Bennett, opened Monday in Hemming Park. The open-air cafe will feature rotating food trucks, caterers and restaurants. (WJCT)
Clerk of Courts Ronnie Fussell may face lawsuit for ending courthouse weddings. Fussell ended courthouse weddings in Duval County because he and his staff were not comfortable performing weddings for same-sex couples who could be legally married after Florida's ban on same-sex marriage was struck down as unconstitutional by a federal judge. Opponents of his action are considering suing Fussell saying that his decision violates the First Amendment and descriminates against the poor. (The Florida Times-Union)
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office on the lookout for men who stole gun used in shooting death of Tarpon Springs officer. A video showing the men trying to break into a car in the Bartram Springs area last year has been released. (WJCT)
Conjoined twins recovering from second surgery at Wolfson Children's Hospital. Carter and Conner Mirabal were born last month fused at the abdomen, sharing an intestine. The twins boys underwent their first procedure Friday, Jan. 2 to determine the condition and development of their shared abdomen. On Monday, a second procedure was performed to separate the twins fused livers and bile ducts and separate the shared small intestine. (The Florida Times-Union)
Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund board reject key provisions of pension reform bill, sending it back to City Council. The pension fund board had concerns over the length of the contract in the bill and the authority that the bill gave City Council to make later cuts to benefits. Mayor Alvin Brown remains "optimistic" about the progress of the reform. (The Florida Times-Union)
Emails show Stache Investments had a majority ownership of Edgewood Bakery according to Shad Khan's lawyers. Court documents were submitted in the case against Tom and Carol Rykalsky and their partner Mike Zimmerman which included emails where Tom Rykalsky confirmed that Khan owned 56 percent of the company. (The Florida Times-Union)
Today on First Coast Connect, Attorney Carrington “Rusty” Mead joins Melissa Ross to discuss same-sex marriage becoming legal in Florida and the Clerks of Court in Northeast Florida subsequently ending courthouse weddings.
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.
