Hemming Park same-sex weddings, Stein Mart and an unexpected time capsule 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 showers and thunderstorms will be likely throughout the day. Skies will be cloudy, with a high near 73 degrees. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Tonight, the low will be around 57 degrees, skies will be mostly cloudy, with a 40 percent chance of showers until 1 a.m.
At the Beaches there will be a 60 percent chance of rain, with showers and thunderstorms likely throughout the day. 60 percent chance of precipitation. Otherwise, skies will be cloudy, with a high temperature near 71 degrees. Tonight there will be a 50 percent chance of showers until 4 a.m. The low temperature will be around 60 degrees. (National Weather Service)
Dozens of same-sex couples wed at Hemming Park. This Saturday, the first Saturday after the Florida ban on gay marriage was lifted, hundreds turned out to celebrate as at least 34 same-sex couples married during a mass wedding in Hemming Park in Downtown Jacksonville. (The Florida Times-Union)
After a long day of back-and-forth, Judge Daniels says he will rule on receivership of Edgewood Bakery within a week. After failing to come to an agreement in mediation earlier last week, Judge Daniels faced an arduous day of arguments Friday from Shad Khan's lawyers and the lawyers for Carol and Tom Rykalsky and their partner Mike Zimmerman. (The Florida Times-Union)
Stein Mart, headquartered in Jacksonville, was named best department store chain in a national poll. Readers voted in the poll conducted by USA Today for four weeks. (Jacksonville Business Journal)
Time capsule from '60s discovered in Cathedral of St. Augustine. A time capsule from 1966 was discovered at the church during recent renovations for the 450th anniversary of the founding of St. Augustine. (WJCT)
LGBT advocates in Jacksonville are not finished fighting for equal rights. As same-sex marriage becomes legalized, LGBT rights advocates say that now is the right time to push Jacksonville officials for a Human Rights Ordinance that protects gay people from discrimination. (WJCT)
Today on First Coast Connect, A.G. Gancarski, columnist for Folio Weekly and Nancy Soderberg, former Deputy National Security Adviser and distinguished visiting scholar at UNF, join Melissa Ross to discuss the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Paris. Then, Dr. Bud Hammes, a foremost authority on Advanced Care Planning will tell us more about the Honoring Choices Florida — Sharing the Experience event happening at WJCT studios. And, finally, First Coast Sports Wrap-Up with Cole Pepper.
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.
