The River City Marketplace, a baby gorilla and the Jacksonville Armada FC 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 skies will be partly sunny, with a high near 70 degrees. Showers and thunderstorms possible throughout the day. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Tonight will be mostly cloudy, low around 48 degrees. There will be a 40 percent chance of showers.
At the Beaches there will likely be showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly after 4 p.m. Skies will be partly sunny, with a high near 68 degrees. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Tonight there will be a 50 percent chance of showers, mainly before 1 a.m. Skies will be cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 49 degrees. (National Weather Service)
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office closed part of River City Marketplace Saturday due to "military-grade device." Police were called to the shopping mall near the Jacksonville International Airport Saturday morning around 8:15 to investigate a bag that a witness said contained "grenades, mortars, M18s, smoke bombs and gas masks." JSO said the device was rendered safe and it was removed from the scene. (WJCT News)
First baby gorilla born at the Jacksonville Zoo. The gender of the baby gorilla, born Friday, has yet not been announced. (The Florida Times-Union)
Jacksonville Armada FC fans celebrate inaugural win over Philadelphia Union. The professional soccer team broke the preseason attendance record with a crowd of 13,934 watching the game at EverBank Field. (Jacksonville Business Journal)
Jacksonville Jazz Festival unveiled its 2015 commemorative poster. Russ Wilson, the artist for the poster, says his creation was influenced by the neon signs of the '40s and '50s. (WJCT News)
Citizens Property Insurance bringing over 1,000 workers to the EverBank Center. Citizens is consolidating its workforce in Tampa, Tallahassee and four suburban Jacksonville locations into Downtown Jacksonville. (Jacksonville Business Journal)
JEA board approves proposal to help city with pension fund. JEA will make a $120 million contribution to the city to help reduce the Jacksonville Fire and Pension Fund. In exchange, the amount that JEA must contribute to the city's general fund will be decreased starting fiscal year 2016. (The Financial News and Daily Record)
Today on First Coast Connect, Ray Hollister and Tom Braun, hosts of WJCT's Deemable Tech join Melissa Ross to discuss FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's announcement that he believes the Internet should be regulated as a public utility. Also, Hemming Park launches a new fitness program, and Cole Pepper wraps up this weekend's sports.
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.
