The Jacksonville Humane Society, the Liberty Street Townhomes and Yulee High School 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 will be sunny, with a high near 53 degrees. Wind chill values as low as 28 degrees early in the day. Tonight there will be areas of frost after 3 a.m. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 31 degrees.
At the Beaches skies will be sunny, with a high temperature near 51 degrees. Tonight should be mostly clear, with a low around 33 degrees. (National Weather Service)
The Orange Park house of Somer Thompson's killer was burned down yesterday. The home where Somer Thompson was murdered, now owned by the Somer Thompson Foundation, was used in training for first responders. At the conclusion of the training, the house was burned down. (WJCT)
Jacksonville Humane Society announces plans to build Humane Care and Education Center. The organization is raising $15 million in the capital campaign. The campaign was kicked off by a total of $5 million in donations from Wayne and Delores Weaver, Linda and David Stein, and Michael Munz. (The Florida Times-Union)
City of Jacksonville to pay for Liberty Street Townhomes to restore power. The 20 townhomes that lost power due to the collapse of Liberty Street will get power restored within two weeks. (WJCT)
Yulee High School student starts controversy saying "God bless America" during morning announcements. A complaint claiming that the Nassau County high school had violated the Constitution was sent on behalf of two atheist students to the school from the American Humanist Association. The complaint was not what the student, but that he said "God bless America" on the loudspeaker during official announcements, which implied that the school endorsed the statement. Principal Natasha Drake responded to AHA saying that the statement was not included in the official announcements and made the statement on his own accord. Drake said the student has been advised not to deviate from the scripted announcements again. (News4Jax)
UF Health North holds ribbon cutting ceremony. The medical center located on Jacksonville's Northside near the airport will begin receiving emergency room patients Tuesday. (WJCT)
Today on First Coast Connect, Melissa Ross moderates the Media Roundtable Week In Review as they discuss all the big stories of the week affecting Northeast Florida. Siggy Buckley, local author of the book "Next Time Lucky," talks dating advice. Nick Michaud, pop culture philosophy contributor discusses "Fifty Shades of Grey."
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.
