The Jacksonville Suns, Ballots and Brews and the escaped sailor 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 sunny, with a high near 49 degrees. Wind chill values as low as 21 degrees early. Northeast wind 7 to 11 mph. Tonight skies will be partly cloudy, with a low around 39 degrees. Northeast wind around 7 mph.
At the Beaches skies will be sunny, with a high near 43 degrees. Wind chill values as low as 18 degrees. North wind 11 to 13 mph. Tonight should be partly cloudy, with a low around 41 degrees. East wind around 8 mph. (National Weather Service)
Jacksonville Suns expected to be sold soon. The negotiations between Suns President Peter Bragan Jr. and Ken Babby, owner of the Akron RubberDucks is expected to wrap up soon. (The Florida Times-Union)
Beers bring out Jacksonville young voters to talk politics. The Jacksonville Young Voters Coalition hosted its first event Wednesday evening at Intuition Ale Works. Candidates for sheriff, mayor and city council met with young voters to discuss their position on the issues. (WJCT)
Escaped sailor turned himself in to police. The sailor had gone UA, or unauthorized absence, from his assignment on the USS Iwo Jima. While he was being taken to the Brig at NAS Jacksonville Wednesday he escaped and jumped the fence, ran across Roosevelt Boulevard and ran into Tillie Fowler Regional Park. Attorney John Phillips said "Sailor Anthony Telemacque came to my office tonight where we coordinated for him to turn himself into Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office." (News4Jax)
Nine families were displaced by a fire in Arlington complex. A fire in the attic of University Place Apartments on University Boulevard North forced nine families out of their homes. (News4Jax)
Bradford County widow suing Walmart for the death of her husband. Bonnie Clark's husband Wiley Clark was was killed by a Swift Transportation tractor trailer hauling groceries for Walmart when the driver lost control of the truck and hit him head on. Swift Transportation, Walmart Transportation and the driver have been named in the wrongful death suit. (First Coast News)
Today on First Coast Connect, Melissa Ross moderates the Media Roundtable Week In Review as they discuss all the big stories of the week and commentator Jay Solomon joins the show.
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.
