Mike Carroll, Sweet Pete's, and Lucia McBath are 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.
Scott appoints new interim DCF head: Florida Department of Children and Families veteran regional director Mike Carroll will serve as the agency's new interim director following an announcement in Jacksonville by Gov. Rick Scott. (WJCT)
DCF officials speak on skate park kicking video: State child welfare officials commented yesterday on their investigation into an Instagram video showing a young child being kicked down a skateboard vert ramp by his father at Kona Skate Park. The father has been banned from the park. (WJCT, News4Jax)
Westside meth lab busted: The Jacksonville Sheriff's office located a meth lab Monday evening on Vista Verde Street on the Westside. (News4Jax)
One dead in Jax double shooting: Police are investigating a shooting that left one man dead and another injured in northwest Jacksonville early this morning. (Florida Times-Union)
Loaded handgun confiscated at JIA: Security at Jacksonville International Airport confiscated a loaded 9mm handgun at a security checkpoint on Monday morning, the sixth found at the airport this year. (Action News Jax)
Sweet Pete's to share downtown space with other food businesses: TV venture capitalist Marcus Lemonis will put two other food-based companies into a downtown space with Sweet Pete's, which appeared on an episode of Lemonis's CNBC program "The Profit" earlier this year. (Jacksonville Business Journal)
Lucia McBath joins protest at NRA annual meeting: The mother of slain Jacksonville teen Jordan Davis has joined the group Mothers Demand Action for Gun Sense in Indianapolis to protest gun laws at the National Rifle Association's annual meeting. (BET)
State budget vote expected Friday: Florida lawmakers are expected to approve a $75 million state budget this week following days of negotiations. (CBS Miami)
Medical marijuana bill passes House committee: A bill to allow the use of a strain of marijuana advocates say helps children suffering from epileptic seizures has passed the House Criminal Justice committee. (Orlando Sentinel)
Guns in school bill passes committee: A bill that would give schools the option to appoint current or former law enforcement and military officers to carry firearms on campus has passed the House Justice Appropriations committee. (AP)
Four gun bills head to Gov. Scott for signature: Four firearm related bills, including the so-called "Pop Tart bill" on zero tolerance guidelines for teachers related to simulated gun play and a law to stop insurance companies from looking at gun ownership when issuing policies, nowawait the decision of Gov. Rick Scott. (Guns.com)
Today on First Coast Connect, Florida Department of Children and Families Northeast Regional Director David Abramowitz on the Kona Skate Park video investigation and how the agency is fairing. Charlene Shirk will fill in today for Melissa Ross.
You can get all the latest headlines online at WJCTNews.org, on our Facebook page, and on Twitter @WJCTJax. You can follow Patrick Donges on Twitter at @patrickhdonges.
