Governor Rick Scott signs a measure to institute a 24-hour pre-abortion waiting period and a repeal of Florida’s gay-adoption ban, both amid vocal opposition. Local residents are excited to finally see forward movement on a dog park in Riverside Park, while the City Council has put a temporary halt on medical marijuana in the city for at least six months.
Welcome to WJCT First Read, your daily weekday morning round-up of stories from the First Coast, around Florida and across the country.
Here are 7 stories you might have missed.
Riverside Avondale Preservation Accepting Bids For Dog Park Construction
A new dog park should be coming soon to Jacksonville’s Riverside Park. Riverside Avondale Preservation is accepting bids for its construction through the end of this month. The long-awaited project is scheduled to start in November and has been in the works for more than three years while RAP found funding.
Florida Gov. Scott Signs Repeal Of Gay-Adoption Ban, Despite Vocal Opposition
A ban on gay adoption was struck from Florida law Thursday with Gov. Rick Scott’s signature. Though gay parents have been adopting children for five years, the repeal was met with pushback from groups advocating religious liberty.
St. Johns County Residents Win First Round Against River Crest Development
The St. Johns County Commission will soon consider a developer’s application to build 115 new homes in the northern part of the county. The county’s Planning and Zoning Board is recommending denial of the application after nearby residents voiced their opposition last week.
City Council Puts Up Roadblocks For Medical Marijuana Coming To Jacksonville
Medical marijuana that doesn’t induce a high is legal in Florida, but not exactly legal in Jacksonville. This week the City Council put a hold on growing, processing or dispensing marijuana in the city for at least six months.
Floridians Weigh Impact Of Upcoming SCOTUS Decisions On Gay Marriage, Obamacare
During an appearance on WJCT's “First Coast Connect,” Greg Pingree, professor at Florida Coastal School of Law, and Nicholas Seabrook, professor at UNF, discussed the possible outcomes for two controversial Supreme Court cases about same-sex marriage and the Affordable Care Act.
Groups File Suit To Block Florida's New 24-Hour Abortion Wait Law
In a widely expected move, Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday signed a measure that will require a 24-hour waiting period before women can have abortions. But before the ink was dry on Scott's signature, two groups filed a lawsuit Thursday aimed at blocking it.
Ethics Panel: Former Florida Lt. Gov. Carroll Misreported Income
The Florida Commission on Ethics has found probable cause that former Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll did not properly report income from consulting work that led to her 2013 resignation, but it cleared Carroll of potentially more-serious allegations regarding her dealings with Allied Veterans of the World.
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.
