After years of fighting, the U.S. Supreme Court has seemingly closed the debate over the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, the Cultural Council prepares to fill the Duval County Courthouse with almost $900,000 worth of art and six other stories you don’t want to miss.
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 8 stories you don’t want to miss.
Supreme Court Rules Obamacare Subsidies Are Legal
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday handed the Obama administration a major victory on health care, ruling 6-3 that nationwide subsidies called for in the Affordable Care Act are legal. The decision comes three years after a bitterly divided high court upheld the Affordable Care Act as constitutional by a 5-4 vote. President Obama made a statement on the ruling late Thursday morning, saying the Affordable Care Act "is here to stay."
Duval Courthouse To Get Nearly $900K In Public Art
A city ordinance mandates three-quarters of 1 percent of large-scale construction projects be earmarked for sculptures, mosaics or other works. Cultural Council Director Tony Allegretti says that means the massive Duval County courthouse will get $866,000 worth of art.
Two Northeast Florida Nonprofits Receive $2M In Federal Grants To Help Find Work For Ex-offenders
U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez says the grants reflect President Barack Obama’s belief in what’s called “restorative justice.” Perez said, “These grants are all about giving second chances to people.”
Incoming Undersheriff: Street Lights, Cameras, Community Support Needed To Fight Neighborhood Blight
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has been partnering with City Hall to help fight neighborhood blight for the past two years. Incoming Jacksonville Undersheriff Pat Ivey spoke about those efforts Thursday to members of Mayor-elect Lenny Curry’s transition team.
Dr. Brent Beadling with St. Vincent’s Primary Care in Jacksonville says men are less likely than women to go to the doctor for checkups. “Most often if there’s no pain involved, men just don’t want to come in to see a doctor,” Beadling said.
Florida Veterans Honored In St. Augustine As Congressional Panel Examines St. Johns County VA Clinic
Gov. Rick Scott was in St. Augustine Thursday for a Veterans’ Service Award Ceremony. But some veterans at the event couldn’t help but think about the local VA outpatient clinic. A delay in moving the St. Johns County clinic has cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines against the VA.
Northeast Florida Pet Shelters Hosting Event To Eliminate Overcrowding
Thousands of dogs and cats are turned into North Florida animal shelters each year. First Coast No More Homeless Pets is hosting what it’s calling a Super Pet Adoption event this weekend to help relieve overcrowding in Northeast Florida animal shelters.
Jacksonville Telecom Company Expands Service To Palm Coast Businesses
A Jacksonville-based telecommunications company is expanding its business, thanks to a new agreement with the city of Palm Coast. The company called Joytel is helping Palm Coast connect to a larger fiber-optic cable network.
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