Saphara Harrell

Republican Mike Williams is Jacksonville’s new sheriff. He edged out Democrat Ken Jefferson with over 51 percent of the vote Tuesday. Williams says he looks forward to working with the new City Council and Mayor-elect Lenny Curry.

Williams said, “I pledge to the citizens of this community that our financial affairs will be transparent and to you I pledge my complete cooperation as we work to restore the city’s priority to public safety. And hold ourselves, all of us, accountable to our taxpayers.”

The City of Jacksonville has $50 million more than previously believed, according to a recent audit. Jacksonville City Councilwoman Lori Boyer says the newly freed-up money is the result of more than a decade’s worth of accounting errors.

Wednesday at City Hall, Boyer said more than $500 million had been incorrectly accounted for.

But she says the funds were not spent inappropriately.  

Jacksonville teachers will now be paid based on student performance after an agreement between the Duval County School Board and the Duval Teachers United union. It's an effort to comply with a new state law.

The agreement requires all teachers hired after 2009 to be paid based on performance, while teachers hired before then will have the option to continue getting paid based on seniority.

Duval Teachers United President Terrie Brady says teachers are relieved to have an agreement after four years of negotiation.

Jacksonville voters will choose between Democratic incumbent Mayor Alvin Brown and Republican Lenny Curry in the May runoff election. With mail-in votes remaining to be counted, Brown took 42.9 percent of the vote and Curry took 38.4 percent in Tuesday's first unitary election. 

Republican Bill Bishop and unaffiliated mayoral candidate Omega Allen were eliminated from the race, with 16.6 percent and 2.1 percent of the vote respectively.

In the race for Jacksonville sheriff, Republican Mike Williams will face off against Democrat Ken Jefferson in the May General Election. Williams narrowly edged out fellow Republican Jimmy Holderfield in Tuesday’s first election, taking 22.2 percent of the vote. Jefferson led with 36.6 percent. 

Williams says he’s excited to be able to get to the heart of the issues next time around.

It’s unclear whether a Jacksonville police officer shot a burglary suspect on the Northside yesterday.

Police say a shootout began after two males, one a juvenile, broke into a home near Brentwood Elementary School. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Director Tom Hackney says Officer Matthew Krueger began shooting when gunfire broke out near the house. The 17-year-old suspect was shot in the shoulder.

Hackney says it’s unclear who shot him because the homeowner was also shooting at the suspect.

Early voting is underway in Duval County for the Mar. 24 citywide unitary election, and although voters are concerned about issues affecting Jacksonville, many voters are still unfamiliar with the candidates running for office.

A new poll from UNF’s Public Opinion Research Laboratory shows that crime tops the list of concerns among likely voters in Duval County.

Following that voters care about education and the local economy.

The poll also shows strong voter support for expanding Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance.

A nonprofit that's trying to bring more farming to Jacksonville's urban core is hoping to create jobs as well.

Jacksonville-based FreshMinistries plans to bring aquaponics to Downtown. That's a combination of aquaculture, or raising fish in tanks, with hydroponics, growing plants in water. The system doesn't require much space and can be built in a parking lot or small backyard.

FreshMinistries Urban Operations Director Bobby Lee says the project should help spur economic development by teaching people how to farm their own vegetables and fish.

When Florida lawmakers return for session tomorrow, one issue they’ll wrestle with is local pension reform. Here in Jacksonville, pension debt is more than 40 percent unfunded. University of North Florida Professor Michael Hallett says part of the city’s problem stems from a state-imposed cap on local tax increases.

“The Police and Fire Pension Fund debt in Jacksonville is in part driven by a longer standing failure to pay into the Police and Fire Pension Fund at the levels that were agreed to contractually,” Hallett said.