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First Read: Wednesday, April 9, 2014

One Spark, the Jacksonville Sports and Entertainment Commission, and Cannabis University 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.

One Spark 2014 opens today: The second annual One Spark festival officially begins today at 11 a.m. Yesterday Jacksonville officials announced street closures to accommodate the festival. (News4Jax, WJCT)

Duval schools consider breaking class-size rules to cut costs: Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Nikolai Vitti says the district would save $3 million next year by committing to only 90 percent compliance with state rules on the number of students allowed in each classroom. (WJCT)

Mayor Brown proposes end to entertainment commission: Following the recent formation of the Jacksonville Sports Council, Mayor Alvin Brown will propose legislation to abolish the Jacksonville Sports and Entertainment Commission. (Florida Times-Union)

Study says Jax attracts college grads: A new study from Forbes ranks Jacksonville among the top 10 cities in the nation for attracting college graduates. (First Coast News)

Jacksonville to be home of Cannabis University: In advance of the November ballot referendum on whether to allow medical marijuana in the state, Cannabis University of Florida will open in Jacksonville. (Action News Jax)

New poll puts Scott up over Crist in gubernatorial race: A Voter Survey Service poll commissioned by Sunshine State News has Gov. Rick Scott leading Charlie Crist 45 to 44 percent in the upcoming gubernatorial race. (National Review)

Pew study faults Florida voting, but Scott says problems are fixed: A new Pew Charitable Trusts study says Florida lagged behind other states in its handling of the 2012 election, but Gov. Rick Scott says the problems were fixed by changes to voting laws that will be used statewide for the first time this year. (Tampa Bay Times)

Eisnagule wins special Florida House election: Republican Eric Eisnaugle won a special election Tuesday to represent Florida House District 44, which includes parts of West Orange County, with 74 percent of the vote. (Orlando Sentinel)

Florida GOP chair cites "Puerto Rican influx" as cause of party unpopularity: Speaking to the Orlando Sentinel, Lew Oliver, chairman of the Orange County GOP, blamed shifting voter registration trends on an influx of Puerto Rican immigrants. (Gawker)

Law would require greyhound injury reporting: A state Senate panel approved a bill Tuesday to require reporting of greyhound racing injuries. (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Today on First Coast Connect, live from MOCA Jacksonville, it's our first of three shows from the 2014 One Spark Festival! Today we welcome One Spark's Elton Rivas and Joe Sampson. Also Grandpa's Cough Medicine will be our house band for all three days.

Also, don't forget we are in the middle of our Spring pledge drive. Please click here or call 1-800-722-9528 to pledge today and support WJCT-FM and WJCTNews.org.

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.

Patrick Donges served as WJCT's Digital Content Editor from August 2013 - August 2014.