A roadside honey stand, black bears and pelicans are all 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.
Today's Weather
In Jacksonville expect rain today, mainly after 11 a.m. High temperature near 58 degrees. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Tonight the low should be around 49 degrees. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
At the Beaches it will by rainy, mainly after 11 a.m. High temperature near 55 degrees. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Tonight expect rain, and a low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 100%. (National Weather Service)
Water taxi operator says ridership is down, unsure if willing to sign new agreement with the city. The contract with the city to run the river taxi service downtown expires this Saturday, but Lakeshore Marine says the current model is not sustainable. (The Florida Times-Union)
Roadside honey stand is an object lesson in neuroscience. A Putnam County roadside honey stand that has been in business for almost 70 years works on the honor system. Neuroconomist Paul Zak says that the system works because customers, and passersby, receive a "squirt of oxytocin" in the brain, which makes individuals more inclined to be empathetic and put their money in the box. (WJCT)
Putnam County ferry operator believes someone is targeting pelicans. Karen Knuebel says she has found three pelicans that have been shot. One was killed, the other two have injured wings. (The Florida Times-Union)
JSO says parents of 4-year-old Jacksonville girl beat child to death with 1-by-2 piece of lumber. Both John Ross Norfleet, 31, and Shavonn Norfleet, 33 have been charged with second-degree murder. John Norfleet is a math instructor at Andrew Jackson High School. (News4Jax)
Animal thefts on the rise in Jacksonville. Jacksonville pet owners are being urged to keep their animals protected. Bob Williams, the director of JaxAnimals.com, a resource for lost and stolen pets in Northeast Florida, says that they have recently received several reports of stolen dogs in Arlington, Mandarin and the Westside. (News4Jax)
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission considering allowing bear hunting. An increase in the number of recent bear attacks has forced the FWC to consider all options in reducing the amount of bear conflicts. Opponents say that hunting bears is the wrong answer. (News4Jax)
Today on First Coast Connect, City Councilman and Jacksonville mayoral candidate Bill Bishop will be on the show to talk about his run for mayor.
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.
