Jax

Les NeuhausMarch 14, 2017

A Jacksonville toddler died after being struck with a plastic coat hanger until it broke because the 2-year-old girl had an “accident” on the bed of her mother’s boyfriend. Jamarius Devonti Graham used a belt and hangers in the past to teach the girl potty training — she had already been spanked an estimated 20 […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 14, 2017

In February, the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund Board of Trustees balked at a Mar. 15 deadline to vote on the city’s latest pension plan. The board had worried that there would not be enough time to review the data of the new plan, which offers raises and uniformity of benefits for current employees, […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 13, 2017

On Monday, another Jacksonville union — the correctional officers — overwhelmingly approved the pension deal on offer from the city. Of sergeants/lieutenants/captains, 88.8 percent voted in favor of the deal; the raw tally was 72 to 9. Of officers, 87.53 percent voted in favor of the deal, with 12.16 percent against; the raw tally was […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 13, 2017

As we previewed last week, Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri is looking to implement the next phase of the city’s response to human trafficking. In 2016, the city began a response, with awareness signs posted in strip clubs and massage parlors. However, Hazouri believes more can be done — and on Monday, the veteran pol met […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 13, 2017

A current Jacksonville Sheriff and a former Heisman Trophy winner both have speaking engagements in Jacksonville Monday evening. ____ Jacksonville University Public Policy Institute students will have a unique opportunity to hear local Sheriff Mike Williams on Monday at 6 p.m. Williams will be involved in a “classroom presentation and policy discussion” via a class at […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

Republican State Rep. Jay Fant has the safest of safe seats on Jacksonville’s deep-red Westside. However, in the even deeper-red Florida House, he found himself on the losing side of this week’s debate about Enterprise Florida. Fant spoke passionately and futilely about the need to maintain incentive programs, a position not shared by most of the […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

Chaussee Gibson may not be a household name in the Jacksonville area. But Gibson, a native of Jacksonville who preaches at the St. Johns Baptist Church on Jacksonville’s Eastside, has name identification in Jacksonville City Council District 7. And he filed this week to run for the seat, currently held by first-term Democrat Reggie Gaffney … giving […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

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In Jacksonville, friendships aren’t meant to last forever. But in the case of Friends of Hemming Park, they are renewable in six-month terms. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry wrote senior staff this week with the news that the once-controversial FOHP contract would be re-upped through the end of September. “Based on our discussions with Bill Prescott, it is […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

Republican Ron Salem, running to replace termed-out John Crescimbeni in the Jacksonville City Council’s At-Large District 2, cleared $30,000 in February. Salem, an establishment favorite, had the kind of donations typically associated with that status. Among the $1,000 donors: local land use lawyer and lobbyist Steve Diebenow, whose wife hosted a Salem “meet and greet”; the Driver, McAfee, Peek […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

On Monday morning, Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri will meet with representatives from the State Attorney’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and others with an aim toward eliminating the scourge of human trafficking. Hazouri, who was successful in a push to get a law through in 2016 (2016-130), which mandated awareness signs to be posted at […]

Jax
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Man pleads guilty in beating death of 2-year-old after ‘accident’ on bed

Jacksonville PFPF expected to vote on pension deal Friday

Jacksonville corrections officers overwhelmingly approve pension deal

Jacksonville leaders move on human trafficking, an ‘industry without borders’

Mike Williams, Tim Tebow to speak on Monday in Jacksonville

Jay Fant for Attorney General? Intrigue in Jacksonville

Pastor challenges ‘missing in action’ Reggie Gaffney for Jacksonville City Council seat

Jacksonville re-ups Friends of Hemming Park contract for 6 months, $415K

Ron Salem clears $30K in first month of Jacksonville council candidacy

Jacksonville to redouble efforts against human trafficking