Justice Dept. settles with New Jersey county over ballot languages, highlighting widespread barrier
The Justice Department has reached a settlement with a New Jersey county over language barriers for Spanish-speaking voters, emphasizing a growing challenge for certain minority communities nationwide.
Florida First District Court of Appeals judicial retention
Rulings from six North Florida judicial circuits, including the Fourth Circuit (Clay, Duval and Nassau counties) and the Eight Circuit (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist Levy and Union counties), are appealed to the First District Court of Appeals.
Shopping to support survivors
Hubbard House is the certified domestic violence center serving Duval and Baker counties, with free shelter and services available for survivors and their children. Supporting the Hubbard House Thrift Store supports the work of Hubbard House in many key ways! The revenue from your purchases directly funds Hubbard House’s outreach services, and survivors working with Hubbard House are able to shop for free from your donations.
Dry walk to school, can not say the same for the return home
Today has been a bit hazy with dusty Saharan air and this will suppress some storms. The drier location will be at the beaches and areas over Putnam and southern St. Johns counties. Rain will develop near the Gulf and track northeastward through north Florida this afternoon. Inland locations of Duval, Baker and the Suwannee River Valley should get storms that may last late into the evening, especially over southeast Georgia.
8th Circuit Judge, Group 12
Of four candidates seeking election to an open seat on the bench in Florida’s Judicial Circuit, which includes Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Levy, Gilchrist and Union counties, Sean Brewer and AuBroncee Martin received the most votes in the August primary. But since neither received more than 50% of the vote, they will face each other in November.
Storms move offshore in GA but continue to push east across NE FL
The Weather Authority is keeping a close eye on a line of thunderstorms just to the west of the I-75 corridor where a severe thunderstorms warning has been issued for Hamilton, Suwannee, and Clinch County until 3:00 PM EDT. These storms have a history on strong winds and hail.
Colorado baker sued again over alleged LGBTQ bias
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2018 the commission showed anti-religious bias when it sanctioned Phillips. Autumn Scardina attempted to order the birthday cake on the same day in 2017 that the high court announced it would hear baker Jack Phillips’ appeal in the wedding cake case. AdBefore filing her lawsuit, Scardina filed a complaint against Phillips with the state, and the Colorado Civil Rights Commission found probable cause that Phillips had discriminated against her. Phillips then filed a federal lawsuit against Colorado, accusing it of waging a “crusade to crush” him by pursuing the complaint. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission showed anti-religious bias when it sanctioned Phillips for refusing to make the same-sex wedding cake for Craig and Mullins.
Tornado watch for NE Florida, SE Georgia expires
The tornado watch has been canceled in the Georgia counties of Brantley, Camden, Charlton and Glynn. The tornado watch continues until 6 p.m. in the Florida counties of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Duval, Gilchrist, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns and Union. The National Weather Service has canceled a tornado warning for Clay and Duval counties. The watch continues for Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns and Union counties in Georgia. Tornado Warning including La Crosse FL, Brooker FL, Worthington Springs FL until 3:30 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/qcJrcaIkP1 — NWS Jacksonville (@NWSJacksonville) March 18, 2021This comes as a Tornado Watch continues across Southeast Georgia and Northeast Georgia until 6 p.m.
Columbia, Baker counties get $25K from state for rural economic development
Baker and Columbia counties are among 14 Florida counties that are getting a state grant to go towards economic development. Over $348,000 has been awarded to the counties by Enterprise Florida’s Rural Expansion Toolkit to assist Florida’s rural communities with the development and enhancement of sites to make them build ready and competitive for site selection projects, the state announced Monday. “From helping with site preparedness to simple marketing, this grant from EFI will help serve that purpose and will have a significant impact.”Baker County Chamber will receive $25,000 and Columbia County Economic Development Department will get $24,900. The North Florida Economic Development Partnership will also get $25,000. AdApplications were accepted from local or regional economic development or community partners located within a rural community who could also demonstrate a pathway to site readiness.
Tornado watches expire for NE Fla., SE Ga.
The tornado watch remains in effect for the following counties through 10 p.m.:Northeast Florida:Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns. The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Columbia County through 4:45 p.m. The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Columbia, Gilchrist, Suwannee counties through 4:15 p.m.🌪 Tornado warning issued for supercell moving into Suwannee county. UPDATE 2:37 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Putnam County through 3:15 p.m. Here's a closer look at the area affect by the Tornado Warning just issued for Putnam county.
Round 2 of today’s rain won’t pack the same punch, milder mid week ahead
Wednesday’s rain chances represent a situation that could be confusing, it’s a numerically low chance- 30%, but only because the showers tomorrow will be confined to a certain area, not because we won’t see showers. Not all of our counties have a chance for showers, but the counties in Southeastern Georgia can expect passing showers throughout the day. Expect cloudy skies and mild temperatures climbing into the low 70s. Thursday will be the best day this week, expect partly sunny skies and mild temperatures topping out around 77 degrees. There is only an isolated chance for a stray shower.
Storms drop heaps of hail and rainfall in Northeast Florida
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Strong to severe thunderstorms are producing penny-sized hail covering lawns in Baker, Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties right now. Areas are seeing blinding downpours, resulting in reduced visibility and temporary flooding. — NAS Jacksonville (@NASJax_) February 9, 2021Behind the line of strong storms is more moderate to light rain, which will add insult to injury for areas already seeing flooding. We could see another .5-1 inch of rainfall within the back end of this round of showers. We’ll see a small break in the rain before the next round of showers and storms pushes through our area, where we may see similar rainfall rates in the strongest storms, but hail will be less of a possibility.
Jacksonville police rescue kitten from drain
JACKSONVILLE, Fla – A kitten has a new home tonight thanks to two officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. The agency posted on its Facebook page on Sunday that Officers Renner and Baker responded to a call about a kitten stuck in a drain. Officer Renner lowered a small trash can into the drain and was able to pull the feline to safety. Officer Baker gave the kitten a safe home.
Downpours move through, temperatures turning chilly
Thursday will be sunny, chilly and windy with temperatures topping out only in the mid 50s. Expect a chilly breeze out of the north around 15 mph. On Friday, temperatures will only make it into the upper 50s under sunny skies. Sunday looks nicer, waking up in the low 50s and warming up into the mid 70s. We expect another round of showers and thunderstorms Monday, plunging us back into the chilly zone on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Baker County Wildcats taking on longtime rival in first game of the season
BAKER, Fla. COVID-19 may have brought a lot of uncertainty, but whats never been in question is the rivalry between Baker County and Bradford High Schools. Kevin Mays is Baker County High Schools head football coach. They were ready to hit the field going.With kickoff happening at Baker County Memorial Stadium, the schools district says public health is its priority. This year, the district is also live streaming the games for families who are unable to attend in person. To view the live stream, click here:To see this seasons entire football schedule for all Northeast Florida high schools, click here:
Fire Watch program combats veteran suicide epidemic
CNN, POOLJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Five counties in Northeast Florida are teaming up to end the growing crisis of veteran suicides across the nation. The city of Jacksonville has joined Baker, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties to save lives through a program called "The Fire Watch." The program is designed to help veterans like Christopher Dempsey, who has battled suicidal thoughts. More than 20 veterans die by suicide every day, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. With the right relationships, proper tools and resources, Dempsey turned his life around.
5 counties team up to battle veteran suicide through The Fire Watch
CNN, POOLJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Five counties in Northeast Florida are teaming up to end the growing crisis of veteran suicides across the nation. The city of Jacksonville has joined Baker, Clay, Nassau and St. John's counties to save lives through a program called "The Fire Watch." More than 20 veterans die by suicide every day, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. "The truth of the matter is veteran suicide is actually getting worse every day, not better... we decided to step up, get off the sidelines and get into the battle." Jacksonville will serve as the legal home of "The Fire Watch" and coordinate with the surrounding counties via inter-local agreements.
Flash drought preceding Jacksonville's driest month
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Yes, we had very heavy rain this week, but flash drought is still a growing risk across Florida and the Southeast. Duval County is among others in the Southeast facing rapidly developing "flash droughts" popping up in areas from Virginia south into northern Florida. A flash drought often begins as a small rain deficit in one county and then expands like fire across the landscape. The term "flash drought" first appeared in a 2001 research paper by Svoboda and was not widely used until after 2012. As Jacksonville heads into the driest month of the year in November, the potential for a flash drought will grow without persistent rain in the forecast.
Van caught in tide remains stuck in Nassau Sound
A van caught in the tide Saturday morning in Nassau Sound was still in the waters Monday morning, as officials work to get it removed from the beach. State Park Manager Michelle Waterman said the car was caught in the tide around 11:30 a.m. Saturday and was called in by a park visitor. Waterman said there is no oil spill or contamination from the van right now. According to Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper, a man drove the van down to the waterline at low tide, and when the waters rose, the van was trapped. They said the driver was behaving erratically, and they called in the Sheriff's Office.
Florida governor declares state of emergency over Hurricane Dorian
Ron DeSantis on Wednesday declared a state of emergency for 26 counties in anticipation of a powerful hit from Hurricane Dorian during the Labor Day weekend. On Thursday morning, the State Emergency Operations Center will activate to a Level 2, enhancing the coordination between federal, state and local emergency management agencies. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday his city's Emergency Operations Center was starting to ramp up and would begin full-time operations Thursday morning. In 2016, Hurricane Matthew caused damage as it skirted the East Coast, and Hurricane Hermine knocked out electricity in the Tallahassee area. Hurricane Irma barreled through much of the state in 2017, and Hurricane Michael devastated parts of the Panhandle last year.
Sights and sounds of high school football media day
Bartram Trail coach Darrell Sutherland, left and Fleming Island's Damenyum Springs talk during the Baker's Sports high school media day on Tuesday at UNF. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The 14th annual Bakers Sports high school football media day has come and gone, which means one very important thing. Football season is officially under way. News4Jax sports editor Justin Barney tracks some of the sights and sounds of media day. The big part is the legacy that Coach Rogers left, Toblin said.
Dense fog advisory issued; drive safely
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The National Weather Service has issued a dense fog advisory until 9 a.m. Tuesday for Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, and Union counties. Quiet weather patterns, with consistent broad swings in temperature make for fog prone mornings. Fog dissipates when temperatures warm up. Many times, fog will be more persistent and linger over large bodies of water, like the ocean or the river. The two most important safety measures when you driving in fog are to slow down and turn on your low-beam headlights.