Rainy weather doesn’t dampen effort to clean up St. Johns River, other areas of Jacksonville
Despite the rainy morning Saturday, volunteers were out in full force for the 28th annual St. Johns River Celebration. Participants gathered at 46 locations around Duval County to clear litter and debris from neglected areas.
Newly formed task force combats human trafficking, child sex exploitation in Northeast Florida
In 2022 there were 2,300 child exploitation and human trafficking cases across Northeast Florida. Now, law enforcement officials from five local counties, FDLE, the Department of Homeland Security and the Tim Tebow Foundation are partnering together to put a stop to it.
‘We had to leave all we had’: Family recounts ‘terrifying’ escape from war-torn Ukraine
Ukraine refugees Surkhrab Niyazov, his wife, Inna, and their children visited The Morning Show studios on Saturday to share their story and spread the word about how they were helped by a local organization: Catholic Charities.
‘Representation matters’: Husband, wife attorney team want boutique firm to inspire next generation
Black attorneys make up only 5% of the U.S. population, according to the American Bar Association. One Jacksonville law firm is working to change the narrative and inspire others to get into the legal field while also working to make a difference in their community.
UNF students rally to support DEI programs in face of DeSantis’ pledge to block them
Gov. Ron DeSantis is moving to block public funding for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs at state colleges and universities. He argues that these initiatives are purely ideological and need to be dismantled.In response, students at several institutions, including the University of North Florida, are planning to push back.
‘You’re helping somebody through it’: Justice Coalition has new executive director
Jacksonville’s top victim and survivor support group, the Justice Coalition, has a new executive director. Robert Bracewell took on the role after its former executive director stepped aside last month, and one of his goals is to make the coalition more visible in the community.
Local orthodontist wants to inspire young people to ‘wear the white coat’ some day
News4JAX is celebrating Black History Month the whole month of February by showcasing local Black men and women making a difference in the community. Dr. Khalil Orsborn is one of the only Black orthodontists in Jacksonville.
‘We can save so many lives’: Hundreds learn vital hands-only CPR at Florida Black Expo
Organizers said the goal was to train at least 500 people at the Florida Black Expo in hands-only CPR as three Jacksonville hospitals teamed up with the American Heart Association to help those in the African American community save lives.
‘Good to see people caring about each other’: Donna Marathon weekend combines running events with fight against breast cancer
A weekend of running and fundraising to fight against breast cancer kicked off Saturday morning when thousands of runners took over part of the downtown Jacksonville sports district to run events for Donna Marathon weekend.
3 Asian locations named must-visit travel destinations for 2023 by National Geographic
Three Asian countries have made it into the list of National Geographic’s breathtaking places to visit in 2023. The 25 locations, chosen for their "wonder, rewarding to travelers of all ages, and supportive of local communities and ecosystems," are framed under the five categories of Community, Nature, Culture, Family and Adventure. The first Asian location mentioned in the National Geographic list is Laos, a country in Southeast Asia known for its amazing views and unexplored lands.
news.yahoo.comAlexi Giannoulias backed by retiring U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush and supporters of Ald. Pat Dowell in bid for secretary of state
Alexi Giannoulias picks up endorsements in his bid for secretary of state from retiring U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush and supporters of alderman and former secretary of state candidate Pat Dowell.
chicagotribune.comLegislation would require utilities to start replacing toxic lead pipes throughout the state — except for in Chicago
At the behest of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, state lawmakers are allowing Chicago to continue leaving the dangerous pipes in the ground as crews wrap up a decadelong overhaul of the city’s aging distribution system.
chicagotribune.comLake Villa man arrested with almost 3 kilos of cocaine and handgun, officials say
Anthony L. Brown, 38, was charged with the manufacture and delivery of more than 900 grams of cocaine, unlawful possession of more than 900 grams of cocaine, and being a felon in possession of a handgun, according to a news release.
chicagotribune.comChicago lags far behind other cities in getting rid of brain-damaging lead pipes. Even if Biden’s $45 billion replacement plan passes, city ‘is ground zero for this problem’
City officials estimated it will cost $27,000 to replace each of the 650 lead service lines they plan to dig out of the ground this year, far more than other cities have paid.
chicagotribune.comIllinois legislators consider following Cook County in making Juneteenth an official holiday
“We grow up in the Black community not knowing our history, not knowing who we are,” she said. “It’s so important to teach young kids because we’re not taught to self-love. There’s no self-confidence or self-image because you open up books and you never see positive images of Black people.”
chicagotribune.comTop cop: ‘Dedicated and decorated’ Chicago police officer dies by suicide on Far Southwest Side
“I know the CPD community is mourning, and that grief is deep and long-lasting. I know that it’s hard to take care of yourself and to reach out,” Brown said. “I also know that we need to do more to support each other — and we will.’'
chicagotribune.comAs COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Chicago’s hard-hit Latino communities, hope is revived but outreach to Spanish-speakers and skeptics still needed
“It’s heartwarming to be able to help and I’m glad that my community is finally getting what they need, but there’s gotta be a different way to reach them and make it easier for them to access these vaccines,” he said. “Not only to facilitate access but to also help them feel more comfortable getting it. There is so much misinformation out there.”
chicagotribune.comUnited States Files False Claims Act Complaint against Community Health Network
The United States has filed a complaint against Community Health Network Inc. (Community) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, the Department of Justice announced today. The Act permits the United States to intervene and take over the lawsuit, as it has done here in part. The case is captioned United States and the State of Indiana ex rel. Thomas Fischer v. Community Health Network, Inc., et al. The claims in which the United States has intervened are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
justice.gov6/08: Holes exposed in TSA terror watch list; Community demands firing of cop in Texas pool party incident
A new report found that the TSA doesn't have access to terrorist watch list data that would have flagged 73 airport workers; McKinney police officer Eric Casebolt was suspended after video was released showing his rough response to a disturbance at a Texas pool party.
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