Jai’Den Thomas ran for 135 yards and the go-ahead touchdown late in the third quarter to help No. 23 UNLV keep its conference title hopes alive with a 27-16 victory over San Jose State.

Clay County emergency management director, John Ward, is retiring effective July 1.

Although Clay County was largely spared major impacts from Ian, officials warned residents to use caution as they returned to their homes following the lifting of evacuation orders on Friday.

As News4JAX visited multiple areas in Clay County Thursday morning to see the effects of Ian there was good news for Clay County residents in the Black Creek area.

Evacuations were ordered in Clay County due to Hurricane Ian, effective at noon Wednesday.

As Florida prepares for Hurricane Ian, the big factor in Clay County appears to be sustained winds.

Clay County officials are getting prepared for the possible impact of Tropical Storm Ian, which is expected to bring strong winds and intense rain known to cause massive flooding in the Black Creek area.

Emergency management agencies in counties across Northeast Florida are tracking the tropics.

Clay County is working to eliminate major damage issues during catastrophic storms like what the county dealt with in 2017 following Hurricane Irma.

Cellphone data is giving emergency planners new insight into what happens when a major storm threatens Florida.

Clay County Emergency Management has released an updated map with the county’s hurricane evacuation zones.

More than 100 animals were found at a home Monday on Old Jennings Road after an investigation there revealed deplorable conditions, according to Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – More than a hundred vaccines have been wasted in Duval County, according to the Florida Department of Health. The Florida Department of Health in Duval County has reported at least 163 doses wasted or spoiled from Dec. 14 to Feb. 3. Collectively, Florida county health departments reported more than 3,344 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were thrown out or spoiled. Ward and the local health department said Friday the county has reported no doses wasted so far. “There is a column in there for, you know, any wasted doses, and we’ve directed our team there.

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Booking a COVID-19 vaccine appointment in Clay County has been impossible for Harold McCollum. Several seniors in Duval County chose to wait in long first come, first served lines at local senior centers to avoid booking appointments online. Emergency managers encourage people having trouble booking online appointments to ask someone for help or go to a library. Appointments will be open for booking online starting at 3 p.m. Duval County health officials said those without a computer, internet access or someone to help book an appointment online can call the non-profit, Aging True.

Clay County did not receive any additional allotments of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine this week from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, John Ward, the county’s director of Emergency Management, announced Wednesday. That means there will be no vaccination appointments opening up this week, Ward said in a video on Clay County Emergency Management’s Facebook page. There’s been a lot of sites opening up throughout the state that they’re really trying to spread the limited doses to,” Ward said. “We’ve been assured from starting next week that we should start getting a weekly allocation of doses. To receive updates and more information on the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in Clay County, visit Alert.ClayCountyGov.com.

Clay County Emergency Management Director John Ward said Monday morning that the new shipment could arrive later this week. Clay County COVID-19 Vaccine Pod Update Clay County Emergency Management, in Unified Command with the Florida Department of Health in Clay County, and the Clay County Sheriff's Office will hold a press conference to reinforce the distribution plan regarding the COVID-19 Vaccines. Posted by Clay County, Florida Emergency Management on Sunday, January 3, 2021Clay County Emergency Management said it will be working closely with law enforcement to make sure the process runs smoothly. Clay County said that as soon as the state provides an update on additional allotments, the county will open for additional appointments. Last week, Clay County ran a “soft opening” and administered the vaccine to EMS workers, as well as a few dozen seniors from independent living facilities in the county.

A Clay County couple who scored time slots for Monday’s COVID-19 vaccinations in the county shared with News4Jax why it was so important to them to get the shots as soon as possible. The vaccinations will happen at the Godbold Building just outside the Clay County Fairgrounds. (WJXT)Clay County EMS Director John Ward received the vaccine and posted this video to the county website of his experience so people will know what to expect: https://fb.watch/2JVkAV-N6E/. Starting early next week, Alert.ClayCountyGov.com will be updated so you can schedule the second shot that’s required to get the full immunity provided by the vaccine. “My word of encouragement to those people that are trying is just keep trying!” Andy said of trying to book an appointment.

Clay County Emergency Management and the county’s health department have administered some doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, but the majority of vaccinations will start Monday, Jan. 4. There are no additional appointments at this time, as we have fulfilled the initial allotment of 3,000 vaccines to Clay County. — Clay County EM (@ClayCounty_EM) December 30, 2020Clay County received its first shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, and the county will begin vaccinations with phase one priority groups:Residents 65 and olderHealth care workersAppointments are required. Not if you’re familiar with Clay County it’s not. He said they are not compiling a waiting list right now because it’s unclear when Clay County will get its second allotment.

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – With Clay County emergency management officials preparing for the threat of wind damage as a result of Tropical Storm Eta, the school district announced schools will be closed Thursday. Clay District Schools Superintendent David Broskie said at a news conference early Wednesday evening that the decision to close all schools and offices, as well as cancel all after-school activities, on Thursday was made based on information from the National Hurricane Center and Clay County Emergency Management. Orange Park leaders concerned about downed treesTown leaders in Orange Park told News4Jax Wednesday night that they’re mostly concerned about downed trees because there is so much tree coverage in Orange Park. News4Jax also asked about the major drainage operation in certain Orange Park neighborhoods. Orange Park Town Manager Sarah Campbell said they’re still waiting on grant money.

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – Clay County Emergency Management is preparing for residents to potentially experience tropical storm gusts and slightly elevated water levels, specifically along the St. Johns River and Doctors Lake areas, early Monday morning due to Isaias. Currently, Clay County is under a tropical storm warning. “We will continue to monitor the track of this system and adjust plans accordingly,” said Emergency Management Director John Ward. Clay County Emergency Management encourages residents to continue to monitor this storm and its path. For updates, go to alert.claycountygov.com or follow Clay County, FL Emergency Management on Facebook.

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. Clay County emergency management officials are watching to see if shelters will need to be opened this weekend. If the shelters open, Director of Emergency Management John Ward said they will be a group setting and they should be a last resort. Regardless of the impacts from Isaias, Clay County emergency management officials have been preparing for the Atlantic hurricane season for months. For general population shelters, distance has increased from 20 square feet apart now to 120 square feet. Shelters for those with special needs have increased from 60 square feet apart to 160 square feet.

ORANGE PARK, Fla. The recent high waters in Clay County have re-exposed an unusually vulnerable neighborhood the Aquarius Concourse neighborhood in western Orange Park. The backs of many homes in the neighborhood of near the Orange Park Mall are close to McGirts Creek which is an offshoot of the Ortega River. It doesnt flood as often as Black Creek, also in Clay County, but it flood during Hurricane Irma. But Ward said the neighborhood hasnt flooded very much. The county said its always working on improving drainage in neighborhoods, but in that case, much of the land is federally protected.

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Residents in one of the most infamous spots for flooding in Northeast Florida are bracing themselves yet again for floodwaters spill into homes and city streets. At a news conference Sunday night, Clay County Emergency Management warned residents near the area along Aquarius Concourse to expect minor flooding to hit the area around 8 a.m. Monday morning. The emergency management department said they expect Black Creek to be outflow and back to normal by Monday evening or into Tuesday morning. Until then, officials want residents to remove RVs, trailers, and other structures away from water. A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla, Clay County Emergency Management Director John Ward will be providing an update on the predicted light flooding along the North Fork of Black Creek as a result of the ongoing rainfall from Tropical Storm Cristobal. The Clay County Division of Emergency Management news conference will begin at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the Emergency Operations Center. Residents in the area of the North Fork of Black Creek should take precautions now for the predicted rise of Black Creek after midnight and into the morning hours of Monday.

Ron DeSantis announced his plan to slowly and methodically reopen Florida’s economy, Clay County officials announced Friday that the county will be opening COVID-19 testing sites in the community. Emergency Management Director John Ward said testing hadn’t been as readily available in Clay County because of concerns with personal protective equipment shortages and a lack of testing swabs. But those issues have been resolved and increasing testing capacity is one of the elements to ensure a safe reopening so that coronavirus patients can be identified quickly. Ward acknowledged that it’s likely COVID-19 case numbers will increase in the county as testing capacity improves. Clay County, which has extended the local state of emergency through May 8, is also offering to help those in need of food assistance.

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. - Many parents who were caught up in the panic and chaotic scene that unfolded Friday night during a football game at Oakleaf High School said they are angered by the prank. A criminal investigation is now underway to figure out who began to shout "run" at the high school stadium, prompting people to clear the stands. Deputies responded as a safety precaution, and the game resumed about 9:40 p.m., with Oakleaf High getting a 26-7 win over Ed White High School. Though the threat was not directly related to Oakleaf High, according to Ward, school police had stepped up security measures at the homecoming game by adding more officers. Before the game kicked off at 7 p.m., there was a moment of silence in memory of Oakleaf High student Keondre Moss, who was killed in a car crash earlier this week.