Jacksonville | featured news

Melissa Nelson, an unknown corporate lawyer and former prosecutor three months ago, cleared her path to become one of the most powerful and influential figures in Northeast Florida on Tuesday night when she easily defeated incumbent 4th Judicial State Attorney Angela Corey.
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Once votes started to be counted, it was clear former Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford would run away with the GOP primary in the race for the Fourth U.S. Congressional District in Northeast Florida.
The contest was never close between Rutherford and several other Republican contenders in the primary election.
At 10 p.m. Tuesday with 175 of 178 precincts reporting, Rutherford had 39 percent of the vote and nearly double the ballots cast for his nearest competitor. The seat includes all of Baker and Nassau counties and most of Duval County.

A string of voices — law professors, former prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys and John Legend, yes that John Legend — celebrated the defeat of State Attorney Angela Corey on Tuesday with public written statements.
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Troy Smith was appointed as the newest “Blue Coat” for THE PLAYERS Championship.
Smith joins the four existing vice chairs who lead the 2,100-plus volunteer force for the tournament.
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Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty welcomed Julie Bratcher and Jennifer Hull to the Beaches/Intracoastal West and Southside office.
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Jacksonville city officials are closely monitoring the progress of a tropical depression that is forecast to sweep through the First Coast this week.
A hurricane watch was issued for parts of the Gulf Coast as the depression was predicted to become a tropical storm later Tuesday. Several models have the system swinging through Jacksonville after making landfall Thursday.
Tracking the Tropics: Visit our tropics page for the latest updates and maps

The predicted heavy rain later this week means the state has postponed its Interstate 295 traffic shift near Commonwealth Avenue until early September. But no date has been set yet.
The Florida Department of Transportation shift is part of a $10.5 million safety and resurfacing project on I-295 from I-10 to Commonwealth Avenue, and is needed so the contractor can continue roadway widening activities.
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Florida State College at Jacksonville is offering a new FSCJ Safe mobile app for students, faculty, staff and visitors, designed to keep them safe throughout the college’s campuses and centers in Northeast Florida.
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OneBlood is urging people to donate blood as soon as possible with the potential for a tropical storm system to impact Florida in the next few days.
While all blood types are needed, there is an urgent need for platelets as well as O negative and O positive blood types, according to the nonprofit blood donation and provider operation.
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The Jacksonville Humane Society is seeking families to bring home dogs for sleepovers during the expected heavy rain and wind later this week.
Each “Storm Trooper” family would host an adoptable dog for a three-night sleepover Wednesday through Saturday. The program allows dogs to be in warm homes rather than outdoor kennels during the storm, according to the society.
To participate, go to the society at 8464 Beach Blvd. from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, select a dog then return it Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As storm nears, blood donations sought
OneBlood is urging people to donate blood as soon as possible with the potential for a tropical storm system to impact Florida in the next few days.
While all blood types are needed, there is an urgent need for platelets as well as O negative and O positive blood types, according to the nonprofit blood donation and provider operation.
read more