Jacksonville | featured news

When people volunteer, they can change lives — including their own. Each week in Reason, we will highlight a volunteer’s story of giving back and how that selfless act was a true revelation. The volunteer project is a collaboration among the Times-Union, the University of North Florida, the United Way of Northeast Florida and HandsOn Jacksonville.
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Jacksonville police were investigating a possible abduction of a young pajama-clad girl who witnesses said was picked up and placed into a car by a man early Sunday in the 1600 block of Kings Road.
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A woman died early Sunday when her car rolled onto its side after striking a tree in the median in the 1600 block of Mindanao Drive, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Police described the victim as middle-aged but didn’t immediately identify her. Alone in the car, she died at the scene of the crash about 6:20 a.m., the Sheriff’s Office said.
 
Teresa Stepzinski: (904) 359-4075

Jacksonville police were searching for a gunman who abducted a female pizza delivery driver after luring her to a vacant house in the 4600 block of South Lane Avenue about 8 p.m. Saturday.
The man armed with a rifle forced the Papa Johns Pizza driver into the trunk of her car – telling her that he needed her car to go kill someone in Lake City, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
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JACKSONVILLE JOURNAL
The Times-Union
 
$300,000 grant for second animal clinic
First Coast No More Homeless Pets has received a $300,000 grant for its newly opened second low-cost animal clinic.
The grant was from Maddie’s Fund, a national foundation that promotes no-kill initiatives. Such low-cost clinics help low-income people keep their pets and reduce shelter intake and unnecessary euthanasia, said foundation grant director Shelly Thompson.

The 345th Combat Support Hospital housed at Jacksonville Naval Air Station is holding a change of command ceremony Sunday morning as Col. Linda Kramer is set to begin pre-deployment training in Nashville, Tenn.
Kramer will be deployed to Qatar in early 2017 after serving as commander at the U.S. Army Reserve unit in Jacksonville since January 2014, said Acting Command Sgt. Maj. Krystal Ballinger.
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JACKSONVILLE JOURNAL
The Times-Union

$300,000 grant for second animal clinic
First Coast No More Homeless Pets has received a $300,000 grant for its newly opened second low-cost animal clinic.
The grant was from Maddie’s Fund, a national foundation that promotes no-kill initiatives. Such low-cost clinics help low-income people keep their pets and reduce shelter intake and unnecessary euthanasia, said foundation grant director Shelly Thompson.

The 345th Combat Support Hospital housed at Jacksonville Naval Air Station is holding a change of command ceremony Sunday morning as Col. Linda Kramer is set to begin pre-deployment training in Nashville, Tenn.
Kramer will be deployed to Qatar in early 2017 after serving as commander at the U.S. Army Reserve unit in Jacksonville since January 2014, said Acting Command Sgt. Maj. Krystal Ballinger.
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Jacksonville police arrested a driver for driving under the influence and other traffic offenses after a train hit a car stuck on the railroad tracks in San Marco early Saturday.
The driver, whose name wasn’t released immediately, had fled the car before it was hit shortly before 5 a.m. on the tracks at San Marco Boulevard and Gary Street near Baptist Medical Center, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
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Jacksonville police are investigating the death of an unidentified man found inside a bathroom stall early Saturday at Blackfinn Ameripub restaurant at the Markets at Town Center, 4840 Big Island Drive.
The victim, who appeared to be in his mid-30s, had no identification. He was found about 2:15 a.m. inside the stall by a crew cleaning up after closing time, said Sgt. Jay Farhat of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.