Jacksonville, Florida | featured news

New Federal Aviation Administration rules covering commercial drone use went in to affect Monday and a First Coast business is hoping to capitalize on the development that’s likely to lead to more drone use than ever before.
In a prepared statement, the FAA announced the enactment of three key elements that will make it easier to operate commercial drones:
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Vilano Beach in St. Johns County has been closed temporarily to vehicular access because of worsening weather conditions, according to a county spokesman.
The closure will be “for the immediate future, due to increased erosion, rising surf, unusually high tides and current and projected significant weather,” said communications director Michael Ryan. Vilano Beach remains open to pedestrian traffic; Porpoise Point Beach is accessible to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, he said.

Historic choices involving two seats in Congress, plus landmark votes over the future of the Jacksonville area’s top prosecutor and public defender, headline a slate of primary elections Tuesday expected to keep politics junkies entertained.
And that’s besides the choice about a Jacksonville sales tax that would last until 2060 and a slew of races across Northeast Florida for seats on school boards, county commissions and other elected posts.

Meri Ivy Read was 15 when she made her first suicide attempt.
After swallowing a bottle of 400 Benadryl tablets, she called a friend.
“I was basically telling him goodbye,” she remembered.
He recognized what was happening and alerted her parents who took her to Wolfson children’s hospital, where she spent five days on life support.
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A local lawyer who told people they could legally grow marijuana despite a federal law saying the opposite now faces a lawsuit accusing him of profiting off crimes.
Ian Christensen’s law firm told couples like the Yandells that if they medically needed marijuana, he could get them a doctor’s certificate that would protect them from arrest, according to Scott and Marsha Yandell’s lawsuit.
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New Federal Aviation Administration rules covering commercial drone use went in to affect Monday and a First Coast business is hoping to capitalize on the development that’s likely to lead to more drone use than ever before.
In a prepared statement, the FAA announced the enactment of three key elements that will make it easier to operate commercial drones:
read more

Jacksonville's immediate future will be shaped Tuesday when residents cast ballots to decide local races and weigh in on a proposed first-of-its-kind sales tax from Mayor Lenny Curry to pay down the Police and Fire Pension Fund debt. Need additional information before voting? Click here to head to the Times-Union's election page, which has information on each race that affects Jacksonville residents.Note: The Times-Union's live Election Day coverage will begin around 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Insects no larger than a grain of rice are wreaking a not-so-small amount of havoc on pine trees throughout St. Johns County and the state.
Forests in much of the northern part of Florida are experiencing southern pine beetle infestations that can spread and worsen if left unaddressed. The costs can be economic, aesthetic, recreational and ecological.
As of Aug. 2, there were 173 documented cases statewide, 18 of which were in St. Johns County. Cases within the county have jumped up from the four that were identified as of June 22.

Parts of South Ponte Vedra Beach are under a precautionary boil water advisory until further notice following a traffic incident involving a fire hydrant, according to Times-Union news partner First Coast News.
JEA told First Coast News, a vehicle struck a fire hydrant Monday morning at 2901 South Ponte Vedra Boulevard. A boil water advisory was issued at 1:45 a.m. for those living on South Ponte Vedra Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach between 2493-3103.

Insects no larger than a grain of rice are wreaking a not-so-small amount of havoc on pine trees throughout St. Johns County and the state.
Forests in much of the northern part of Florida are experiencing southern pine beetle infestations that can spread and worsen if left unaddressed. The costs can be economic, aesthetic, recreational and ecological.
As of Aug. 2, there were 173 documented cases statewide, 18 of which were in St. Johns County. Cases within the county have jumped up from the four that were identified as of June 22.