Jacksonville, Duval County | featured news

Public Defender Matt Shirk sent a letter Monday to Times-Union Editor Frank Denton expressing his displeasure with a citizen member of the newpaper’s Editorial Board who took part in a July 28 interview with the incumbent who is running for re-election.
In the letter, Shirk asked the Times-Union to refrain from endorsing a candidate in the upcoming public defender race.
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Florida Gov. Rick Scott, St. Johns County leaders and other state officials promised education, cooperation and action in a roundtable meeting Monday to stop the spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus in Florida.
The virus can cause a birth defect of the brain called microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s becoming a growing threat with 357 travel-related cases and another 17 non-travel-related in Florida as of Monday.

Jacksonville’s public employee unions give favorable reviews to Mayor Lenny Curry’s push for a half-cent sales tax and are open to working with the city on boosting the amounts employees pay toward their pensions.
But several union leaders voiced concerns about completely eliminating pensions as a retirement option for future hires, which is one of the alternatives that could get hashed out in collective bargaining talks.

Gainesville-based State Attorney William Cervone is opening investigations into complaints of election-law violations involving Circuit Judge Mark Hulsey and state attorney candidate Melissa Nelson.
Gov. Rick Scott assigned both reviews to Cervone last week after State Attorney Angela Corey recused herself because of conflicting interests.
Both Hulsey and Nelson are on ballots for Aug. 30 elections.
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Jacksonville’s EverBank Financial Corp. announced Monday it agreed to sell the company to TIAA.
TIAA, headquarted in New York City, announced the agreement to acquire EverBank (NYSE: EVER), a nationwide consumer and commercial bank with $27.4 billion in total assets. Under the terms of the agreement, EverBank stockholders will receive $19.50 per share in cash, or an approximate total of $2.5 billion when the deal closes.
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Jacksonville-based Mac Papers has completed an acquisition of an Alabama company.
A Mac news release Monday said Mac finalized the acquisition of Higdon Paper & Packing based in Birmingham, Ala. The deal adds about a half dozen workers to the Mac Papers payroll. The acquisition deal closed Friday.
Terms of the acquisition were not provided.
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Kimberly M. Sole joined IBERIABANK as senior vice president, commercial relationship manager.
Sole’s responsibilties will include developing new commercial loans and deposits.
 
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Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of Wayne Veitch to the Commercial Motor Vehicle Review Board.
 
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The Clay County School Board will meet in special session Wednesday night to discuss accusations of fraud and unethical behavior by a former high school principal against Superintendent Charlie Van Zant Jr. Board Chairwoman Johnna McKinnon, in an email sent to news media Monday afternoon, announced she called the special meeting for 7 p.m. at the Fleming Island High School Teacher Training Center, 2233 Village Square Parkway, Fleming Island.

Gainesville-based State Attorney William Cervone is opening investigations into complaints of election-law violations involving Circuit Judge Mark Hulsey and state attorney candidate Melissa Nelson.
Gov. Rick Scott assigned both reviews to Cervone last week after State Attorney Angela Corey recused herself because of conflicting interests.
Both Hulsey and Nelson are on ballots for Aug. 30 elections.
read more

The Clay County School Board will hold a special meeting Wednesday night to discuss allegations of fraud and unethical behavior against Superintendent Charlie Van Zant Jr. that have been made by a former high school principal.School Board Chairwoman Johnna McKinnon announced Monday afternoon that she called the special meeting for 7 p.m. at the Fleming Island High School Teacher Training Center, 2233 Village Square Parkway, Fleming Island.