Downtown Jacksonville Community News

Another showdown brewing over EverBank Stadium management

Roger Weeder

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The City Council wants to enter the game and have a say on the company selected to manage EverBank Field, the home of the Jaguars, and other city entertainment venues. The new wrinkle follows a week of finger pointing and a flurry of letters between Mayor Alvin Brown and the Jag's owner Shad Kahn. It all started a week ago when the city's General Counsel's office...

Dryer air on the way

Tim Deegan

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- For the next few hours a few isolated t-storms may form and head to the east. Overall dryer,less humid air is on the way. Over the weekend plan on milder mornings and hot, but less humid afternoons with very little in the way of t-storms. T-storms will return again by Wedneday.

Turner Construction built Miami high school that had fire alarm issues

Jeff Marcu

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The company that built the new Duval County Courthouse, Turner Construction, had problems with another fire system in a school it built in Miami. Jaime Torrens, Chief Facilities Officer with Miami-Dade County School District said Turner Construction built Robert Morgan Educational Center in August 2003. He said they had problems with the fire alarm systems. "The school...

After weekend tests, courthouse could fully or partially open next week

Jeff Marcu

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Jacksonville Fire Chief Martin Senterfitt said fire and smoke suppression tests will resume at the new courthouse early Saturday morning. MORE: Councilman Bishop: New courthouse may not open for another month If the tests pass, the courthouse could open as early as next week. If not, city and fire officials will look at an alternate plan of a phased opening. That...

Jacksonville's oldest hardware store

Phil Amato

JACKSONVILLE - The year was 1924, J Edgar Hoover was appointed the head of the FBI, regular air mail service started in the US, and Paschal Brothers Hardware opened for business on the corner of Kings and Myrtle in Jacksonville. "We're the oldest hardware store in Jacksonville," says owner Bo Paschal. Paschal's grandfather started selling hardware at the site 88 years ago. ...

Motorcyclist critically injured in Acosta bridge crash

Amanda Zitzman

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A motorcyclist is in critical condition following a crash that shut down the southbound lanes of the Acosta Bridge early Friday morning. According to thee police report, 22-year-old John Russell, from Altamonte Springs, was traveling southbound on the I-95 southbound entrance ramp from the Acosta Bridge around 2:13 a.m. Police said he lost control and struck the...

Courthouse Holdup

Kaitlyn Ross

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Another delay could be on the horizon for the new Courthouse in Jacksonville. "How in the heck did we get to this spot? That's really a very frustrating issue," said Councilman Bill Bishop. Bishop says the new courthouse project is completely out of control. MORE: Councilman Bishop: New courthouse may not open for another month "Who the heck is doing their job over...

Councilman Bishop: New courthouse may not open for another month

FirstCoastNews Web Staff

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- First Coast News has just learned that the new Duval County Courthouse may not open for another month, according to Councilman Bill Bishop. The fire suppression test at the new courthouse that was scheduled for Thursday has been postponed until Saturday. If the building passes that test on Saturday, courthouse staff will be allowed in to set up their offices. Right now, no...

What to do in Jacksonville this weekend

FirstCoastNews Web Staff

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Events on the First Coast were washed out last weekend because of Tropical Storm Beryl, so this weekend it's time to get out and enjoy the sunshine! First Coast News' Amanda Zitzman takes you on the town in the video above. A complete list of events is below. SATURDAY June 2, 2012 HALE & HEARTY 7K: Saturday, June 2 8:00 a.m. at Riverside Arts Market, the Health...

Mayor: City has no intention of terminating Jaguars' lease

FirstCoastNews Web Staff

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- After receiving a letter from the City of Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan on Thursday asking the city to withdraw a lease default letter, Mayor Alvin Brown promptly wrote back and said the city does not want to terminate the Jaguars' lease. "Let me be crystal clear: the City of Jacksonville has absolutely no intention whatsoever of terminating its lease with the...