Political Florida

Clouds Showers Coming From Gulf

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --Patchy fog may form this morning but it will rain again this afternoon.  very isolated areas with small hail and
gusty winds 60% high 86.  More showers Thursday  with only
20% chances for the weekend..

Increasing northeast winds will modify the afternoon heat by the weekend.

 

 

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Lack of Curbing Leads to Flooding at Arlington Home

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --  Fred Gardner said in 2009, JEA dug up the 7000 block of Oakwood Drive in Arlington to connect his home and his neighbors' homes on the block to the city's sewer system.

But he said when they repaved the street, they did not reinstall any curbs. So when it rains, a river of water flows down his driveway, toward his home.

RELATED: JEA Rates Set to Decrease July 1

Gardner said, "Every time I talk to someone, I get the 'we're going to take care of that, we're going to look into it, we'll see what we can do about that,' but nobody ever does anything.'"

JEA's project outreach coordinator Greg Corcoran said JEA contractors did the work in 2009, but they could not replace the existing asphalt curb because it was not up to City of Jacksonville standards.

Firefighters Escape Arlington Home's Roof Collapse

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Flames burst through the roof of an Arlington home Monday afternoon, sending firefighters scrambling to get it under control.

In the end, the crews got the fire at the home in the 5000 block of Cinancy Court under control, and public information officer Tom Francis said no one was injured.

It's unknown at this time what caused the fire, but firefighters said the home's roof collapsed, forcing them to evacuate the residence.

Jacksonville University graduates first class in lauded MFA in Choreography program

Jacksonville University graduates first class in lauded MFA in Choreography program

When they made their way across the stage May 5 to receive their diplomas, these Jacksonville University graduates made a little history, too.

They were part of the first graduating class of JU’s prestigious MFA in Choreography program, one of only a handful nationwide whose low-residency approach lets mid-career artists continue their professional lives while advancing their knowledge in performance and choreography.

“This program expanded my mind and perspective in terms of thinking about my career and potential,” said an excited Michelle Grant Murray, one of 10 graduates of the program, who teaches dance in Miami and has directed shows as far away as Japan. “It gave me the opportunity to meet new people and go to new places. It’s amazing, the amount of freedom to explore your processes without having everything superimposed on you.”

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Efforts To Rehab Northwest Jacksonville Cemetery Stalled

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Fred Douglas, James Caldwell and Rev. Raymond King are a few of the dead buried and abandoned in Sunset Memorial Cemetery.

Amy Blount lives next door to the Northwest Jacksonville graveyard. 

"I saw them cleaning two of them last week," said Blount.

Database: Registry of Historic Cemeteries in Florida

She said nobody seemed to care. From the front of the cemetery, facing Moncrief Road, it looks like there's an effort to maintain the property, but there are hundreds of graves that are covered with debris and thick brush.

Adoption Privacy Rules Hamper Obtaining A Florida ID

Editor's Note: After Ken's report Walker was able to obtain a license. 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- 21 year old Jessie Walker said she's persona non grata.

"I've never had a driver license or state ID. I've never been able to obtain one," she said.

She said her many attempts to get a state ID have all been rejected.

"(I've tried) North Carolina, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Raiford, Charlotte. Florida I've been to Jacksonville, West Palm. Boynton Beach, Davie, Pompano Beach," said Walker.

Walker was adopted from a Pennsylvania group home when she was 14. She said it was a closed adoption. Moving from state to state. she lost her only copy of her birth certificate and getting a new one is not easy.

Clean Out Those Cabinets: Stamp Out Hunger is Saturday

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Check your mailbox!  The Stamp Out Hunger food drive is Saturday and letter carriers have been dropping off donation bags at homes all over the First Coast this week.  

This is the 20th year of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Food Drive.  

The donation drive is designed to make giving easy.  All people have to do is put some non-perishable food in a bag and leave it by their mailboxes Saturday.  Postal workers will take the donations and transport them to Second Harvest of North Florida.