JSO to host series of town halls to detail new patrol boundaries, introduce enhanced public safety initiative
Read full article: JSO to host series of town halls to detail new patrol boundaries, introduce enhanced public safety initiativeThe Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is hosting several town hall meetings to provide community members in their districts with the latest updates and safety protocols.
Downtown Jacksonville cafe closes, cites safety concerns, parking issues, rising food costs as reasons
Read full article: Downtown Jacksonville cafe closes, cites safety concerns, parking issues, rising food costs as reasonsAfter three years, Mag’s Café in downtown Jacksonville is officially closing its doors.
Lawsuit seeks removal of candidate running for Jacksonville At-Large Group 5 seat from ballot
Read full article: Lawsuit seeks removal of candidate running for Jacksonville At-Large Group 5 seat from ballotA lawsuit was filed this week involving two Democrats running for Jacksonville City Council At-Large Group 5, reveal court documents obtained Wednesday by News4JAX.
Woman in motorized wheelchair robs downtown Jacksonville bank
Read full article: Woman in motorized wheelchair robs downtown Jacksonville bankJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A bank located blocks away from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office headquarters was robbed Monday by a woman in a motorized wheelchair, authorities said. The bank robbery was reported about noon at the Regions Bank branch on Bay Street near Laura Street. Police said the woman showed up to discuss an account, but she got into an argument with a teller that escalated when she threatened to kill everyone in the bank and announced she was robbing the place, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The woman left the bank after she was given some cash, and she was taken into custody nearby a short time later, police said. No weapon was seen during the robbery, according to police, and no one inside the bank was hurt.
Murals on Jacksonville’s Greenleaf & Crosby Building honor Black History Month
Read full article: Murals on Jacksonville’s Greenleaf & Crosby Building honor Black History MonthJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Take a stroll down Laura Street in Downtown Jacksonville near James Weldon Johnson Park right now, and you’ll spot murals on the historic Greenleaf and Crosby Building to honor Black History Month. Specifically, the temporary murals are tributes to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Amanda Gorman, the youngest inaugural poet in American history. Wonderful!” said Demetria Orange, who was passing by the murals Thursday afternoon. “It shows love, it shows appreciation and also it shows progress,” said James Jackson. The murals were commissioned by The Law Offices of Phillips and Hunt and Folio Weekly.
Detour on Union Street for several days after fire at old downtown funeral home
Read full article: Detour on Union Street for several days after fire at old downtown funeral homeJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Part of Union Street will be closed for several days after a three-alarm fire that started Saturday at an abandoned commercial building in downtown Jacksonville, authorities said. Jacksonville police also taped off Union Street between Laura and Main streets. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said Sunday that due to the fire, Union Street at Main Street will remain closed for several days, creating traffic delays for those coming into downtown on eastbound Union Street. The current detour diverts eastbound Union Street traffic to southbound Laura Street. Due to yesterday's structure fire, Union St. will remain closed for several days.
JSO: Parties identified in possible abduction in downtown Jacksonville
Read full article: JSO: Parties identified in possible abduction in downtown JacksonvilleJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After witnesses told police they saw a man physically put a woman into a gray BMW on West State Street just after 9 p.m. Friday, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced Saturday that investigators had “identified the parties involved.”The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office was told a man was battering the woman before putting her in the car, then seen driving west on State Street and turning south on Laura Street. The witness followed and attempted to confront the subjects before the BMW made another left turn; this time onto East Union Street. The man sped off, running multiple traffic lights. After announcing they had identified the parties, police said they are “continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident.”No further information was provided.
LIST: Closures for Jacksonville’s Veterans Day Parade
Read full article: LIST: Closures for Jacksonville’s Veterans Day ParadeIf you live or work downtown, you’ll want to take note of the roads and facilities the city of Jacksonville will be closing for its annual Veterans Day Parade. RELATED: City releases details on Veterans Day ParadeThe city says the following streets will be closed at 7 a.m. on Wednesday:Water Street from Lee Street to Hogan Street. Independent Drive from Hogan Street to Laura StreetBay Street from Main Street to I-95. Forsyth Street from S Myrtle Avenue to Main StreetHouston Street from Adams Street to Clay StreetAdams Street from Main Street to Johnson StreetLaura Street from Independent Drive to Monroe StreetLee Street from Water Street to Monroe StreetDavis Street from Forsyth Street to Adams StreetMadison Street from Forsyth Street to Houston StreetJefferson Street from Monroe Street to Riverside AvenueBroad Street from Acosta Bridge North to Monroe StreetPearl Street from Monroe Street to Water StreetJulia Street from Bay Street to Monroe StreetHogan Street from Water Street to Monroe StreetPark Street from Stonewall Street to Water StreetThe following city offices and facilities will also be closed:
Surveillance video shows driver behind Landing lawn vandalism
Read full article: Surveillance video shows driver behind Landing lawn vandalismJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Nearly a week after someone vandalized the lawn at the riverfront site that was home to The Jacksonville Landing, leaving behind deep ruts in the sod, News4Jax has obtained exclusive surveillance video of the vehicle responsible. Surveillance footage shows a pickup truck jump the curb at Independent Drive and Laura Street downtown and speed onto the lawn. The driver does a couple of doughnuts, tearing up the sod, before driving away. RELATED: City digging into who did doughnuts on the Landing lawnNews4Jax crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson said the pickup driver could face serious legal consequences for this act of vandalism if caught. “He could face vandalism of city property, he could spend up to a year in jail for this particular act, depending on the damage,” Jefferson said.
Positive COVID-19 test closes Jacksonvilles Main Library
Read full article: Positive COVID-19 test closes Jacksonvilles Main LibraryJACKSONVILLE, Fla. Jacksonvilles main public library on Laura Street was closed for deep cleaning Tuesday after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. The Jacksonville Public Library announced the sudden closure in a series of tweets from its official account, saying that management learned of the positive test Tuesday morning. Its unclear how the staff member who tested positive was infected with COVID-19. That employee will be allowed to return to work once they receive two consecutive negative tests taken 24 hours apart. The Main Library plans to reopen sometime later this week, though a date was not specified.
Abandoned Jacksonville: The W.P. Sumner Company
Read full article: Abandoned Jacksonville: The W.P. Sumner CompanyPhoto from ModernCities.comOnce part of Jacksonville's Ward Street red-light district, this brick structure was constructed in 1910 for the W.P. Sumner Company. The company was first founded in 1887 by William and Alberta Sumner as a grocery store mainly dealing with butter and cheese. this is when the four-story brick building on Ward Street would be constructed. While the manufacturing operations were located in the four-story structure, the business' retail was done through the connected single-story building.
Family-friendly 'Nightmare on Laura Street' at First Wednesday Art Walk
Read full article: Family-friendly 'Nightmare on Laura Street' at First Wednesday Art WalkJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Organizers hope you have a "ghoul" time at this month's First Wednesday Art Walk. The free Halloween-themed event "Nightmare on Laura Street" will be from 5-9 p.m. Wednesday in Downtown Jacksonville. Art walk includes live music, dance performances, art and a Black Light Block Party "perfect for all ages." Kids can collect candy from local businesses while adults can enjoy pumpkin beer at the Art Walk beer tents. Laura Street will feature a fang-tastic performance by Dansations Performing Arts Center and Make Believe Costumes from 6-6:30 p.m.