The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is being hit with workplace safety citations and more than $14,000 in penalties after a rhino injured a zookeeper in February, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration reported Tuesday. OSHA scheduled an inspection after 'Archie,' a rhino, struck a zookeeper, sending her to the hospital. The incident took place on February 26. On March 12, a case with OSHA was opened based on a referral. OSHA cited the zoo for "failing to protect […]

The theme park giant's planned resort is part of three major properties it has in the works. […]

JEA took the first official step to proposing changes to its charter — and perhaps even the Florida Constitution — after the utility’s board decided Tuesday that continuing on the path it is now on would be unacceptable. While the utility did not lay out what the proposed changes would be, they would be aimed at giving JEA more flexibility when it comes to things like making its required contribution to the city, selling assets and selling new products. The vote to explore the changes cam […]

For more than 25 years, the Jacksonville Business Journal has identified the fastest growing companies on the First Coast. This list has tracked companies that boomed during the good times, that grew even when the economy shrank, that stand as an example of what ingenuity, hard work and creativity can lead to. Logistics, finance, health care, technology, law and more — all of the major industries in the Jacksonville area are represented on this year's list. In an upcoming edition, we'll delv […]

Mayo Clinic announced it will construct a $233 million integrated oncology facility that includes proton beam therapy on its Florida campus. In addition, the facility will incorporate innovative technology to deliver radiotherapy to cancer patients. The 140,000-square-foot facility is expected to be completed in late 2023. The facility will be located near the Mangurian Building, which houses hematology and oncology care and the Oncology Infusion Center. Keeping these services close together w […]

Flagler Health+ announced it has entered into an agreement with Gate Lands, the real estate subsidiary of Gate Petroleum Company, to purchase 40 acres within the company’s Durbin Park development. The property, located between Interstate 95 and State Road 9B, is anticipated to be developed in three phases: Phase one of this project will introduce a Flagler Health+ Village that incorporates family practice, women’s care, pediatrics, urgent care, imaging and laboratory services. The health villag […]

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed a budget-related bill that could lead to changes in a long-controversial formula for divvying up money among school districts. DeSantis signed an “implementing” bill that deals with numerous issues in the state budget. Part of the bill (SB 2502) requires taking steps to revamp what is known as the “District Cost Differential,” a price-level index that is supposed to help measure how much it costs to hire teachers and other school employees in different […]

This investment firm left an Atlanta suburb for Ponte Vedra, where it is already investing millions. […]

Abel Bean Law announced Monday Charles M. Trippe, Jr. has joined the Firm as a partner. Trippe brings to Abel Bean experience as a practicing lawyer, legal executive and public servant. He will be based in Jacksonville, where his practice will focus on civil litigation, transportation law and emerging transportation technologies, and the counseling of businesses and entrepreneurs in litigation, risk management, business law and regulatory matters. “Charlie Trippe will strengthen our existing […]

History was made this weekend as the inaugural US Assure Florida National Pro Motorcross event was held at WW Motocross Park in Jacksonville with almost 20,000 fans from around the world taking in the action. Fans representing 22 states, 16 countries and six continents came to Jacksonville and the estimated 19,500 attendees were treated to a host of improvements to ensure the race rose to the Pro Motocross national standard. “[The] statement I hope it makes is were back, Florida’s back, we’r […]

After a dogged fight including community meetings, letters, media appearances, a Monday morning rally and finally a round of late night public comments on Tuesday, the Duval County School Board’s efforts for a sales tax referendum will be kicked to a new council. At about 9 p.m. on Tuesday night, following an agenda that did not mention bill 2019-380 — the bill pushing for a half-cent sales tax referendum to go to voters — Councilman Garret Dennis attempted to [... […]

JEA could quash its plan for a new headquarters building in downtown and move instead to the suburbs depending on what direction the JEA board takes for the utility's strategic plan, according to a presentation made Tuesday to the board.The board heard that JEA could avert a potential 71 percent increase in the base electric rate by 2030 if it made "traditional" changes such as reducing its workforce by 574 jobs over that time. With those changes, the base rate for electricity would [... […]

Military veteran Binion Williams, 77, says he never feels dizzy or faint after giving blood.According to other people, in fact, donating makes him look younger.Williams joined Tuesday less than two dozen people in Florida who have hit the milestone of donating 125 gallons of blood and platelets with his donation at the One Blood Orange Park Donor Center.Current medical standards allow someone to donate platelets — which helps blood clot — up to 24 times a [... […]

The driver of a JTA bus who was fired after an exiting passenger was killed under a front tire had been terminated in December after almost running over his supervisor's feet, then rehired a month later, according to his driving record.Jean Marais Silney's multiple pages of driving record also show a number of minor incidents including rudeness and passengers falling, as well as a 2013 incident where his bus knocked a bicyclist to the ground.Silney's attorney, Finley Williams, [... […]

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens faces a $14,551 fine from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration for exposing employees to workplace safety hazards after Archie, a 4,000-pound white rhino, injured an employee with his horn on Feb. 26.OSHA said it launched an inspection after the rhinoceros seriously injured the zookeeper during what zoo officials had called a routine training session at the time. OSHA cited the zoo for failing to protect [... […]

While some drag queens spend their time reading other queens — a term used in LGBTQ culture to describe publicly calling out a person’s flaw and caricaturing it — Beatrice Palmer spent her day Tuesday actually reading to children.Just a day after the Jacksonville Public Library announced its cancellation of a pride event geared toward teenagers, citing security reasons, the University of North Florida’s Thomas G. Carpenter Library hosted Drag Queen Story [... […]

A man smashed through a fifth-floor window and fell to his death Monday afternoon at UF Health Jacksonville in Springfield, his death being investigated as a suicide, according to the Sheriff's Office.A UF Health spokesman said the hospital is cooperating with police and had no comment. UF Health's website indicates its fifth floor houses cardiovascular, gastroenterology and nephrology centers as well as psychiatric and mental health facilities.A security guard alerted an off- [... […]

JCPenney announced plans to hire as many as 115 seasonal associates throughout the greater Jacksonville area.Positions include customer service and support, cashiers, replenishment specialists, beauty consultants and experienced stylists. JCPenney offers seasonal associates a discount up to 25 percent.Interested locals at all skill levels can apply in store using the JCPenney Applicant Kiosk or online at jobs.jcp.com and searching for [... […]

A Houston mother is facing criminal charges after police say she allegedly ran over and killed her 3-year-old son during a game of chicken.Lexus Stagg, 26, reportedly drove her car towards her three children in their apartment complex parking lot June 11, hitting the boy, ABC News reports.Surveillance video from the complex reportedly shows the [... […]

The City of Jacksonville has euthanized a dog after a mother and her young son were attacked at Animal Care and Protective Services last week.According to an incident report, the family started playing with a dog named 'Thor' at the facility, located at 2020 Forest St., around 4 p.m. Employees say the young boy picked up a toy and Thor suddenly grabbed the boy's shirt. The boy's mother tried to intervene and the dog started grabbing the boy's pants and left hip, the [... […]

The 2020 Census kicks off this August, and it takes quite a few people to pull it off. The U.S. Census Bureau is looking for thousands of temporary employees across the U.S. and Puerto Rico to help with the 2020 Census count. The Bureau is mainly looking for door-to-door census takers, but there are positions available for recruiting assistants, office staff and supervisory staff. [... […]

Thirty-two people on a bus tour from the Jacksonville-based Carnival Ecstasy cruise ship were injured in a Monday crash in the Bahamas, four airlifted to hospitals, according to company officials.Carnival Ecstasy is on a five-day Bahamas cruise that left Jacksonville on Saturday. The bus crash occurred near Rock Sound, Eleuthera, about 20 minutes north of Princess Cays, Carnival officials said.The bus riders were initially treated at a local medical clinic, with 28 cleared to [... […]

A child is in critical condition after a gun went off Monday afternoon inside a North Jacksonville home, according to the Sheriff's Office.Police said two children were handling the gun in a home in the 11000 block of Alexandra Drive when it fired and struck one in the head. The call initially came out as an undetermined death, but police later said the child was critical.Police said the residents of the house were interviewed, as was the child who was with the victim at the [... […]

LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson's estate paid tribute to his artistry and charity Tuesday as fans make final preparations for gatherings to celebrate his memory on the 10th anniversary of the King of Pop's death."Ten years ago today, the world lost a gifted artist and extraordinary humanitarian," the Jackson estate said in a statement to The Associated Press. "A decade later, Michael Jackson is still with us, his influence embedded in dance, fashion, art and music of the moment. [... […]

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX launched its heftiest rocket with 24 research satellites Tuesday, a middle-of-the-night rideshare featuring a deep space atomic clock, solar sail, a clean and green rocket fuel testbed, and even human ashes.It was the third flight of a Falcon Heavy rocket, but the first ordered by the military.The Defense Department mission, dubbed STP-2 for Space Test Program, is expected to provide data to certify the Falcon Heavy — and reused [... […]

The U.S. government has removed most of the children from a remote Border Patrol station in Texas following reports that more than 300 children were detained there, caring for each other with inadequate food, water and sanitation.Just 30 children remained at the station outside El Paso Monday, said Rep. Veronica Escobar after her office was briefed on the situation by an official with Customs and Border Protection.Attorneys who visited Clint last week said older children were [... […]

WASHINGTON - With the Trump administration considering a multipronged attack on federal poverty programs, Democrats staged a preemptive action.They defended a provision that allows states to provide food-stamp benefits to recipients who are above federal guidelines.And they blasted attempts by Republicans to disparage current program guidelines. At a hearing last week, Republicans pointed to a retired Minnesota man in the audience who received food stamps despite being a [... […]

A group of state lawmakers, Duval County School Board members and others pushing for a half-cent sales tax referendum for schools gathered Monday morning on the steps of City Hall and called on City Council to vote Tuesday on putting the referendum on a November ballot."Every part of our community is represented here this morning to tell the City Council to let the people vote," state Sen. Gibson, D-Jacksonville, said while flanked by about 20 referendum backers. "It seems really [... […]

The 51-year-old woman killed Saturday when she became entangled with a JTA bus in Mayport has been identified as Jeanie Louise Rozar, according to the law firm representing her family.The JTA has fired the bus driver, hired in 2007, following an internal review of the accident, according to spokesman David Cawton III."The Jacksonville Transportation Authority has terminated bus operator Jean Silney for violating JTA Operator Work Rules," the statement read. "The JTA continues [... […]

Contractors building an apartment tower in Jacksonville’s Brooklyn area will change equipment and work rules to curb noise that rattled units in the neighboring 220 Riverside complex as early as 3 a.m.But the city board that approved a variance from Jacksonville’s noise ordinance won’t formally reconsider its decision, voting to deny that request from 220 Riverside after waiting a week so city staff could work out new noise mitigation steps.The steps, [... […]