EverythingJax

Two former members of the Florida A&M University band pleaded no contest to reduced charges of misdemeanor hazing in the beating of a freshman clarinet player as part of a deal with prosecutors Thursday.

A 32-year-old man accused of beating a woman to death in front of her three young children Wednesday evening is scheduled to face a judge on a charge of murder.

After Mitt Romney held a $10,000-a-head reception at Epping Forest, the GOP presidential candidate spoke to hundreds of supporters at a public event on the Southbank. IMAGES:  Romney rally in Jacksonville | UNCUT INTERVIEW

BRUNSWICK - When strong thunderstorms roll through, lightning triggers fire alarms and kills power, sending firefighters scrambling to calls that usually are unnecessary.

But a bolt that struck the federal building on Gloucester Street about 3 p.m. Monday meant business as it shattered the top of a chimney, sent chunks of brick flying, fried electronics and burned out an air-conditioning compressor.

The lightning even blew apart the hard concrete cap of the chimney that was held together with steel
rebar.

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One person died early Friday morning after a suspicious car crash in St. Nicholas.

BRUNSWICK - Whistle-blowing renters could be protected under proposed amendments meant to strengthen city ordinances regulating property upkeep.

Renters who complain to city officials about the condition of their houses or apartments often are booted out by their landlords, and such retaliatory evictions should not be tolerated, Mayor Bryan Thompson said during a Wednesday meeting of the City Commission.

"They feel as if they have no power," Thompson said, "and this is going to give them a tremendous amount of power."

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The St. Johns County Horse Council will hold a free farm tour Saturday to educate the public about horses and farms.

The tour will highlight three area horse farms. Owners and sponsors will provide demonstrations, food, drinks, gifts and door prizes.

Breakfast at Two Son Farm (9-11:30 a.m.): Demonstrations in ground work and classical horsemanship in Western and English styles. Menu: Breakfast burritos, mini pumpkin muffins, yogurt parfait, and beverages. 8050 County Road 208, St. Augustine.

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Chalk this up as another person put in a politically awkward spot by Jacksonville's anti-discrimination bill.

This time it's state Senate candidate Aaron Bean.

ElderSource, an organization that provides senior care, supports the legislation that would expand Jacksonville's human rights ordinance to include sexual orientation or sexual identity.

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For the third year in a row, Massage Envy is donating a portion of the proceeds from every massage, facial, retail purchase or gift card purchase in May to Dreams Come True, which fulfills the dreams of local children with life-threatening illnesses.

Additional donations are also being accepted at Massage Envy locations.

Also, Massage Envy is selling raffle tickets for a chance to win donated items such as tickets to area entertainment venues, with proceeds to Dreams Come True.

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She was just hoping to get an A in class.

But Heather Burky got a lot more than that. She found out this week that her senior thesis film at the Art Institute of Jacksonville has won a Student Academy Award, given out by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — the same people who give out the Oscars every spring.

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