Friday, Nov. 21: Judicial Scrutiny + Motorsports Deal + Campus Drive:
Friday, Nov. 21
Your local news briefing
5 Headlines You Should Know Today
🎧 Prefer to listen to the news?
Find Wake Up, Jacksonville! on
Spotify,
Apple Podcasts,
YouTube,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
Teacher Pay: Clay County board approves raises only for veteran educators.
Clay County School Board approved raises of $400–$800 only for teachers with 10+ years of experience, leaving roughly 1,200 educators without increases. Union leaders argue the budget could cover all raises, while the board cites state cuts and warns against higher local taxes. Teachers fear stagnant pay could threaten retention and the district’s A rating.
Judicial Scrutiny: New Jacksonville federal judge Jordan Pratt faces questions over record.
Former state appellate judge Jordan E. Pratt has begun serving as a federal judge in Jacksonville’s Middle District of Florida. Pratt, confirmed by the Senate Oct. 28, previously worked on the 5th District Court of Appeal and as senior counsel for the conservative First Liberty Institute. His confirmation drew questions on abortion rulings and 2020 election-related ties.
Motorsports Deal: $200M Palatka complex approved near municipal airport.
Putnam County cleared the way for a $200M motorsports complex near Palatka Municipal Airport. The 440-acre site will include a road course, go-kart track, garages, clubhouse, museum, RV campground, and a future hotel. Supporters highlight jobs and training programs; some residents worry about sprawl. Groundbreaking is expected early next year.
Riverfront Sale: Southbank school district site sold for luxury tower development.
Chase Properties is moving forward with a $17.2M purchase of Duval County Public Schools’ Southbank site. Plans include a luxury condo tower, hotel, and restaurants tied to RiversEdge development. The company is in a 90-day due-diligence period, with feasibility studies and environmental testing underway.
Campus Drive: UNF “Food for Fines” program generates major pantry donations.
UNF’s campus food pantry, Lend-A-Wing, raised $11,270 through its “Food for Fines” campaign. For a week in October, parking ticket payments went directly to the pantry, covering 2–3 weeks of food. The initiative also encouraged ticket payments, with 587 fines paid—more than the number issued.
* Subscription or free account may be required.
✉️ Do your neighbor a favor — forward this newsletter or send them to our signup page.
