Monday, Dec. 29: Residency Scam + School Funding + Judicial Move
Monday, Dec. 29
Your local news briefing
5 Headlines You Should Know Today
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Navy women charged in Jacksonville sham-marriage residency scheme.
Two U.S. Navy members based in Jacksonville have been charged in a growing federal investigation into staged marriages between service members and Chinese immigrants. Morgan Chambers and Jacinth Bailey each face conspiracy to commit marriage fraud—charges tied to a scheme allegedly promising tens of thousands of dollars in exchange for helping immigrants gain legal residency. The women waived formal indictments, signaling possible plea deals. Their cases appear linked to earlier charges against two other Navy personnel, including a former Mayport-based recruiter. The conspiracy reportedly ran into late 2024.
Mater Academy drops most Schools of Hope bids; two remain.
Only two Duval County schools—Merrill Road Elementary and Fort Caroline School of the Arts—remain under consideration to house new “Schools of Hope” charter programs. Mater Academy, the charter operator behind the proposals, withdrew 23 of its 25 initial requests following sustained district advocacy. Florida’s expanded law now allows these state-designated charters to co-locate in district buildings rent-free, even in areas with rising academic performance. Local leaders are voicing concerns over lost autonomy and flawed space calculations, prompting a proposed resolution for state legislative action. A final board vote is set for January 6.
Florida Justice Canady resigns, joins University of Florida faculty.
After more than 15 years on Florida’s highest court, Justice Charles Canady is stepping down from the state Supreme Court to join the University of Florida. The 71-year-old jurist will become a director and tenured professor at UF’s Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education. Canady previously served in both the Florida House and the U.S. Congress before being appointed to the bench in 2002. His departure shifts the court’s balance further, with six of seven justices now appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Community Foundation grant expands READ JAX tutoring beyond third grade.
A new $50,000 grant from The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida is boosting literacy tutoring at Biltmore Elementary in Jacksonville. The grant supports local nonprofit READ USA and Teach for America Florida Regions, aiming to increase tutoring frequency. It also marks the foundation’s new role as the “backbone” of READ JAX, a regional literacy campaign first launched in 2022. The campaign will now expand beyond early literacy through third grade, extending its focus through high school graduation. Foundation leaders say they’ll support coordination and data management across the initiative.
AMFM launches Bold Mini and artist-ownership platform for creators.
A Jacksonville-based tech company is taking aim at the creator economy with a new tool for artists. AMFM Technologies, founded by music industry veterans Troy McNair Sr. and Maurice Henderson, has launched an upgraded version of its Bold Mini music player—an offline, high-fidelity device designed for direct-to-fan content distribution. Paired with a new commerce platform called the Artist Ownership Movement, the initiative offers independent creators a way to monetize their work outside traditional streaming. AMFM hopes to position Jacksonville as a hub for culture-tech innovation.
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