Florida wildlife officials see manatees dying at an alarming rate
Manatees are having a difficult time in Florida. So far, 819 manatee fatalities have been recorded by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission through June 25. For perspective, that is 182 more manatee deaths than the total recorded in 2020.
News4Jax Super 6 softball: Teams trade spaces in this weekโs rankings
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ High school softball season is in full swing and so are our News4Jax Super 6 rankings. (2) Oakleaf (9-1, Class 7A)Notable wins: Clay, Creekside, East Ridge, Episcopal, Gainesville, Providence, Ridgeview. (2) Ridgeview (11-2, Class 4A)Notable wins: Bartram Trail, Clay, Fletcher, Keystone Heights, Oakleaf, Paxon, West Nassau (twice). (3) Trinity Christian (8-2, Class 2A)Notable wins: Bartram Trail, Providence, West Nassau. Glance: The Eagles return to the Super 6 this week in what has been the most challenging week of rankings to date.
News4Jax Super 6 softball: Trinity Christian moves up, Creekside moves in
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ High school softball season is in full swing and so are our News4Jax Super 6 rankings. (1) Oakleaf (4-0, Class 7A)Notable wins: Creekside, Ridgeview. (2) Ridgeview (7-1, Class 4A)Notable win: Bartram Trail, Fletcher, Paxon, West Nassau. (4) Trinity Christian (6-0, Class 2A)Notable wins: Bartram Trail, Providence. It escaped what would have been a bad loss by edging winless Suwannee (15-14) but rebounded from that scare with a 13-2 rout of Bartram Trail.
News4Jax Super 6 softball: Oakleaf, West Nassau open at the top in 2021
When the season was paused, and eventually canceled due to COVID-19, our Super 6 looked like this โ Ridgeview, Oakleaf, West Nassau, Episcopal, Bartram Trail and Atlantic Coast. Glance: The Knights are always a pick to land high in the Super 6 and they open 2021 in a familiar position. Ridgeview (1-1, Class 4A)Notable win: Atlantic Coast. Episcopal (1-0, Class 3A)Notable win: Atlantic Coast. Others: Baldwin (3-0, Class 3A; Clay (1-0, Class 4A); Creekside (1-2, Class 6A); First Coast (3-0, Class 6A); Fletcher (1-1, Class 6A); Keystone Heights (1-1, Class 3A); Mandarin (1-1, Class 7A); Middleburg (1-0, Class 5A); Paxon (2-1, Class 4A); Providence (0-1, Class 3A).
Championship season arrives as area girls hoops teams start playoff road
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The road to Lakeland begins this week for girls high school basketball teams. The addition of G Taliah Scott (22 ppg, 5.1 rpg) has allowed returnee G Kaylah Turner (15.4 ppg) and G/F Fantasia James (16.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg) to thrive. But Mainland, a regional finalist in 2020, is battle-tested and unbeaten in five games this season against teams from the area. The step to a third straight state championship game is going to be rugged for Kenny. โฆ Jackson has been one of the areaโs steadier teams this season, paced by G Jasmine Jackson (10.7 ppg), F/C Xaniya Jackson (9.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg) F/C Irene Kabassubabo (9.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg).
Huge, stubborn recycling plant fire could burn for days
The multi-alarm fire in the recycling plant started after midnight and burned into the morning. PASSAIC, N.J. โ A huge fire engulfed a recycling plant overnight in northern New Jersey and raged into Saturday as firefighters battled flames, wind and frigid cold that turned the water from their hoses into treacherous ice. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries, but all 70 employees at the Atlantic Coast Fibers plant are accounted for, Passaic Mayor Hector Lora said. โWhen you consider a recycling plant, everything inside is conducive for continuing to burn,โ he told WABC-TV, calling the building โa complete loss.โAdThe cause is under investigation, Fire Chief Patrick Trentacost said, but he doesnโt consider it suspicious. A lot of factors,โ Trentacost told WLNY-TV.
Lee tops Bolles to win 3rd Fortegra Basketball Invitational tournament
NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. โ LSU signee Alex Fudge took tournament MVP honors and led Lee to a 66-51 victory over Bolles in the championship game of the Fortegra High School 9:12 Invitational basketball tournament on Saturday night. Saturday recapsEpiscopal 54, West Nassau 34Mark Flakus had 15 points, Cort McCarthy followed with 14 and Beza Miller 12 as Super 6 No. Eric Gaines led Camden County with 22 points. The win sends Lee into Saturdayโs championship against either Bolles or West Nassau. The Bears advance to the fifth-place game Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. against either Camden County or Fletcher.
Lee, Bolles surge into Fortegra hoops title game
NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. โ Itโs Bolles and Lee for Fortegra High School 9:12 Invitational basketball tournament championship. The Generals (5-0) will face Bolles (6-0) in Saturdayโs championship game, with Lee knocking off Episcopal 72-56 and Bolles edging West Nassau 72-68. The win sends Lee into Saturdayโs championship against either Bolles or West Nassau. Bolles 72, West Nassau 68Bobby Crouch had a tournament-high 32 points and the Bulldogs held off a fast-charging Warriors squad to reach the Saturday championship game. Bartram Trail 52, Atlantic Coast 38Bartram Trail used a burst right before the break to top a cold-shooting Atlantic Coast team in the opening game of the Fortegra High School 9:12 Invitational basketball tournament on Friday.
Which side of Florida gets hit by stronger hurricanes?
Morales is the lead author on a study extending the areaโs hurricane record beyond when many written observations began in the 1850s. Even after weakening slightly, Iota was still the strongest hurricane to hit Nicaragua as a high-end Category 4 hurricane. Hurricane Iota landfall second Category 4 storm behind Eta to hit within 15 miles of each other in NE Nicaragua. (wjxt)Before that Hurricane Laura was the strongest landfalling storm to hit Louisiana since tying the 1856 Last Island hurricane. Once complete this study could help researchers determine whether changes observed in the longer storm record can be attributed to human-induced climate change.
High school football 2020: Playoff scores from around the area
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The high school football playoffs are in full swing. Hereโs a glance at Fridayโs playoff scoreboard and the playoff schedule for next week. Playoffs, Week 2Friday, Nov. 13Region 1-8A, Play-in game, Round 1Sandalwood 28, Mandarin 13Nease (1-7) at Oakleaf (6-3), canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, Oakleaf wins by forfeitByes: Bartram Trail, Flagler Palm Coast, Oakleaf. Region 1-7A, Play-in game, Round 1Gainesville Buchholz 46, Creekside 13Tallahassee Lincoln 42, First Coast 8Atlantic Coast 47, Fletcher 21Fleming Island 21, Tate 0Region 1-6A, Play-in game, Round 2Lee 42, Fort Walton Beach 6St. Augustine 38, Mosley 24Matanzas 7, New Smyrna Beach 6Pensacola Escambia 44, Middleburg 0Columbia 14, Ponte Vedra 0Region 1-5A, Play-in game, Round 2Arnold (2-4) at Baker County (7-2), canceled due to COVID-19, Baker County wins by forfeitRaines 28, Westside 20Ribault 38, Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee 33Suwannee 14, Parker 7Tallahassee Godby 64, Paxon 0Tallahassee Rickards 21, White 14Bye: Baker County. Region 2-5A, Play-in game, Round 2Orange Park 20, Citrus 7Menendez 32, Mount Dora 27Clay 43, Leesburg 0Ridgeview 38, Tavares 20Region 2-4A, Regional quarterfinalsBradford 40, Keystone Heights 14Bolles 44, Villages Charter 14South Sumter 28, Palatka 7Fernandina Beach 34, West Nassau 22Region 1-3A, Regional quarterfinalsEpiscopal 41, Interlachen 19Florida State University High 42, Jackson 6Trinity Christian 20, Baldwin 3Region 1-2A, Regional quarterfinalsUniversity Christian 41, Aucilla Christian 16North Florida Educational 40, Rocky Bayou Christian 0Victory Christian 39, St. Joseph 0Region 3-1A, Regional quarterfinalsFort White 21, Branford 20Union County 42, Bell 0Hilliard 22, Lafayette 21, OTPlayoffs, Week 3Friday, Nov. 20Region 1-8AOakleaf (7-3) at Bartram Trail (8-1)Flagler Palm Coast (4-3) at Sandalwood (7-2)Region 1-7AFleming Island (7-2) at Tallahassee Chiles (1-5)Tallahassee Lincoln (6-1) at Atlantic Coast (4-5)Region 1-6ALee (6-1) at Pensacola Pace (4-3)Pensacola Escambia (8-0) at St. Augustine (7-2)Daytona Beach Seabreeze (4-4) at Columbia (3-5)Daytona Beach Mainland (7-1) at Matanzas (6-3)Region 1-5ATallahassee Godby (4-3) at Ribault (2-6)Baker County (7-2) at Raines (4-6)Suwannee (8-2) at Pensacola Pine Forest (3-4)Region 2-5AMenendez (4-5) at Orange Park (4-5)Ridgeview (7-3) at Ocala Vanguard (6-1)Atlantic (1-5) at Clay (8-1)Region 2-4ABolles (7-2) at Fernandina Beach (7-3)Bradford (5-5) at South Sumter (4-4)Region 1-3ATrinity Christian (8-1) at Episcopal (6-2)Region 1-2AUniversity Christian (5-4) at St. John Paul II (5-3)North Florida Educational (2-6) at Tallahassee North Florida Christian (5-2)Region 3-1AUnion County (7-3) at Fort White (2-6)Madison County (8-2) at Hilliard (8-0)
High school football 2020: Glance at playoff games in Classes 5A-8A
RB Preston Strope (1,216 rushing yards, 20 TDs) and WR Jack Goodrich (575 receiving yards, 6 TDs) are playmakers. RBs Arthur Walker (436 rushing yards, 6 TDs) and Kendall Mathis (370 rushing yards, TD) and QB Ridge Jacobs (847 passing yards, 241 rushing yards, 8 total TDs) can move the ball, but can they do it enough to solve the Senators? QB Cale Zarah (675 passing yards, 12 TDs), and RBs Dayon Rawls (292 rushing yards, 6 TDs) and Alvin Gibson (257 rushing yards, TD) have been the three big producers. But his biggest asset is running the football and heโs closing in on a 1,000-yard rushing season (846, 12 TDs). QB Tre Griner (1,078 yards, 14 TDs passing, 626 rushing yards, 6 TDs) is an exceptional two-way player.
Area swimmers eye state titles in Class 3A-4A event this week
2 in 100 free) should push one another for those events. Bartram Trail diver Lauren Miller was third at state last year and enters this meet seeded No. In the Class 3A meet, Fleming Island swimmers headline the area contenders. Bartram Trail. Lauren Miller (Bartram Trail); 5.
High school football 2020: Bolles-Trinity headlines jam-packed Week 2
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The first full week of high school football is here. After a light slate of games last week, football cranks up in full force this week, with a full schedule and a load of marquee games to choose from. Bartram Trail at Creekside: One of the few rivalry games of the true opening week of games matches the Super 10 No. Bolles at Trinity Christian, 7:30 p.m.: This is usually the game to set your calendar by. GEORGIAFriday, Sept. 11Glynn Academy (1-0) at Camden County (0-1), 7:30 p.m.McIntosh County Academy (0-1) at Brunswick (0-1), 7:30 p.m.Richmond Hill (1-0) at Ware County (1-0), 7:30 p.m.Wayne County (1-0) at Pierce County (1-0), 7:30 p.m.OFF: Charlton County (1-0).
High school football 2020: Team-by-team schedules, results from around the area
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ After a long delay to start the season due to a global pandemic, high school football season kicks off on Sept. 4 around Florida and Georgia. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced quite a few adjustments to schedules in 2020 and many teams have yet to finalize their schedules. Teams that donโt have opponents for a certain date or their schedules have not been provided are marked with a TBA. FLORIDAAll games start at 7 p.m. unless indicated. There will be no district champions declared in 2020, so district games are not identified.
Coast Guard rescues boaters off Floridas Atlantic Coast
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three men after their boat became disabled off Florida's Atlantic Coast on Tuesday night. The agency said in an email that a Jayhawk helicopter crew located the boat some 18 miles off of Ponce de Leon Inlet near Jacksonville after the wife of one of the boaters called for help. They brought in a response boat for the rescue, which towed the disabled boat to the inlet, a news release said. It was great to see all of our training pay off, said Petty Officer 2nd Class Collin Milne, the coxswain on the case. We had ideal weather and great communication, which was vital to the success of the mission and everyone played a pivotal role.No injuries were reported.
Big 12 moves ahead with fall sports beginning in September
The Big 12 Conference reaffirmed its decision to press on with college football and other fall sports Wednesday, joining the Atlantic Coast and Southeastern conferences in taking the field amid the coronavirus pandemic. The move came one day after the Big Ten and Pac-12 announced they would not be participating this fall. The schools will all play each other to give them 10 total games with the Big 12 title game scheduled for Dec. 12. All non-conference opponents also must adhere to Big 12 standards. The virus continues to evolve and medical professionals are learning more with each passing week, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a statement.
SEC commish remains comfortable with safety, return to field this fall
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. College football this fall remains in limbo, but leaders from the Southeastern and Atlantic Coast conferences are still preparing for fall sports. On Tuesday, the Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences postponed fall sports, even after President Donald Trump said that canceling college football would be a tragic mistake. The ACC and SEC, along with the Big 12, remain determined to play this fall. After the announcements from the two conferences suspending fall sports, Sankey said he was interested to hear what went in to those decisions. ACC football will begin on Sept. 10.
2019 high school football: Week-by-week schedules, results
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The 2019 high school football season continues early November and beyond for some. Here are the schedules for each week of the regular season. All games at 7 p.m. unless indicated. District/region games schedule with *. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.
Playoff RPI standings firm up as season winds down
The Florida High School Athletic Association released its Week 10 playoff RPI ratings on Tuesday afternoon with only minor changes. Trinity closes its season at Raines on Friday and will lock up a playoff spot with a victory. 5 seed in the playoff bracket since Lee (.607) will win the district with a victory over one-win Gainesville. In 1-8A, Mandarin (.593) is in ninth place in RPI, just .03 behind a playoff spot and No. Week 10 Playoff RPI standings (*indicate team has clinched district title, top four seed in playoffs)Region 1-8A: 2.
Atlantic Coast comeback stuns Creekside in Game of the Week
And Atlantic Coast was left with one young team growing in confidence. Stingrays quarterback Ridge Jacobs completed two more scoring passes as Atlantic Coast broke out with a 20-point third quarter. It was sweet for Atlantic Coast (2-5, 1-2), which had been so close at times this season. It turned out to work in our favor.It woke up Atlantic Coast, which was all or nothing on offense. That set up Alves field goal to start the fourth, giving Atlantic Coast a 23-20 edge.
Summer Haven residents say their homes are out of reach
SUMMER HAVEN, Fla. - For the first time since Hurricane Dorian skirted Floridas Atlantic Coast, News4Jax heard Monday from those who live along Old A1A in Summer Haven who say getting to their homes is almost impossible. The road, which has been washed out over time, has been closed for nearly three years. A second resident told News4Jax she and her husband were in the middle of remodeling their home when Irma brought rising waters to the area. The renovation was supposed to take three to five months, and we have been renovating now for almost two years, the second resident said. I can tell you at my house on a bad day, theres no beach, the second resident said.
Predicted timeline and local impact for Hurricane Dorian
According to the National Hurricane Center, a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for all coastal areas in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. Once a Category 5 hurricane, Dorian has weakened to a Category 2 as sustained winds fell to 105 miles per hour. Northeast Florida is currently seeing steady rain along coastal spots from St. Johns County up to Glynn County. As of 2 p.m. the center of Hurricane Dorian is off the coast of Jacksonville Beach. The storm will remain a Category 2 as it moves away from Northeast Florida between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Week 2 high school football picks: Trying to bounce back after rough first week
N4J pick: Parker 21, First Coast 20Fort White (0-1) at Hamilton County (0-1), 7:30: Indians bounce back after an L to Suwannee. N4J pick: Keystone Heights 22, Bell 14Lake Minneola (1-0) at Fleming Island (1-0), 7:30: A Lake and an Island. N4J pick: Mandarin 28, Ribault 14Orange Park (0-1) at Middleburg (0-1): Good efforts by both in Week 1 losses. N4J pick: Union County 27, Williston 20University Christian (1-0) at Christ School, NC (0-0): Very impressed with UC in Week 1. N4J pick: UC 42, Christ School 14Westside (1-0) at Englewood (1-0), 6 p.m.: Both of these teams won big games last week.
Flagler County declares local state of emergency as Dorian approaches
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. - Flagler County held a special meeting at noon Thursday to declare a Local State of Emergency as Dorian approaches. Flagler County has opened its Hurricane Call Center -- 386-586-5111 -- from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Holland Park, 18 Florida Park Drive North, Palm CoastFor more information, call Palm Coast Customer Service at 386-986-2360. Know your evacuation zone: Now is the time to find out if you are in an evacuation zone and if so, what that zone is. Evacuation determinations will be made by Flagler County Emergency Management and public notices will be provided at that time.
6 teams, 3 games, 21,204 fans for first ever Bold City Showcase
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ From late morning through late night, thousands of people were packed into The Bolles School campus in San Jose to watch some of the best high school football on the First Coast. It was the inaugural Bold City Showcase. News4Jax meteorologist estimated the high temperature at Bolles was 91 degrees -- in the shade. "We're all, like, sweating and, like, it's really hard, but a lot of water has helped with the heat," Bartram Trail cheerleader Lily McMullan said. Despite the heat, Bartram Trail left tackle Jacob Otts said he's happy with how well the inaugural event went.
Mandarin tops Atlantic Coast in Bold City Showcase
The Mustangs got three touchdowns from Carson Beck, but rival Atlantic Coast made them work for every bit of their 28-12 win in the Publix Bold City Showcase on Saturday. Beck, the state's reigning Mr. Football, had touchdown passes of 22 and 43 yards to Jaylen Smith, and added a 1-yard touchdown plunge. Jordyn Williams had an acrobatic interception in the end zone to stop one Mustangs drive and Josh Williams had another. The Mustangs took away every bit of Atlantic Coast's rushing attack and made life difficult on quarterback Ridge Jacobs. The Mustangs picked off two passes, including the clincher by Uriel Richardson that allowed Mandarin to hold on to a 21-12 lead.
Bold City Showcase: Behind the success of Mandarin, Atlantic Coast
The second matchup Saturday will be a rematch of last year's Bold City Showdown game between Atlantic Coast and Mandarin high schools. The band spent weeks in the hot summer sun preparing to rock the grandstands of Saturday's game against Atlantic Coast. WATCH: Mandarin joins us on the The Morning ShowOne program that's very popular at Mandarin High is the Junior Reserved Officer Training Corps. "Were about helping high school students make the transition from middle school to high school, then transition from high school to adult life, whatever they do, Hadley said. 'Rays-ing' the barGraduation coach Blair Chambers said Atlantic Coast has become known as the new kid on the block."We have a gorgeous campus.
Inaugural Bold City Showcase features 3 football games to open season
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - High school football on the First Coast is getting a big opening week of the 2019 season. The inaugural Bold City Showcase will feature three games on Saturday, Aug. 24, and will be broadcast live on television and radio by WJXT Channel 4 and 1010 XL/92.5 FM. Once again, we are excited about creating a first-class high school event, this time in the sport of football. We are so proud to have six great high school programs in our inaugural event, said Airstream Ventures founder and CEO, Alan Verlander. High school sports are the grassroots heartbeat of our city and football fans will now be able to experience a collegiate type atmosphere to kick off the year.
Inaugural Bold City Showcase features 3 football games to open season
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ High school football on the First Coast is getting a big opening week of the 2019 season. The inaugural Bold City Showcase will feature three games on Saturday, Aug. 24, and will be broadcast live on television and radio by WJXT Channel 4 and 1010 XL/92.5 FM. โOnce again, we are excited about creating a first-class high school event, this time in the sport of football. We are so proud to have six great high school programs in our inaugural event,โ said Airstream Ventures founder and CEO, Alan Verlander. โHigh school sports are the grassroots heartbeat of our city and football fans will now be able to experience a collegiate type atmosphere to kick off the year.
Publix Bold City Showcase football tickets available for $10
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Two ticket options for a full day of high school football are available for this months Publix Bold City Showcase at Bolles. The three-game Showcase on Saturday, Aug. 24, features clashes between Bartram Trail and Lee (1 p.m.), Atlantic Coast and Mandarin (4 p.m.) and Bolles and University Christian (7 p.m.). General admission tickets for the day are $10, and fans 6 and up need to purchase a ticket. Those tickets are located between the 45-yard lines and includes access to the air-conditioned VIP area, as well as food and drink. All three games will be televised live on WJXT and broadcast on the radio on 1010 XL and 92.5 FM.
Publix Bold City Showcase football tickets available for $10
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Two ticket options for a full day of high school football are available for this months Publix Bold City Showcase at Bolles. The three-game Showcase on Saturday, Aug. 24, features clashes between Bartram Trail and Lee (1 p.m.), Atlantic Coast and Mandarin (4 p.m.) and Bolles and University Christian (7 p.m.). General admission tickets for the day are $10, and fans 6 and up need to purchase a ticket. Those tickets are located between the 45-yard lines and includes access to the air-conditioned VIP area, as well as food and drink. All three games will be televised live on WJXT and broadcast on the radio on 1010 XL and 92.5 FM.
Inaugural Bold City Showcase features 3 football games to open season
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - High school football on the First Coast is getting a big opening week of the 2019 season. The inaugural Bold City Showcase will feature three games on Saturday, Aug. 24, and will be broadcast live on television and radio by WJXT Channel 4 and 1010 XL/92.5 FM. Once again, we are excited about creating a first-class high school event, this time in the sport of football. We are so proud to have six great high school programs in our inaugural event, said Airstream Ventures founder and CEO, Alan Verlander. High school sports are the grassroots heartbeat of our city and football fans will now be able to experience a collegiate type atmosphere to kick off the year.
U.S. Geological Survey photos show Hurricane Matthew beach impact
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. โ U.S. Geological Survey aerial photographs shows Hurricane Matthew cut a new inlet between the Atlantic Ocean and the Matanzas River, outside of St. Augustine. The aerial photography of Floridaโs East Coast before and after Hurricane Matthew drive home the damage. In some low-lying areas, Matthew cut islands in half, completely wiping the beach away and creating new inlets. St. Johns County has sent the state of Florida a preliminary estimate that $120 million worth of beach and dune sand was lost during the hurricane. The U.S. Geological Survey is still gathering data on Hurricane Matthew to help coastal areas become more resilient.