Budget cuts end Blue Angels' 2013

Tuesday, April 9th, 2013, 1:42pm

PENSACOLA NAVAL AIR STATION, Fla. (AP) - The U.S. Navy has canceled the remainder of the elite Blue Angels demonstration team's 2013 season because of federal cuts.

The commander of Naval air forces announced the decision on Tuesday.

The Blue Angels have performed at air shows around the world for more than 60 years. The fighter pilots selected to serve a two-year tour with the team are among the world's best and are often graduates of the Navy's famed Top Gun air tactics school.

A spokesman for the Navy said team members would be allowed to fly minimal hours to maintain flight proficiency in the F/A 18 fighter jets, but the six-jet squadron would discontinue group practices for the remainder of the season.

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Beaches prepare for those with disabilities

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Monday, April 8th, 2013, 8:00pm

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. -- The Beaches Council for the Disabled has been working more than for twenty years to make First Coast beaches more accessible for those with disabilities by adding ramps, showers, parking spaces and beach wheelchairs.

"I usually walk with a walker; I was born with Cerebral Palsy. I was born two months early."

Kara Tucker is the President of the Beaches Council for the Disabled, but she also knows first-hand the importance of those with disabilities to be able to access the beach.

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Police: 2 pedestrians hit by a vehicle

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Monday, April 8th, 2013, 6:28pm

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. -- According to the Jacksonville Beach Police Department, two people were hit by a car at the 100 block of SR A1A North, Saturday night.

At approximately 10:30 p.m. the pedestrians were attempting to cross the street where there was no crosswalk marked. A vehicle in the left lane stopped to let the pedestrians proceed. They continued into the next lane of travel and were struck by an oncoming vehicle, according to a Jacksonville Beach Police media release. All traffic stopped following the incident.

Both pedestrians were released from Shands on Monday. An investigation is still ongoing and no charges have been filed at this time.

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Dozens of sea turtles returned to the ocean

Submitted by Jessica Clark, Reporter

Sunday, April 7th, 2013, 5:25pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- More than 50 sea turtles were released back into the ocean on Little Talbot Island Sunday.

The turtles were some of the 242 turtles which were rescued off of Cape Cod last fall in record numbers. They had stranded there due to cold weather. They were rehabilitated at different centers along the East Coast.

This weekend, a caravan of vehicles carried 52 turtles to the warm waters off the First Coast.

Sunday morning, the threatened and endangered sea turtles were let loose.

Some scrambled into the water while others were slower-moving.

The turtles included Kemp's ridley sea turtles (which weigh about ten pounds) and bigger 100-pound loggerheads.

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Beach business brings hope for local economy

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Friday, April 5th, 2013, 11:31pm

NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. -- The city of Neptune Beach is hoping new business will bring in big profits after several years of a stalled economy.

"I had some of the businesses over the last three years tell me that if it wasn't for Thanksgiving Day and having everybody come stand in the street, have a drink and talk to their friends the several hundred, thousand people that come down here that some people couldn't make the rent," said Neptune Beach Mayor Harriet Purette.

City Officials tell First Coast News the old Neptune Beach location for Sun Dog Brewing Company for more than 20 years is turning into an upscale Mexican restaurant, run by Al of Al's Pizza.

But the changes don't stop there: The former Caribee Key has changed hands and is now North Beach Fish Camp.

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Parents of dyslexic child: 'There is definitely hope'

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Friday, April 5th, 2013, 5:41pm

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. -- Many families are working with children who have dyslexia. Their children spend hours at night trying to do homework or struggling to read a book.

First Coast News Consumer Reporter David Williams sat down with one family still going through the struggle. It is still a struggle for the Davis family and one of their girls. But they tell FCN things are getting much better and there is hope.

The Davises love all 3 of their daughters. But this story focuses on one; 11-year-old Megan. She was at school during the interview with her parents.

"She is one of the kindest people you would ever meet," Megan's mother, Teri said.

From birth, they've watched her grow. But around age 2, they noticed something as other children's vocabulary developed.

"Megan was still grunting at two-year-old," Teri said. "Not really saying words."

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How would you like a $6.15 electric bill?

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013, 11:25pm

NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. -- The Florida sunshine state has the folks at the city of Neptune Beach excited to pay their electric bill because it's dropped to $6.15.

"We had electric bills that were topping $1,100 for a 5000 square foot building." said Don Ford, city of Neptune Beach Building Official.

It turns out Neptune Beach City Hall is an energy hog, but that was until Don Ford the Building Official had the bright idea to upgrade light bulbs and air conditioning units to more energy efficient models.

The self-proclaimed hippie took his energy conservation one step further and turned to the sun and solar panels.

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