Latest news with #JacksonvilleCityCouncil
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Jacksonville City Council approves sale of Profile Cotton Mill for demolition
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (WIAT) — The Jacksonville City Council voted this week to approve the sale of the Profile Cotton Mill. Benjamin Nunnally, who is the spokesperson for the city, confirmed that the part of the building owned by the city will now be sold to K&D Adventures, LLC and Kevin Steward for demolition and removal. According to the Alabama Historical Commission marker, the Profile Cotton Mill dates back to 1905. In 2006, the Profile Mill Complex and Profile Mill Village were added to the National Register of Historic Places, according to the historical marker database. On Friday afternoon, CBS 42 News had the opportunity to visit the building owned by the city that some people had hoped to save. Old equipment still lines the walls of the newer portion of the mill that was added later. In the older part of the building, shards of cotton are still visible hanging from what remains of the tumbler. David Schneider with Schneider Historic Preservation, LLC, who worked to get the property's historical designation, wishes the city had allowed for more time to find a buyer who would be interested in developing the property instead of demolishing it. 'The economy was really bad in 2020, and the interest rate's been horrible since, and the developers haven't been doing anything,' Schneider said. 'But that's turned around,' he added. 'Since the beginning of the year I've had more projects than I know what to do with. It was just a matter of time before we get somebody that would be interested in the building.' Nunnally explained why the city council decided to sell the building. 'Right now, we have somebody who is interested in purchasing the property who has been working on purchasing the property for the last eight years,' he said. Nunnally said, while the city would have preferred to keep it, they haven't had any offers and eventually might have to pay for the demolition themselves. Congressman says Space Command weeks away from moving to Alabama 'The people who asked for us to hold off and look for more solutions have not brought us anything to work with,' he explained. 'It seems like there's really no reason not to go ahead and move forward.' Nunnally said that once the agreement is signed, the buyer will demolish the building and salvage parts of it. Schneider, who said he was hired by the city to get the mill its historical designation, said it's important for people to understand where they come from. 'It's a tangible reminder of our past, and when you lose it, it's gone,' Schneider said. 'And again, as long as it's still standing there's hope, but once it's gone it's gone.' Nunnally said he expects the agreement to be signed on Monday. The land the building sits on is owned by the city, and they would still be able to develop it. Nunnally said they would then add some type of historical marker to the site. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Morning News Recap: Three arrested following disruption at Jacksonville City Hall
The Wednesday edition of Jacksonville's Morning News is following the arrest of three people following commotion at the Jacksonville City Council meeting last night. First Alert Weather headline: Heat and humidity with a few afternoon storms. Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh says we're nearing an all-time May record for the number of days at/above 90 degrees. An isolated shower/storm will likely develop between 3 and 5 pm. Highs will stay in the lower to mid 90s tomorrow. The weekend is looking mainly dry with highs in the mid to upper 80s and lower humidity. Three Big Things to Know: A drive-thru argument spills over into gunfire at a Deerwood Dunkin Donuts. Jacksonville police say a woman was shot multiple times around 5:30 pm yesterday as she was walking away from a car in the drive-thru. Police say the suspect fired two times, hitting the woman in the shoulder and back of the head, before fleeing. The vehicle was later stopped on the northside and the suspect was taken into custody. Jacksonville International Airport's hourly garage is considered a crime scene, as federal investigators look into what started a fire nearly two weeks ago. Once the cause of the fire is determined, construction crews will begin to work their way through the third and fourth floors, assess the damage, and decide how the structure can be repaired. A local family is grieving after their loved one was killed in a hit and run at the Walgreens on Merrill Road. It's a story we followed throughout the morning yesterday. Family members identify the victim as 40-year-old Brandon Venegas. No suspect or vehicle description was provided by police. JOIN US: Weathering the Storm, a free event in the Farah and Farah Performance Studio next Wednesday, June 4. Meet Chief Meteorologist and the First Alert Weather Team, and hear insights to be more resilient the next time weather impacts your family.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
What we know about 3 arrested at City Council meeting, groups calling for their release
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office released the names of three people arrested during a disturbance at Tuesday night's Jacksonville City Council meeting. 'Council leadership requested that officers remove a group of individuals who were disrupting the proceedings,' a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office news release states. 'While several left when asked to do so, a few people in the group disobeyed the lawful orders to leave the chambers.' Here's what we know about the three who were arrested: Cauley is facing charges of with felony resisting with violence and carrying a concealed weapon. Police said he was carrying a knife. Grady is facing charges of with misdemeanor resisting an officer without violence. Belloit is facing charges with misdemeanor resisting an officer without violence. A group calling itself The Jax Palestine Solidarity Network made a post on Instagram overnight calling for protestors to coverage on the Duval County jail Wednesday morning calling for the release of the three arrested at the council meeting. 'All out to Duval County Jail: Organizers Brutalized and Detained by JSO!' a portion of the post states. Another group which calls itself the Jacksonville Community Action Committee also took to social media condemning the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and how it handled the arrest. 'These officers brutalized and arrested three members of the community following public comment,' a portion of the group's Facebook post states. 'Video footage taken by spectators at City County shows clear excessive force ... We stand with our friends with the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network in demanding these trumped up charges ... be dropped and that they be released immediately from the Duval County jail. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
3 arrested at Jacksonville City Council meeting, 1 had knife, Jacksonville police say
New video shared with Action News Jax shows several people being walked out of Tuesday night's Jacksonville City Council meeting in handcuffs. Newly elected City Council President Kevin Carrico told us that three people were arrested for assault on a law enforcement officer. It happened just as public comment was ending. Just before 10 p.m., the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office released a statement that said two people were being charged with misdemeanors and one person was discovered with a knife in his possession and being charged with a felony. Action News Jax's Alexus Cleavenger was at the meeting and watched Jacksonville Sheriff's Officers put those arrested into a patrol car. Video shows the moment the commotion happened at the back of Council chambers. Someone could be heard saying 'back up now.' Then it appears an officer tries to grab a man to move him back. It looks like that man then went on to remove the officer's hand from holding him. And that's when it appears an officer pulled that man by the neck over a row of chairs. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The commotion rattled City Council members, who cleared the room until the situation was under control. Monica Gold with the Jacksonville Community Action Committee was there when all this happened. She believes this started when a community member showed some sort of support during the public comment portion of the meeting, which is against the rules of public comment. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] 'I feel horrified, I feel sick to my stomach that police feel so comfortable using that level of force on anybody and people that were literally just sitting, and another person just standing,' Gold said. Council member Rory Diamond posted the following on X after the arrests: 'Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer is a felony in Florida if Jax Council protestors were wondering. Fully expect all charges to be pressed. #BackTheBLUE" Carrico released the following statement: 'I'd like to thank JSO for once again keeping us safe during an unfortunate event that took place in council chambers. It was unclear what happened but I'm hearing officers were assaulted after people were asked to leave for violating council rules of decorum. On a side note it was an honor to be Voted President, I'm looking forward to leading this body and this city during my tenure as the 57th President of the Jacksonville City Council.' JSO released the following statement: 'Tonight, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) officers arrested three individuals following a disturbance at the Jacksonville City Council meeting. Council leadership requested that JSO officers remove a group of individuals who were disrupting the proceedings. At that time, a few people disobeyed the lawful orders to leave the chambers. The three individuals who were arrested refused to leave and resisted, becoming combative with officers. Officers discovered a knife on one of the individuals who was arrested. He is charged with a felony while the other two are facing misdemeanor charges. 'City leaders stopped the meeting as officers cleared the chamber to ensure public safety. JSO respects the right to freedom of speech and the right to protest; however, the actions of the three individuals in custody constituted a clear violation of the law. They are currently being booked into the Duval County Jail.' The City Council meeting was still going on as of just before 10 p.m., but we are working to speak with Council members about what they saw for FOX30 and CBS47 Action News Jax at 11. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Jacksonville city councilmembers want more inclusive tourism materials from Visit Jacksonville
Some Jacksonville City Council leaders are calling on Visit Jacksonville, the city's official tour guide agency, to be more inclusive in their selection of attractions. Councilman Jimmy Peluso had a meeting alongside Councilman Dr. Rahman Johnson and Councilwoman Ju'Coby Pittman to address what the members call gaps in historical and cultural sites featured in brochures. Visit Jacksonville CEO, Michael Corrigan, was in attendance. He said he always welcomes opportunities to talk about tourism in the city. 'Anytime you can get multiple elected officials to gather with you and talk about tourism - the good ... even some things that need help ... that's always good,' Corrigan said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Peluso, who represents parts of Northwest Jacksonville, said he'd like to see the inclusion of destinations like Edward Waters University, Florida's oldest historically black university, as well as James P. Small Park. 'We had Hank Aaron play in that field. That's something that people should want to do. We just want them to add more things to their brochure,' Peluso said. Johnson also drafted his list of recommendations for tourism materials. In the draft letter, the councilman mentions: The Ritz Theatre and Museum, a premier institution celebrating African American history in LaVilla and once known as the 'Harlem of the South,' is omitted from the 'Spots to Check Out' section despite its national cultural significance. Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing Park, located at the historic site of the Johnson brothers' family home, lacks clear visual and editorial prominence. This is the birthplace of the hymn known as the Black National Anthem—a song embedded in American history and reverence. The absence of Edward Waters University, Florida's oldest private institution and first HBCU, from the 'spots to check out' portion of the guide represents a significant cultural oversight. EWU is not only a center of academic excellence but also a historic institution instrumental in shaping Jacksonville's intellectual and civic landscape. The Clara White Mission, founded in 1904 by Dr. Eartha M.M. White, is similarly excluded. Located in the historic LaVilla neighborhood, the Mission houses a museum showcasing one of the country's foremost collections of African American artifacts and continues to serve the community with hot meals, transitional housing, and workforce development. Its cultural and humanitarian impact make it a vital site for heritage tourism. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Johnson also said the exclusion of the Jacksonville Public Library Special Collections and the absence of Latino and Filipino cultural narratives can be problematic for a city that wants to not only welcome tourism, but keep tourists coming back, too. That's why Johnson said he is pushing for more inclusive tourism materials. 'In doing so, Jacksonville moves closer to becoming not just a city worth visiting, but a city where every story finds a home,' he shared in his draft. Corrigan said the latest edition of the tourism brochure should come out around June or July. He said his team is excited to listen to their community and incorporate some of the council's feedback into the guides going forward. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
