Top 5 hottest jobs and how you can land one

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff
Monday, November 4th, 2013, 6:39pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Are you looking for work? If you are, keep the following story handy.

Like many people, 37-year-old Ty Harris of Jacksonville, has been looking for work.

"Off an on for about a year," Harris explained.

He's been doing freelance work in client and project management, but is looking for something more permanent, which is why he came to a job fair Monday.

He said the job market is tough, which makes it harder to help his family of two children.

"I've gotten a lot of 'You're over qualified,'" Harris said of his year-long job search.

FCN's David Williams asked Harris "What if we told you, we know what the top 5 most in-demand jobs are in Jacksonville?"

To that, Harris responded "I would be impressed and I would inquire what would that be?"

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Zoo Herpetologist killed in motorcycle crash

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff
Friday, November 1st, 2013, 7:41am

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A Jacksonville Zoo herpetologist was killed in a motorcycle crash Wednesday morning.

Amy Hernden with the Jacksonville Zoo said Steve Gott was killed after he crashed his motorcycle into railroad crossing arms while traveling northbound on Zoo Parkway at Parker Avenue around 9:15 a.m.

Gott was ejected in the crash while his motorcycle continued a short distance from the railroad, according to Sgt. Dylan Bryan with the Florida Highway Patrol.

Gott was transported to UF Health Jacksonville with life-threatening injuries where state troopers said he later died.

At the time of the incident, CSX employees were working on the crossing arms and there was not a train coming through the area.

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Does it really cost $501 to unlock a bedroom door?

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter
Wednesday, October 30th, 2013, 7:55pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Frances Gill depends on a walker to get around and being an oxygen user, she keeps her medications nearby in her bedroom. 

"My nebulizer and the other things I have to take are there," she said.

Early in October, Gill returned home from church and discovered her bedroom door was locked. After several attempts to get to open and couldn't she panicked.

"I called a friend, she couldn't come over," said Gill. "I told her I feel like taking an axe and breaking the door down." 

Instead she turned to the phone book and found a company listed as Affordable Locksmith Services.

"I kept telling him my medicine is in there and I need it," said Gill. "And I asked him how much are you going to charge me?"

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3 Palm Beach Zoo tigers en route to Jacksonville

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff
Tuesday, October 29th, 2013, 3:45am

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Three tiger brothers from the Palm Beach Zoo are on their way to a new home in Jacksonville. 

Jaya, Bunga and Penari were safely transferred to a moving truck Monday. The tigers were anesthetized before being put in steel shipping crates with hay and other familiar smells.

Zoo workers say the trio woke up once they were inside and seemed calm.

The tigers are moving to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens to take part in the March 2014 debut of a 2.5-acre exhibit called "Land of the Tiger."

The siblings will be kept in quarantine for 30 days and stay behind the scenes until their debut.

Palm Beach Zoo associated curator Nancy Nill said it was difficult to see the tigers leave after watching them grow up at the zoo.

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Five holiday scams to avoid

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter
Monday, October 28th, 2013, 8:58pm

JACKSONVILLE,Fla. -- It may seem difficult to talk about holiday scams during the month of October, but if you've been into the major stores they're ready for the Christmas holidays and so should you.

These are five holiday scams to avoid:

The Greatest online deal

Greatest is a read flag word. Examine who is making the claim. How long has the business been around? Is the product available elsewhere? Always check with www.bbb.org to see if there's a history.

Don't fall for the must have gadget/toy

Every holiday season there's a popular toy/gadget and the store sells out of it. Then it ends up on websites like Craigslist or eBay at a much higher price. If you must have buy from a local seller, someone you can meet in person to examine the product and make the deal.

Don't become the victim of Identity Theft

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Mayor, officials' London trip costs taxpayers nearly $20,000 so far

Submitted by FirstCoastNews Web Staff
Friday, October 25th, 2013, 5:55pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A First Coast News investigation shows the City of Jacksonville has spent nearly $20,000 on a week-long trip to Europe.

The investigation has also revealed that the cost will go up even higher once receipts from the trip are processed.

Right now, Mayor Alvin Brown, City Council President Bill Gulliford and Economic Development Chief Ted Carter are in London, England.

They are spending the week attending business meetings set up in part by Jaguars owner Shad Khan.

The game plan is to try and bring new, international business to the River City.

First Coast News has confirmed there are more than 20 different companies the city is meeting with. One of them is Deutsche Bank.

Leaders will also be attending the Jaguars game in London against the San Francisco 49ers at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

First Coast News obtained multiple pages of travel documents from the city to conduct its investigation.

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Pet rescue dispute reveals many are zoned improperly

Submitted by Ken Amaro, Ken Amaro, Community Reporter
Wednesday, October 23rd, 2013, 6:30pm

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Oceanway residents are upset because they heard that Pit Sisters wants to put a rescue on Denton Road.

Jennifer Coscia runs TARA, which stands for The Animal Rescue and Adoption Agency.

"My husband and I thirteen years," said Coscia, "We've placed 4,004 animals into homes."

Coscia just discovered that her rescue is not properly zoned for what she does.

"Until this all began, I did not know the zoning does not allow what I'm doing here," she said.

What happened is the dispute over a possible pit bull rescue on Denton Road. Which means the same zoning would not allow it either.

"Whether it was dachshunds, German shepherds, bunnies, it is against the law," said Coscia, "It is against zoning."

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