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For the latest Fay coverage, visit Jacksonville.com

We will post news here as we get it in, but Jacksonville.com will have the most current news. If you're a Twitter user, check out our Jaxdotcom Twitter feed.

As always, let us know if you have any questions or comments.

Click here for a searchable database of 2007-2008 FCAT grades.

2007 - 2008 FCAT grades were released today. For a searchable database of area FCAT grades, click here

Faced with about $86.6 million in lost revenue and rising costs, the Duval County School Board is looking into cuts that would affect individual schools and employees. Suggestions include dropping middle school athletics; stopping magnet school bus routes; slashing funding for art, music and P.E. by $1.7 million; cutting health care benefits by $6 million; and reducing workdays for employees. We want to know: are these the right cuts? Should there be different options on the table? Should there be cuts at all? How concerned are you about what's being suggested? Give us your opinion.

News submitted by he Mike Peterson Foundation:        12 local students named Stars of the MonthFoundation’s “Just Read It” program celebrates reading improvements
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (March 4, 2008) – The Mike Peterson Foundation is honored to announce this month’s 12 winners of its “Just Read It” program, a reading incentives program developed in partnership with Duval County Schools. Students in grades three through eight have the opportunity each month to be named a Star of the Month, honoring their achievements in reading. Winning students will receive a VIP tour of Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, in addition to a private meet and greet with Peterson and a personalized award on Wednesday, March 5, 2008.
March winners are:
Elementary School CategoryAntonio Singleton 3rd grade St. Clair Evans Academy Najee Whyte 3rd grade Ramona Blvd. ElementaryVanessa Ruales 4th grade Twin Lakes AcademyDarius Shivers 4th grade West Jacksonville ElementaryBiala Alfirjani 5th grade Brookview ElementaryZoya Williams 5th grade Louis Sheffield Elementary
Middle School CategoryDerriniquka Smith 6th grade Jefferson Davis MiddleMichael Ball 6th grade DuPont MiddleAl Prince 7th grade Fletcher MiddleMegan Nelson 7th grade Joseph Stilwell MiddleTimothy Stewart 8th grade Mayport MiddleTyler Taylor 8th grade Landmark Middle      

Peterson created the Mike Peterson Foundation as a means of giving back to his hometown of Alachua and his NFL hometown of Jacksonville.  The Foundation’s mission is to support families in need in the community and to stimulate the positive development of youth through football, academic and other outreach projects. For additional information, please visit www.mikepeterson54.com.

Photos by Heather Lovejoy/Staff

It seems as if "For Rent" signs are scattered on every street in Riverside. 

When I was covering the Tangerine Festival in Riverside's Memorial Park in January, I talked to quite a few people. None of them lived in Riverside. Several told me they moved to Springfield because they could no longer afford the rent in Riverside. I'd like to hear from anyone out there who moved recently to Springfield for that reason. With all the new developments, how do you think the landscape in Riverside has changed? Are artists, musicians and singles being priced out of the neighborhood, long known as a haven for them? Is Springfield on its way to becoming the "new Riverside?"

Please e-mail your thoughts to me at heather.lovejoy@jacksonville.com. Be sure to include contact information. Thanks!

Heather Lovejoy, reporter

Hey users, let's hit this one out of the park:

We want to know how you feel about the parks in your part of Jacksonville. Are there enough? Are they big enough? Is there enough to do in them, or do they need more programs and equipment? What about maintenance and cleanliness? Be specific about what's needed and where.

Give us your thoughts and let's get some real feedback and ideas generated that might help where help is needed - and give a shout-out where one is needed as well.

This question was recently posed to the Times-Union editorial e-mail group:

We would like your comments on the constitutional amendment up for a
vote on Jan. 29. If passed, the constitutional amendment on property taxes will double
the personal homestead exemption and save the average homestead property
owner about $225 a year. Supporters say government is fat and needs
to be forced to cut spending. Opponents say this approach for cutting taxes is all wrong and that the
potential damage to local government services isn't worth the annual
savings. What is your view and why? Your comments may be used as letters to the editor in either the main
paper or our community sections. If you don't want to be quoted, please say
so.

The comments that follow are all from Westside residents who responded. If you have thoughts on this topic, feel free to create a username and post a comment.

The planned amendment was created due to the perception of out of control spending by a few cities in south Florida. The Legislature is trying to use a one size fits all solution to that problem. We all know that usually a “one size fits all” fits no one well. If there is a problem with certain cities, then the problem is a local matter and people will vote with their feet if they can not get satisfaction at the ballot box.
One of the major issues that I do not see addressed is the State getting the authority to control local taxes. If this amendment is passed, then the state will establish this right. The further the taxing authority is removed from the taxed the less say the taxed have and the poorer the job that is done.
It is going to take a certain amount of money for a city or county to supply services to its citizens. If it can not be raised by taxation it WILL be raised by other methods such as a storm water fee. Every one is going to have to pay this fee whether or not they will be provided any services. I do not live in an area that floods due to rains. What service can be provided to me? The only way my property may flood is due to the storm surge of a direct hit by a hurricane. I do not believe that any one is going to build a levy around my house or neighborhood. I am sure that there are many other fees that will be paid by those that can not benefit from the given reason for the fee.
It appears that the reason for the Homestead Exemption is completely over looked. A homestead is the place that is owned by the resident. If the taxes become too high one could be literally taxed out of their home. This does not apply to homes other than the one place that one lives. It does not apply to renters because they do not own the property. It does not apply to the landlord be cause he does not live there. Rental property is a business and no business of any kind can be a homestead. If any thing needs to be done to the Homestead Exemption it needs to be indexed to the cost of homes within the taxing authority from the date the current amount was established.
Browne Altman

This is just a quick note to let everyone know I am the Northside-area community news reporter. The communities covered in My Northside Sun and on this site include downtown, Springfield, Northside, Oceanway, Eastside, Riverview, Brooklyn, North Jacksonville and surrounding neighborhoods.

I took over this beat a little more than a month ago, and am looking forward to working with you all! Look for a lot more to come on this site, and be sure to check out the print editions on Wednesdays and Saturdays in The Florida Times-Union.

Until next time,

Heather Lovejoy, reporter

heather.lovejoy@jacksonville.com

Hello! Welcome to your new site at MyNorthsideSun.com. This is the place to go to 24/7 for the latest updates on news, happenings, entertainment and lifestyle activities in the Northside area. We'll be working to help spur a conversation with you, and also hope to get you conversing with each other.

That's chiefly what this new effort is all about: helping you help us and the community, by being the eyes and ears of the area. Let other users know what's going on with your organization, on your block, in your school, in your church or in your home.

And give us your opinions on the Northside and the topics important to it. That's what "hyper-local" is all about! So what are you waiting for? Start filling us all in.