Noah Hertz Reporter email
Noah Hertz is a Jacksonville Today reporter focusing on St. Johns County. From Central Florida, Noah got his start as an intern at WFSU, Tallahassee’s public radio station, and as a reporter at The Wakulla News. He went on to work for three years as a general assignment reporter and editor for The West Volusia Beacon in his hometown of DeLand, where he helped the Beacon take home awards from the Florida Press Association. A Florida State University graduate, Noah is happy to be back up in North Florida. When he isn't writing, Noah likes reading, baking and playing video games.
Featured image for “St. Johns County moves ahead with ideas to protect trees”
Some St. Johns County residents are worried that development will gobble up their county's rural character. l Steven Ponson, Jacksonville Today
2 days ago

St. Johns County moves ahead with ideas to protect trees

The policies, championed by Commission Chair Krista Joseph, could require developers to preserve more trees.…

Featured image for “Anastasia Mosquito Board commissioner resigns, citing ‘mismanagement’”
The Anastasia Mosquito Control District is responsible for keeping the population of the blood-sucking pests down in St. Johns County. | Anastasia Mosquito Control District
March 13, 2025

Anastasia Mosquito Board commissioner resigns, citing ‘mismanagement’

The Anastasia Mosquito Control Board in St. Johns County is down one member as Martha Gleason officially tendered her resignation…

Featured image for “New K-8 school in RiverTown gets a name in advance of August opening”
When it opens in time for the 2025-26 school year, Hallowes Cove Academy in St. Johns County's Rivertown community will be able to accommodate 1,100 students. | St. Johns County Schools
March 12, 2025

New K-8 school in RiverTown gets a name in advance of August opening

A new school set to open in St. Johns County’s RiverTown this August officially has a name: Hallowes Cove Academy.…

Featured image for “St. Augustine to consider shortening Nights of Lights”
The Plaza de la Constitución is lit up during Nights of Lights in downtown St. Augustine. l St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, and The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau
March 11, 2025

St. Augustine to consider shortening Nights of Lights

St. Augustine may pare back the length of its blockbuster holiday lights event.…

Featured image for “St. Johns Airport Authority anticipates criminal investigation”
The Northeast Florida Regional Airport | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today.
March 11, 2025

St. Johns Airport Authority anticipates criminal investigation

The elected board overseeing the St. Augustine airport is dealing with allegations that two members violated Florida’s Sunshine Laws and…

Featured image for “Roller rink aims to open this year in St. Augustine”
A roller rink is on its way in St. Augustine. | Susan Weber, Unsplash
March 6, 2025

Roller rink aims to open this year in St. Augustine

Local skaters won’t have to go all the way to Jacksonville once the roller rink opens on Anastasia Island.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County seeks more input from farmers”
DeLee Parker shows off her family's locally grown potatoes in an ad for Lay's Potato Chips that aired during the 2025 Super Bowl.
March 4, 2025

St. Johns County seeks more input from farmers

A new advisory board would consider how development and other projects affect the county’s large number of farmers.…

Featured image for “St. Augustine gives residents a look inside government”
St. Augustine | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
February 27, 2025

St. Augustine gives residents a look inside government

The city is launching a Citizens Academy program to help people learn the ins and outs of the city’s operations.…

Featured image for “St. Augustine moves to reduce Lake Maria Sanchez flooding”
Lake Maria Sanchez in St. Augustine | City of St. Augustine
February 26, 2025

St. Augustine moves to reduce Lake Maria Sanchez flooding

A plan adopted this week will allow the city to build a seawall to limit flooding from the lake.…

Featured image for “DeSantis fills seat on St. Augustine Port Authority”
Lion statues guard St. Augustine's iconic Bridge of Lions. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
February 21, 2025

DeSantis fills seat on St. Augustine Port Authority

Lynda Kirker, a St. Augustine resident, is a retired chief financial officer of Flagler Hospital.…

Featured image for “St. Augustine seeks quicker solutions for flooding”
Daniel Oconnell's home in St. Augustine is flooded after Hurricane Irma in 2017. | Courtesy of Daniel Oconnell.
February 20, 2025

St. Augustine seeks quicker solutions for flooding

The city is seeking flooding solutions that can be put into place relatively quickly.…

Featured image for “Police union accuses St. Johns sheriff of anti-union activity”
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick with his wife, Kendall, at an event in 2024. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
February 17, 2025

Police union accuses St. Johns sheriff of anti-union activity

Sheriff Rob Hardwick has required deputies to attend informational meetings to discuss the efforts to unionize.…

Featured image for “Nights of Lights needs more county funding, St. Augustine says”
Hundreds of people crowd downtown St. Augustine to see the annual NIghts of Lights. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
February 10, 2025

Nights of Lights needs more county funding, St. Augustine says

St. Augustine’s latest Nights of Lights set new records for attendance, and city leaders say they need more cash if…

Featured image for “Planned walking trail suddenly dead in St. Johns County”
The trail would have been built along the curvy two-lane Shore Drive, near the Matanzas River south of St. Augustine. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
February 6, 2025

Planned walking trail suddenly dead in St. Johns County

The trail south of St. Augustine died this week, a year after county commissioners approved the very same plans. …

Featured image for “Judge throws out schoolbook challenge from St. Johns moms”
School library books, like these at R.L. Brown Gifted and Talented Academy in Jacksonville, remain a controversial issue in Florida. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 4, 2025

Judge throws out schoolbook challenge from St. Johns moms

Three moms, including two from St. Johns County, argued that Florida’s policies on schoolbook removals are unfair. …

Featured image for “Advocates try to save civil rights landmark in St. Johns County”
The St. Johns Sheriff's Office's Detention Center Annex was once the county's jail. In the 1960s, civil rights activists like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were held there. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
February 4, 2025

Advocates try to save civil rights landmark in St. Johns County

The county is considering a plan to tear down an old county jail building with ties to the Rev. Martin…

Featured image for “St. Augustine Beach recognizes Black History Month for first time”
Black History advocate Greg White thanks the St. Augustine Beach City Commission for formally acknowledging Black History Month on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
February 4, 2025

St. Augustine Beach recognizes Black History Month for first time

St. Augustine Beach had never issued a formal proclamation recognizing Black History Month until Monday night.…

Featured image for “New St. Augustine Commissioner Jon DePreter: Flooding, mobility are top of mind”
Joined by members of his family, Jon DePreter swears in as the newest member of the St. Augustine City Commission in December. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
January 30, 2025

New St. Augustine Commissioner Jon DePreter: Flooding, mobility are top of mind

St. Augustine’s newest city commissioner says he wants to maintain St. Augustine’s charm while making the city safer.…

Featured image for “Primary tees up state senator vs. teacher for Congressional District 6”
Randy Fine
January 28, 2025

Primary tees up state senator vs. teacher for Congressional District 6

A special primary election set the stage for an April congressional race between a state lawmaker and a teacher.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Why is Florida refusing federal food aid for children?”
Food service assistant Brenda Bartee gives students breakfast at Washington Elementary School in Riviera Beach in August 2021. | Wilfredo Lee, AP
January 28, 2025

#AskJAXTDY | Why is Florida refusing federal food aid for children?

Florida says the USDA’s SUN Bucks food program has too many strings attached. But what are they?…

Featured image for “St. Johns Commission chair targets county administrator”
St. Johns County Administrator Joy Andrews | St. Johns County
January 22, 2025

St. Johns Commission chair targets county administrator

Commissioner Krista Joseph moved to oust County Administrator Joy Andrews, but her attempt did not get enough votes.…

Featured image for “New plan proposed for World Golf Village IMAX”
The World Golf Hall of Fame and IMAX theater sit near St. Augustine. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
January 21, 2025

New plan proposed for World Golf Village IMAX

The IMAX Theater at World Golf Village could become a community theater and event space.…

Featured image for “Mosquito Board commissioner threatens slander suit”
The Anastasia Mosquito Control District. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
January 16, 2025

Mosquito Board commissioner threatens slander suit

T.J. Mazzotta has filed suit against Catherine Brandhorst, his predecessor on the Mosquito Control Board.…

Featured image for “St. Augustine says Nights of Lights may be getting too big”
Hundreds of people crowd downtown St. Augustine to see the annual NIghts of Lights. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
January 14, 2025

St. Augustine says Nights of Lights may be getting too big

“We’re dangerously close to overtourism,” Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline said about Nights of Lights.…