Noah Hertz Reporter email
Noah Hertz is an award-winning reporter focusing on St. Johns County. Noah got his start reporting in Tallahassee and in Wakulla County, covering local government and community issues. He went on to work for three years as a general assignment reporter and editor for The West Volusia Beacon in his Central Florida hometown of DeLand, where he helped the Beacon take home awards from the Florida Press Association. A Florida State University graduate, Noah loves North Florida. When he isn't on the job — although, when isn't a reporter on the job? — Noah likes reading, baking and riding his bike around Northeast Florida.
Featured image for “Charges refiled in fake voter guide case in St. Johns County”
County Commissioner Sarah Arnold, former St. Augustine Beach Mayor (and current City Commissioner) Dylan Rumrell and County Commissioner Christian Whitehurst. | St. Johns County, St. Augustine Beach
5 hours ago

Charges refiled in fake voter guide case in St. Johns County

Five people face misdemeanor charges in connection with a phony voter guide designed to look like the real one.…

Featured image for “St. Johns voters give resounding yes to land conservation referendum”
An early morning view from Anastasia State Park near St. Augustine | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
18 hours ago

St. Johns voters give resounding yes to land conservation referendum

Voters in St. Johns County overwhelmingly supported a conservation land measure.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County bans data centers for at least a year”
Fans that are part of a cooling system are seen on the roof of a data center April 27, 2026, in Hillsboro, Oregon. | Jenny Kane, AP
1 day ago

St. Johns County bans data centers for at least a year

The county became the third in Northeast Florida to impose a moratorium on large-scale data centers.…

Featured image for “Black history museum gets strong local support despite stalling at state”
A nine-person task force selected a site in St. Augustine's West Augustine community as the future home of the Florida Museum of Black History. The site was once the home of Florida Memorial University. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 27, 2026

Black history museum gets strong local support despite stalling at state

St. Augustine leaders agreed to award $25,000 to a foundation raising money for the museum…

Featured image for “People touched by suicide find support in St. Augustine”
A crowd walks through St. Augustine on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, as part of the annual Out of the Darkness Walk organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention North Florida. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
October 26, 2026

People touched by suicide find support in St. Augustine

Dozens of people took part in the annual Out of the Darkness Walk on Sunday in St. Augustine.…

Featured image for “Habitat St. Johns seeks owners for income-restricted homes”
Habitat for Humanity's Volusia Woods community is near St. Augustine's West King district. | Habitat for Humanity of St. Johns County
October 23, 2026

Habitat St. Johns seeks owners for income-restricted homes

Habitat for Humanity of St. Johns County is seeking homeowners in Volusia Woods, the organization’s newest neighborhood.…

Featured image for “Bestselling author Madeline Martin on St. Augustine, writing and black cats”
Author Madeline Martin poses with readers for a group photo at a recent event at San Marco Books and More in Jacksonville | Courtesy Madeline Martin
October 21, 2026

Bestselling author Madeline Martin on St. Augustine, writing and black cats

St. Augustine-based bestselling author Madeline Martin talks about the reality that grounds her popular fiction.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County OKs more development on farmland”
The boundaries of a proposed 200-acre development near the busy intersection of Interstate 95 and State Road 16 in St. Johns County | St. Johns County
October 21, 2026

St. Johns County OKs more development on farmland

Development is coming to nearly 250 acres of farmland designated as “agricultural enclaves.”…

Featured image for “St. Johns County will remove Flock cameras from county roads”
A Flock Safety license plate reader is seen along a public road. | David Goldman, AP file
October 20, 2026

St. Johns County will remove Flock cameras from county roads

County commissioners narrowly agreed to remove about 45 Flock cameras along county rights of way.…

Featured image for “St. Johns organizations weigh in on conservation tax measure”
St. Johns County voters will be asked in November about potentially paying a little extra to fund land conservation. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
October 12, 2026

St. Johns organizations weigh in on conservation tax measure

St. Johns County voters will decide whether the government should spend more money to support conservation.…

Featured image for “Elections come at turning point for St. Johns Airport Authority”
The St. Augustine Airport, which is overseen by the St. Johns County Airport Authority. | St. Augustine Airport
October 8, 2026

Elections come at turning point for St. Johns Airport Authority

Airport Authority candidates want to put controversy behind them and regain the public’s trust.…

Featured image for “Getting up close and personal with worms at Marineland’s Whitney Lab”
Elaine Seaver heads up research on a small species of marine worm at the University of Florida's Whitney Lab in Marineland. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
October 5, 2026

Getting up close and personal with worms at Marineland’s Whitney Lab

Researchers are studying a marine worm that can regenerate body parts. Might the worm benefit humans?…

Featured image for “St. Augustine City Manager David Birchim to retire”
St. Augustine City Manager David Birchim was appointed in 2023. | City of St. Augustine
September 29, 2026

St. Augustine City Manager David Birchim to retire

St. Augustine City Manager David Birchim will retire this year.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County reverses decision on developments totaling 1,000-plus acres”
The St. Johns County Commission reversed course and denied two proposed developments that the board previously approved in August | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
September 28, 2026

St. Johns County reverses decision on developments totaling 1,000-plus acres

The decision by the St. Johns County’s Board of County Commissioners bucks a new Florida law meant to fast-track rural…

Featured image for “Free shuttle service to expand to Anastasia Island, St. Augustine Beach”
St. Augustine's free STAR Circulator shuttle is expanding its reach to Anastasia Island and St. Augustine Beach | St. Augustine
September 25, 2026

Free shuttle service to expand to Anastasia Island, St. Augustine Beach

St. Augustine will expand its free STAR Circulator shuttle service to stops on Anastasia Island and in St. Augustine Beach.…

Featured image for “Growing hospital offerings in growing St. Johns County”
Baptist Health is opening a new emergency room at its recently opened medical campus in Silverleaf | Baptist Health
September 18, 2026

Growing hospital offerings in growing St. Johns County

UF Health and Baptist Health will open hospitals and medical facilities next week, with more expansion ahead.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County OKs $125K for Black History Museum”
A historical display stands at the future site of the Florida Museum of Black History in West Augustine. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
September 17, 2026

St. Johns County OKs $125K for Black History Museum

County commissioners voted to spend on the museum despite uncertainty about property tax revenues.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County Clerk’s Office enhances access to services”
St. Johns County Clerk of Court Brandon Patty shows County Commission Chair Clay Murphy around the new public service center in St. Augustine.
September 16, 2026

St. Johns County Clerk’s Office enhances access to services

It’s now a little easier to get your marriage license, passport application and public records sorted out.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County reverses course and denies 4,000-home development near Nocatee”
The St. Johns County Commission denied a proposal for developing forested land along the intracoastal waterway in St. Johns County. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
September 15, 2026

St. Johns County reverses course and denies 4,000-home development near Nocatee

The project sought approval under a new state law easing development of “agricultural enclaves.”…

Featured image for “St. Johns County will remove at least some of its Flock cameras”
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick, who confirmed this week that the county will remove at least some of its Flock license plate readers. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
September 3, 2026

St. Johns County will remove at least some of its Flock cameras

The Sheriff’s Office did not specify whether it will remove all Flock cameras or just those on state roads.…

Featured image for “St. Johns wants to challenge Florida’s agricultural enclave development law”
In September, St. Johns County officials reversed a previous decision on another enclave project on the intracoastal waterway near Palm Valley. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
September 1, 2026

St. Johns wants to challenge Florida’s agricultural enclave development law

St. Johns County may go to court over a new law that eases development of agricultural lands.…

Featured image for “Slow-the-growth candidates win big in St. Johns County”
Kevin Allen, Krista Joseph and Martin Pyszczymuka all ran campaigns that called for slowing St. Johns County's growth | Photos courtesy of the candidates
August 24, 2026

Slow-the-growth candidates win big in St. Johns County

From the School Board to the County Commission, this month’s primary elections scored wins for St. Johns County candidates running…

Featured image for “1,000-plus acres of agricultural land OK’d for development in St. Johns”
This forested land, pictured across the intracoastal waterway near Palm Valley, could be developed into homes pending a decision by the St. Johns County Commission next month | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
August 19, 2026

1,000-plus acres of agricultural land OK’d for development in St. Johns

As many as 15,000 homes got the green light under a new law that eases the way for development.…

Featured image for “On St. Johns ballots in November: More funding for conservation?”
St. Johns County voters will be asked in November about potentially paying a little extra to fund land conservation. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
August 18, 2026

On St. Johns ballots in November: More funding for conservation?

St. Johns County voters will be asked whether they support a tax increase to help buy conservation land.…