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 “Mosquito Board commissioner files slander suit”
The Anastasia Mosquito Control District. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
22 hours ago

Mosquito Board commissioner files 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
3 days ago

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.…

Featured image for “St. Augustine’s airport wants its old name back”
The Northeast Florida Regional Airport | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today.
January 10, 2025

St. Augustine’s airport wants its old name back

The Northeast Florida Regional Airport wants to return to its simple name of the past: St. Augustine Airport.…

Featured image for “IMAX’s future at World Golf could be clarified this month”
This aerial view shows the World Golf Hall of Fame at World Golf Village in St. Augustine. | Visit St. Augustine
January 9, 2025

IMAX’s future at World Golf could be clarified this month

County commissioners will discuss options for World Golf Village and the IMAX Theater when they meet Jan. 21.…

Featured image for “Nease High School honors longtime basketball coach”
Coach Sherri Anthony cuts the ribbon during the ceremony dedicating Nease High School's basketball court in her name. | Courtesy of Sherri Anthony
January 6, 2025

Nease High School honors longtime basketball coach

Allen D. Nease High School has named its basketball court after former girls basketball Coach Sherri Anthony.…

Featured image for “3 appointed to board at St. Johns River State College”
The St. Augustine campus of St. Johns River State College. | St. Johns River State College
January 6, 2025

3 appointed to board at St. Johns River State College

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed three new faces to the board of trustees at St. Johns River State College.…

Featured image for “Analog photography is back. St. Augustine photogs develop community around film ”
Photographer Lydia Ritter snaps a photo during the Analog Club’s film photography pop-up event in St. Augustine Dec. 13. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
January 3, 2025

Analog photography is back. St. Augustine photogs develop community around film 

A new club in St. Augustine is celebrating photography the old fashioned way.…

Featured image for “Sexual assault victims get more help in St. Johns County”
January 2, 2025

Sexual assault victims get more help in St. Johns County

The Betty Griffin Center will expand services for sexual assault victims at Ascension St. Vincent’s St. Johns hospital.…

Featured image for “Special election coming for some St. Johns County voters”
Rep. Michael Waltz. | Ted Shaffrey, AP
December 26, 2024

Special election coming for some St. Johns County voters

Voters will decide who will replace U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, who is in line to become national security adviser.…

Featured image for “Medical examiner critically cramped in St. Johns County”
Staff from the District 23 Medical Examiner's Office set up to perform an X-ray using a portable unit because the office does not have the space for a dedicated radiological room. | St. Johns County
December 19, 2024

Medical examiner critically cramped in St. Johns County

After failing to get state funding last year to replace its aging Medical Examiner’s Office, St. Johns County is trying…

Featured image for “One-time outcast now leads the way on St. Johns Commission”
The current St. Johns County Commission are, from left, Christian Whitehurst, Sarah Arnold, Krista Joseph, Clay Murphy and Ann Taylor. | St. Johns County
December 18, 2024

One-time outcast now leads the way on St. Johns Commission

As chair of the St. Johns County Commission, Krista Joseph hopes to slow the county’s rampant growth.…

Featured image for “St. Johns Mosquito Control Board’s Christmas bonuses null and void”
This metal mosquito statue is the size of an adult human, not an adult mosquito, and it sits outside of the Disease Vector Education Center that the district operates in St. Johns County. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
December 12, 2024

St. Johns Mosquito Control Board’s Christmas bonuses null and void

A fiery Anastasia Mosquito Control District meeting ended with the board’s controversial Christmas bonuses voided.…

Featured image for “New Lincolnville park honors two ‘unsung heroes’”
St. Augustine Vice Mayor Barbara Blonder greets George Smith at the grand opening for a new park in Lincolnville honoring him and his late wife Ollie Smith. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 6, 2024

New Lincolnville park honors two ‘unsung heroes’

George and Ollie Smith are little-known pillars of the historically Black Lincolnville community.…

Featured image for “St. Johns pledges $2.2M for ‘all-inclusive’ playground”
This concept image shows some of the wheelchair-accessible playground equipment planned at the St. Johns County Police Athletic League's new playground. | St. Johns County
December 3, 2024

St. Johns pledges $2.2M for ‘all-inclusive’ playground

The Diamond of Dreams playground will be only the second in the county designed for children with disabilities.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County eases public comment at meetings”
St. Johns County's entryway on State Road A1A. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
November 27, 2024

St. Johns County eases public comment at meetings

The St. Johns County Commission will take public comment earlier in meetings beginning Tuesday.…

Featured image for “Bonuses for mosquito control board may have been improper”
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
November 26, 2024

Bonuses for mosquito control board may have been improper

The board of the Anastasia Mosquito Control District has given itself bonuses for at least six years, including $1,000 the…

Featured image for “A rare species of sea turtle returns to the First Coast”
A Kemp's ridley sea turtle travels up St. Augustine Beach to nest this summer. | Ashley Raybould, St. Johns County
November 25, 2024

A rare species of sea turtle returns to the First Coast

St. Johns County is celebrating a surprising number of Kemp’s ridley sea turtle nests this nesting season.…

Featured image for “Nights of Lights will shine this weekend in St. Augustine”
Crews install decorations in the Plaza de la Constitucion in downtown St. Augustine ahead of the start of Nights of Lights this weekend. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
November 21, 2024

Nights of Lights will shine this weekend in St. Augustine

St. Augustine expects a tide of visitors as the popular Nights of Lights returns for the holidays.…

Featured image for “St. Augustine settles on site for Anastasia Island fire station”
Lion statues guard St. Augustine's iconic Bridge of Lions. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
November 13, 2024

St. Augustine settles on site for Anastasia Island fire station

The city says Anastasia Island is in dire need of a new fire station, but finding a site has taken…

Featured image for “Clay County leads state in removing schoolbooks”
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
November 12, 2024

Clay County leads state in removing schoolbooks

Clay County was responsible for 287 of more than 700 schoolbooks removed from classrooms and libraries statewide.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County Commission now has majority who committed to slowing growth”
Ann Taylor and Clay Murphy were elected on Nov. 5. | Credit: Taylor/Murphy campaigns
November 11, 2024

St. Johns County Commission now has majority who committed to slowing growth

Next week, two new St. Johns County commissioners will join the board.…

Featured image for “St. Johns School Superintendent Tim Forson announces plan to retire”
St. Johns County School District Superintendent Tim Forson. | News4Jax
November 7, 2024

St. Johns School Superintendent Tim Forson announces plan to retire

St. Johns County Schools Superintendent Tim Forson will retire next year.…

Featured image for “Newcomer elected to St. Johns County School Board”
St. Johns County's entryway on State Road A1A. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
November 5, 2024

Newcomer elected to St. Johns County School Board

Voters also continued a half-cent sales tax and approved a new 1-mill property tax to help fund teacher salaries.…

Featured image for “Duval voters choose Shayla Lee as county judge”
Shayla E. Lee
November 5, 2024

Duval voters choose Shayla Lee as county judge

Lee, a public defender, won the judgeship by more than 50,000 votes.…