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 “St. Augustine seeks to redevelop West City area”
Businesses like Blue Hen Cafe and Graet Goods vintage dot West King Street, the main commercial thoroughfare of the West City neighborhood in St. Augustine. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
2 days ago

St. Augustine seeks to redevelop West City area

A new program aims to help West City homeowners with costly repairs in the underserved area.…

Featured image for “3 measles cases in Northeast Florida feed vaccination debate”
The virus that causes measles is highly contagious. | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
January 30, 2026

3 measles cases in Northeast Florida feed vaccination debate

Doctors are encouraging people to get accurate information about measles and immunization.…

Featured image for “Disputed Shore Drive trail reemerges in St. Johns County”
The trail may still be built along the curvy two-lane Shore Drive, near the Matanzas River south of St. Augustine. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
January 28, 2026

Disputed Shore Drive trail reemerges in St. Johns County

A public meeting and online survey will seek comments about the paved path planned along Shore Drive.…

Featured image for “Bridge of Lions to close as iconic statues are moved”
The twin marble lions that guard St. Augustine's Bridge of Lions are named Firm and Faithful. The lion statues were erected in the 1920s. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
January 26, 2026

Bridge of Lions to close as iconic statues are moved

The lion statues must be moved so the state can raise St. Augustine’s seawall to mitigate flooding.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County softens growth plan to satisfy state”
A sign welcomes people to St. Johns County, though many residents don't welcome more growth. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
January 20, 2026

St. Johns County softens growth plan to satisfy state

The state rejected an earlier version of the plan because it was too restrictive of growth and development.…

Featured image for “Meet Jon Marston, St. Augustine’s new police chief”
St. Augustine's new police chief, Jon Marston, is sworn in by his predecessor, Jennifer Michaux. | St. Augustine Police Department
January 16, 2026

Meet Jon Marston, St. Augustine’s new police chief

Marston joined the St. Augustine Police Department in 2008 after moving a few years earlier from Maine.…

Featured image for “Contagious horse disease reported in St. Augustine”
Horse-drawn carriages are a common sight in downtown St. Augustine, especially during the annual Nights of Lights holiday celebration. | Photo courtesy of Carly Zervis
January 14, 2026

Contagious horse disease reported in St. Augustine

Archie, a horse owned by Country Carriages, was diagnosed last week with a case of strangles.…

Featured image for “West Augustine residents celebrate withdrawal of opioid clinic proposal”
West Augustine Community Redevelopment Agency Chair Robert Nimmons shares information about an axed opioid treatment clinic to a packed house audience during a community meeting. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
January 13, 2026

West Augustine residents celebrate withdrawal of opioid clinic proposal

A representative for clinic operator New Season says plans for the opioid treatment clinic in West Augustine are off the…

Featured image for “New Dunkin’ coffee shop brings more growth to Hastings”
An agriculture-themed mural adorns the side of a building along Hastings' historic Main Street. The mural was painted by artist Kelsey Montague in 2025. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
January 12, 2026

New Dunkin’ coffee shop brings more growth to Hastings

The Dunkin franchise in Hastings is part of a concerted effort to revitalize the once-bustling community.…

Featured image for “Utility work could snarl traffic on A1A on Anastasia Island”
Drivers traveling along this chunk of A1A South on Anastasia Island will see delays through January as county crews work on relocating a water main. | Google Maps
January 5, 2026

Utility work could snarl traffic on A1A on Anastasia Island

Crews will spend three to four weeks moving a water main on State Road A1A near the St. Augustine Amphitheatre.…

Featured image for “You may not know Picolata, but a couple is trying to preserve it”
Picolata is a small community along the St. Johns River in west St. Johns County. The area's history goes back centuries, but very little physical evidence remains of forts and other structures that once stood. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
December 19, 2025

You may not know Picolata, but a couple is trying to preserve it

Picolata was once a river crossing and the site of a Spanish fort, but much of the settlement is gone.…

Featured image for “St. Johns lawmaker backs changes to development bill”
Florida Rep. Kim Kendall, center, says she wants to see changes in a controversial state development law. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
December 16, 2025

St. Johns lawmaker backs changes to development bill

Rep. Kim Kendell says the state shouldn’t be dictating how local officials can regulate development.…

Featured image for “Meet the new mayor of St. Augustine Beach”
Beth Sweeny will serve as St. Augustine Beach's mayor through 2026. | Submitted, Beth Sweeny
December 15, 2025

Meet the new mayor of St. Augustine Beach

St. Augustine Beach officials elevated Beth Sweeny from the position of vice mayor. Hear her priorities in the new position.…

Featured image for “Nocatee man will climb Kilimanjaro for infant death fundraiser”
The Pucillo family are, from left, Marie, Giovanni, Elena Rose and Evan. Evan will climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in February to raise money for a nonprofit organization that supports families, like the Pucillos, coping with the death of an infant. | Submitted, Evan Pucillo
December 12, 2025

Nocatee man will climb Kilimanjaro for infant death fundraiser

Evan Pucillo plans to climb Mount Kilimanjaro on Feb. 9, the day his son died hours after birth.…

Featured image for “St. Augustine police chief announces retirement”
St. Augustine Police Chief Jennifer Michaux will retire next month. | St. Augustine Police Department
December 5, 2025

St. Augustine police chief announces retirement

Police Chief Jennifer Michaux reflects on her 30-year career in law enforcement and her five years as chief.…

Featured image for “State CFO touts immigration agenda in St. Johns County”
Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia speaks Wednesday beside (from left) State Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, state Rep. Kiyan Michael, R-Jacksonville, and St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
December 3, 2025

State CFO touts immigration agenda in St. Johns County

CFO Blaise Ingoglia came to the First Coast to discuss his immigration priorities in the upcoming legislative session.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County adopts conservation fee on developers”
A new fee on developers would conserve undeveloped land like this in St. Johns County. | Flickr, Justin Ellenberger
December 2, 2025

St. Johns County adopts conservation fee on developers

The impact fee, phased in over five years, will pay for acquiring sensitive conservation land.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County bans smoking at parks and beaches”
Smoking cigarettes and vape pens is now against the rules in St. Johns County. | Brian Yurasits, Unsplash
December 2, 2025

St. Johns County bans smoking at parks and beaches

Students from Washington Classical Christian School had asked county officials to change smoking rules.…

Featured image for “Shakeup shuffles leadership on St. Johns County Commission”
The current St. Johns County commissioners are, from left, Christian Whitehurst, Sarah Arnold, Krista Joseph, Clay Murphy and Ann Taylor. | St. Johns County
December 2, 2025

Shakeup shuffles leadership on St. Johns County Commission

A surprise vote Tuesday dumped the leadership appointed just two weeks ago.…

Featured image for “St. Augustine lawmaker aims to curb last-minute land swaps”
Protesters took to the streets in Ponte Vedra Beach earlier this year to oppose a private company's plans to trade nearby sensitive conservation land for scattered plots around the state. A new bill filed in the Florida House and Senate would require more transparency about land swaps. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
November 24, 2025

St. Augustine lawmaker aims to curb last-minute land swaps

A St. Augustine representative is aiming to increase transparency surrounding land swaps like a controversial trade that nearly occurred earlier…

Featured image for “Legal fight stalls some panhandling prohibitions in Northeast Florida”
St. George Street in downtown St. Augustine is one of the areas city law rules is off-limits for panhandling. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
November 23, 2025

Legal fight stalls some panhandling prohibitions in Northeast Florida

According to internal emails, the City of St. Augustine is not enforcing its panhandling law due to ongoing litigation.…

Featured image for “A holiday film from a local writer: ‘Dial It Back’”
Actors Jasmeet Baduwalia and Ashlyn Baas play the two college-aged leads in the film "Dial it Back," written by Erin Keefer of Ponte Vedra Beach. | Dial It Back, Mad Wife Productions
November 19, 2025

A holiday film from a local writer: ‘Dial It Back’

Ponte Vedra resident Erin Keefer calls her film “a quirky crime comedy holiday movie.”…

Featured image for “Survey asks: How are the trails in St. Johns County?”
A 19-mile long paved trail runs from Palatka to southwest of St. Augustine. | Florida State Parks
November 17, 2025

Survey asks: How are the trails in St. Johns County?

A new survey seeks input from the public about paved walking and biking trails in St. Johns County.…

Featured image for “What’s new as Nights of Lights flips the switch this weekend”
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
November 13, 2025

What’s new as Nights of Lights flips the switch this weekend

There are only a few pages left in this year’s calendar, which means Nights of Lights is ready to shine.…