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 “Big fixes are underway at Lincolnville’s 100-year-old schoolhouse”
Work is underway to fix up the historic school building that hosts the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center in St. Augustine. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
5 hours ago

Big fixes are underway at Lincolnville’s 100-year-old schoolhouse

More than $1 million in grant funding will help repair St. Augustine’s first high school for Black students.…

Featured image for “‘Agrihood’ development may reemerge in St. Johns County”
Freehold Communities' Arden development in South Florida would be an agrihood with a 5-acre farm and event barn. | Freehold Communities
May 1, 2025

‘Agrihood’ development may reemerge in St. Johns County

The County Commission rejected the development in November, but the developer is proposing changes.…

Featured image for “St. Augustine nixes sculpture after spending $87K on it”
An illustration shows the sculpture called Groundswell, designed by artist Ivan Toth Depeña. It was planned for the roundabout at San Marco Avenue and May Street in St. Augustine. | City of St. Augustine
April 29, 2025

St. Augustine nixes sculpture after spending $87K on it

A sculpture won’t be constructed after all in the busy intersection of San Marco Avenue and May Street.…

Featured image for “Learn about oyster harvesting Tuesday in St. Augustine”
Oysters can be found in waters from Alabama down through much of Florida. | Ben Sterns via Unsplash
April 28, 2025

Learn about oyster harvesting Tuesday in St. Augustine

FWC is traveling the state to talk about existing regulations and how they might change. …

Featured image for “St. Johns superintendent search has four finalists”
April 25, 2025

St. Johns superintendent search has four finalists

All four finalists are from Northeast Florida — two from St. Johns County Schools and two from Duval.…

Featured image for “DeSantis defends Hope Florida in St. Augustine appearance”
Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Anchor Faith Church in St. Augustine promoting Hope Florida, a state initiative First Lady Casey DeSantis started. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
April 24, 2025

DeSantis defends Hope Florida in St. Augustine appearance

Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis touted the program despite questions about its finances.…

Featured image for “St. Augustine police chief suspended over email use”
St. Augustine police cars. | St. Augustine Police, Facebook
April 22, 2025

St. Augustine police chief suspended over email use

Police Chief Jennifer Michaux was suspended for one day for discussing official business through a private email account.…

Featured image for “Arts center planned in St. Johns County — but where?”
This concept image shows what the EpiCentre Alliance, a coalition of local arts organizations, is proposing for a new performing arts center in St. Augustine. | EpiCentre Alliance
April 17, 2025

Arts center planned in St. Johns County — but where?

An arts coalition has plans for a new performing arts complex in St. Augustine to serve smaller groups.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County pays $110K for commissioner’s legal fees”
St. Johns County Commissioner Krista Joseph waves an American flag as she begins her comments during a meeting Nov. 21, 2023. | St. Johns County
April 15, 2025

St. Johns County pays $110K for commissioner’s legal fees

The County Commission agreed to cover Krista Joseph’s legal fees in connection with an investigation into her behavior.…

Featured image for “The Magic Beach Motel: An icon or an eyesore?”
The Magic Beach Motel on Vilano Road was built in 1951 and renovated a number of times over the years. | News4Jax
April 15, 2025

The Magic Beach Motel: An icon or an eyesore?

A developer wants to tear down the 74-year-old motel in Vilano Beach, but a cultural review board isn’t convinced.…

Featured image for “St. Johns Schools narrows superintendent search to 10”
April 11, 2025

St. Johns Schools narrows superintendent search to 10

The school district received 26 applications for the superintendent’s job and narrowed the field to 10 semifinalists.…

Featured image for “State attorney subpoenas St. Johns Airport Authority”
Courtney Pittman, interim executive director of the St. Johns County Airport Authority, addresses the board March 10, 2025, about the departure of the board's legal counsel. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
April 9, 2025

State attorney subpoenas St. Johns Airport Authority

The subpoenas seek information about a variety of Airport Authority operations and top-level administrators.…

Featured image for “The evolution of St. Augustine’s dining scene”
New restaurants are moving into downtown St. Augustine, but others say the crowds have become too much. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
April 8, 2025

The evolution of St. Augustine’s dining scene

As St. Augustine’s fame grows, some restaurants are moving into downtown, but others are on the way out.…

Featured image for “St. Johns superintendent warns against ending property taxes”
St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson was a guest on The Florida Roundup on Friday, April 4, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 4, 2025

St. Johns superintendent warns against ending property taxes

Superintendent Tim Forson says a proposal to eliminate property taxes would be “very,very tough” for public schools.…

Featured image for “Randy Fine cruises to Congress in special election win”
Randy Fine speaks at the Florida Capitol in 2022 | AP Photo/Phil Sears
April 1, 2025

Randy Fine cruises to Congress in special election win

Republican Randy Fine will represent parts of St. Johns, Flagler and Putnam counties in Congress after claiming victory in Tuesday…

Featured image for “Ponte Vedra High on track for new turf athletic field”
Ponte Vedra defeated Nease 21-1 in a FHSAA boys lacrosse Region 1-2A semifinal on April 26, 2023. The Sharks (16-5) advanced to the regional final for the second straight year. Nease ended its season 15-5. | Will Brown
April 1, 2025

Ponte Vedra High on track for new turf athletic field

The high school could be the first in the county with a turf field, but experts warn that artificial turf…

Featured image for “Bridegan widow recognized for helping children in need”
Flanked by law enforcement officers, Kirsten Bridegan displays a box of children's supplies with daughter Bexley and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. Boxes like these are now in police stations across the country. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
March 27, 2025

Bridegan widow recognized for helping children in need

Kirsten Bridegan, whose husband was killed in 2022, has been recognized with Florida’s Back the Blue Award for her children’s…

Featured image for “Rift develops over new St. Johns County attorney”
St. Johns County Attorney Richard Komando addresses the County Commission on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. | St. Johns County screenshot
March 26, 2025

Rift develops over new St. Johns County attorney

County Attorney Richard Komando was approved by a 3-2 vote despite opposition from County Commission Chair Krista Joseph.…

Featured image for “Nights of Lights shortened to ease crowds and traffic”
Hundreds of people crowd downtown St. Augustine in November 2024 to see the annual Nights of Lights. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
March 25, 2025

Nights of Lights shortened to ease crowds and traffic

The St. Augustine City Commission shortened Nights of Lights by a week and shifted the dates earlier.…

Featured image for “Early voting underway in special congressional election”
Randy Fine, left, and Josh Weil | Florida House of Representatives and Josh Weil campaign
March 21, 2025

Early voting underway in special congressional election

The election in Congressional District 6 pits two vastly different candidates — Democrat Josh Weil and Republican Randy Fine.…

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
March 18, 2025

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.…