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 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.…

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 in November 2024 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. …