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 “Lawmaker promises more steps to protect lands like Guana”
Local officials celebrate the announcement that a private company had withdrawn its request to take 600 acres of conservation land in Ponte Vedra. From left are St. Johns County Commissioner Clay Murphy; Rep. Kim Kendall, R-St. Augustine; St. Augustine Beach Mayor Dylan Rumrell; St. Augustine Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline; and St. Johns County Commissioner Ann Taylor. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
May 20, 2025

Lawmaker promises more steps to protect lands like Guana

State Rep. Kim Kendall wants to stop deals like one that would have traded away 600 acres of conservation land.…

Featured image for “St. Johns Schools finds new superintendent close to home”
Brennan Asplen is the next superintendent of St. Johns County Schools. | St. Johns County School District
May 20, 2025

St. Johns Schools finds new superintendent close to home

The School Board on Tuesday chose Deputy Superintendent Brennan Asplen as its next superintendent.…

Featured image for “Proposal withdrawn for Guana conservation land swap”
Protesters line State Road A1A on Saturday, May 17, 2025, near the site of the proposed land swap in St. Johns County. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
May 19, 2025

Proposal withdrawn for Guana conservation land swap

The state says a proposed land swap deal that could have led to the development of conservation land near Ponte…

Featured image for “Another mosquito board member resigns in St. Johns”
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
May 16, 2025

Another mosquito board member resigns in St. Johns

Trish Becker is the latest commissioner to resign from the Anastasia Mosquito Control District in just three months. …

Featured image for “Residents and businesses get their say on 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
May 16, 2025

Residents and businesses get their say on Nights of Lights

St. Augustine will host public workshops to get feedback on how to run Nights of Lights more smoothly.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County hires former Sen. Travis Hutson”
Former Florida Sen. Travis Hutson. | Phil Sears, AP
May 15, 2025

St. Johns County hires former Sen. Travis Hutson

Hutson reached his term limit in the Senate, but he has a new job working in the St. Johns County…

Featured image for “St. Johns conservation land could be developed under proposed land swap”
The Guana Wildlife Management Area is a state-owned conservation area north of St. Augustine where visitors can walk on paths and enjoy the great outdoors, but also hunt for waterfowl. | Flickr, Justin Ellenberger
May 15, 2025

St. Johns conservation land could be developed under proposed land swap

The state could swap 600 acres in the Guana River Wildlife Management Area in exchange for non-contiguous parcels, at the…

Featured image for “Meet the finalists for St. Johns County school superintendent”
Some 52,000 students are enrolled in the St. Johns County District. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
May 12, 2025

Meet the finalists for St. Johns County school superintendent

Of four finalists, one has encoutnered controversy. Another has been a superintendent in another county.…

Featured image for “Centuries later, Fort Mose finally has a fort again”
A reenactor guards the battlements of the newly reconstructed Fort Mose | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
May 9, 2025

Centuries later, Fort Mose finally has a fort again

A reconstructed fort opened Friday at Fort Mose Historic State Park, site of the first settlement of freed Black slaves.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County backs off plan to demolish civil rights site”
The St. Johns Sheriff's Office's Detention Center Annex was once the county's jail. In the 1960s, civil rights activists like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were held there. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
May 8, 2025

St. Johns County backs off plan to demolish civil rights site

Activists sought to preserve the old jail where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was held after segregation protests.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County approves 300 townhomes near CR 210”
St. Johns County approved a 300-unit townhome community near the Sandy Creek neighborhood and County Road 210. | St. Johns County
May 6, 2025

St. Johns County approves 300 townhomes near CR 210

Despite concerns, county commissioners said the project was more acceptable than other possibilities.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Is a carousel still planned at Carousel Park?”
This concept image shows what Davenport Park could look if a new carousel is installed. | St. Augustine
May 6, 2025

#AskJAXTDY | Is a carousel still planned at Carousel Park?

St. Augustine approved plans last year to return a carousel to the former Carousel Park. What happened?…

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
May 5, 2025

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.…