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, DeLand. Noah won an award for his breaking news coverage at The Wakulla News and he went on to help 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 “Where do bikes fit into St. Augustine’s pedestrian-friendly Downtown plan?”
From traffic patterns to stormwater drainage, big changes are planned along King Street in St. Augustine. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
September 16, 2024

Where do bikes fit into St. Augustine’s pedestrian-friendly Downtown plan?

St. Augustine wants to turn a major historic Downtown thoroughfare into “the best mile in Florida,” but some cyclists are…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “New medical center on the way in West Augustine, thanks to county, state funding”
West Augustine Community Development Corporation President Greg White speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new health center. | St. Johns County
September 16, 2024

New medical center on the way in West Augustine, thanks to county, state funding

St. Johns County has broken ground on a new medical center in a historically underserved community. …

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Veterans’ advocate Bill Dudley given St. Augustine’s highest honor”
(From left:) Commissioner Barbara Blonder, Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline, Bill Dudley and his wife, and Commissioners Jim Springfield, Cynthia Garris and Roxanne Horvath | City of St. Augustine
September 9, 2024

Veterans’ advocate Bill Dudley given St. Augustine’s highest honor

Longtime military veterans’ advocate Bill Dudley was honored Monday with St. Augustine’s most prestigious award.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Beach renourishment done in St. Augustine Beach”
Beaches in Anastasia State Park were included in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' beach renourishment project. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
September 6, 2024

Beach renourishment done in St. Augustine Beach

There’s tons of new sand on St. Augustine Beach now that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has finished up…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Workforce housing project rejected in St. Johns County”
The yellow area shows where the proposed Osceola Lakes development would have been constructed. | St. Johns County
September 3, 2024

Workforce housing project rejected in St. Johns County

Despite arguments on both sides, county commissioners cited concerns about traffic, schools and infrastructure.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “New deals for St. Johns County library cardholders”
Redesigned library cards are part of St. Johns County's new initiative to get people using the libraries. | St. Johns County
August 30, 2024

New deals for St. Johns County library cardholders

The library’s Community Connections program is part of a monthlong push to sign up people for library cards.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “St. Johns superintendent makes pitch for school taxes”
August 29, 2024

St. Johns superintendent makes pitch for school taxes

St. Johns County Schools Superintendent Tim Forson makes the case for proposed new taxes that would help fund schools.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “School taxes will be on St. Johns ballots in November”
A forthcoming public school code-named "PP" sits in the heart of St. Johns County's Rivertown development. It's scheduled to open next year. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
August 26, 2024

School taxes will be on St. Johns ballots in November

St. Johns County voters will decide whether to extend a sales tax for school buildings and enact a new property…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Opponents protest Anastasia State Park plans”
The state of Florida is considering building a lodge and recreation areas in Anastasia State Park on Anastasia Island. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
August 22, 2024

Opponents protest Anastasia State Park plans

Conservation groups and others oppose the state’s plan to add a lodge and other recreation areas to Anastasia State Park.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “2 incumbents lose seats on St. Johns County commission”
St. Johns County's entryway on State Road A1A. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
August 20, 2024

2 incumbents lose seats on St. Johns County commission

Roy Alaimo and Henry Dean lose to challengers Ann Taylor and Clay Murphy, who are promising to slow growth in…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “St. Johns County tosses new trash company”
FCC Environmental Services took over trash pickup in St. Johns County on Aug. 1, 2024. | FCC Environmental Services
August 20, 2024

St. Johns County tosses new trash company

After only three weeks on the job, FCC Environmental is out as St. Johns County’s trash and recycling hauler.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Nocatee residents fight Jacksonville cell tower”
Jacksonville's planning staff is recommending against a new cellphone tower near Nocatee, partly because it would be an eyesore for nearby homeowners. | City of Jacksonville
August 19, 2024

Nocatee residents fight Jacksonville cell tower

Residents have collected nearly 1,500 signatures opposing the tower, which they consider an eyesore and health hazard.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Decision due on St. Johns County’s trash troubles”
FCC Environmental Services will take over Clay County garbage collection on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. | FCC Environmental Services
August 19, 2024

Decision due on St. Johns County’s trash troubles

St. Johns County may toss its new trash collector this week after a meeting with the company Monday.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Court fight colors St. Johns County election”
St. Johns County political activist Nicole Crosby speaks at a recent St. Johns County Commission meeting. | Screenshot from St. Johns County livestream.
August 14, 2024

Court fight colors St. Johns County election

With the election in full swing, a court fight playing out in the background involves some key players.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Bucking some businesses, St. Augustine puts pedestrians first”
The intersection at Cuna and Spanish streets in downtown St. Augustine is now the end of the line for cars going north on the bricked street. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville
August 13, 2024

Bucking some businesses, St. Augustine puts pedestrians first

Segments of a downtown St. Augustine street are now closed to vehicles. Some residents celebrate it, but some business owners…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Outback Crabshack is back in St. Johns County”
Diners sit out back of the Crabshack during its soft reopening. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
August 9, 2024

Outback Crabshack is back in St. Johns County

Eight years after suffering major hurricane damage from Hurricane Matthew, Outback Crabshack will reopen this weekend.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “4 school districts target substance abuse and violence”
August 8, 2024

4 school districts target substance abuse and violence

Putnam and St. Johns County schools are teaming with other school districts to increase awareness and support for students.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | How can you ‘run’ as a write-in candidate?”
August 7, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | How can you ‘run’ as a write-in candidate?

A Jacksonville Today reader wants to know more about how qualifying as a write-in candidate works in our elections.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “St. Johns may ditch new trash hauler after ‘disastrous’ start”
FCC Environmental Services took over trash pickup in St. Johns County on Aug. 1, 2024. | FCC Environmental Services
August 6, 2024

St. Johns may ditch new trash hauler after ‘disastrous’ start

The county estimates that more than 2,000 residents’ trash wasn’t picked up on time Aug. 1 and 2.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Straw poll hints at election surprises in St. Johns County”
More than 500 people attended a meet and greet with election candidates in St. Johns County on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. | Photo courtesy Carly Zervis
August 2, 2024

Straw poll hints at election surprises in St. Johns County

More than 500 people voted in a straw poll sponsored by the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “St. Johns County makes it easier to get a passport”
The St. Johns County Clerk’s Office will host a passport event Saturday. l St. Johns County Clerk of Courts.
August 1, 2024

St. Johns County makes it easier to get a passport

The St. John’s County Clerk’s Office will host Passport Saturday this weekend to help people who can’t get to weekday…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Are Winn-Dixie stores still becoming Aldis?”
Aldi bought Southeastern Grocers Inc., the parent company of Winn-Dixie. | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today
July 31, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | Are Winn-Dixie stores still becoming Aldis?

A Jacksonville Today reader wonders when Aldi will convert Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores to the Aldi brand.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “‘Ghost candidates’ in St. Johns Commission races? ”
Four employees at McGraw, (from left): Chip McGraw, James Higbee, Taylor Ohntrup and Weston Ferguson, are either running for St. Johns County Commission or are related to candidates, none of whom are actively campaigning. | Images: McGraw's website
July 30, 2024

‘Ghost candidates’ in St. Johns Commission races? 

Four of the most quiet candidates in the hotly contested races for St. Johns County Commission have connections to each…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “St. Johns County offers free sandbags to residents”
Sandbags are stacked before a storm. | News4Jax
July 29, 2024

St. Johns County offers free sandbags to residents

With hurricane season in full swing, St. Johns County will offer free sandbags to residents on Wednesday.…

By Noah Hertz