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 “St. Augustine comes to the aid of family rocked by hurricane”
Crews remove a fallen tree from a home belonging to the Bruce family in St. Augustine. | Amy Tarmey
October 18, 2024

St. Augustine comes to the aid of family rocked by hurricane

The Bruce family suffered thousands of dollars of damage to their home during Hurricane Milton, but caring neighbors helped them…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “St. Johns County sued over panhandling restrictions”
A driver hands money to a man panhandling at University Boulevard at Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
October 16, 2024

St. Johns County sued over panhandling restrictions

Civil rights organizations are challenging panhandling bans in cities across the state, including Jacksonville.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Explaining your ballot: Mosquito Control and Beach District in St. Johns”
In addition to spraying pesticides to keep the bugs at bay, the Anastasia Mosquito Control District also operates the Vector Education Center and Science Museum. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today.
October 16, 2024

Explaining your ballot: Mosquito Control and Beach District in St. Johns

St. Johns County voters will have more than just the big ticket local races for County Commission and School Board…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Hastings, Florida’s Potato Capital, aims to become a weekend getaway destination”
Hastings’ once-bustling main drag is quiet most days. But some buildings that were long vacant have been filled with businesses in the last year. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
October 2, 2024

Hastings, Florida’s Potato Capital, aims to become a weekend getaway destination

Hastings was once a roaring hub for agriculture in Florida. Now, local efforts are underway to get it noticed again.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “AdventHealth plans expansion into St. Johns County”
AdventHealth plans to expand its hospital system to St. Johns County with a new ER. | AdventHealth
October 2, 2024

AdventHealth plans expansion into St. Johns County

AdventHealth, one of the largest faith-based health systems in the U.S., plans a freestanding emergency room southwest of St. Augustine.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Pastor receives St. Augustine’s highest honor”
From left are St. Augustine City Commissioner Cynthia Garris, the Rev. Laverne March, City Commissioner Barbara Blonder and Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline. | City of St. Augustine
September 24, 2024

Pastor receives St. Augustine’s highest honor

The Rev. Laverne March is the latest person to receive St. Augustine’s highest honor — and she’s likely to be…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Art you can touch comes to St. Augustine next month”
Guests take in the art at a past Tactile Art Show in St. Augustine. | St. Augustine Art Association
September 20, 2024

Art you can touch comes to St. Augustine next month

Visitors will get to touch the art at the upcoming Tactile Art Show co-hosted by the Florida School for the…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Fix on the way for St. Johns County Ocean Pier”
The pillars of the pier are fully exposed after the beach renourishment by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. | News4Jax
September 17, 2024

Fix on the way for St. Johns County Ocean Pier

St. Johns County OK’d spending $3 million to fix up its oceanfront pier.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “376-home neighborhood axed near St. Augustine Lakes over overcrowding, flooding fears”
St. Johns County's entryway on State Road A1A. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
September 17, 2024

376-home neighborhood axed near St. Augustine Lakes over overcrowding, flooding fears

The St. Johns County Commission denied a proposal to build 376 homes near St. Augustine Lakes.…

By Noah Hertz

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