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 “Judge throws out schoolbook challenge from St. Johns moms”
School library books, like these at R.L. Brown Gifted and Talented Academy in Jacksonville, remain a controversial issue in Florida. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 4, 2025

Judge throws out schoolbook challenge from St. Johns moms

Three moms, including two from St. Johns County, argued that Florida’s policies on schoolbook removals are unfair. …

Featured image for “Advocates try to save civil rights landmark in St. Johns County”
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
February 4, 2025

Advocates try to save civil rights landmark in St. Johns County

The county is considering a plan to tear down an old county jail building with ties to the Rev. Martin…

Featured image for “St. Augustine Beach recognizes Black History Month for first time”
Black History advocate Greg White thanks the St. Augustine Beach City Commission for formally acknowledging Black History Month on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
February 4, 2025

St. Augustine Beach recognizes Black History Month for first time

St. Augustine Beach had never issued a formal proclamation recognizing Black History Month until Monday night.…

Featured image for “New St. Augustine Commissioner Jon DePreter: Flooding, mobility are top of mind”
Joined by members of his family, Jon DePreter swears in as the newest member of the St. Augustine City Commission in December. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
January 30, 2025

New St. Augustine Commissioner Jon DePreter: Flooding, mobility are top of mind

St. Augustine’s newest city commissioner says he wants to maintain St. Augustine’s charm while making the city safer.…

Featured image for “Primary tees up state senator vs. teacher for Congressional District 6”
Randy Fine
January 28, 2025

Primary tees up state senator vs. teacher for Congressional District 6

A special primary election set the stage for an April congressional race between a state lawmaker and a teacher.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Why is Florida refusing federal food aid for children?”
Food service assistant Brenda Bartee gives students breakfast at Washington Elementary School in Riviera Beach in August 2021. | Wilfredo Lee, AP
January 28, 2025

#AskJAXTDY | Why is Florida refusing federal food aid for children?

Florida says the USDA’s SUN Bucks food program has too many strings attached. But what are they?…

Featured image for “St. Johns Commission chair targets county administrator”
St. Johns County Administrator Joy Andrews | St. Johns County
January 22, 2025

St. Johns Commission chair targets county administrator

Commissioner Krista Joseph moved to oust County Administrator Joy Andrews, but her attempt did not get enough votes.…

Featured image for “New plan proposed for World Golf Village IMAX”
The World Golf Hall of Fame and IMAX theater sit near St. Augustine. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
January 21, 2025

New plan proposed for World Golf Village IMAX

The IMAX Theater at World Golf Village could become a community theater and event space.…

Featured image for “Mosquito Board commissioner threatens slander suit”
The Anastasia Mosquito Control District. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
January 16, 2025

Mosquito Board commissioner threatens slander suit

T.J. Mazzotta has filed suit against Catherine Brandhorst, his predecessor on the Mosquito Control Board.…

Featured image for “St. Augustine says Nights of Lights may be getting too big”
Hundreds of people crowd downtown St. Augustine in November 2024 to see the annual Nights of Lights. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
January 14, 2025

St. Augustine says Nights of Lights may be getting too big

“We’re dangerously close to overtourism,” Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline said about Nights of Lights.…

Featured image for “St. Augustine’s airport wants its old name back”
The Northeast Florida Regional Airport | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today.
January 10, 2025

St. Augustine’s airport wants its old name back

The Northeast Florida Regional Airport wants to return to its simple name of the past: St. Augustine Airport.…

Featured image for “IMAX’s future at World Golf could be clarified this month”
This aerial view shows the World Golf Hall of Fame at World Golf Village in St. Augustine. | Visit St. Augustine
January 9, 2025

IMAX’s future at World Golf could be clarified this month

County commissioners will discuss options for World Golf Village and the IMAX Theater when they meet Jan. 21.…

Featured image for “Nease High School honors longtime basketball coach”
Coach Sherri Anthony cuts the ribbon during the ceremony dedicating Nease High School's basketball court in her name. | Courtesy of Sherri Anthony
January 6, 2025

Nease High School honors longtime basketball coach

Allen D. Nease High School has named its basketball court after former girls basketball Coach Sherri Anthony.…

Featured image for “3 appointed to board at St. Johns River State College”
The St. Augustine campus of St. Johns River State College. | St. Johns River State College
January 6, 2025

3 appointed to board at St. Johns River State College

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed three new faces to the board of trustees at St. Johns River State College.…

Featured image for “Analog photography is back. St. Augustine photogs develop community around film ”
Photographer Lydia Ritter snaps a photo during the Analog Club’s film photography pop-up event in St. Augustine Dec. 13. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
January 3, 2025

Analog photography is back. St. Augustine photogs develop community around film 

A new club in St. Augustine is celebrating photography the old fashioned way.…

Featured image for “Sexual assault victims get more help in St. Johns County”
January 2, 2025

Sexual assault victims get more help in St. Johns County

The Betty Griffin Center will expand services for sexual assault victims at Ascension St. Vincent’s St. Johns hospital.…

Featured image for “Special election coming for some St. Johns County voters”
Rep. Michael Waltz. | Ted Shaffrey, AP
December 26, 2024

Special election coming for some St. Johns County voters

Voters will decide who will replace U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, who is in line to become national security adviser.…

Featured image for “Medical examiner critically cramped in St. Johns County”
Staff from the District 23 Medical Examiner's Office set up to perform an X-ray using a portable unit because the office does not have the space for a dedicated radiological room. | St. Johns County
December 19, 2024

Medical examiner critically cramped in St. Johns County

After failing to get state funding last year to replace its aging Medical Examiner’s Office, St. Johns County is trying…

Featured image for “One-time outcast now leads the way on St. Johns Commission”
The current St. Johns County Commission are, from left, Christian Whitehurst, Sarah Arnold, Krista Joseph, Clay Murphy and Ann Taylor. | St. Johns County
December 18, 2024

One-time outcast now leads the way on St. Johns Commission

As chair of the St. Johns County Commission, Krista Joseph hopes to slow the county’s rampant growth.…

Featured image for “St. Johns Mosquito Control Board’s Christmas bonuses null and void”
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
December 12, 2024

St. Johns Mosquito Control Board’s Christmas bonuses null and void

A fiery Anastasia Mosquito Control District meeting ended with the board’s controversial Christmas bonuses voided.…

Featured image for “New Lincolnville park honors two ‘unsung heroes’”
St. Augustine Vice Mayor Barbara Blonder greets George Smith at the grand opening for a new park in Lincolnville honoring him and his late wife Ollie Smith. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 6, 2024

New Lincolnville park honors two ‘unsung heroes’

George and Ollie Smith are little-known pillars of the historically Black Lincolnville community.…

Featured image for “St. Johns pledges $2.2M for ‘all-inclusive’ playground”
This concept image shows some of the wheelchair-accessible playground equipment planned at the St. Johns County Police Athletic League's new playground. | St. Johns County
December 3, 2024

St. Johns pledges $2.2M for ‘all-inclusive’ playground

The Diamond of Dreams playground will be only the second in the county designed for children with disabilities.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County eases public comment at meetings”
St. Johns County's entryway on State Road A1A. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
November 27, 2024

St. Johns County eases public comment at meetings

The St. Johns County Commission will take public comment earlier in meetings beginning Tuesday.…

Featured image for “Bonuses for mosquito control board may have been improper”
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
November 26, 2024

Bonuses for mosquito control board may have been improper

The board of the Anastasia Mosquito Control District has given itself bonuses for at least six years, including $1,000 the…