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Baptist Health broke ground on Baptist Nassau Crossing Medical Campus in March, with plans for the new medical campus to open in late 2024. The center is in Yulee, east of I-95 on State Road 200. Submitted photo

Baptist Health broke ground on Baptist Nassau Crossing Medical Campus in March, with plans for the new medical campus to open in late 2024. The center is in Yulee, east of I-95 on State Road 200. Submitted photo

New Baptist Health facility coming to Yulee

Baptist Health broke ground on Baptist Nassau Crossing Medical Campus in March, with plans for the new medical campus to open in late 2024. The center is in Yulee, east of I-95 on State Road 200.
John Hartrich, left, Miriam Dudiak, right, and Dudiak’s 96-year-old mother, Helen, man the Winn-Dixie in Fernandina Beach on Wednesday afternoon.  Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader

John Hartrich, left, Miriam Dudiak, right, and Dudiak’s 96-year-old mother, Helen, man the Winn-Dixie in Fernandina Beach on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader

A timeless tradition: The Red Kettle symphony

In 1891, Salvation Army Capt. Joseph McFee sparked a tradition of giving, aiming to ensure no one went hungry during the holidays. The Red Kettle campaign, born from his compassion, continues to echo in Fernandina Beach at The Salvation Army Hope House.
Fernandina Beach City Manager Ty Ross said he was “angry and embarrassed” by an accident he said was the result of drinking and bicycling. “Life’s hard sometimes but it’s not what happens to  you, it’s how you react to it. It’s not about falling down, it’s about getting up,” he said, pledging to dedicate himself to his duties to the city. Photo: City of Fernandina Beach

Fernandina Beach City Manager Ty Ross said he was “angry and embarrassed” by an accident he said was the result of drinking and bicycling. “Life’s hard sometimes but it’s not what happens to you, it’s how you react to it. It’s not about falling down, it’s about getting up,” he said, pledging to dedicate himself to his duties to the city. Photo: City of Fernandina Beach

Residents call for city manager’s resignation and investigation into FBPD

The Fernandina Beach Police Department video of City Manager Ty Ross Bike Accident Redacted 12-06-23 is available at https://www.fbnewsleader.
City of Fernandina Beach Bicentennial Celebration logo. Submitted

City of Fernandina Beach Bicentennial Celebration logo. Submitted

City of Fernandina Beach Bicentennial Celebration

The city of Fernandina Beach, along with Fernandina Beach Main Street, Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Historic District Council, the Amelia Island Museum of History and the Amelia Island- Fernandina Restoration Foundation, are collaborating to bring you a commemorative year of...
Medians of SR 200 are undergoing landscaping and irrigation improvements and currently on schedule for completion in late 2024. Photo by Sean Rosenthal/News-Leader

Medians of SR 200 are undergoing landscaping and irrigation improvements and currently on schedule for completion in late 2024. Photo by Sean Rosenthal/News-Leader

FDOT funding SR 200 improvements

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is funding landscaping and irrigation improvements to the medians of SR 200 from I-95 to Old Nassauville Road. The project is expected to be completed by Arazoza Brothers Corporation, a Miami company, by the fall of 2024 at a cost of $6.95 million.
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten told local union members that, when they are faced with something that is unfair, they should ask themselves what her mother asked her when she was faced with unfair treatment, “What are you going to do about it?” Photo by Julia Roberts/News-Leader

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten told local union members that, when they are faced with something that is unfair, they should ask themselves what her mother asked her when she was faced with unfair treatment, “What are you going to do about it?” Photo by Julia Roberts/News-Leader

National teacher union president addresses local educational union members

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten blasted Florida Governor Ron DeSantis when she spoke to members of the Nassau Educational Support Personnel Association (NESPA), saying the governor is afraid of unions and “not used to people speaking their minds.
Photo by Jim Pancero/Special

Photo by Jim Pancero/Special

Bird watchers paradise

Pink rosette spoonbills offer plenty of vivid colors, giving lots of photo opportunities for local bird watchers and outdoorsmen, too. More information, see Outdoors column in Sports.
Catalog #1612 Juno is the first right whale sighted with a newborn calf this winter. The calf is no more than four days old and the pair was sighted near the entrance to Winyah Bay in South Carolina on Nov. 28. Catalog #1612 is at least 38 years old and this is her eighth calf documented by researchers. Photo Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, taken under NOAA permit #26919. Funded by United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Catalog #1612 Juno is the first right whale sighted with a newborn calf this winter. The calf is no more than four days old and the pair was sighted near the entrance to Winyah Bay in South Carolina on Nov. 28. Catalog #1612 is at least 38 years old and this is her eighth calf documented by researchers. Photo Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, taken under NOAA permit #26919. Funded by United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Big baby born: First North Atlantic right whale calf of the season sighted

Along with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI), the Amelia Island Whale Ambassadors are celebrating the first calf sighting of the North Atlantic right whale calving season.
Fernandina City Manager, Ty Ross. File photo

Fernandina City Manager, Ty Ross. File photo

City manager apologizes for bicycle incident

The Fernandina Beach City Manager is asking the community for understanding following an incident where he wrecked his bicycle following an evening of drinking downtown.