• Afternoon rainfalls have overwhelmed the gutters and downspouts on the backside of the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art. A significant amount of the water has been overflowing into the adjacent Main Library construction site. Library project manager Rex Holmlin says the gutters and downspouts will eventually have to be upsized to prevent future problems.
• Traffic flow on the Main Street Bridge has dropped nearly 50 percent since 1999. Why? Mike Goldman of the Florida Department of Transportation says the opening of the new Fuller Warren Bridge and increased usage of the Acosta Bridge are playing a large part. The fact that the Main Street Bridge is one of the few draw bridges left in town is another factor.
• Vendors at the new Jags practice facility say sales are definitely up from previous years’ training camps. They say the stands have been filled nearly every day and that more fans are showing up as the season draws closer.
• Former Ch. 30 and Ch. 12 meteorologist Bob Allen is out of the weather business. He’s taken a job as the athletic director at Edward Waters College.
• Downtown Vision, Inc. is kicking off its Park Smart program today with the unveiling of its logo (right). The program strives to bring visitors downtown by making parking more affordable and visible. Participating parking facilities will be marked with a logo, which will be revealed at the Omni’s parking garage at 10 a.m.
• Neill Vining, a former employee at the Duval County Republican Party headquarters, has gone to work for Ch. 12 as an assignment editor/associate producer.
• According to Better Jacksonville Plan communications manager Lisa Rowe, all is moving smoothly at the new arena. Everything is on schedule for a November opening.
• Curator Leigh Rodante has left the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum. No word yet on her replacement.
• Council members have been invited to a seminar, “An Elected Officials Guide to Investing Public Funds.” The event is sponsored by the Florida League of Cities Department of Financial Services.
• The Jacksonville Economic Development Commission transition team subcommittee will hear from past incentive applicants during its Wednesday meeting. The subcommittee will release a preliminary list of recommended changes to the commission during the meeting.
• Mayor John Peyton, U.S. representatives Corrine Brown and Ander Crenshaw and members of Jacksonville’s international business community will attend a Puerto Rico Trade Summit Aug. 21 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel.
• A St. Augustine couple was inducted into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame for 2003 during the Governor’s Conference on Tourism at the Adam’s Mark Hotel. Frank and Betty Usina were honored for continuing to promote the state and their region, as a tourist destination. The Usinas have long promoted the importance of nature-based tourism in Florida.