• According to a statement issued by the Jacksonville’s Sheriff’s Office, there has been an increase in car burglaries downtown. Missing items include stereos, cell phones and loose change. The incidents have occurred at no specific time of day and there are no suspects.
• Details of President George W. Bush’s visit are being finalized. He’ll be here Sept. 9 for a luncheon at Alltel Stadium Cost: $2,000 a plate.
• The popular Jags post-game radio show with Cole Pepper and Pete Banaszak won’t be done in the preseason. There’s a venue change, too — instead of the West Club, they’ll be in the Bud Zone sports bar.
• Condolences to the family of Taye Brown, Better Jacksonville Plan project manager for the Equestrian Center. Brown, who was injured in a car accident several weeks ago, passed away Thursday morning.
• Becky Dicks, General Counsel Rick Mullaney’s assistant, is moving to the mayor’s office, where she’ll be Mayor John Peyton’s executive assistant.
• The private citizens who volunteered time for Mayor John Peyton’s transition team subcommittees will be Peyton’s guests at Jags games this fall. The mayor invited them to say thank you for their time in evaluating City departments, procedures and personnel. Chief of Staff Scott Teagle said the transition process should wrap up in the next two weeks.
• The mayor’s 13 subcommittees evaluated a wide array of departments and City processes but one common link emerged. All but four of the subcommittees — Parks and Recreation, Fire and Rescue, Finance and Efficiency and Community Services — recommended streamlining the City’s building permitting.
• Retired City Council auditor Bob Johnson will be joining the Peyton administration on an interim basis. Johnson will work about 20 hours a week analyzing and helping implement the mayor’s new financial strategies.
• The Downtown Council is making an effort to comply with new federal laws that prohibit commercial faxes without prior written permission. Their last fax — they send a bimonthly notice which announce upcoming meetings and speakers — contained a permission slip that members will have to return with their signature of consent.
• Neptune Beach city manager Dick Linn has angered City Council members and residents of the beach community with his decision to divide an oceanfront lot without seeking Council input. Many are saying the decision will greatly impact beach access, not only at the site approved by Linn, but at other accesses. Council members are expecting a large turnout for Monday’s workshop when the matter will be discussed.