• JEDC Sports and Entertainment Board Director Mike Sullivan says the City will commission a study to determine how sporting events affect the local economy. The study will include Jaguars games, Georgia-Florida and the Gator Bowl, and will have projections for the Super Bowl and Atlantic Coast Conference championships in football and baseball.
• CBS News will be in town today reporting a story on a local woman’s lawsuit against Jacksonville’s Southwood Nursing Center, where she alleges her 83-year-old mother was raped by another resident, who was put in the home by a court order.
• There’s a new event this week as part of the Georgia-Florida festivities. The Georgia-Florida Charity Softball Game is scheduled for Wednesday at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, beginning at 7 p.m. The game pits the school’s booster clubs against each other to benefit the Arthritis Foundation of Northeast Florida and the Gator and Bulldog clubs of Jacksonville. Tickets are $5.50.
• The Landing is expanding its entertainment for Georgia-Florida weekend. Landing spokesperson Rachel Kaltenbach says more of Hogan Street will be closed so a third stage for musical performers can be added.
• Three Rivers Legal Services and Florida Coastal School of Law are hosting a Pro Bono Reception and Awards Ceremony Nov. 5 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the law school. FCSL professor Mike Jorgensen is the speaker. RSVP to Kelley Steedman at 394-7450, ext. 212 by Thursday.
• Reminder: the Red Mass for government, law enforcement, judicial and legal professions is Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 121 E. Duval St.
• Congrats to attorney Fred Franklin Jr. of Roger Towers. He’s been named the 2004 Distinguished Alumni Award winner by the Jacksonville University Alumni Association. Franklin is a 1977.
• The Adam’s Mark Hotel is offering an early bird special for those looking for a downtown parking space. Park in the hotel garage before 8 a.m. and it’s just $4 for the day.
• FCCJ is hosting a speech and debate tournament Nov. 11-13 and needs judges for the event, possibly attorneys who have debate experience. If you’d like to volunteer, call Jeff Hess at 632-3137.
• Springfield neighborhood advocates are hoping the Main Street renovations will start again as soon as possible following the Super Bowl. The mayor has set aside $4.5 million in this year’s budget for the work, which should extend the streetscape improvements to 8th Street. The City says it wants to start shortly after the game, but no date has been set.
• There may be a lot of people interested in running for the Supervisor of Elections job, but at least one person definitely isn’t. Says City Council member Glorious Johnson: “No, thank you. I’m fine just where I am. They can have it.”