• A look at Duval County’s murder rate provides some disturbing demographic data: Although the County is 29 percent black, more than 60 percent of its murder victims are black. And 93 percent died at the hands of killer who is also black. “It’s very disturbing to me,” said Michael Edwards, JSO’s director of investigations and homeland security. “Those aren’t numbers to me. Those are somebody’s brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers.”
• Local attorney Jeff Morrow continues to garner fame for his fishing exploits. Morrow gained national acclaim for catching a sailfish off of Guatemala using a flyrod and a one-man kayak. ESPN will do a live interview on Wednesday with Morrow and attorney Homer Bliss, who videotaped the fishing spectacle. Morrow is already plotting his next feat. Up next is a trip to the Galapagos Islands off the western coast of South America and a showdown with a blue marlin. That trip has Morrow looking for a Kevlar vest since the blue marlin has a habit of charging its antagonists.
• Mayor John Peyton is being recruited by the Orlando Magic – sort of. Magic senior vice president Pat Williams is authoring a leadership book and has asked Peyton to fill out a questionnaire about his leadership experience and any story he’d like to relate.
• Erin Brockovich will be the feature speaker at the University of North Florida’s Presidential Lecture Series Feb. 27. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. Brockovich is known for her investigation of health problems of hundred of people who lived in and around Hinkley, Calif., which led to the largest direct action lawsuit of its kind. The story was dramatized in the movie “Erin Brockovich.” The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Order online at www.unf.edu or call 620-2117.
• According to Karen Chastain of the Office of General Counsel, the City has “completed the acquisition” of the Ed Ball Building. Plans are to relocate several City offices from the Annex on Bay Street to the Ed Ball Building.
• Speaking of the OGC, it bills most City agencies for the work its attorneys perform and City Council is one of them. In December, the OGC billed Council for 467.9 hours for a total of $65,011. No money actually changes hands. The bill is how the OGC monitors its billable hours. The two big items on the bill are a suit by payday lenders against the City and an ordinance that deals with the local adult entertainment industry.
• Council member Daniel Davis, who represents the Westside, got a quick reply when he questioned fellow Council member Elaine Brown’s down-home southern credentials. After Brown expressed concern about a budget bill’s potential to “hog-tie” City finances, Davis said “I didn’t know they used terms like ‘hog-tie’ down at the beach,” referring to Brown’s current address. Brown quickly shot back, “I was raised on the Westside.”