• State Rep. candidate Mike Weinstein ended his fundraising year with more than $200,000 in the coffers. The Dist. 19 candidate raised over $27,000 during the final quarter.
• According to Forbes.com, Florida is the best state for job prospects and Jacksonville is the No. 3 city, up from No. 8 last year. The business site used five data points: unemployment rate, job growth, income growth, median household income and cost of living. Other Florida cities in the top 25 include Orlando (4), Forth Lauderdale (9), Tampa (13), and West Palm Beach (16)
• The Florida Department of Transportation is holding a public hearing on the proposed Jacksonville Transportation Center that is planned at the Osborn Center to provide a central location for JTA bus, JTA Skyway, Greyhound and Amtrak services. The hearing is scheduled for Jan. 10 at the FDOT’s Jacksonville Urban Office training facility, 2198 Edison St. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and exhibits and other materials will be available for review. The formal public hearing begins at 6:30 p.m., with an audio/visual presentation followed by public comment. For more information, contact Project Manager Craig Teal at 800-749-2967.
• University of North Florida is growing once again. President John Delaney and Dean Larry Daniel are hosting a groundbreaking ceremony at the construction site of the planned College of Education and Human Services building Jan. 10 at 10 a.m.
• Florida Community College at Jacksonville President Dr. Steven Wallace is hosting a reception to honor U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown. It’s Jan. 14 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Martin Center for College Services in the school’s Downtown campus.
• The Allstate Foundation recently awarded Take Stock in Children a $25,000 grant. Combined with a more-than-matching grant within Take Stock in Children’s public-private partnership, the funds will help provide 15 low-income children in Florida with full-funded college scholarships.