• Chicago travelers have more options now. As of noon today, American Airlines will add new daily nonstop flights to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport from Jacksonville International Airport. The inaugural flight is 12:05 p.m. today. Passengers will be offered complimentary cake and refreshments, in addition to a fire-engine water arc for the plane as it taxis to the runway. Going forward, the three daily flights depart at 7:10 a.m., 12:05 p.m. and 5:10 p.m.
• There’s plenty of office and industrial space if you’re in the market. Cushman & Wakefield reports an overall area industrial vacancy rate of 12.5 percent and an office vacancy rate of 22.5 percent. Among the city’s three largest industrial markets, vacancies ran 9.3 percent in Westside, 12.8 percent in Southside and 21.8 percent in Northside. In the office market, the Downtown Central Business District suffered a 21.6 percent vacancy rate, with the most vacant space - and highest rate of 25.3 percent - on the Northbank. The largest suburban office market, the Butler Boulevard/Baymeadows Road area, posted a 22.9 percent vacancy rate.
• Building green? The North Florida Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Jacksonville Public Library are offering a free program on advantages and incentives, including tax credits and stimulus funds, when green building and remodeling your home. The last program is 7:30 p.m. April 8 at the Main Library. For more information, visit www.jaxpubliclibrary.org or www.usgbcnf.org.
• Jacksonville mixed martial arts fighter Charles Blanchard has fought his way onto the cast of Season 11 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Blanchard won his fight Wednesday night. He trains with American Top Team out of Coconut Creek. The winner of the weeks-long competition lands a six-figure contract from the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The show airs Wednesday nights at 10 on Spike.
• According to Public Works Director Joey Duncan, the City has collected a little more than $42 million in stormwater fees since the fee was implemented.