• U.S. News & World Report named Mayo Clinic’s campus in Jacksonville to its annual list of “Best Hospitals.” Mayo Clinic was named best hospital in the Jacksonville metro area and was ranked nationally among the top 50 hospitals in cancer and gastroenterology. The rankings have been published annually by U.S. News for 22 years. The latest rankings showcase 720 hospitals out of 4,825 hospitals nationwide. “This recognition is a testament to the excellent work of our staff and the high quality care they deliver each and every day to our patients,” said Dr. William Rupp, CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida.
• Jacksonville Community Council Inc., North Florida Transportation Planning Organization Executive Director Jeff Sheffield and City Planning Department cycling expert James Reed will discuss the challenges of sharing the road, new opportunities to ride and walk and Florida’s reputation as “hazardous to bike and pedestrian health.” It’s noon-1 p.m. Wednesday at JCCI offices along Atlantic Boulevard. It’s free, but RSVP to www.jcci.org. Bring your lunch if you’re hungry.
• City Public Information Officer Renee Brust left the position Friday. Brust, manager of digital media, notified Abel Harding, director of communications for Mayor Alvin Brown, she was “eager to move on and take advantage of the opportunities that await me.”
• The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors reported a 15.1 percent drop in closed sales in June from the year before, but a 34 percent increase in pending sales. Pending single-family and condo sales rose to 1,831 while closed sales fell to 1,529. Of the properties sold, 862 were traditional sales and 667 were lender-mediated sales. The traditional sales median price increased 3.5 percent to $176,000, while the lender-mediated price fell 10.3 percent to $89,700. Combined, the median sales price fell 4.1 percent.