The Daily Record compiled the 10 most-read online stories at jaxdailyrecord.com for 2012.
Two reports about Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan and two reports about the Hostess Brands Inc. strike and bankruptcy made the list.
One 2011 most-read feature appeared in the 2012 list – the story about Goodwill Stores Inc.'s Bluetique boutique.
Today we report a summary of each of the most-read stories. They start on this page and continue on Pages A-5 and A-6.
Thanks for reading during the year and thanks for continuing to read in 2013.
1. Khan's ship has come in
2. 11 Florida Constitutional amendments on Nov. 6 ballot
3. Jaguars owner Shahid Khan: 'Let the NFL work for Jacksonville'
4. Casey Anthony prosecutor wants to revisit public records laws
5. Latitude 30 signs letter of intent to lease The Library
6. Designer finds at Goodwill: Bluetique boutique opening in Ponte Vedra Beach
7. Bakers' union strikes Hostess plants; Jacksonville bakery remains operating
8. Hostess: No immediate plans for employee layoffs
9. TacoLu moving to former Homestead Restaurant at Jacksonville Beach
10. Bank of America to cut 62 jobs
1. Khan's ship has come in
Published Jan. 30, 2012
New Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan's yacht began providing Downtown visitors a sight to see along the riverfront at the Hyatt Downtown. The 223-foot Lurssen yacht remains listed for sale with Moran Yacht & Ship. (The Euro converter put the price at $111.7 million at the time of the story and $112.5 million as of last week) Those wanting to test it can charter it for $600,000 a week in the winter in the Caribbean and about $794,400 (up from $789,000) a week in summer in the Mediterranean. The yacht's crew of up to 22 includes a head chef, sous chef and masseuse/beauty therapist. The six cabins for the owner and guests sleep 12 and the amenities include a disco bar, salon with a full-size grand piano, a dining room to seat 16, a gym, a 25-foot Chris Craft boat, Yamaha WaveRunners and more. The yacht flies a Cayman Islands flag. The photo was taken from the ninth floor of the Hyatt Downtown. To see more, visit yachtkismet.com.
2. 11 Florida Constitutional amendments on Nov. 6 ballot
Published Oct. 22, 2012
The Jacksonville Bar Association Governmental Relations Committee wrote a summary of the 2012 proposed Florida Constitutional amendments. The summary was created by Anthony Zebouni, Loree French, James Young, Bill Brinton, Roger Gannam, Charles McBurney and Jack Webb.
The group summarized Amendment 1 — Health Care Services; Amendment 2 — Veteran's Property Tax Exemption; Amendment 3 — Limitation on State Revenue; Amendment 4 — Property Tax Limitations; Amendment 5 — State Courts; Amendment 6 — Public Funding of Abortions; Amendment 8 — Religious Freedom; Amendment 9 — Homestead Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouse of Military Veteran or First Responder; Amendment 10 — Tangible Personal Property Tax Exemption; Amendment 11 — Additional Homestead Exemption for Low-Income Seniors; and Amendment 12 — Appointment of Student Body President to Board of Governors of the State University System.
Voters approved Amendments 2, 9 and 11.
3. Jaguars owner Shahid Khan: 'Let the NFL work for Jacksonville'
Published Jan. 31, 2012
Illinois businessman Shahid Khan bought the Jacksonville Jaguars from Wayne Weaver and his partners in a sale that closed Jan. 4. He paid an estimated $770 million for the National Football League franchise, which was awarded in 1993. Khan owns the Flex-N-Gate auto-parts company. Khan met with the Daily Record editorial staff and discussed his vision for the team. Later in the year, Khan announced plans for the Jaguars to play in London once a season for the next four years. Here's a sample of the conversation.
Do you plan to keep the Jaguars in Jacksonville?
I've been very forthright from day one that I am going to do whatever it takes obviously to make the Jaguars successful in Jacksonville. It's as simple as that.
What factors will make the Jaguars more successful?
Connecting with the fans and expanding the fan base. It could be geographical. I think we have to move out, so we get more people, a bigger area. International is a great opportunity. Having the City of Jacksonville use the marketing power of the NFL. Let the NFL work for Jacksonville overseas. I marvel at what a hidden jewel Jacksonville is — the beautiful weather, the water, the great infrastructure, wonderful people, (you wonder) why it's not thriving more.
You've said Europe would be a destination for a game. What makes Europe an attractive destination?
Europe is such a logical jumping-off point for international fans.
How about marketing nationally?
For us, it's geographically growing out of Jacksonville. That's No. 1. I think international is the No. 2 component. There are other things we are going to do. From graphics, uniforms which have a certain amount of edge and coolness on them, where people want it just because of the design. That enhances affection for the brand. After that, you've got to win and that's the bottom line. You can only take some of these aspects so far. Winning is very, very important.
Would you have drafted University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow (who was QB for the Denver Broncos and then traded to the New York Jets)?
Yes. This is an issue, by strange coincidence, I was involved in with Wayne a couple of years ago. I have a very clear bottom-line answer. Absolutely I would have.
Two years ago, I was engaged with the St. Louis Rams and they had the No. 1 draft pick. I talked to Wayne during that time and had shared with him, 'you should be drafting him' and I gave him my case for that, which was an athlete like Tim Tebow from Jacksonville comes once a generation. He is going to really connect the Jaguars to Jacksonville and they should do it.
Wayne gave me very logical, very clinical answers on reasons why he wouldn't do it. I went back to the Rams, their player personnel folks, I said, you've got to tell me, if you were Jacksonville, would you be drafting Tim Tebow? They said absolutely not. It was like they were reading from the same script Wayne had read from.
I said, there comes a time where emotion trumps rationality and this, if I was an owner, would be one of those moments for me.
Have you decided where to live here?
I have not bought a home and I haven't decided because the more I see, the more confused I get, which is a wonderful thing.
Would you stay on your yacht, the Kismet?
That is one option.
What is it like to be the biggest celebrity in Jacksonville?
An NFL team – sizewise, revenuewise, employeewise – is about like one of the 50 plants we have now making auto parts. Nobody cares that you have 50 of those.
It's the power of the NFL. The NFL is so huge, especially here in Jacksonville.
I think the fans are football crazy, which is a wonderful thing. We have to develop a second generation of fans, a third generation of fans. Ideally, if we can find 10,000 more, then we're done.
4. Casey Anthony prosecutor wants to revisit public records laws
Published May 15, 2012
Casey Anthony prosecutor Jeff Ashton told the Clay County Bar Association that he wants to take another look at Florida's public record laws.
Ashton retired as a prosecutor in July 2011 soon after the highly publicized trial in which Anthony was acquitted in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee.
He spoke at the Clay County Bar Association Law Day Event while campaigning, successfully, for state attorney of the 9th Judicial Circuit, serving Orange and Osceola counties. He was elected and takes office now.
"We must take efforts to keep the media from trying to replace us as the ultimate determiner of facts because they are not very good at it. They have no rules. They have no hearsay rules of evidence (which lawyers are required to adhere to). Opinion is often mistaken for fact and, to me, is the great threat to the justice system as a whole," Ashton told the association.
Ashton has released his book "Imperfect Justice: Prosecuting Casey Anthony."
5. Latitude 30 signs letter of intent to lease The Library
Published Oct. 1, 2012
Latitude Global Inc., a Jacksonville-based entertainment company, signed a letter of intent to lease the 120,000-square-foot former Haydon Burns Library, now known as The Library, at 122 N. Ocean St.
"We would bring a Latitude 30 Downtown," said Philip Alia, Latitude chief marketing officer.
It would include 12 bowling lanes, a sports theater and meeting rooms, among other features, as well as the corporate headquarters, he said.
The letter of intent provided a 90-day window for Latitude officials to determine whether to enter a purchase-and-sale agreement. Officials said to check back early in January.
Alia said the company would seek financial incentives for a potential move Downtown if plans proceed.
"We want to grow with the Downtown area," Alia said.
6. Designer finds at Goodwill: Bluetique boutique opening in Ponte Vedra Beach
Published Nov. 14, 2011
Nonprofit Goodwill Industries of North Florida took another step in the world of thrift shopping, including in the heels of Manolo Blahnik, in November 2011.
The story came in No. 9 among the 10 most-read online stories in 2011 and continued attracting readers in 2012.
The nonprofit organization is striding into a world of boutique-style clothing, shoes, purses and jewelry with labels such as Ann Taylor, St. John, Calvin Klein, Juicy Couture, Aeropostale, Chanel and the Manolo Blahniks, along with other well-known clothing and designer names.
The new thrift shop in tiny Ponte Vedra Beach is called Bluetique and it features designer and other trendy goods. About 75 percent of the goods sold there are donated to the Goodwill donation center nearby, meaning the items generally are from people in the area.
The other 25 percent of the items are bought from sources that carry close-outs and overruns. Goodwill said prices will be at least 50 percent to 90 percent off retail prices.
The store opened in the Tournament Plaza at 832-2 Florida A1A. So far it is the only one so far in the market.
"Bluetique" is a play on Goodwill's signature color and "boutique."
7. Bakers' union strikes Hostess plants, Jacksonville bakery remains operating
Published Nov. 14, 2012
Members of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union were striking Hostess Brands Inc. plants nationwide, including the Interstate Brands bakery in North Jacksonville.
Members of bakers' union Local 103 were picketing at the bakery in the Imeson International Industrial Park.
The bakers' union is striking Hostess, which is reorganizing under Chapter 11 bankruptcy laws, saying in a two-page "Hostess Strike Fact Sheet" that workers agreed to significant wage and benefit concessions in a previous Hostess bankruptcy and then the company filed again in January.
While the plant was open during the strike, Hostess announced Nov. 21 that U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York approved its emergency interim motion for the orderly wind down of its business and sale of its assets.
Hostess said the bakers' strike crippled its operations at a time when the company lacked the financial resources to survive a significant labor action.
The Jacksonville bakery, Interstate Brands at 201 Busch Drive E., employed 128 people. It produced Wonder bread, Nature's Pride and Merita products.
Hostess Brands, which also made Ho Hos, Suzy Q's, Cupcakes, Sno Balls, Donettes and bread and other products, filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy laws in January in New York.
8. Hostess: No immediate plans for employee layoffs
Published July 6, 2012
As of July 6, there were no apparent immediate plans to lay off Hostess Brands Inc. employees starting that week, according to company spokesman Lance Ignon.
"The goal is to restructure Hostess and come out of Chapter 11 as a stronger company," Ignon said.
The company had filed a notice with the state in May indicating a possible layoff starting July 7.
Hostess Brands filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy laws in January in New York. The company is based in Irving, Texas.
Ignon said the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filing was a legal requirement that plant closings and layoffs could occur, "but it was completely conditional."
The Florida WARN filing indicated that Hostess might lay off 340 statewide employees, including 185 in Northeast Florida at eight bakery outlets and at the North Florida manufacturing plant.
The notices listed the layoff dates as July 7-21.
Hostess Brands issued a statement at the time that it mailed conditional WARN notices to all 18,500 employees around the country that a sale or wind down of the company was possible in the future during the restructuring under Chapter 11.
"However, our goal is still to emerge from bankruptcy as a growing company and there are no immediate actions being taken to sell or wind down the company. We are simply fulfilling our requirements by sending these notices," said the statement at that time.
9. TacoLu moving to former Homestead Restaurant at Jacksonville Beach
Published Aug. 24, 2012
News broke that TacoLu, the popular 4-year-old Jacksonville Beach restaurant started by Don and Debbie Nicol and named after their daughter, would relocate to the former Homestead Restaurant about a half-mile west by year-end. It did.
TacoLu had operated at 1183 Beach Blvd. and began its fifth year of operation. Its lease was set to expire in March. The Nicols wanted to add locations but instead decided to buy The Homestead property at 1712 Beach Blvd.
The Nicols bought the property in July and renovated the restaurant. TacoLu had about 155 seats in its former 3,200-square-foot restaurant. The new restaurant has inside space for about 160 patrons and patio space for 40.
The main floor of the building has about 5,000 square feet of space and the property has more parking. The second floor has about 2,500 square feet of space with an apartment, storage and office.
Then, there's the ghost that former Homestead patrons and staff say is a friendly presence. They say it is the spirit of Alpha Paynter, who operated a boarding house there. Nicol said he and Debbie were told to greet her upon arrival and to bid farewell when they leave.
"My wife is quite excited about that part of it," he said.
He said their two children, Henry and Lucy, "can't wait to go upstairs and hang out with Alpha Paynter."
10. Bank of America to cut 62 jobs
Published March 6, 2012
Bank of America notified the state it will lay off 62 employees at its South Jacksonville campus by July 30.
Bank of America spokeswoman Christina Beyer Toth said in an email the bank had decided to exit its Client Research and Resolution Services operations in Jacksonville and in San Francisco. The Jacksonville campus is at 9000 Southside Blvd.
"All impacted employees may be eligible for severance and/or relocation assistance in lieu of severance," Toth said in the email.
Toth said the work is being moved to client research and services sites within the bank's Image and Transaction Services in locations that include Utica, N.Y., Dallas and Los Angeles.
Toth said the job cuts are part of previously announced position reductions connected with "Project NEW BAC," which she described as "an effort to increase revenue, simplify and streamline work and align expenses to Bank of America's customer-focused strategy."
Toth said the bank employs about 21,000 employees in Florida, but did not provide numbers for Jacksonville.
In December 2010, then Mayor John Peyton announced that Bank of America and Merrill Lynch would add 1,000 jobs to Jacksonville over the subsequent several years.
JAX Chamber said then that with those jobs, Bank of America and Merrill Lynch would employ about 8,000 people in the area. Bank of America owns Merrill Lynch.
"We have a strong commitment to the city of Jacksonville as one of our largest employment centers in the country and continue to hire here," Toth said in the email.
Toth said that the bank continues to evaluate its operations "to ensure we're making the very best use of our resources. These necessary activities sometimes result in moving work across our footprint, leading us to consolidate certain sites. "