• Jacksonville Aviation Authority board Chair A.L. Kelly, JAXUSA Partnership President and JAX Chamber interim President Jerry Mallot and Mayor Alvin Brown take an up-close look at the A-29 Super Tucano warplane Wednesday. The three were just a few of the officials and members of the business community who attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the former Piedmont hangar at Jacksonville International Airport, where Embraer will build the warplanes for light air support, reconnaissance and training for the Afghanistan military. Embraer will create 50 jobs as part of the production, which will support more than 1,400 jobs, according to company officials.
• Southwest Airlines' nonstop service to Chicago's Midway Airport was originally scheduled to begin Sept. 29, but the date has now been pushed up to June 3. The service will depart from Jacksonville at 8:15 a.m. and arrive in Chicago at 9:50 a.m. It also will depart from Midway at 6:40 p.m. and arrive in Jacksonville at 9:55 p.m. The new start date allows the company to capitalize on the summer travel season, it said in the news release.
• The Downtown Investment Authority's Environment Committee will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Don Davis Room at City Hall. The meeting is being called to develop a priority list of projects for City Council consideration. After the meeting, the authority's Redevelopment Plan Committee will meet.
• The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office will have its next forfeited and seized merchandise auction at 10 a.m. April 4 at Metropolitan Park. A public preview event is scheduled for 9-11 a.m. Monday on Catherine Street next to the Police Memorial Building. More than a dozen vehicles are listed for auction, including a 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo, along with assorted jewelry and silver pieces. All purchases must be settled by 2 p.m. the day of the sale and the sheriff's office reserves the right to set minimum bids. All items are sold as-is.