HISTORIC CITY NEWS
Historic City News has been published daily since March 2000. Reporting local news for St Augustine and St Johns County Florida, Historic City News is the county's only free press. Our mission is to hold public figures accountable to the public.
Ellie Marie (Eli) Washtock, whose non-binary sexual preference has overshadowed the investigation of his murder, is on the road to justice; as the district Medical Examiner has ruled his death a homicide. The murder was discovered by Washtock’s 15-year-old son about 7:30 a.m. on January 31, 2019, in a third-floor unit at Laterra Condominiums inside the gated World Golf Village community.
Gregory White
St Augustine, FL
Dear Historic City News Editor:
The age-old institution of slavery existed in most of St. Augustine’s long and diverse history. Reminders of it can be seen all over town today including the old fort and many historic buildings.
Saturday night was apparently the night to drink and drive in St Johns County, according to the booking records of the St Johns County Detention Facility obtained by Historic City News reporters this morning.
It’s report card time now that the Florida legislature has adjourned sine die. Florida Senator Travis Hutson reported to Historic City News this weekend on his accomplishments and issues important to constituents in Florida’s 7th District.
by Phil Ammann
The News Service of Florida
Special to Historic City News
Florida lawmakers finished the 2019 Legislative Session Saturday by passing a budget for the upcoming year.
During the two-month Session, lawmakers considered hundreds of bills and made more than $90 billion in spending decisions. It also was the first Session for Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and began the two-year terms of Senate President Bill Galvano of Bradenton, and House Speaker José Oliva of Miami Lakes.
A measure aiming to help firefighters in the battle against cancer (SB 426) has been signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis over the objection of some local governments as relayed by the Florida League of Cities.
The Legislature sent Governor Ron DeSantis a bill making a number of criminal justice reforms today, and DeSantis has signaled to Historic City News that he supports the reforms. Some of the issues addressed have not been updated in Florida in decades.
With two men who’ve become the faces of Amendment 4 watching from the gallery, Florida lawmakers passed a controversial measure that would require repayment of financial obligations before felons’ voting rights could be restored.