First Coast News

Ponte Vedra, Fla. — Every dollar donated went twice as far during the 9th annual K9s For Warriors Veterans Day telethon Monday. Over $1.2 million was raised at the Shari Duval National Headquarters in Ponte Vedra, Florida, and San Antonio, Texas campuses. First Coast News has been a proud media sponsor of the organization since its conception. K9s For Warriors trains and pairs service dogs with veterans in need. The donations will help pair even more veterans in need with a life-saving service dog. The total equates to 40 veterans lives saved and 40 rescue dogs saved.   “K9s For Warriors is extremely grateful to First Coast News, its viewers, and the community for helping us exceed our $1 million goal for our annual Veterans Day telethon,” said Lindsay Grayson, Chief Revenue Officer at K9s For Warriors. “These donations directly impact our Warriors and service dogs and further our mission of saving lives at both ends of the leash. Thank you for going the extra mile to thank our Warriors for their service to sacrifice.”   First Coast News broadcasted live during Good Morning Jacksonville at 6 a.m. and continued sharing the mission until telethon lines closed at 7 p.m. The First Coast’s number one lifestyle show at 11 a.m. developed a special presentation with K9s For Warriors, which you can see streaming now on First Coast News+. The special, K9s For Warriors: Saving Lives At Both Ends Of The Leash, explains the battle worth fighting for. It delves into an alarming statistic: roughly 20 veterans a day take their own lives. K9s For Warriors is determined to change that by providing highly trained service dogs at no cost to the veteran. K9s For Warriors exists because of a fierce dedication to saving the lives of both veterans and rescue dogs.   “Organizations that support the First Coast and all veterans like K9s For Warriors is truly an honor for our team at First Coast News to work with,” said Tim Thomas President and General Manager First Coast News. “K9s For Warriors demonstrates what our brand, On Your Side, stands for.”   Since 2015, over $3.8 million has been raised during the Veterans Day telethon by First Coast News viewers. Your donations have helped fund the training of 188 service dogs, which were paired with 188 veterans. Donations have also been used to break ground and complete the K9s for Warriors' Davis Family Mega Kennel, allowing K9s for Warriors to rescue and train more dogs. The donations also decreased the waitlist from four years to two.    If you would like to make a donation to the organization or if you are a veteran interested in applying for a service dog, visit k9sforwarriors.org.     

108K POUNDS OF RELIEF. Locals heard the calls for help at the Hurricane Milton Storm Aid Drive on Monday and Tuesday, bringing supplies that filled seven trucks, 52 pallets and weighed more than 108,000 pounds. The supply drive was organized by iHeartMedia Jacksonville's WQIK-FM 99.1 and First Coast News On Your Side. Drivers from Kroger Delivery, Fenwick’s Air Conditioning and Waychoff’s Air Conditioning made their way to Ocala to deliver the goods to Volunteer Florida. Volunteer Florida administers national service programs. The items collected over 48 hours at the Markets at Town Center in Jacksonville will be sorted, palletized and available for Red Cross and Feeding Tampa Bay. “Many on the First Coast have families affected by Hurricane Milton, and others are looking for a way to help,” said Vice President/General Manager First Coast News On Your Side Tim Thomas. “Teaming up with our community partners and iHeart Media is one way we can help with the recovery process. We are On Your Side to help get you back on your feet after Milton and to help provide you with the most accurate and timely information to make decisions that keep you and your family safe.” We asked the community for new, material donations such as nonperishable food, water, hygiene products and pet supplies to help people whose homes took a direct hit by Milton. We also hope you consider donating what you can to the American Red Cross by texting MILTON to 90999 or visiting redcross.org. Financial donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to, and help people recover from this disaster. “Many of our fellow Floridians are suffering due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton,” said Program Director WQIK-FM/WKSL-FM Froggy. “We want to harness the giving spirit of our Jacksonville community and help those who are so desperately in need.” Your contributions will help provide meals, water, supplies and the bare necessities to those living without electricity and struggling to clean their homes. #FirstCoastNews #OnYourSide #Tegna #TeamTegna #iHeartRadio #iHeartMedia #Milton #HurricaneMilton #MiltonRelief #HurricaneMiltonRelief #RedCross #FeedingTampaBay #Feeding #Aid

EMMY NOMINATED. To simply have that by your name means the world in our television industry. The First Coast News On Your Side team has 14 individuals who can claim that for work submitted in eight categories to the 2024 Natas Suncoast Chapter Emmy Awards. Congratulations to all nominated for their talents in their craft. First Coast Living Segment Producer Frederick Estrada and Co-host David Benfield are both nominated for the first time, for their 60-minute lifestyle show 'Space Coast Living,' in the Environmental/Science category. Marketing Producer Natalie Thurlow returns again this year nominated for the News Promotions Image category submission of her promo 'Duval Strong.' This would be a three-peat for Thurlow with a win. More 2024 First Coast News Nominees Include: Best Newscast: Dollar General Mass Shooting by Mindy Wadley, Mike Massey and Taylor Salman Investigative: Child Abuse or Medical Condition? by Heather Crawford and Nick Moron Investigative (series): Waiting for Rebuild Florida by Heather Crawford, Nick Moron and Cole Echevarria Community Service: Preventing Sudden Cardiac Arrest by Heather Crawford Military: K9s for Warriors Saving Lives by Lewis Turner Health/Medical: Right Age for Smartphones by Renata Di Gregorio The Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is a nonprofit Florida corporation "dedicated to excellence in television." The organization offers annual awards to TV markets in the entire state of Florida. #FirstCoastNews #OnYourSide #TeamTegna #Tegna #Emmys #Emmy #SuncoastEmmys #Television #BroadcastTV #Marketing #NBC12 #ABC25

THANK YOU to all here at home and many more across the country who streamed First Coast News+ throughout Hurricane Milton. Thank you for taking time to find us and to share your heartfelt comments. The First Coast News On Your Side digital team worked 24-7 coordinating meteorologists, anchors and reporters to provide Milton's latest position, forecast and conditions, fresh on our free streaming platform. Throughout Milton, the content was fascinating and the conversational was real. It is what many are still talking about. This is why we do what we do as journalists, as meterologists and as marketers. We want to get the story right, but we also want to make sure it's told in a way that makes you feel. I invite you to watch and feel First Coast News Marketing Producer Demetrius Kennon's spot. Download the First Coast News+ app now on Roku, FireTV and AppleTV. And, stay with First Coast News on WTLV NBC12, on WJXX ABC25 and firstcoastnews.com. #FirstCoastNews #OnYourSide #FirstCoastNews+ #TeamTegna #Hurricane #HurricaneMilton #Milton #Storm #StormPreparedness #Weather #Forecast #Stream #Streaming #Mobile #App #Download #iHeartRadio

STORM AID. The impacts of Hurricane Milton are felt across Florida. First Coast News On Your Side, iHeartMedia and the American Red Cross Northeast Florida Chapter have joined forces to create a strong relief effort. Join us Monday, October 14 at and Tuesday, October 15 at Markets at Town Center from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. to collect recovery supplies for our neighbors hardest hit in the area's first relief drive for Tampa. We hope you'll find time in your schedule to donate what you can to Hurricane Milton Storm Aid: Supply Collection For Recovery. “Many on the First Coast have families affected by Hurricane Milton, and otherd are looking for a way to help,” said Vice President/General Manager First Coast News On Your Side Tim Thomas. “Teaming up with our community partners and iHeart Media is one way we can help with the recovery process. We are On Your Side to help get you back on your feet after Milton and to help provide you with the most accurate and timely information to make decisions that keep you and your family safe.” NEW physical donations and monetary donations will be needed to assist communities in Tampa after what may be one of the most destructive storms on record. We’re asking for NEW, material donations such as nonperishable food, water, hygiene products and pet supplies to help people whose homes took a direct hit by Milton. We also hope you consider donating what you can to the American Red Cross by texting MILTON to 90999 or visiting redcross.org. Financial donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster. “Many of our fellow Floridians are suffering due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton,” said Program Director WQIK-FM/WKSL-FM Froggy. “We want to harness the giving spirit of our Jacksonville community and help those who are so desperately in need.” Bring your NEW material donations in boxes and bags to the collection site. Our team of volunteers will sort and stack onto trucks headed for areas hit hardest by Milton. Watch First Coast News On Your Side live updates from the supply collection effort starting at 6 a.m. on Good Morning Jacksonville and continue in newscasts at Midday, 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on WTLV NBC12, WJXX ABC25 and streaming on First Coast News+. First Coast Living will also take you live to the donation drive at 11 a.m. on NBC12. And, WQIK-FM 99.1 Radio Host Froggy will broadcast his afternoon radio show live at the supply collection site. The muscle behind Hurricane Milton Storm Aid: Supply Collection For Recovery is a team of volunteers, drivers and trucks from Kroger Delivery, Waychoff’s Air Conditioning, Fenwick Services Plumbing, Cooling and Heating. Your contributions will help provide meals, water, supplies and the bare necessities to those living without electricity and struggling to clean their homes. Visit firstcoastnews.com for a donation list. #FirstCoastNews #TeamTegna #HurricaneMilton #Relief

ON YOUR SIDE before, during and after Hurricane Milton. When your team goes into harms way and goes out of their way to help people in flood-prone parts of our region, it is the essence of living your brand. First Coast News On Your Side showed its strength in dedication to community staying on air from landfall last night well into the aftermath today. The coverage on more platforms, including streaming on First Coast News+ and our radio partners iHeartMedia was comprehensive. While we are grateful our First Coast was spared, we know many of our neighbors in Tampa were not. First Coast News and iHeart Media is holding a relief effort Monday and Tuesday in Jacksonville's Markets at Town Center. We'll be there from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. #FirstCoastNews #OnYourSide #TeamTegna #NBC12 #ABC25 #HurricaneMilton #Milton #Hurricane #FloridaStorm #StaySafeFlorida #iHeartMedia #iHeartRadio

MORE COVERAGE. MORE PLATFORMS to keep you aware before, during and after Hurricane Milton. Hurricane Milton progressed from a Category 1 to a Category 5 Monday. Milton's impacts to the First Coast will arrive Wednesday, with the worst of the weather being Wednesday evening to Thursday morning. The First Coast News Most Accurate Weather team reports the center of the cone targets the Tampa Bay area, but the cone extends as far north as Cedar Key and as far south as the Naples. Remember, the cone shows anywhere the center of the hurricane could go. We ask that you download our mobile app, text APP to 904.633.2402 or download the QR Code on the image below and stay most informed with the changing forecast. You can check out the latest radar and articles from our five meteorologists and team of reporters on www.firstcoastnews.com. We invite you to watch on WTLV NBC12, WJXX ABC25, download our streaming app First Coast News+, free on Roku, FireTV and AppleTV. Plus, listen to us on our radio partners iHeartMedia Jacksonville. Stay safe, stay informed, stay with First Coast News On Your Side. #FirstCoastNews #OnYourSide #FirstCoastNews+ #TeamTegna #Hurricane #HurricaneMilton #Milton #Storm #StormPreparedness #Weather #Forecast #Stream #Streaming #Mobile #App #Download #iHeartRadio

ON YOUR SIDE. Living your brand. At a time when countless people are in need of help after Hurricane Helene, First Coast News On Your Side jumps to partnering with Christian Smith and her American Red Cross Northeast Florida Chapter team to spread the message of 'safe donations.' Consider giving at redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Smith said, "More than 900 Red Cross disaster responders are working around the clock to help those in need." The Red Cross is currently focused on providing safe shelter, meals, emotional support and relief supplies.   She added, "If you can't make a financial donation, you could consider making a blood donation instead. Every blood donor between Oct. 1 and 31 will receive a $10 Amazon gift card. " Helene roared ashore in the Florida's Big Bend area six days ago as a Category 4 hurricane and quickly moved through Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee dropping torrential rainfall that flooded waterways and destroyed homes.  More than 130 deaths have been reported in six Southeastern states. First Coast News On Your Side will continue to track the lives impacted or destroyed by Helene's catastrophic damage in Florida and the Southeastern United States. And we trust that you'll weather the next storm with the Most Accurate Weather Team on WTLV NBC12, WJXX ABC25, streaming on First Coast News+ and firstcoastnews.com. #FirstCoastNews #OnYourSide #FCNStorm #Tegna #TeamTegna #HurricaneHelene #Helene #Weather #Storm #RedCross #DisasterRelief #DisasterResponse #HurricaneHelene #Helene #EmergencyPreparedness #Florida

WEATHER IMPACT: Helene left a deadly swath of destruction as she made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida's Big Bend then barrelled her way across Northern Florida and into Georgia. As grim details continue to unfold, the stations On Your Side were with you before, during and after the storm. The First Coast News Most Accurate Weather Team forecasted the weather impact alert day nearly a week prior. On NBC12, ABC25, streaming on First Coast News+ and Firstcoastnews.com, viewers found a safe-haven for news and weather, without the hype. An example of this, our proof-of-brand produced by marketer Demetrius Kennon. When we say team coverage, we mean it. Lifestyle co-hosts and sports reporters became your eyes in the hardest hit areas, providing live reports from Waycross, GA to Jacksonville, Gainesville and Tallahassee. Our commercial production manager hit the road as a photojournalist and our weekend meteorologist showcased his drone skills and reported live. It's not just our job to keep you safe and informed, it's what we believe is right as journalists and meteorologists. It's what we do. And we trust you'll stay with the station that lives its brand throughout the next major event. First Coast News, On Your Side. #FirstCoastNews #OnYourSide #TeamTegna #Tegna #NBC12 #ABC25 #ProofOfBrand #ProofOfCoverage #Marketing #Helene #HurricaneHelene #Hurricane #Storm #StormCoverage #Weather #WeatherImpactAlert