Casmira Harrison Reporter email

Casmira Harrison is a Jacksonville Today reporter focusing on local government in Duval County.

Harrison has a wide range of experience in more than 20 years in newspapers across Central Florida. From her beginnings as an ad designer at the Citrus County Chronicle to county government reporting at the Daytona Beach News-Journal and, most recently, as the editor for the Palatka Daily News, she enjoys all aspects of covering a community.

When she isn’t knee-deep in meeting agendas, Harrison enjoys playing guitar, riding motorcycles, traveling and seeking out truly outstanding restaurants.

Featured image for “Councilman questions Deegan’s expenses on London trip”
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan delivers her budget address to City Council on July 15, 2024. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
October 28, 2024

Councilman questions Deegan’s expenses on London trip

City Councilman Terrence Freeman claims Mayor Donna Deegan skipped out on her duties while in London.…

Featured image for “JUDGES VOTER GUIDE | Appeals court judge retention”
The state Supreme Court is seen in this image from the Florida court system's annual report. Voters across the state are set to weigh the retention of Gov. Ron DeSantis appointees Justice Renatha Francis and Justice Meredith Sasso this Nov. 5. | Office of the State Courts Administrator
October 24, 2024

JUDGES VOTER GUIDE | Appeals court judge retention

Compare the judges up for retention votes on the Florida Supreme Court, 1st District Court of Appeal and 5th District…

Featured image for “Council member claims no part in special tax district he sponsored. How is that possible?”
Jacksonville City Council member Rory Diamond, at right, listens to a resident urge dissolution of a special taxing district that his office pushed through last year while he was on military leave. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
October 23, 2024

Council member claims no part in special tax district he sponsored. How is that possible?

How does a $4,500 annual tax hike get enacted by the City Council with zero support from the member who…

Featured image for “Atlantic Beach, Jax Beach voters to weigh charter questions in November”
Bill Killingsworth, city manager for Atlantic Beach, explains the questions voters will see on their ballots this November at an election event hosted by Beaches Watch at the Beaches Branch Library. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
October 18, 2024

Atlantic Beach, Jax Beach voters to weigh charter questions in November

Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach ballot questions, explained. Here’s what a yes does for each of the 8 questions.…

Featured image for “City Council to weigh dissolving Hogpen Creek dredging tax”
Homes are seen along Hogpen Creek in the Intracoastal West area of Jacksonville, where some residents outside this area are opposing a new tax assessment of $4,500 per year on their properties. | Hogpen Creek Dependent Special District
October 10, 2024

City Council to weigh dissolving Hogpen Creek dredging tax

Jacksonville leaders could potentially kill a special taxing district that came as a $40,000 surprise to many in Intracoastal West.…

Featured image for “Effort to rename Confederate Street after late activist fails in Jacksonville City Council ”
Activist Ben Frazier is arrested in December of 2022 at City Hall for refusing to yield his time while speaking about removing Confederate monuments from Springfield Park. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 8, 2024

Effort to rename Confederate Street after late activist fails in Jacksonville City Council 

In a 10-7 vote, Jacksonville’s City Council decided against renaming the Springfield street after the late local civil rights activist…

Featured image for “Murray Hill underpass is about to get lit”
Lighting fixtures that may be part of an artistic lighting display are shown Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, at the underpass of Edgewood Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
October 4, 2024

Murray Hill underpass is about to get lit

A final design could be reviewed next week for a light display at the underpass of Edgewood Avenue and Roosevelt…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Is The Lomax restaurant ever opening in Five Points?”
According to the city and the building's landlord, The Lomax project remains underway. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
September 26, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | Is The Lomax restaurant ever opening in Five Points?

Q: What’s happening with The Lomax restaurant under construction in Five Points? A: The project is behind schedule…

Featured image for “Jacksonville City Council approves community benefits agreement with Jaguars ”
Jacksonville's Eastside neighborhood sits in the shadows of EverBank Stadium. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
September 10, 2024

Jacksonville City Council approves community benefits agreement with Jaguars 

Countywide spending approved in the community benefits agreement will be $40 million over 15 years, with $40 million additionally for…

Featured image for “Westside residents steamed over liquor store coming soon near OakLeaf”
Michael Rogers (standing at back right), president of the Longleaf Homeowners Association, was one of many who came out to Argyle Branch Public Library Monday night to voice concerns about property value impacts from a liquor store under construction across from the subdivision. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
September 10, 2024

Westside residents steamed over liquor store coming soon near OakLeaf

The planned 11,000-square-foot Shores Liquors would be the third package store within a mile — and within walking distance of…

Featured image for “Community Benefits Agreement inches ahead with money for neighborhoods”
City Council is expected Sept. 10 to consider the remaining portions of the Community Benefits Agreement in the EverBank Stadium deal. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
August 27, 2024

Community Benefits Agreement inches ahead with money for neighborhoods

A special committee is forwarding recommendations to City Council regarding the EverBank Stadium deal with the Jaguars.…

Featured image for “Salary for city’s stadium negotiator comes under fire”
Mike Weinstein, right, Jacksonville's chief negotiator on stadium renovations, explains the stadium deal at a community meeting earlier this year. With him are Mayor Donna Deegan and Jag's President Mark Lamping. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
August 23, 2024

Salary for city’s stadium negotiator comes under fire

Some City Council members question Mike Weinstein’s $292,006 salary now that the stadium deal is nearly complete.…

Featured image for “Ashley Wells Cox wins 4th Circuit judge seat”
August 20, 2024

Ashley Wells Cox wins 4th Circuit judge seat

Ashley Wells Cox was elected to the 4th Judicial Circuit Court bench, beating Nancy Cleaveland.…

Featured image for “Advocates hope to revive affordable housing plan”
Jacksonville at-large Councilman Matt Carlucci speaks during a meeting he hosted at City Hall Monday, August 19, 2024, to allow advocates of an affordable housing financing plan to explain it to council members. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
August 20, 2024

Advocates hope to revive affordable housing plan

An affordable housing plan that could add 1,000 reasonably priced homes to Jacksonville is hanging in limbo.…

Featured image for “Two lead in fundraising for Duval judge’s seat”
Duval County voters will choose a county court judge this election season. | 4th Judicial Circuit Court
August 16, 2024

Two lead in fundraising for Duval judge’s seat

Four candidates are competing for one open judge’s seat in Duval County. They’ve raised tens of thousands of dollars among…

Featured image for “Cleaveland vs. Cox: Campaign finances in race for 4th Circuit judge”
The Duval County Courthouse. | Jacksonville Daily Record
August 15, 2024

Cleaveland vs. Cox: Campaign finances in race for 4th Circuit judge

Campaign finance reports indicate where candidates Nancy Cleaveland and Ashley Wells Cox are getting their money — and where they’re…

Featured image for “Jacksonville City Council rejects hate-crime legislation”
Council member Rahman Johnson, who introduced an amendment to rename the legislation in honor of Johnnie Mae Chappel, rallies with the Northside Coalition before the vote Tuesday. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
August 13, 2024

Jacksonville City Council rejects hate-crime legislation

With only seven of the council’s 19 members voting yes, the bill — named after Johnnie Mae Chappel, who was…

Featured image for “Laura Street Trio developer to city: ‘Buy me out’ ”
The back side of the Laura Street Trio, as seen July 10, 2024. | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today
August 12, 2024

Laura Street Trio developer to city: ‘Buy me out’ 

Steve Atkins has been trying to work out a public-private partnership with the city to overhaul the three buildings at…

Featured image for “City Council committee cuts DEI chief from budget”
The City Council Finance Committee pulled funding for the diversity and inclusion chief from Mayor Donna Deegan's budget.
August 9, 2024

City Council committee cuts DEI chief from budget

The panel’s members voted 4-2 to eliminate funding for the position of chief of diversity and inclusion.…

Featured image for “City Council begins chopping at mayor’s budget proposal”
The City Council Finance Committee began working over Mayor Donna Deegan's budget this Thursday at City Hall. The budget discussions continue Friday, August 9. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
August 8, 2024

City Council begins chopping at mayor’s budget proposal

City Council members are proposing cutting $10 million from Mayor Donna Deegan’s $1.92 billion budget.…

Featured image for “Meet the judicial candidates in the primary election”
The Duval County Courthouse. | Jacksonville Daily Record
August 2, 2024

Meet the judicial candidates in the primary election

Six candidates are running for two seats in the primary election Aug. 20. Here are the remarks they made at…

Featured image for “Intracoastal West residents face $4,500 annual tax that many say was a surprise”
Holiday Harbor resident Molton Smith gestures down Hogpen Creek toward neighbors who initiated the creation of a new taxing district residents say was a surprise to many. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
July 23, 2024

Intracoastal West residents face $4,500 annual tax that many say was a surprise

Opponents say what started as a petition to “explore” dredging Hogpen Creek for boating now threatens to price them out…

Featured image for “Calling for unity, Deegan unveils $1.95B budget”
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan delivers her budget address to City Council on July 15, 2024. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
July 15, 2024

Calling for unity, Deegan unveils $1.95B budget

Mayor Donna Deegan proposed a budget that calls for drawing on financial reserves and reevaluating capital improvement projects.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY l Why prevent stronger local heat protections for workers?”
Workers add seats to Fort Lauderdale's Chase Stadium in July 2023. | AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell
July 11, 2024

#AskJAXTDY l Why prevent stronger local heat protections for workers?

A Jacksonville Today reader says she’s baffled why the governor and legislators want to put workers at risk.…