Steven Ponson Reporter email

Steven Ponson has six years of experience covering news in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida.

Prior to arriving on the First Coast, Steven also worked in radio in Orlando. He attended the University of Central Florida, where he earned a degree in radio and television. Steven has been a reporter, producer, anchor and board operator.

Outside of work, Steven loves to watch sports, cook delicious cajun food (as any good Louisiana native does) and spend time outdoors.

Featured image for “Jacksonville expedition will study white sharks in Europe”
The Ocearch ship sits in Mayport ready for its departure. | Steven Ponson, Jacksonville Today
June 18, 2024

Jacksonville expedition will study white sharks in Europe

The nonprofit research group Ocearch is leaving Mayport to study white sharks in the waters off western Europe and the…

Featured image for “Former cop sentenced for giving information to criminals”
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is investigating a police shooting of a man in Arlington.
June 18, 2024

Former cop sentenced for giving information to criminals

Christopher Barr was accused of accessing police databases to share information with criminals.…

Featured image for “Shorebird nests delay Amelia Island dredging”
A black skimmer protects its chick in a nest. | Florida Fish and Wildlilfe Conservation Commission, WGCU
June 14, 2024

Shorebird nests delay Amelia Island dredging

A project to dredge the Nassau River and nearby waterways has been delayed until early October.…

Featured image for “Public hearing scheduled on stadium renovation”
The Jaguars are proposing a $1.4 billion renovation of EverBank Stadium. | Jacksonville Jaguars
June 13, 2024

Public hearing scheduled on stadium renovation

The hearing will take place Monday as a debate continues over the community benefits segment of the stadium agreement.…

Featured image for “Loan scam targets sailors along the First Coast”
If an online deal is too good to be true, it might be a scam. l Rodion Kutsaiev, Unsplash.
June 11, 2024

Loan scam targets sailors along the First Coast

About 20 sailors in Northeast Florida have fallen victim to the scammers, who ask to use their phones and then…

Featured image for “Honoring female veterans in Northeast Florida”
Pat McCullough served in the U.S. Marine Corps before working in politics and serving as the city of Jacksonville's special assistant to the mayor on civic engagement and youth participation. She is shown marching during the city's Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11, 2023. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 10, 2024

Honoring female veterans in Northeast Florida

Events are planned all week for Women Veterans Recognition Week, which honors female vets and highlights their daily challenges.…

Featured image for “Second workshop set on stadium renovation”
The Jacksonville Jaguars are proposing a $1.4 billion renovation of EveryBank Stadium. | Jacksonville Jaguars
June 10, 2024

Second workshop set on stadium renovation

The agenda will include the community benefits portion of the agreement, which would funnel $300 million into the community.…

Featured image for “JEA CEO resigned over spending concerns, mayor says”
Jay Stowe resigned as CEO of JEA in April. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 6, 2024

JEA CEO resigned over spending concerns, mayor says

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said she is not aware of any wrondoing by former CEO Jay Stowe.…

Featured image for “Historic Beach Bowl will reopen this month”
The Beach Bowl on Beach Boulevard has been renovated and expanded. | News4Jax
June 6, 2024

Historic Beach Bowl will reopen this month

The bowling alley on Beach Boulevard has been renovated and expanded since closing in 2019.…

Featured image for “Controversial Chick-fil-A moves ahead in Oceanway”
A controversial Chick-fil-A would be built on this land on Bradley Cove Road and Lady Lake Road. The site is next to the North Creek subdivision and across the street from First Coast High School. | News4Jax
June 5, 2024

Controversial Chick-fil-A moves ahead in Oceanway

A City Council committee approved the proposal over residents’ objections. The full City Council is expected to vote June 11.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville is doing a better job of recycling”
The amount of contaminated recyclables in Jacksonville has dropped by 22%.
June 4, 2024

Jacksonville is doing a better job of recycling

The rate of contaminated recycling in the city has dropped nearly 22% due to efforts to educate the public.…

Featured image for “Popular Silkie’s restaurant closes in Springfield”
Silkie’s Chicken and Champagne Bar closed Monday. | Google
June 4, 2024

Popular Silkie’s restaurant closes in Springfield

The owner, former Top Chef contestant Kenny Gilbert, blamed reduced customers, inflation and employee turnover.…

Featured image for “Blue Cypress Golf Course adding 3 holes and clubhouse”
Blue Cypress Golf Course is undergoing an expansion, adding three new holes and a clubhouse. l Steven Ponson, Jacksonville Today
May 29, 2024

Blue Cypress Golf Course adding 3 holes and clubhouse

The city-owned course in Jacksonville’s University Park area will add three par-3 holes to the nine-hole layout.…

Featured image for “Public supports stadium plan if community needs are funded”
The Jacksonville Jaguars have proposed renovating EverBank Stadium into the "Stadium of the Future."
May 28, 2024

Public supports stadium plan if community needs are funded

Fifty-six percent of people in a University of North Florida poll supported renovation of EverBank Stadium if the deal includes…

Featured image for “More than a third of local families struggle, study says”
Melanie Patz, CEO of the United Way of Northeast Florida, said more families are struggling, even with the pandemic ending. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 23, 2024

More than a third of local families struggle, study says

Even households above the poverty line are living paycheck to paycheck as costs rise faster than wages, according to the…

Featured image for “Jax parks improving, but work remains, report says”
Grunthal Park in the Grand Park neighborhood was renovated in 2023 to convert tennis courts into basketball courts with a playground space. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 22, 2024

Jax parks improving, but work remains, report says

A national nonprofit organization, the Trust for Public Land, ranked Jacksonville’s parks 69th of 100 cities nationwide — an improvement…

Featured image for “Jacksonville police officer shoots road rage suspect”
A Jacksonville sheriff's deputy shot a suspect who led police on a chase.
May 21, 2024

Jacksonville police officer shoots road rage suspect

The suspect led police on a chase after someone reported they were threatened with a gun near Interstate 95 and…

Featured image for “Clay County voters can get elections information by text”
People in Clay County can get elections information through a new texting service. l Paul Hanaoka via Unsplash.
May 20, 2024

Clay County voters can get elections information by text

The supervisor of elections has launched a new texting service that allows voters to access information or report issues 24/7.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY l What’s being built at Lem Turner Road and I-295?”
A new logistics park is under construction at the corner of Lem Turner Road and Interstate 295. l Cushman & Wakefield.
May 17, 2024

#AskJAXTDY l What’s being built at Lem Turner Road and I-295?

A Jacksonville Today reader wonders why land is being cleared in Northwest Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “More solar energy resources coming to JEA”
JEA has reached an agreement to develop three solar energy facilities in Jacksonville. l Zbynek Burival, Unsplash
May 15, 2024

More solar energy resources coming to JEA

The city-owned utility has reached an agreement with Florida Renewable Partners to develop three solar energy facilities in Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “Options expand for people with intellectual differences”
A support professional sits with three participants in sensory and cognitive activities at Pine Castle. l Aaron Mervin, Pine Castle
May 15, 2024

Options expand for people with intellectual differences

Pine Castle, a Jacksonville organization that serves people with special needs, recently opened up 200 new slots for people to…

Featured image for “Ascension heath system hit with ‘cyber security event’”
Ascension health care reported that it's dealing with a "cyber security event" across the country. l Shahadat Rahman via Unsplash.
May 9, 2024

Ascension heath system hit with ‘cyber security event’

The situation is disrupting some systems and clinical operations across the country, Ascension said.…

Featured image for “First-ever JaxReady Fest will set stage for hurricane season”
May 9, 2024

First-ever JaxReady Fest will set stage for hurricane season

The free festival includes informational sessions and interactive events. It runs Friday and Saturday at the Prime Osborn Convention Center.…

Featured image for “Sports foundation launched to bring events to Jax”
Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida compete Sept. 23, 2023, at Southern Oak Stadium. | Official Florida FC
May 8, 2024

Sports foundation launched to bring events to Jax

The Jacksonville Sports Foundation will try to lure major sporting events to town. Meanwhile, the ASUN Conference is moving its…