Featured image for “College Park project behind schedule at Town & Country mall”
October 3, 2022

College Park project behind schedule at Town & Country mall

Previously undiscovered structural deterioration has slowed construction for the revitalization of the nearly 70-year-old former Town & Country outdoor shopping…

Featured image for “Vilano Beach house declared unsafe after Ian washes away sea wall”
September 30, 2022

Vilano Beach house declared unsafe after Ian washes away sea wall

A two-story house is perched precariously over Vilano Beach after storm surge and tide during Tropical Storm Ian washed away…

Featured image for “Ex-Jacksonville teacher Thomas Hazouri Jr., son of late mayor, sentenced in child porn case”
September 30, 2022

Ex-Jacksonville teacher Thomas Hazouri Jr., son of late mayor, sentenced in child porn case

A former Mayport Elementary School teacher and son of a past mayor was sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty…

Featured image for “Devastated Southwest Florida calls for volunteers after Ian”
September 30, 2022

Devastated Southwest Florida calls for volunteers after Ian

Florida emergency management is calling on volunteers from across the state who can donate their time to hurricane cleanup in…

Featured image for “UPDATED: School closures announced during Hurricane Ian”
September 29, 2022

UPDATED: School closures announced during Hurricane Ian

As Hurricane Ian gains strength and approaches Florida, school districts and colleges are announcing school closures for this week. Duval,…

Featured image for “Jacksonville City Council approves Mayor Curry’s $1.55 billion budget”
September 29, 2022

Jacksonville City Council approves Mayor Curry’s $1.55 billion budget

The Jacksonville City Council has approved Mayor Lenny Curry’s eighth and final budget — a $1.55 billion plan that includes…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Answering your local Hurricane Ian questions”
A JEA water pump sits at the ready at the corner of Landon Avenue and San Marco Boulevard in San Marco.
September 27, 2022

#AskJAXTDY | Answering your local Hurricane Ian questions

The Jacksonville Today team is answering storm prep questions ahead of Hurricane Ian making landfall on Florida’s west coast tomorrow.…

Featured image for “Taking a page from Orlando’s book, Jax advocates call for a housing emergency declaration”
This home in the College Gardens neighborhood went up for rent in May 2022. Rent in the 32209 ZIP code, where the home is located, has increased 31.9 % during the pandemic. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
September 26, 2022

Taking a page from Orlando’s book, Jax advocates call for a housing emergency declaration

Jacksonville’s $1.5 billion budget is going to be finalized on Tuesday night. Though it will include funding aimed at helping…

Featured image for “ADAPT | A Q&A with Jay Stowe, CEO of JEA”
JEA CEO Jay Stowe. Credit: Karen McAllister, JEA
September 26, 2022

ADAPT | A Q&A with Jay Stowe, CEO of JEA

Stowe fills us in on skyrocketing electricity bills, a failed solar project, JEA’s future energy mix and the status of…

Featured image for “State law should protect Nassau Gullah/Geechee cemeteries, but lawmakers didn’t close loopholes”
Madelyn Dinkins-Smith says it’s become near impossible to access her family’s burial grounds, even though she’s allowed to under Florida law. | Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today
September 21, 2022

State law should protect Nassau Gullah/Geechee cemeteries, but lawmakers didn’t close loopholes

This is Part 2 of a two-part Jacksonville Today series. Read Part 1.  For decades, Madelyn Dinkins-Smith’s family members have…

Featured image for “Gullah/Geechee families fight to protect burial sites in Nassau County’s Wildlight development”
Gullah/Geechee Nation representative Glenda Simmons-Jenkins (right), a group of archaeologists and Nassau County and Rayonier representatives visit a Gullah/Geechee cemetery on proposed Wildlight development land. | Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today
September 20, 2022

Gullah/Geechee families fight to protect burial sites in Nassau County’s Wildlight development

This is Part 1 of a two-part Jacksonville Today series. Read Part 2.  Deep in the woods of Nassau County, on…

Featured image for “First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month”
Members of the First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce following a Sept. 13 kickoff for Hispanic Heritage Month. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
September 16, 2022

First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month

Celebrate. Appreciate. Educate. The First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and numerous others in the region, will do all three…

Featured image for “Jacksonville Sheriff debate: Waters highlights experience and Burton champions change ”
Jacksonville sheriff candidates T.K. Waters, right, and Lakesha Burton, left, participate in a debate hosted by Jacksonville Today and the Jax Bar Association on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022.
September 15, 2022

Jacksonville Sheriff debate: Waters highlights experience and Burton champions change 

Jacksonville sheriff candidates Lakesha Burton (D) and T.K. Waters (R) answered questions about crime, police misconduct, money and more during…

Featured image for “Jaguars, NFL kick off with newfound commitment to coaching diversity”
Brentson Buckner is in his first year as Jaguars defensive line coach. Buckner has been in the NFL for 21 seasons, 12 as a player and nine as an assistant coach. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
September 8, 2022

Jaguars, NFL kick off with newfound commitment to coaching diversity

The NFL realizes it has a coaching diversity problem and the Jaguars are actively addressing it. When the Jaguars kick…

Featured image for “What’s next for the vacant MedMen in Five Points?”
Photo: Ric Anderson, Jacksonville Today
September 8, 2022

What’s next for the vacant MedMen in Five Points?

The vacant MedMen building in Five Points could be on the verge of sparking back to life, ending years of…

Featured image for “UNF alum leads Diversity in Business program to recruit more Black students”
Audrieanna Burgin is the director of the Diversity in Business Program at the University of North Florida. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
September 5, 2022

UNF alum leads Diversity in Business program to recruit more Black students

A Jax Today Q&A with Audrieanna Burgin Audrieanna Burgin could not resist coming home. Burgin is a Jacksonville native and…

Featured image for “Eastside gearing up for renaissance on its terms”
Suzanne Pickett is the president and CEO of the Historic Eastside Community Development Corporation. She grew up Out East and returned to the neighborhood six years ago. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
August 31, 2022

Eastside gearing up for renaissance on its terms

Bobby Graham doesn’t trust the city of Jacksonville. The lifelong Eastside resident has seen too many promises go unfulfilled to…

Featured image for “Civil rights conference faces Jacksonville’s past, present and future: ‘It’s in your hands’ ”
Rodney Hurst Sr. was among those who were beaten on Ax Handle Saturday, Aug. 27, 1960. Hurst served as master of ceremonies for the inaugural Jacksonville Civil Rights Conference. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
August 28, 2022

Civil rights conference faces Jacksonville’s past, present and future: ‘It’s in your hands’ 

The inaugural Jacksonville Civil Rights Conference this past weekend explored how the city can move beyond its segregated history and…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Why wasn’t the school tax referendum during the general election when more people vote?”
The Duval County School Board voted Tuesday, March 1, 2022, to put a property tax increase referendum on the August primary ballot. Charlotte Joyce was the sole no vote.
August 26, 2022

#AskJAXTDY | Why wasn’t the school tax referendum during the general election when more people vote?

With the August primary in the books, and most races going to runoff elections November 8, the Jacksonville Today team…

Featured image for “5 takeaways from Tuesday’s elections in Jacksonville”
Duval’s property-tax increase passed by a seven-point margin. | Andrew Pantazi/The Tributary
August 25, 2022

5 takeaways from Tuesday’s elections in Jacksonville

Voters across Florida cast ballots Tuesday in the state’s first primary elections after redistricting changed the lines for Congress and…

Featured image for “Rutherford, Cammack, Bean roll in Republican primaries; Holloway leads by tiny margin in D4 Dem contest”
Former state Sen. Aaron Bean celebrates winning the Republican primary for Congressional District 4. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
August 23, 2022

Rutherford, Cammack, Bean roll in Republican primaries; Holloway leads by tiny margin in D4 Dem contest

John Rutherford will return to Congress for a fourth term in the House of Representatives. The Jacksonville congressman defeated challengers…

Featured image for “Jax councilmen defeated in bids for Legislature, as House and Senate races all but decided in several local districts”
Several local House district races were essentially settled in Tuesday's primary or before.
August 23, 2022

Jax councilmen defeated in bids for Legislature, as House and Senate races all but decided in several local districts

Two Jacksonville City Council members fell short in their bids to springboard to seats in the state Legislature in Tuesday’s…

Featured image for “Waters, Burton advance to sheriff runoff; Clark-Murray clinches council seat; Gaffney Jr. favored in November race”
Lakesha Burton and T.K. Waters will face off for Jacksonville Sheriff on November 8.
August 23, 2022

Waters, Burton advance to sheriff runoff; Clark-Murray clinches council seat; Gaffney Jr. favored in November race

Tuesday’s municipal special elections narrowed the field in races for sheriff city council and decided another council seat.…

Featured image for “Duval voters approve higher tax for schools; DeSantis-endorsed School Board candidates win”
The Duval Citizens for Better Schools PAC, which is funding ads in favor of a school property tax referendum, raised more than $200,000 since May.
August 23, 2022

Duval voters approve higher tax for schools; DeSantis-endorsed School Board candidates win

The Duval school district is getting another financial boost from voters. With 53% of the vote, Duval voters on Tuesday…