Featured image for “Descendants fight to maintain historic Black communities”
The Eatonville Town hall entrance sign is lit up early in the morning. | aulo Almeida/Getty Images/IStock Editorial
December 21, 2023

Descendants fight to maintain historic Black communities

Historic Black communities have dwindled from their once-thriving existence, and efforts to preserve them encounter complicated challenges.…

Featured image for “Fleming Island senator proposes telehealth for pets”
December 21, 2023

Fleming Island senator proposes telehealth for pets

Sen. Jennifer Bradley has introduced a bill that would allow veterinarians to use telehealth for animals.…

Featured image for “Harriet Beecher Stowe statue in the works for Mandarin park”
Artist Brenda Councill works on the hands of a clay sculpture of a farm boy, part of a life-size bronze statue she is doing of Harriet Beecher stowe for a Mandarin park. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
December 21, 2023

Harriet Beecher Stowe statue in the works for Mandarin park

The statue in Mandarin will be the first life-size likeness of the author of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” You can watch…

Featured image for “Friendship Fountain looked finished on national TV. It isn’t.”
Workers manage sidewalk and walkway construction at Friendship Fountain on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
December 20, 2023

Friendship Fountain looked finished on national TV. It isn’t.

The city illuminated the fountain for Sunday Night Football, but two years of renovations won’t be finished until February.…

Featured image for “Mayo pledges $5 million toward Sulzbacher campus”
A $5 million gift from Mayo Clinic will help Sulzbacher complete this campus in Northwest Jacksonville.
December 20, 2023

Mayo pledges $5 million toward Sulzbacher campus

Mayo Clinic Florida will provide medical services in Northwest Jacksonville, an area in desperate need of health care.…

Featured image for “Busy holiday travel season could set a record”
Vehicles pack Interstate 295 heading toward Interstate 95 near Jacksonville International Airport. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
December 20, 2023

Busy holiday travel season could set a record

The number of Floridians who travel this holiday could increase from last year, which was already the busiest year on…

Featured image for “Avoid holiday overdrinking: Try these Florida-grown ‘mocktails’”
December 20, 2023

Avoid holiday overdrinking: Try these Florida-grown ‘mocktails’

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences recommends mocktails with Florida-grown produce as an alternative to alcohol.…

Featured image for “Housing Authority probe finds waste of utility assistance”
Dwayne Alexander resigned as president and CEO of the Jacksonville Housing Authority. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 20, 2023

Housing Authority probe finds waste of utility assistance

The city’s inspector general found that most money intended to help with tenants’ utility expenses was used for other purposes.…

Featured image for “Abortion rights groups claim enough signatures for ballot”
Demonstrators rally in support of abortion rights outside Orlando City Hall on May 3, 2022. | John Raoux, AP
December 20, 2023

Abortion rights groups claim enough signatures for ballot

Groups behind the push to put abortion rights on the Florida ballot next year have reached a major milestone: They…

Featured image for “Mandatory school recess won’t be scrubbed after all”
December 20, 2023

Mandatory school recess won’t be scrubbed after all

Florida legislators nixed part of a larger education bill that would have taken away the mandatory recess period.…

Featured image for “Lemonstreet Brewing Co. serves its last pint”
Lemonstreet Brewing Co. owner Joe Baez cited inflation and lingering effects of the pandemic as key factors in the closure of his business. | Jacksonville Daily Record
December 19, 2023

Lemonstreet Brewing Co. serves its last pint

Lemonstreet owner Joe Baez warns that a “wave of closures” could hit the local brewery market if customers don’t support…

Featured image for “St. Johns County residents will have a new trash hauler”
FCC Environmental Services will take over trash pickup in St. Johns County. | FCC Environmental Services
December 19, 2023

St. Johns County residents will have a new trash hauler

St. Johns County is contracting with FCC Environmental Services after 20 years with the same two waste management companies.…

Featured image for “Florida Blue exec named as mayor’s new chief of staff”
Darnell Smith, as shown in 2022, serves as North Region president for Florida Blue. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 19, 2023

Florida Blue exec named as mayor’s new chief of staff

Darnell Smith will replace Pat McCollough, who left her position after less than six months on the job.…

Featured image for “First V Steakhouse will join Sidecar Jax next to V Pizza”
V Steakhouse and V Pizza, with Sidecar Jax lounge between them, is planned at 7510 Gate Parkway in The Palms at Gate Parkway. | Jacksonville Daily Record
December 19, 2023

First V Steakhouse will join Sidecar Jax next to V Pizza

The location in The Palms at Gate Parkway is central to seven V Pizza locations.…

Featured image for “Gemma Fish + Oyster opens Friday in San Marco”
Gemma Fish + Oyster is the second restaurant for husband and wife Mike and Brittany Cooney. | Gemma Fish + Oyster
December 19, 2023

Gemma Fish + Oyster opens Friday in San Marco

The restaurant at the East San Marco shopping center will include a 12-foot raw bar and a rooftop bar with…

Featured image for “Jacksonville civil rights patriarch Lloyd Pearson dies at 102”
Jacksonville civil rights icon Lloyd Pearson reflected on his 102 years during a December 6, 2023 conversation with Jacksonville Today.
December 18, 2023

Jacksonville civil rights patriarch Lloyd Pearson dies at 102

Lloyd Pearson Jr., the grand old man of Jacksonville’s civil rights struggle, died Sunday afternoon. He was 102.…

Featured image for “Housing Authority CEO gets $25,000 bonus; investigation still pending”
Jacksonville Housing Authority CEO Dwayne Alexander speaks at a board meeting Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
December 18, 2023

Housing Authority CEO gets $25,000 bonus; investigation still pending

An investigation into the Jacksonville Housing Authority won’t become public for a while longer, but the agency is extending the…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Is there a train schedule we can check to avoid crossings?”
A Florida East Coast Railway locomotive is shown in Jacksonville. | Florida East Coast Railway, Facebook
December 18, 2023

#AskJAXTDY | Is there a train schedule we can check to avoid crossings?

A Jacksonville Today reader says Florida East Coast trains are a frustrating time-waster as they block crossings in San Marco.…

Featured image for “Mayor’s chief of staff leaves City Hall job”
Former City Chief of Staff Pat McCollough. | Pat McCollough Facebook
December 18, 2023

Mayor’s chief of staff leaves City Hall job

City officials did not say why Pat McCollough left her position. Information about a replacement could come soon.…

Featured image for “Flood risk continues after weekend storms”
Flooding is shown along Ken Knight Drive in Jacksonville. | News4Jax
December 18, 2023

Flood risk continues after weekend storms

Storms beginning Saturday evening brought heavy rain and high winds around the region. Many areas were still recovering Monday.…

Featured image for “Cereal Box Live: Restaurant by day, music hall at night”
The gofundme.com page for The Cereal Bar! (Live Music Venue at Vibe Live) includes this image of the concept planned at 245 E. Adams St. in Downtown Jacksonville. | Jacksonville Daily Record
December 18, 2023

Cereal Box Live: Restaurant by day, music hall at night

Cereal Bar would be open until 3 p.m. for breakfast and lunch and then reopen from 5 p.m. to 3…

Featured image for “Affordable housing isn’t as simple as it sounds. Let us explain.”
A sign on the Jacksonville Housing Authority administration building shows the agency is no longer accepting applications for public housing. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
December 15, 2023

Affordable housing isn’t as simple as it sounds. Let us explain.

The terms “affordable” and “workforce” housing come down to how much money a family makes compared with the median income…

Featured image for “Jacksonville lawmaker files bill to extend Safe Haven law”
A triangular yellow sign marks this Jacksonville fire station as a safe haven for a mother to surrender her newborn baby anonymously. | Eric Prosswimmer, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department
December 15, 2023

Jacksonville lawmaker files bill to extend Safe Haven law

Sen. Clay Yarborough would allow mothers to turn over a newborn up to 30 days after giving birth, an increase…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Is there a petition to remove St. Johns County’s elections supervisor?”
St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Vicky Oakes, right, speaks to staff in 2022. | St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections
December 15, 2023

#AskJAXTDY | Is there a petition to remove St. Johns County’s elections supervisor?

A Jacksonville Today reader says she was asked to sign a petition regarding Elections Supervisor Vicky Oakes.…