Jacksonville Today covers government with clear and accessible reporting. We keep you informed about City Hall decisions, mayoral initiatives, City Council meetings, and elections. Our political coverage extends beyond Jacksonville to include regional and state-level issues that affect Northeast Florida. We aim to provide context, accountability, and clarity so you understand how policies shape your community.
Featured image for “Deegan’s city budget could include record spending on police and fire”
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan speaks at a town hall meeting. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
2 minutes ago

Deegan’s city budget could include record spending on police and fire

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is asking Mayor Donna Deegan for a $675.9 million budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year.…

Featured image for “‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detainees transferred out for hurricane season”
Trucks come and go from the "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades on Aug. 28, 2025. | Rebecca Blackwell, AP file
18 hours ago

‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detainees transferred out for hurricane season

All detainees were sent to other immigration centers, but the future of “Alligator Alcatraz” is unknown.…

Featured image for “DeSantis clashes with Florida GOP over absence of gubernatorial debate”
Gov. Ron DeSantis disagrees with the Republican Party of Florida about debate plans. | J. Scott Applewhite, AP
1 day ago

DeSantis clashes with Florida GOP over absence of gubernatorial debate

The party says only U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds has qualified for a debate. The governor has an issue with that.…

Featured image for “JEA employees happy on the job, but survey rates leadership lower”
JEA headquarters is at 225 N. Pearl St. | Jacksonville Daily Record
2 days ago

JEA employees happy on the job, but survey rates leadership lower

The survey polled 59% of JEA’s administrative and frontline workers as a City Council investigation continues.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County is latest to consider moratorium on data centers”
Fans that are part of a cooling system are seen on the roof of a data center April 27, 2026, in Hillsboro, Oregon. | Jenny Kane, AP
2 days ago

St. Johns County is latest to consider moratorium on data centers

County Commissioner Ann Taylor said moratoriums in other counties make St. Johns a “sitting duck” for a data center.…

Featured image for “Lawsuit challenges ballot wording on property tax reduction”
Gov. DeSantis calls for a special session during a news conference in Tampa. | The Florida Channel
June 12, 2026

Lawsuit challenges ballot wording on property tax reduction

Two former elected officials and a nonprofit group allege that the property tax issue is misleading.…

Featured image for “DeSantis signs bills linked to Duval school district and Cecil Airport”
The air traffic control tower at Cecil Airport on Jacksonville's Westside | Jacksonville Daily Record
June 11, 2026

DeSantis signs bills linked to Duval school district and Cecil Airport

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two Jacksonville-centric bills this week: one that will affect how the Duval School Board handles legal…

Featured image for “Florida Supreme Court allows new election maps to remain in place”
State Senators listen to debate on SB 8-D, a redistricting bill, during a special session of the Florida Legislature on April 29, 2026, in Tallahassee. | Mike Stewart, AP file
June 11, 2026

Florida Supreme Court allows new election maps to remain in place

The decision was a victory for the national GOP as it seeks to retain its slim House majority in midterm…

Featured image for “Florida immigration arrests surge; state and local agencies at the forefront”
Florida Highway Patrol officers watch Gov. Ron DeSantis arrive at a news conference about a recent immigration enforcement operation, at the South Florida office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Enforcement and Removal Operations, May 1, 2025, in Miramar. | Rebecca Blackwell, AP
June 11, 2026

Florida immigration arrests surge; state and local agencies at the forefront

The surge has largely remained under the radar, with many immigration arrests starting as police traffic stops.…

Featured image for “More details emerge in JEA texts from City Council president”
Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico listens to JEA Board Chair Joe DiSalvo during an Special Investigatory Committee meeting on April 13, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 10, 2026

More details emerge in JEA texts from City Council president

Texts from council President Kevin Carrico reveal his involvement with JEA and a former executive.…

Featured image for “Faulty facial recognition leads to lawsuit after Jacksonville Beach arrest”
A Jacksonville Beach Police Department vehicle. | Jacksonville Beach Police
June 10, 2026

Faulty facial recognition leads to lawsuit after Jacksonville Beach arrest

A Fort Myers man says facial recognition wrongly identified him as the person who tried to lure a child.…

Featured image for “Former JEA headquarters sold for $1M; 180 residences planned”
Plans for The Jewel at 21 West, the former JEA headquarters campus in Downtown Jacksonville, include street-level retail space. | Jacksonville Daily Record
June 10, 2026

Former JEA headquarters sold for $1M; 180 residences planned

Live Oak Contracting will convert the JEA building into residences, rooftop amenities and retail space.…

Featured image for “DeSantis and Cabinet greenlight $90M for immigration enforcement”
Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet on Tuesday approved $90 million in grants for local law enforcement agencies for items related to enforcement of illegal immigration.
June 10, 2026

DeSantis and Cabinet greenlight $90M for immigration enforcement

Fifty-six city county police departments will receive money for radios, body cameras and other gear.…

Featured image for “City Council votes to put school tax extension on the ballot”
City Council member Raul Arias motioned to bring the school tax referendum for a vote on June 9, 2026. | City of Jacksonville/screenshot
June 9, 2026

City Council votes to put school tax extension on the ballot

Duval County voters will decide whether to renew a property tax levied by the Duval school district that, in part,…

Featured image for “Public records delay: City releases council prez’s subpoena response after more than 100 days”
Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico speaks in August 2025 at City Hall. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 9, 2026

Public records delay: City releases council prez’s subpoena response after more than 100 days

Jacksonville Today first requested copies of records Carrico gathered to comply with the subpoena more than 100 days ago, on…

Featured image for “Incoming City Council president questions grant for Downtown Publix”
City Councilman Nick Howland during a Finance Committee budget hearing. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
June 9, 2026

Incoming City Council president questions grant for Downtown Publix

Incoming Jacksonville City Council President Nick Howland supports a Downtown Publix, but he questioned a cash incentive.…

Featured image for “State CFO attacks Jacksonville spending; city calls the criticism politics”
Florida's chief financial officer, Blaise Ingoglia, speaks at a news conference in Jacksonville Beach on Monday, June 8, 2026. | News4Jax
June 8, 2026

State CFO attacks Jacksonville spending; city calls the criticism politics

Appearing in Jacksonville Beach, CFO Blaise Ingoglia said Jacksonville wasted $275.7 million in its current budget…

Featured image for “How far does Florida’s property tax proposal go? There are some questions”
Gov. DeSantis calls for a special session during a news conference in Tampa. | The Florida Channel
June 8, 2026

How far does Florida’s property tax proposal go? There are some questions

The legislation and ballot language are unclear about what would happen with property taxes after 2028.…

Featured image for “OPINION | No local taxation, no local representation”
June 7, 2026

OPINION | No local taxation, no local representation

Local government isn’t perfect. But starving the beast will only erode home rule, opinion columnist A.G. Gancarski argues.…

Featured image for “Demings announces prostate cancer diagnosis and suspends campaign for governor”
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings' wife, former Congresswoman Val Demings, and other family members stood beside him Friday as he announced his prostate cancer diagnosis and the suspension of his campaign for governor. | Joe Byrnes, Central Florida Public Media
June 5, 2026

Demings announces prostate cancer diagnosis and suspends campaign for governor

The Orange County mayor made the announcement after his final State of the County address Friday morning.…

Featured image for “Councilman withdraws zoning proposal that would have reduced public input”
Jacksonville City Council member Rory Diamond, shown here in 2023. | Jacksonville Daily Record
June 4, 2026

Councilman withdraws zoning proposal that would have reduced public input

Councilman Rory Diamond said he wanted to streamline zoning to create more affordable housing.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville makes City Council legislation more accessible to the disabled”
A meeting of the Jacksonville City Council. | City of Jacksonville
June 4, 2026

Jacksonville makes City Council legislation more accessible to the disabled

The city restored online access to City Council bills after complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County leaders warn property tax cuts could decrease service”
St. Johns County Commissioner Christian Whitehurst holds up a sign reading "$113" in reference to the estimated $113 million in tax revenue the county could lose by 2029 if voters approved property tax cuts. | Screenshot, St. Johns County
June 3, 2026

St. Johns County leaders warn property tax cuts could decrease service

Property tax cuts are headed to Floridians’ ballots in November, and St. Johns County’s leaders are concerned.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County sheriff seeks budget increase to raise deputies’ pay”
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick is seeking pay raises for staff and deputies. | News4Jax
June 3, 2026

St. Johns County sheriff seeks budget increase to raise deputies’ pay

Sheriff Rob Hardwick said it is becoming harder to compete with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to attract deputies.…