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 “City Council delays bill to put 1-mill school tax renewal on November ballot”
Jacksonville At-large Councilman Ron Salem, who sits on the Finance Committee. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
June 2, 2026

City Council delays bill to put 1-mill school tax renewal on November ballot

The Finance Committee voted 4-3 to consider the 1-mill levy again in two weeks.…

Featured image for “Property tax overhaul headed to ballot; see how your legislators voted”
The Florida Historic Capitol Museum and State Capitol in Tallahassee.
June 2, 2026

Property tax overhaul headed to ballot; see how your legislators voted

Voters will consider whether to increase the homestead exemption, which would eliminate property taxes for many homeowners.…

Featured image for “Jax Beach bars and restaurants can expand capacity on Jaguars game days”
Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby finished with 78 yards on 16 carries in the latest Jaguars loss. The Jaguars fell to 2-6 following a 30-27 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 at EverBank Stadium. Former Jaguars kicker Brandon McManus converted a short field goal at the buzzer to lift Green Bay to victory. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 2, 2026

Jax Beach bars and restaurants can expand capacity on Jaguars game days

With capacaity limited for Jaguars games, city officials thought businesses might get bigger crowds.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville man to be executed Tuesday for killing girlfriend’s baby”
Clouds hover over the entrance of the Florida State Prison in Starke, where the death penalty is carried out in Florida. | Curt Anderson, AP file
June 2, 2026

Jacksonville man to be executed Tuesday for killing girlfriend’s baby

Andrew Richard Lukehart admitted to killing the 5-month-old child and throwing her body into a pond.…

Featured image for “Lawmakers tweak DeSantis’ property tax cut ahead of floor votes”
Floor votes are scheduled Tuesday on a proposal to cut property taxes. | Douglas Soule, WUSF
June 2, 2026

Lawmakers tweak DeSantis’ property tax cut ahead of floor votes

House and Senate committees eliminated school districts from the effect of any tax cuts.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville officials stare down $300M hit from DeSantis’ property tax plan”
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan presents State of Jax, a data analysis portal she hopes will reduce politics in policymaking. Deegan and the city's chief of analytics, Parvez Ahmed, announced the project Aug. 5, 2025, at City Hall. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 1, 2026

Jacksonville officials stare down $300M hit from DeSantis’ property tax plan

Mayor Donna Deegan says the tax proposal unfairly punishes cities like Jacksonville that have low tax rates.…

Featured image for “Concerns grow over proposed AI data center in Nassau County”
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
June 1, 2026

Concerns grow over proposed AI data center in Nassau County

County officials have scheduled a series of workshops to investigate the ramifications of data centers.…

Featured image for “THE FOOD SECTION | Public incentives for Downtown Jax restaurants, bars pick up ”
Dorothy's Downtown was one a growing number of recent restaurant recipients of public incentives under the Downtown Investment Authority's Retail Improvement Program. Dorothy's received $167,380 (48% of its total development cost) in 2024. | Hanna Raskin
May 31, 2026

THE FOOD SECTION | Public incentives for Downtown Jax restaurants, bars pick up 

A dedicated “retail enhancement” fund is increasingly propping up restaurants that choose to open in Downtown Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “Florida lawmakers pass $114.5B budget after contentious session”
The Florida Legislature passed a $114.5 billion budget Friday, May 29, 2026. | Gary McCullough, AP
May 29, 2026

Florida lawmakers pass $114.5B budget after contentious session

Rep. Angie Nixon of Jacksonville was the only legislator from Northeast Florida to vote no on the budget.…

Featured image for “Terrance Freeman will leave Jax City Council in November; special election set”
Terrance Freeman was among the nine members of the Jacksonville City Council who discussed their budget priorities for the 2025-26 fiscal year on the steps of City Hall on Aug. 25, 2025. | Will Brown
May 29, 2026

Terrance Freeman will leave Jax City Council in November; special election set

Freeman, a Republican, will resign effective Nov. 2 to run for Florida House District 12.…

Featured image for “JTA raises fares and cuts services to make up for budget deficit”
May 29, 2026

JTA raises fares and cuts services to make up for budget deficit

The JTA board approved a $139.2 million budget Thursday that included the cuts and fare increases.…

Featured image for “Culinary Institute eyes San Antonio as model for Jacksonville campus”
A rendering shows the $160 million hotel, convention center and office project proposed by Corner Lot and investment partner Aspect Holdings LLC on the Northbank of Downtown Jacksonville. | Jacksonville Daily Record
May 28, 2026

Culinary Institute eyes San Antonio as model for Jacksonville campus

City Council voted to endorse a future $35 million incentives deal for a riverfront high-rise anchored by the Culinary Institute.…

Featured image for “Debate hits high gear over SUN Trail segment in St. Johns County”
A cyclist rides at night in the bike lane of A1A Beach Boulevard. The local SUN Trail project will replace a sidewalk. | Courtesy Brayan Krepley
May 28, 2026

Debate hits high gear over SUN Trail segment in St. Johns County

Years into the project, debate continues over whether the SUN Trail is planned for the correct spot.…

Featured image for “City Council decides not to rule out redlined neighborhoods for next jail”
Congressional candidate LaShonda Holloway, center, holds a sign outside Jacksonville City Hall on Friday, May 22, 2026, denouncing any plans for a new jail facility in areas that were previously redlined. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 27, 2026

City Council decides not to rule out redlined neighborhoods for next jail

Jacksonville lawmakers voted down a bill recommending that the jail planning process exclude redlined areas of the city.…

Featured image for “DeSantis unveils plan to eliminate most property taxes”
Gov. Ron DeSantis calls for a special legislative session during a news conference Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Tampa. | The Florida Channel
May 27, 2026

DeSantis unveils plan to eliminate most property taxes

Gov. Ron DeSantis wants legislators to put a property tax referendum on the election ballot for November.…

Featured image for “Judge rules Florida’s new congressional map will remain intact for midterms”
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new congressional map into law in May 2026.
May 27, 2026

Judge rules Florida’s new congressional map will remain intact for midterms

Voting rights groups vowed to appeal, but they would have to act before congressional candidates qualify.…

Featured image for “Records in Jacksonville teacher speech case tie school board member to complaint ”
Hope McMath outside the Duval Schools headquarters at a rally held Oct. 7, 2025. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
May 26, 2026

Records in Jacksonville teacher speech case tie school board member to complaint 

Hope McMath is asking the state to end its investigation of her social media speech, as state records tie the…

Featured image for “Nick Howland voted City Council president, Joe Carlucci VP”
Jacksonville City Council member Nick Howland was elected city council president for the 2026-27 council year. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 26, 2026

Nick Howland voted City Council president, Joe Carlucci VP

The incoming City Council president and vice president say they want to build consensus after a contentious year.…

Featured image for “Florida lawmakers reach a budget deal with a vote set for Friday”
House and Senate leaders reached a final deal on the state budget late Sunday, May 24, 2026, the last step in an extended process that required a special session to complete for the second year in a row.
May 26, 2026

Florida lawmakers reach a budget deal with a vote set for Friday

The budget agreement includes money for school vouchers, AIDS drug assistance and Everglades restoration.…

Featured image for “OPINION | The art of the viral moment: Angie Nixon’s lesson for the political establishment”
State Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Fla., speaks through a megaphone on the House floor as the House votes on redistricting during a special session of the Florida Legislature on April 29, 2026. / AP Photo/Mike Stewart
May 24, 2026

OPINION | The art of the viral moment: Angie Nixon’s lesson for the political establishment

If you’re looking for structural critique from a legislator, Angie Nixon provides it. But will she go in on her…

Featured image for “Gateway Jax: For Pearl Square to work, it has to be done ‘all at once’”
Gateway Jax Inc. Bryan Moll gives a tour of the nearly $1 billion Pearl Square development site on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Downtown Jacksonville. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Today
May 22, 2026

Gateway Jax: For Pearl Square to work, it has to be done ‘all at once’

Gateway says the first residential building in Pearl Square could open by September as the total project cost closes in…

Featured image for “Florida revamps red snapper fishing after court issues ban in South Atlantic”
A fishing boat heads out to sea as the sun breaks through the clouds in Surfside. | Wilfredo Lee, AP
May 22, 2026

Florida revamps red snapper fishing after court issues ban in South Atlantic

The FWC rescinded an executive order expanding red snapper fishing in state waters.…

Featured image for “Florida biologist wins $485,000 for her firing over Charlie Kirk post”
Conservative activist Charlie Cook, founder of Turning Point USA, was gunned down during a public appearance in Utah. | Gage Skidmore, Wikipedia Commons
May 22, 2026

Florida biologist wins $485,000 for her firing over Charlie Kirk post

Brittney Brown was fired after reposting a meme claiming Kirk wouldn’t care about children being shot.…

Featured image for “PolitiFact FL: Alligator Alcatraz may close. Trump and DeSantis statements clash with facts.”
"Alligator Alcatraz" is shown during construction in the Florida Everglades on July 4, 2025. | Rebecca Blackwell, AP
May 21, 2026

PolitiFact FL: Alligator Alcatraz may close. Trump and DeSantis statements clash with facts.

PolitiFact found that Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump miscast information about costs and detainees.…