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 “Jacksonville City Council approves $2B budget, restores affordable housing trust fund”
Jacksonville City Council Finance Chair Will Lahnen, left, speaks to Council member Jimmy Peluso during the 2026 budget debate as Council President Nick Howland looks on. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Today
September 23, 2026

Jacksonville City Council approves $2B budget, restores affordable housing trust fund

City lawmakers restored some of what was stripped or held back from the mayor’s budget proposal to prepare for Amendment…

Featured image for “New mansions could be built on Cumberland Island”
Each year Cumberland Island hosts 25% to 30% of the loggerhead nests in Georgia | Center for Biological Diversity
September 22, 2026

New mansions could be built on Cumberland Island

A proposed land exchange would allow up to eight homes on Cumberland Island, some as large as 15,000 square feet.…

Featured image for “Why only Flock, and not police, can remove the controversial cameras”
Franklin Sheriff AJ "Tony" Smith places a bags over a Flock automated license plate reader on Sept. 1, 2026. Smith learned the cameras continued to take pictures despite unplugging them.
September 22, 2026

Why only Flock, and not police, can remove the controversial cameras

The cameras belong to Flock, so only Flock can remove them. Some police have covered the cameras instead.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville Civic Council comes out against Amendment 3 tax cut”
Jacksonville Civic Council President and CEO Dennis Whittle speaks Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, at Jacksonville City Hall. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Today
September 21, 2026

Jacksonville Civic Council comes out against Amendment 3 tax cut

Business Group the Jacksonville Civic Council worries the property tax cut would reduce city and local services.…

Featured image for “Redeveloped FBI building in Arlington in line for $1.5M tax break”
A rendering of the completed Interra Apartments, formerly the FBI headquarters, in Arlington. | Interra Apartments
September 21, 2026

Redeveloped FBI building in Arlington in line for $1.5M tax break

The once-dilapidated office building in Arlington has reopened as Interra Apartments.…

Featured image for “Florida TaxWatch urges ‘no’ vote on Amendment 3”
A statewide government watchdog group issued its "2026 Florida TaxWatch Voter Guide to Florida's Constitutional Amendments" on Friday, September 18, 2026.
September 21, 2026

Florida TaxWatch urges ‘no’ vote on Amendment 3

TaxWatch says Amendment 3 would shift more of the burden to non-homesteaded properties.…

Featured image for “New registry helps Jacksonville renters research housing violations”
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid CEO Jim Kowalski announces a new tool Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, to help renters spot housing violations. | News4Jax
September 18, 2026

New registry helps Jacksonville renters research housing violations

Renters can use a new tool from Jacksonville Area Legal Aid to search code enforcement records.…

Featured image for “Facing shortfall, JTA will cut jobs, reduce bus service and halt Skyway and NAVI”
JTA Interim CEO Cleveland Ferguson III speaks to news reporters Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the transit agency's headquarters in LaVilla. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Today
September 17, 2026

Facing shortfall, JTA will cut jobs, reduce bus service and halt Skyway and NAVI

The transit agency could cut up to 194 jobs and halt some people movers to fill a $39 million budget…

Featured image for “St. Johns County OKs $125K for Black History Museum”
A historical display stands at the future site of the Florida Museum of Black History in West Augustine. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
September 17, 2026

St. Johns County OKs $125K for Black History Museum

County commissioners voted to spend on the museum despite uncertainty about property tax revenues.…

Featured image for “Florida’s emergency agency spent nearly $1B on immigration. Now it’ll get more.”
Jared Perdue, the state Transportation secretary and newly appointed interim director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, asked legislators for $250 million on Sept. 11, 2026, to help pay off debts related to "Alligator Alcatraz." | The Florida Channel
September 17, 2026

Florida’s emergency agency spent nearly $1B on immigration. Now it’ll get more.

Legislators approved $250 million for the Division of Emergency Management, a large portion for “Alligator Alcatraz.”…

Featured image for “St. Johns sheriff defends Flock cameras; commissioners consider moratorium”
A Flock Safety license plate reader is seen along a public road. | David Goldman, AP file
September 16, 2026

St. Johns sheriff defends Flock cameras; commissioners consider moratorium

St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick made a passionate defense of the department’s use of the Flock Safety license plate…

Featured image for “‘World-class ingredients:’ Oxford Economics ranks Jacksonville as a top 5 city to watch”
Mayor Donna Deegan speaks about Oxford Economics ranking Jacksonville a top 5 city to watch in North America during a news conference Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, at City Hall. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Today
September 15, 2026

‘World-class ingredients:’ Oxford Economics ranks Jacksonville as a top 5 city to watch

“Jacksonville is a standout city — even by fast-growing Florida standards,” the economics firm said.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County reverses course and denies 4,000-home development near Nocatee”
The St. Johns County Commission denied a proposal for developing forested land along the intracoastal waterway in St. Johns County. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
September 15, 2026

St. Johns County reverses course and denies 4,000-home development near Nocatee

The project sought approval under a new state law easing development of “agricultural enclaves.”…

Featured image for “‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detainees were held in small metal cages, federal report says”
This image released by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General shows a small metal enclosure used to house detainees at the "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, Jan. 21, 2026. | DHS OIG via AP
September 15, 2026

‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detainees were held in small metal cages, federal report says

The cages, usd as “calming areas,” did not meet standards for humane treatment, the report said.…

Featured image for “Gateway Jax seeks $70M in incentives for riverfront tower and Hotel Merrydelle”
Gateway Jax is asking for more than $55 million in city incentives for its proposed hotel and residences tower at Riverfront Plaza. | Downtown Development Review Board
September 14, 2026

Gateway Jax seeks $70M in incentives for riverfront tower and Hotel Merrydelle

The Jacksonville City Council would have the final say on Gateway Jax’s latest Downtown projects.…

Featured image for “OPINION | Moody blues: Debate dodge does voters grave disservice”
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. | Steve Cannon, AP
September 13, 2026

OPINION | Moody blues: Debate dodge does voters grave disservice

Debate talks have stalled out between Democratic challenger Angie Nixon and Republican incumbent Sen. Ashley Moody.…

Featured image for “Jax board greenlights initial plans for UF campus and Riverfront Plaza tower”
The UF graduate building is planned for 2.34 acres bounded by West Bay and Forsyth streets and North Lee Street. | City of Jacksonville
September 11, 2026

Jax board greenlights initial plans for UF campus and Riverfront Plaza tower

The Downtown Development Review Board advanced projects by Gateway Jax Inc. and UF on Thursday.…

Featured image for “Carlucci urges City Council to restore $4.9M for affordable housing trust fund”
Jacksonville at-large Councilman Matt Carlucci speaks during a meeting he hosted Aug. 19, 2024, at City Hall to allow advocates of an affordable housing financing plan to explain it to council members. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
September 9, 2026

Carlucci urges City Council to restore $4.9M for affordable housing trust fund

The longtime Jacksonville elected officials says he’ll pitch a budget amendment Sept. 22 to reinstate the affordable housing fund.…

Featured image for “Nassau County balances growth and conservation in Vision 2050 plan”
The goal of Vision 2050 is to balance growth and conservation across a county that includes rural communities and coastal areas. | News4Jax
September 9, 2026

Nassau County balances growth and conservation in Vision 2050 plan

Vision 2050 aims to preserve the county’s “neighbors” feel and funnel development to planned areas.…

Featured image for “OPINION | Kill NAVI: We deserve an honest conversation about the Skyway”
JTA’s NAVI shuttles currently have a capacity of carrying up to 8 to 9 passengers. However, this limited form of moving people is being considered as an alternative option for systems, such as modern streetcars, that have the ability to move more than 125 passengers per train. | Marcus Nelson
September 9, 2026

OPINION | Kill NAVI: We deserve an honest conversation about the Skyway

Before Jacksonville commits hundreds of millions of additional dollars to the Skyway or its replacement, a close look at what’s…

Featured image for “Jacksonville City Council President Nick Howland flew on billionaire’s jet to catch Rays game”
City Council President Nick Howland stands at the council dais. | City of Jacksonville
September 7, 2026

Jacksonville City Council President Nick Howland flew on billionaire’s jet to catch Rays game

Nick Howland joined Patrick Zalupski, CEO of Jacksonville-based Dream Finders Homes, on his plane for the game.…

Featured image for “Winners and losers: Where Jacksonville’s proposed $2B budget stands”
A rendering shows the James Weldon Johnson Park renovations that are funded in the city's proposed Capital Improvement Plan. | City of Jacksonville
September 3, 2026

Winners and losers: Where Jacksonville’s proposed $2B budget stands

The full Jacksonville City Council will have a final vote on the budget during its Sept. 22 meeting.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County will remove at least some of its Flock cameras”
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick, who confirmed this week that the county will remove at least some of its Flock license plate readers. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
September 3, 2026

St. Johns County will remove at least some of its Flock cameras

The Sheriff’s Office did not specify whether it will remove all Flock cameras or just those on state roads.…

Featured image for “Rainbow crosswalks are gone, but Five Points mural keeps diversity alive”
Local artist Shaun Thurston stands before the mural he painted in Five Points to honor the neighborhood’s LGBTQ+ history. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
September 3, 2026

Rainbow crosswalks are gone, but Five Points mural keeps diversity alive

Created to remind people of the 5 Points community’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community, a new mural is also a response to…