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 “Florida private schools sue Step Up for Students over voucher payout problems”
Jacksonville Attorney Lamonte Carter and iCity Christian School Executive Director Terrie Hairston announce a group of private schools' lawsuit against Step Up For Students on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. | News4Jax
February 22, 2026

Florida private schools sue Step Up for Students over voucher payout problems

Private school owners filed suit against Step Up for Students, the Jacksonville company in charge of handling half a million…

Featured image for “Mayor alleges ‘smear campaign’ against JEA chief”
JEA CEO Vickie Cavey, left, and Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan speak at a news conference Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Today
February 20, 2026

Mayor alleges ‘smear campaign’ against JEA chief

Mayor Donna Deegan says CEO Vickie Cavey is under attack after ending a JEA contract with a politically connected firm.…

Featured image for “House backs referendum on cutting property taxes”
The Florida Capitol. | News Service of Florida
February 20, 2026

House backs referendum on cutting property taxes

The proposal would ask voters in November whether to eliminate most homestead property taxes.…

Featured image for “Counties fear law would tie their hands on development”
Rep. Lauren Melo, R-Naples, discusses the latest version of her proposed "Blue Ribbon Projects" bill before the House Commerce Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. | The Florida Channel
February 20, 2026

Counties fear law would tie their hands on development

The “Blue Ribbon Projects” bill could allow developers to circumvent some local regulations.…

Featured image for “DIA board rejects incentives to keep EverBank in Downtown”
EverBank Center is at 301 W. Bay St. in Downtown Jacksonville. | Monty Zickuhr, Jacksonville Daily Record
February 18, 2026

DIA board rejects incentives to keep EverBank in Downtown

EverBank is requesting $9.8 million in incentives to keep its headquarters in Downtown Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “Money from stadium deal could flow to Eastside soon”
City Council member Jimmy Peluso held a town hall meeting with Eastside residents and advocates inside the Church of Oakland about the Community Benefits Agreement on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 18, 2026

Money from stadium deal could flow to Eastside soon

It could be only months before a new board awards money in five Eastside neighborhoods.…

Featured image for “House proposes guardrails on DeSantis emergency fund”
Rep. Philip Wayne "Griff" Griffitts Jr. presented the emergency fund guardrails bill. Here he speaks to the media after a committee meeting Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. | Douglas Soule, WUSF
February 17, 2026

House proposes guardrails on DeSantis emergency fund

A House bill would limit how the governor can use an emergency fund originally intended for natural disasters.…

Featured image for “OPINION | 2027: The ‘lawfare’ Jacksonville mayor’s race?”
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier commends Jacksonville's City Council for passing an immigration enforcement bill. Uthmeier spoke Thursday, March 27, 2025, in St. Johns County. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
February 15, 2026

OPINION | 2027: The ‘lawfare’ Jacksonville mayor’s race?

The controversy over Mayor Donna Deegan’s Hispanic outreach coordinator could last through next year’s Jacksonville mayor’s race.…

Featured image for “Paid parking starts Monday in downtown Fernandina Beach”
Centre Street and nearby side streets will be under a new paid parking program as of Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. | Michelle Corum, Jacksonville Today
February 12, 2026

Paid parking starts Monday in downtown Fernandina Beach

A judge dismissed most of a complaint seeking to stop the paid parking plan on downtown streets.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County fields feedback on Shore Drive trail”
St. Johns County Public Works Director Greg Caldwell talks to residents about the controversial planned path along Shore Drive in St. Augustine South. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
February 12, 2026

St. Johns County fields feedback on Shore Drive trail

County officials say a decision will come soon on the future of the controversial Shore Drive project.…

Featured image for “Flamingo floated again as Florida’s state bird”
Caribbean flamingos walk around their enclosure at the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Jacksonville on Feb. 2, 2026. Legislators are considering the flamingo to replace the mockingbird as Florida’s state bird for the third year in a row. | Kaley Mantz, Fresh Take Florida
February 12, 2026

Flamingo floated again as Florida’s state bird

The Legislature has considered anointing the flamingo as the state bird for several years. Opposition seems less this year.…

Featured image for “Local governments could be forced to end DEI programs”
The regular 2026 Florida legislative session ended March 13.
February 12, 2026

Local governments could be forced to end DEI programs

A bill moving through the Legislature would prohibit municipalities from funding or supporting DEI.…

Featured image for “Panhandling law won’t be enforced in St. Johns County”
A panhandler displays a sign seeking money. | News4Jax
February 12, 2026

Panhandling law won’t be enforced in St. Johns County

The decision came after two civil rights organizations settled a lawsuit over the panhandling ordinance.…

Featured image for “Ocklawaha River restoration gains steam in Legislature”
A conceptual rendering of proposed changes to the Kirkpatrick Dam in the Rodman Recreation Area in Putnam and Marion counties. | State of Florida
February 11, 2026

Ocklawaha River restoration gains steam in Legislature

This is the closest that advocates of draining the Rodman Reservoir and restoring the river have been to gaining Tallahassee’s…

Featured image for “House revives effort to protect monuments and statues”
Statues that decorated the monument to the Women of the Confederacy were removed from Springfield Park in Jacksonville and placed in storage in December. | Jacksonville Today
February 11, 2026

House revives effort to protect monuments and statues

Critics contend the effort is primarily directed at preserving monuments supporting the Confederacy.…

Featured image for “House panel passes ‘Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance’”
Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk speaks at The Believers' Summit 2024 at a Turning Point Action event in West Palm Beach on July 26, 2024. | Lynne Sladky, AP file
February 11, 2026

House panel passes ‘Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance’

Opponents like Rep. Angie Nixon of Jacksonville argued that the Kirk tribute would insult Black people.…

Featured image for “Nights of Lights judged a success, but cost still a concern”
St. Augustine's marquee Hotel Alcazar building glitters during the annual Nights of Lights event. | City of St. Augustine
February 10, 2026

Nights of Lights judged a success, but cost still a concern

City officials think they solved several problems with Nights of Lights, but more work remains.…

Featured image for “State subpoenas Jacksonville over immigration enforcement”
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier at a news conference Monday, Feb. 9. 2026, in Green Cove Springs. | Facebook
February 9, 2026

State subpoenas Jacksonville over immigration enforcement

The Deegan administration says it will comply with the immigration probe and is confident the city “acted lawfully.”…

Featured image for “Former assistant police chief arrested in St. Augustine”
A former assistant police chief in St. Augustine has been arrested after an investigation into financial discrepancies at the Police Benevolent Organization. | St. Augustine Police Department
February 6, 2026

Former assistant police chief arrested in St. Augustine

Anthony Cuthbert is accused of taking thousands of dollars from the Police Benevolent Organization.…

Featured image for “OPINION | The politics of last call: Should Downtown bars serve ’til 3?”
Downtown bars like Decca Live could serve for an extra hour under a proposal. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
February 1, 2026

OPINION | The politics of last call: Should Downtown bars serve ’til 3?

Should Downtown bars be allowed to serve alcohol for an extra hour?…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | #AskJAXTDY: Property tax spending on schools?”
1 mill property tax spending by Duval Schools
January 30, 2026

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | #AskJAXTDY: Property tax spending on schools?

This Number of the Week is also an #AskJAXTDY. Jacksonville Today reader Jane G. wonders what happens to the money…

Featured image for “Disputed Shore Drive trail reemerges in St. Johns County”
The trail may still be built along the curvy two-lane Shore Drive, near the Matanzas River south of St. Augustine. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
January 28, 2026

Disputed Shore Drive trail reemerges in St. Johns County

A public meeting and online survey will seek comments about the paved path planned along Shore Drive.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County softens growth plan to satisfy state”
A sign welcomes people to St. Johns County, though many residents don't welcome more growth. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
January 20, 2026

St. Johns County softens growth plan to satisfy state

The state rejected an earlier version of the plan because it was too restrictive of growth and development.…

Featured image for “Here are Jacksonville area lawmakers’ legislative priorities for 2026”
Democratic Sen. Tracie Davis is one of the lawmakers representing Jacksonville in the Florida Legislature. | Colin Hackley, News Service of Florida
January 13, 2026

Here are Jacksonville area lawmakers’ legislative priorities for 2026

Local lawmakers are pushing a slate of bills in Tallahassee.…