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 “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 | AP Photo
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 Councill President Nick Howland, seen here in 2024. | 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.…

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.…