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 “Autonomous vehicles could expand around Jacksonville”
One of the Jacksonville Transit Authority's autonomous vans makes a test run recently on Gator Bowl Boulevard. A JTA staffer sits inside to take over if necessary. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
3 hours ago

Autonomous vehicles could expand around Jacksonville

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is considering a pilot program to retrofit buses with autonomous technology.…

Featured image for “State approves conservation deal in Putnam County”
Undeveloped land in Putnam County. | North Florida Land Trust
23 hours ago

State approves conservation deal in Putnam County

The Putnam deal will prevent development on cattle and timber land near Etoniah Creek State Forest.…

Featured image for “JEA customers could pay higher rates by year’s end”
JEA is considering raising rates again because of a budget shortfall. | Jacksonville Today file photo
24 hours ago

JEA customers could pay higher rates by year’s end

The city-owned utility will hold a rate workshop in April and could have a hearing in June on possible hikes.…

Featured image for “Hotel and convention center proposed at Ford on Bay”
A rendering shows the $160 million hotel, convention center and office project proposed by Corner Lot and investment partner Aspect Holdings LLC at 330 E. Bay St. on the Downtown Jacksonville Northbank. | Jacksonville Daily Record
1 day ago

Hotel and convention center proposed at Ford on Bay

Corner Lot and Aspect Holdings propose a hotel, convention center and office space at the former Duval courthouse site.…

Featured image for “Duval included in challenge to new Florida voting law”
An early voting site in Duval County. l Steven Ponson, Jacksonville Today.
2 days ago

Duval included in challenge to new Florida voting law

The ACLU is suing the state over a law requiring proof of citizenship to cast a ballot.…

Featured image for “Activists fight for cat colonies in St. Johns County”
Cats like these kittens are trapped outside St. Augustine and taken to clinics in Jacksonville and Clay County. St. Johns County has no program to spay, neuter and vaccinate cats and return them to the outdoors. | Photo courtesy Adrienne Arnone
2 days ago

Activists fight for cat colonies in St. Johns County

Activists want the county to create a policy to neuter or spay unowned cats and return them to their surroundings.…

Featured image for “Countdown is on for Artemis II launch to the moon”
Media aim their remote cameras at NASA's Artemis II Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, atop a mobile launcher at Launch Complex 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Sunday, March 29, 2026. | Bill Ingalls, NASA
2 days ago

Countdown is on for Artemis II launch to the moon

A two-hour launch window will open at 6:24 p.m. Wednesday for the manned Artemis II mission.…

Featured image for “Low water pressure: The drought’s effects trickle on”
The drought has left low water levels across North Florida. | File photo, Jacksonville Today
3 days ago

Low water pressure: The drought’s effects trickle on

JEA officials are warning customers about possible intermittent water pressure as the drought pushes demand.…

Featured image for “Palm Beach airport will be renamed for Donald Trump”
Air Force One with President Donald Trump on board departs from Palm Beach International Airport on April 6, 2025. | Alex Brandon, AP file
March 31, 2026

Palm Beach airport will be renamed for Donald Trump

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that also prevents local governments from renaming several airports, including Jacksonville’s.…

Featured image for “OPINION | Do special elections signal good year for Jacksonville Dems?”
Florida state Rep.-elect Emily Gregory, a Democrat, won a special election on March 24, 2026, flipping the House district that is home to President Donald Trump's Palm Beach estate, Mar-a-Lago (seen here in 2022). | AP Photo
March 29, 2026

OPINION | Do special elections signal good year for Jacksonville Dems?

Last week saw a couple of surprise results in special elections downstate. Democrats believe that taking these seats suggests that…

Featured image for “Elections coming up for Orange Park and Green Cove Springs”
March 27, 2026

Elections coming up for Orange Park and Green Cove Springs

Municipal elections are scheduled April 14 in Orange Park and Green Cove Springs.…

Featured image for “Collapsed HQ sale now a ‘legal matter’ for Duval Schools”
Duval Schools' headquarters building, pictured here in March 2026, was going to be sold to Chase Properties, but the deal collapsed. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
March 26, 2026

Collapsed HQ sale now a ‘legal matter’ for Duval Schools

The HQ sale that fell through last month could now be a legal headache for Duval Schools.…

Featured image for “‘Baby boxes’ proposed to help moms give up newborns safely”
A triangular yellow sign marks this Jacksonville fire station as a safe haven for parents to surrender newborn babies anonymously. | Eric Prosswimmer, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department
March 26, 2026

‘Baby boxes’ proposed to help moms give up newborns safely

City Council member Rory Diamond has filed legislation to spend $315,000 on 14 baby boxes around the city.…

Featured image for “Florida attorney general warns NFL to scrap ‘Rooney Rule’”
Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, center, applauds linebackers Kyle Van Noy (53) Jerome Baker (55) and Kamu Grugier-Hill (51) for their work in forcing a fumble against the Jacksonville Jaguars during a contest Sept. 24, 2020, at TIAA Bank Field. The Dolphins won 31-13. (Photo by Will Brown)
March 26, 2026

Florida attorney general warns NFL to scrap ‘Rooney Rule’

The Rooney Rule encourages teams to hire nonwhite coaches. Attorney General James Uthmeier says it’s discriminatory.…

Featured image for “It’s time to renew your request for mail ballots”
The Duval County's Supervisor of Elections is urging people to register if they want vote-by-mail ballots.
March 25, 2026

It’s time to renew your request for mail ballots

All previous vote‑by‑mail requests expired in December 2024, the Duval elections office says.…

Featured image for “Will DeSantis run for president again? He says ‘we’ll see’”
Gov. Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump visited and toured the "Alligator Alcatraz" facility in July.
March 25, 2026

Will DeSantis run for president again? He says ‘we’ll see’

After his loss in 2024, Gov. Ron DeSantis is leaving the door open for another White House bid.…

Featured image for “Florida’s AIDS drug program gets stopgap funding”
A bill signed by the governor restores ADAP eligibility to more than 11,000 people until the Florida Legislature passes a budget.
March 25, 2026

Florida’s AIDS drug program gets stopgap funding

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation to mitigate cuts to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County asks DeSantis to veto development bill”
The Florida Legislature passed a development bill that St. Johns County argues would take away some of their local decision-making power. | Gary McCullough, AP
March 24, 2026

St. Johns County asks DeSantis to veto development bill

County commissioners say the bill would take away their authority over some development issues.…

Featured image for “Former JEA exec: Water fees have been an issue for years”
Former JEA Chief of Staff Kurt Wilson testifies in front of the Jacksonville City Council's Special Investigatory Committee on JEA on March 23, 2026. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Today
March 23, 2026

Former JEA exec: Water fees have been an issue for years

Some city officials see the City Council’s probe into JEA’s capacity fee and personnel issues as political overreach.…

Featured image for “Public safety complex planned in St. Johns County”
An illustration shows the planned Fire Station 22 in St. Johns County, with the Sheriff's Office Operations Center. | St. Johns County
March 20, 2026

Public safety complex planned in St. Johns County

The complex will combine a fire station with an operations center for the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.…

Featured image for “Teenage Mexican migrant dies in ICE custody in Florida”
A federal agent wears an Immigration and Customs Enforcement badge in New York on June 10, 2025. | Yuki Iwamura, AP file
March 20, 2026

Teenage Mexican migrant dies in ICE custody in Florida

The 19-year-old migrant, held in Glades County, “died of presumed suicide,” ICE said.…

Featured image for “NASA hauls repaired moon rocket back to launch pad”
The Orion spacecraft sits on top of the NASA Artemis II rocket in the Vehicle Assembly Building before rollout to pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral on Thursday, March 19, 2026. | Terry Renna, AP
March 20, 2026

NASA hauls repaired moon rocket back to launch pad

The Artemis II rocket could blast off as early as April 1 from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.…

Featured image for “PolitiFact FL: Is Byron Donalds right that Florida school districts are to blame for property tax increases?”
Houses seen in a neighborhood in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, on Oct. 30, 2025.
March 20, 2026

PolitiFact FL: Is Byron Donalds right that Florida school districts are to blame for property tax increases?

Florida school districts have control over some property taxes, but all school taxes have some level of state control.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville commits $2M to help low-income homebuyers”
LIFT Jax purchased and renovated this home on Spearing Street on the Eastside in 2025 in order to sell it as an affordable housing property. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
March 19, 2026

Jacksonville commits $2M to help low-income homebuyers

The program will use construction loans and down payment assistance to help low-income homebuyers.…