news

Stay informed with nonprofit-backed local reporting — today’s headlines on Jacksonville politics, schools, environment, urban planning, public safety, and more.

Featured image for “Killer scheduled for execution for killing 5-month-old girl in Duval County”

The bed in the execution room. | Florida Department of Corrections

Killer scheduled for execution for killing 5-month-old girl in Duval County

Andrew Richard Lukehart was convicted of killing Gabrielle Hanshaw when she wouldn’t lie flat to change her diaper.…

By Jim Turner - News Service of Florida

Featured image for “Does Downtown Jacksonville need more office space? Some are betting yes.”

Gateway Jax Inc. wants to build 100,000 square feet of office space in its $750 million Pearl Square development Downtown. | Gateway Jax Inc.

Does Downtown Jacksonville need more office space? Some are betting yes.

Office vacancy rates are higher than most cities, but there still might be a need for high-end space.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “St. Johns County’s business is booming, and officials want to keep it that way”

Manufacturing — like HVAC company Q-PAC in Elkton — are one area where St. Johns County is seeing businesses grow. | St. Johns County

St. Johns County’s business is booming, and officials want to keep it that way

One of Florida’s fastest-growing counties is seeing more and more growth in commercial businesses.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Duval school buses are now recording drivers who pass illegally”

Cameras on Duval County school buses will capture images of people passing illegally. | Nancy Guan, WUSF

Duval school buses are now recording drivers who pass illegally

A total of 609 people got warnings for passing a school bus stop sign during a grace period in April.…

By News4Jax staff

Featured image for “Proposed seafood restaurant recommended for Riverfront Plaza”

A Downtown Investment Authority committee voted 3-0 on Thursday to move forward with plans for a restaurant at Riverfront Plaza on the Downtown Northbank. | The Choptank via Jacksonville Daily Record

Proposed seafood restaurant recommended for Riverfront Plaza

A Baltimore restaurant group proposes to operate the restaurant on the park’s southwest corner.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Baseball coach under investigation at St. Augustine High School”

St. Augustine High's baseball field has hosted the Yellow Jackets for decades. In this May 2017 photo, the Yellow Jackets defeated Jacksonville Englewood. | Photo by Will Brown

Baseball coach under investigation at St. Augustine High School

Coach Tony Cannaday was removed from his position over “inappropriate activities” in the team’s locker room. …

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Suicide prevention program seeks $300K to continue in Northeast Florida”

A billboard alerts people to Talkable Communities' suicide prevention training in a six-county area. | Talkable Communities

Suicide prevention program seeks $300K to continue in Northeast Florida

Talkable Communities says it has lost state funding after training 12,000 people in suicide prevention.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “More people are living Downtown, but office vacancies remain high”

An aerial rendering of the Gateway Jax development in Downtown Jacksonville. | Gateway Jax via the Jacksonville Daily Record

More people are living Downtown, but office vacancies remain high

The number of residents in Downtown Jacksonville reached 9,228 in 2025, according to a new report.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Record heat is on the way to Florida; then much-needed rain will follow”

Record heat is on the way to Florida; then much-needed rain will follow

A cold front will enter the Panhandle on Saturday and bring showers across North Florida.…

By Irene Sans - Storm Center

Featured image for “Jacksonville keeps dishing out incentives — but will that change?”

The Mag’s Cafe building is one of two historic building renovations projects the Jacksonville City Council awarded incentives on Tuesday. | Dan Macdonald, Jacksonville Daily Record

Jacksonville keeps dishing out incentives — but will that change?

City lawmakers are growing uncomfortable with the amount of incentives awarded for development.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Legislature approves congressional map to boost Republicans in midterms”

State Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville, speaks loudly on the House floor as the House voted on a redistricting bill Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in Tallahassee. | Mike Stewart, AP

Legislature approves congressional map to boost Republicans in midterms

The new congressional map could increase Florida’s Republican House delegation by four seats.…

By Bill Barrow - Associated Press

Featured image for “How to see more Jacksonville Today stories in your Google Search results”

Google Source preferences screenshot

How to see more Jacksonville Today stories in your Google Search results

How to use Google Preferred Sources to see more stories from Jacksonville Today in your search results…

By Ray Hollister

Featured image for “Brooklyn bars approved to sell alcohol until 3 a.m., an hour later than past”

A view down the street in Brooklyn. | News4Jax

Brooklyn bars approved to sell alcohol until 3 a.m., an hour later than past

Jacksonville City Council approved later hours in Brooklyn to match other Downtown areas.…

By Jenese Harris - News4Jax

Featured image for “A drone show and crustacean creations – it’s time for Shrimp Fest”

Crowds check out arts and crafts on Centre Street as part of a recent Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival in Fernandina Beach. | Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival

A drone show and crustacean creations – it’s time for Shrimp Fest

The 61st annual shrimp festival comes to Fernandina Beach this weekend — with a few changes.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Jacksonville groups decry Florida’s proposed congressional redistricting”

A voting booth. Some Florida voters may be casting ballots in new congressional districts if maps proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis are enacted.

Jacksonville groups decry Florida’s proposed congressional redistricting

Voting rights advocates say politics are behind a redistricting map proposed this week by Gov. Ron DeSantis.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Florida House again rejects vaccine and AI proposals”

Sen. Clay Yarborugh of Jacksonville sponsored a bill expanding vaccine exemptions. | Florida House of Representatives

Florida House again rejects vaccine and AI proposals

House Speaker Daniel Perez said the chamber would not take up the bills, both priorities of Gov. Ron DeSantis.…

By Jim Turner - News Service of Florida

Featured image for “Construction starts on Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary School”

The original Hogan–Spring Glen Elementary School on Beach Boulevard. | Duval County Public Schools

Construction starts on Hogan-Spring Glen Elementary School

The new school, part of Duval County’s school consolidation plan, is scheduled to open in August 2027.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Former youth pastor charged with sexual battery on teen”

Former youth pastor charged with sexual battery on teen

The girl said Joshua Allen Trent abused her for about five years beginning when she was 15.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “He died in a Northeast Florida jail. The company in charge should have sent him to the hospital, experts say.”

Family photos of Brian Tracey kept by his sister, Lillian Scharf, who has tried for three years to get answers about how her brother died at a jail in St. Johns County in 2023. | Greg Kahn for ProPublica

He died in a Northeast Florida jail. The company in charge should have sent him to the hospital, experts say.

Inmate Brian Tracey died in the St. Johns County jail after Armor Health failed to take him to a hospital.…

By Nichole Manna - The Florida Trib

Featured image for “DeSantis unveils voting map that could help Republicans”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at the White House in March. He unveiled a new congressional map Monday. | Julia Demaree Nikhinson, AP

DeSantis unveils voting map that could help Republicans

Legislators will consider a new congressional map that could flip four districts from Democratic to Republican.…

By Douglas Soule - WUSF

Featured image for “Georgia fire grows; Glynn County homes evacuated”

A photo provided by the Office of Gov. Brian Kemp shows smoke produced from a wildfire in Brantley County, Georgia, on Friday, April 24, 2026. | Office of Gov. Brian Kemp via AP

Georgia fire grows; Glynn County homes evacuated

The Highway 82 fire remains 6% contained a week after it began. The fire has destroyed at least 87 homes.…

By Andrea Snody - News4Jax and Francine Frazier - News4Jax

Featured image for “Phoenix Arts & Innovation District prepares for housing”

The Phoenix Arts & Innovation District launched a new phase that will include multifamily construction, shown here in a rendering. | Jacksonville Daily Record

Phoenix Arts & Innovation District prepares for housing

The Phoenix project in North Springfield plans to break ground soon on its first new construction.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “How much rainfall is needed to end Florida’s drought?”

Wildfires burned Clay and Putnam counties. | Florida Forest Service

How much rainfall is needed to end Florida’s drought?

Even a hurricane might not bring enough rain to end the drought in Jacksonville and other parts of North Florida.…

By Andrew Wulfeck - Storm Center

Featured image for “State Rep. Angie Nixon qualifies for U.S. Senate run”

State Rep. Angie Nixon. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

State Rep. Angie Nixon qualifies for U.S. Senate run

Nixon, a Democrat, will run for the seat held by Republican Ashley Moody, who was appointed last year.…

By News Service of Florida

News

News