Featured image for “School Board skeptical on school closures, but supe warns against kicking can down road”
Eugene Butler football team members line up before the School Board meeting in support of keeping open the Young Men's Leadership Academy program at their school. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
October 29, 2024

School Board skeptical on school closures, but supe warns against kicking can down road

A vote is coming Monday on whether to close six elementary schools and discontinue the Young Men’s and Women’s Leadership…

Featured image for “Infant mortality rises sharply on First Coast”
Florida's infant mortality rate has remained nearly stagnant for about a decade. In that time, the rate of births to mothers with no prenatal care has risen, according to state data. | Stock.Adobe.Com, 529904983
October 29, 2024

Infant mortality rises sharply on First Coast

Infant deaths rose almost 19% from 2022 to 2023, a new report shows.…

Featured image for “Florida-Georgia game could reveal its future soon”
EverBank Stadium is always filled for the Florida-Georgia football game. | Georgia-Florida Football Game Facebook
October 29, 2024

Florida-Georgia game could reveal its future soon

The historic football game will take over EverBank Stadium on Saturday, but the future is in question after next year.…

Featured image for “More shops and restaurants envisioned in Downtown Jax”
An illustration shows Hogan Street between Monroe and Adams streets. Features include restaurants, landscaping, urban art and the Urban Trail cycle track for bicyclists. | Downtown Investment Authority
October 29, 2024

More shops and restaurants envisioned in Downtown Jax

The Downtown Investment Authority has approved a plan to energize several blocks along Laura and Hogan streets.…

Featured image for “Police kill man threatening family with butter knife”
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, right, and Director Mark Romano discuss the shooting Monday night, Oct. 28, 2024, in the Durkeeville area. | Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
October 29, 2024

Police kill man threatening family with butter knife

Officers said the man pulled a knife and appeared to make stabbing motions.…

Featured image for “Street closed for good in downtown St. Augustine”
The intersection at Cuna and Spanish streets in downtown St. Augustine is now the end of the line for cars going north on the bricked street. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville
October 29, 2024

Street closed for good in downtown St. Augustine

A portion of Spanish Street is closed to vehicles to make the city more walkable, but some businesses objected.…

Featured image for “130 abandoned chihuahuas are finding homes”
A woman in a gas mask rescues a chihuahua from a foul home. | Animal Care and Protective Services
October 29, 2024

130 abandoned chihuahuas are finding homes

Animal Services says its confident all the abandoned chihuahuas will find homes, but the shelter has hundreds of other dogs…

Featured image for “Councilman questions Deegan’s expenses on London trip”
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan delivers her budget address to City Council on July 15, 2024. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
October 28, 2024

Councilman questions Deegan’s expenses on London trip

City Councilman Terrence Freeman claims Mayor Donna Deegan skipped out on her duties while in London.…

Featured image for “One School Board seat still up for grabs in St. Johns County”
St. Johns County District 5 School Board candidates Linda Thomson, left, and Bethany Hilbert.
October 28, 2024

One School Board seat still up for grabs in St. Johns County

Linda Thomson and Bethany Hilbert are competing for the School Board seat in District 5.…

Featured image for “JEA begins the process of raising rates”
A JEA lineman. | JEA
October 28, 2024

JEA begins the process of raising rates

JEA officials are expected to recommend a 7% increase in residential rates as soon as next spring.…

Featured image for “Duval Schools food workers could strike over contract”
Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees prepare for a news conference Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. | Michelle Corum, Jacksonville Today
October 28, 2024

Duval Schools food workers could strike over contract

Contract negotiations between the workers’ union and the school district’s food service provider have broken down.…

Featured image for “Duval Schools asked to consider equity, community impact of school closures”
Cedar Hills Elementary Principal Marva McKinney looks out toward a gathering in the school's cafetorium on Oct. 17. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 27, 2024

Duval Schools asked to consider equity, community impact of school closures

Some parents, community members and activists are watching school closures warily and demanding the district consider equity — and not…

Featured image for “Amendment 3 marijuana issue fires up people on both sides”
Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis speaks against Amendment 3 on Thursday at Jacksonville's FOP lodge. Joining her are Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, right, and Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper. | News4Jax
October 25, 2024

Amendment 3 marijuana issue fires up people on both sides

Ron and Casey DeSantis are agressively fighting Amendment 3. Critics say they shouldn’t use tax money to fight the marijuana…

Featured image for “Beached baby whale had swallowed plastic bag”
A dwarf sperm whale calf is comforted after washing ashore in St. Augustine. | Oceana/Joseph Pellegrino and St. Johns County Office of Public Affairs
October 25, 2024

Beached baby whale had swallowed plastic bag

A beachgoer on Butler Beach found the 4-foot emaciated dwarf sperm whale calf last month.…

Featured image for “Tired of election text messages? Here’s a solution”
October 25, 2024

Tired of election text messages? Here’s a solution

Election campaigns say they’ll stop texting and emailing you as soon as you vote. So vote early.…

Featured image for “Hurricane season isn’t over: What to expect in November”
October 25, 2024

Hurricane season isn’t over: What to expect in November

Notable hurricanes and tropical storms have developed in November, the last month of hurricane season.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville Symphony receives record $5M gift”
The Jacksonville Symphony performs at Jacoby Symphony Hall. | Jacksonville Symphony
October 24, 2024

Jacksonville Symphony receives record $5M gift

The Jacksonville Symphony has received its largest gift ever, a $5 million donation from longtime supporters Preston and Joan Haskell.…

Featured image for “Clay County installing 500 defibrillators in public places”
Clay County will get these Stryker Lifepak CR2 defibrillators for use in outdoor sites like parks and sports complexes. | Stryker
October 24, 2024

Clay County installing 500 defibrillators in public places

The county is installing defibrillators at parks, sports complexes, senior centers and other public venues.…

Featured image for “Members-only club leases Federal Reserve Building”
The June Club, a members-only club, plans to set up in the Federal Reserve Building at 424 N. Hogan St. in Downtown Jacksonville.
October 24, 2024

Members-only club leases Federal Reserve Building

The June Club would include dining, entertainment and culture as part of the Gateway Jax project.…

Featured image for “Hurricanes delay Aaron Zahn’s prison term”
Former JEA CEO Aaron Zahn leaves the federal courthouse in March 2022 after entering a not guilty plea on charges of conspiracy and wire fraud.
October 24, 2024

Hurricanes delay Aaron Zahn’s prison term

Hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged Zahn’s home in Tampa. A judge allowed the former JEA CEO to report to prison…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | We answer your questions about early voting”
Campaign signs line Hendricks Avenue outside the San Marco library polling site. An orange cone indicates the 150-foot buffer where signs are not allowed. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
October 24, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | We answer your questions about early voting

Jacksonville Today readers ask about paper ballots and campaign signs at voting sites. Here are the answers.…

Featured image for “2 weeks after Hurricane Milton, communities remain flooded”
Several Florida communities continue to weather aftereffects from Hurricane Milton more than 2 weeks since it made landfall in Florida. | Lakeland Ledger
October 24, 2024

2 weeks after Hurricane Milton, communities remain flooded

Compounding the flooding, the St. Johns River is rising again.…

Featured image for “Rep. Aaron Bean leads Democrat Holloway by 7 points”
October 24, 2024

Rep. Aaron Bean leads Democrat Holloway by 7 points

A poll by the University of North Florida shows Bean with a much smaller lead than his winning margin in…

Featured image for “Council member claims no part in special tax district he sponsored. How is that possible?”
Jacksonville City Council member Rory Diamond, at right, listens to a resident urge dissolution of a special taxing district that his office pushed through last year while he was on military leave. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
October 23, 2024

Council member claims no part in special tax district he sponsored. How is that possible?

How does a $4,500 annual tax hike get enacted by the City Council with zero support from the member who…