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

Featured image for “Solar recycling company plans $90M expansion in Green Cove”

Solar recycling company plans $90M expansion in Green Cove

OnePlanet Solar Recycling, a Jacksonville company, will open its second plant in Green Cove Springs.…

By Dan Macdonald - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Hurricane season is near; Jax Ready Fest will get you ready”

JEA crews set up poles for demonstrations at this weekend’s Jax Ready Fest at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. | JEA

Hurricane season is near; Jax Ready Fest will get you ready

Jax Ready Fest offers demonstrations, hands-on learning and interactive exhibits to prepare for any emergency.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “JU students protest cuts as financial details emerge”

Jacksonville University's Rip Current Athletic Band held a concert Tuesday, April 22, 2025, outside the campus to protest the closure of the school's music and theater programs. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today

JU students protest cuts as financial details emerge

Protests have continued since JU announced it will eliminate music and theater programs and cut 40 faculty jobs.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “UF Health reaches agreement with UnitedHealthcare”

UF Health's Brentwood facility. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

UF Health reaches agreement with UnitedHealthcare

UF Health announces people with employer-sponsored commercial plans as well as Medicaid are in network under the agreement with UnitedHealthcare.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “RESTORE gives women a 2nd chance after prison ”

One of the RESTORE transitional homes in Jacksonville, where women stay after their release from prison. | Michelle Corum, Jacksonville Today

RESTORE gives women a 2nd chance after prison

The nonprofit has helped more than 100 women transition back into society after prison.…

By Michelle Corum

Featured image for “St. Augustine police chief suspended over email use”

St. Augustine police cars. | St. Augustine Police, Facebook

St. Augustine police chief suspended over email use

Police Chief Jennifer Michaux was suspended for one day for discussing official business through a private email account.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Oceanfront restaurant soon to open in Jax Beach”

Sizemore's Coastal Kitchen will take the space of Salt Jax Beach. | Jacksonville Daily Record

Oceanfront restaurant soon to open in Jax Beach

The restaurant, Sizemore’s Coastal Kitchen, will take the space of Salt Jax Beach, which closed last year.…

By Dan Macdonald - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Florida Senate unlikely to vote on lower gun-buying age”

Florida Senate unlikely to vote on lower gun-buying age

Senate Rules Chairwoman Kathleen Passidomo said her committee won’t take up the gun measure.…

By Jim Turner - News Service of Florida

Featured image for “Lake Shore Middle teacher’s assistant, arrested for child abuse, says she acted in self-defense”

Lake Shore Middle School | Google

Lake Shore Middle teacher’s assistant, arrested for child abuse, says she acted in self-defense

A teacher’s assistant arrested after punching a student says she was defending herself.…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “Baptist Health adds 3rd helicopter to Life Flight fleet”

Baptist Health has added another helicopter to its fleet. | Michael LeGrand

Baptist Health adds 3rd helicopter to Life Flight fleet

Baptist says the speed of helicopters can make all the difference in cases of stroke, heart attack or trauma.…

By Dan Macdonald - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Landlord registry proposed to strengthen rental oversight”

City Councilman Jimmy Peluso wants the mayor to establish a landlord registry. | News4Jax

Landlord registry proposed to strengthen rental oversight

City Councilman Jimmy Peluso will introduce a resolution Tuesday calling on the mayor to establish a landlord registry.…

By Ashley Harding - News4Jax

Featured image for “Sea turtle season is coming. Here’s how you can help.”

A sea turtle hatchling near its nest. | Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol

Sea turtle season is coming. Here’s how you can help.

Coastal officials are asking the public to follow simple rules as sea turtle nesting season begins May 1.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Proposed law could stymie neighborhood improvements”

The city of St. Augustine celebrated the legacy of George & Ollie Smith with the opening of a park adjacent to their Lincolnville home on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. George, and his late wife Ollie, welcomed people into their home during the Freedom Summer demonstrations in 1964. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Proposed law could stymie neighborhood improvements

A law proposed in the Florida Legislature would end Community Redevelopment Agencies.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “FHP arrests US citizen on immigration charge”

Juan Carlos Lopez Gomez, 20, a U.S. citizen, hugs his mother in Tallahassee after his release from jail on Thursday, April 17, 2025. | Thomas Kennedy via AP

FHP arrests US citizen on immigration charge

Juan Carlos Lopez Gomez was arrested just over the Georgia border and was held despite having a birth certificate.…

By Gisela Salomon - Associated Press

Featured image for “FSU students gather at vigils the day after shooting”

Students gather on a stretch of sidewalk near the center of the Florida State campus in sight of the Student Union building in Tallahassee on Friday, April 18, 2025. | Gary McCullough, AP

FSU students gather at vigils the day after shooting

Some FSU studentsreturned to retrieve their belongings less than a day after they had barricaded classroom doors.…

By Kate Payne - Associated Press/Report for America and Curt Anderson - Associated Press

Featured image for “Pecan Kitchen approved for alcohol sales in Julington Creek”

Pecan Kitchen, a southern cooking-inspired restaurant, was granted a special-use permit to allow for the sale of alcoholic beverages. | Jacksonville Daily Record

Pecan Kitchen approved for alcohol sales in Julington Creek

The southern-cooking restaurant is under construction where a Broudy’s liquor store previously operated.…

By J. Brooks Terry - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Akel’s Deli will remain in Downtown tower for now”

Akel’s Deli is in the Bank of America Tower at 50 Laura St. | Jacksonville Daily Record

Akel’s Deli will remain in Downtown tower for now

Akel’s has renewed its lease in the Bank of America tower through November.…

By Dan Macdonald - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “FSU shooting kills 2 and injures 6; deputy’s son suspected”

People comfort each other on the campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee, where law enforcement responded to a reported active shooter incident Thursday, April 17, 2025. | Kate Payne, AP

FSU shooting kills 2 and injures 6; deputy’s son suspected

Police say the 20-year-old gunman used his mother’s former service weapon in the shooting.…

By Kate Payne - Associated Press/Report for America and David Fischer - Associated Press

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | How does Jacksonville’s immigration ordinance work?”

Andrea Reyes is a Jacksonville immigration attorney who expects a local ordinance that can send undocumented immigrants to jail for up to 60 days will be challenged in court. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

#AskJAXTDY | How does Jacksonville’s immigration ordinance work?

Jacksonville Today reader Susan A. wants to know whether police can use the new local immigration law to stop anyone…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Autonomous vehicles move closer as control center opens”

JTA CEO Nat Ford looks at the command center of the new Autonomous Innovation Center during a grand opening Thursday, April 17, 2025. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today

Autonomous vehicles move closer as control center opens

JTA opened a command center for autonomous vehicles that will soon shuttle people around Downtown.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Jax launches campaign to combat human trafficking”

Bryon Rossi of Epik Project works to disrupt the demand for commercial sexual exploitation. Lisa Chaloux is a trafficking survivor who designed signs for Jacksonville's anti-trafficking campaign. | Michelle Corum, Jacksonville Today

Jax launches campaign to combat human trafficking

Trafficking increases during major sports events, so city officials designated a “no-trafficking” zone around the stadiums.…

By Michelle Corum

Featured image for “Ahoy! Friendship Fountain playground set for debut”

Ahoy! Friendship Fountain playground set for debut

Friendship Fountain sprang back to life Thursday, and the playground will open Saturday.…

By Heather Henderson

Featured image for “Arts center planned in St. Johns County — but where?”

This concept image shows what the EpiCentre Alliance, a coalition of local arts organizations, is proposing for a new performing arts center in St. Augustine. | EpiCentre Alliance

Arts center planned in St. Johns County — but where?

An arts coalition has plans for a new performing arts complex in St. Augustine to serve smaller groups.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “More jobs and more traffic as Home Depot opens in St. Johns”

The Home Depot opened a new location Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the World Commerce Center in St. Augustine just off International Golf Parkway. | William Sandidge, News4Jax

More jobs and more traffic as Home Depot opens in St. Johns

The Home Depot joined a wave of stores like Costco, Bass Pro Shops and Buc-ee’s.…

By Caleb Yauger - News4Jax and Will Sandidge - News4Jax

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