Government & Politics

Featured image for “Clay County Fire Rescue Chief Lorin Mock to retire after 16 years at helm”

Clay County Fire Rescue Chief Lorin Mock. | Clay County

Clay County Fire Rescue Chief Lorin Mock to retire after 16 years at helm

Lorin Mock has spent more than 40 years as a firefighter, including 27 with Jacksonville Fire and Rescue.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Scorching heat will continue this week across Northeast Florida”

A thicker layer of dust will arrive in Florida later in the week.

Scorching heat will continue this week across Northeast Florida

Temperatures could reach 98 degrees in the Jacksonville area, with a heat index close to 110 degrees.…

By Irene Sans - Storm Center

Featured image for “Federal authorities bust violent drug trafficking gang in Jacksonville”

U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe speaks at a news conference Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, about the arrests of 12 gang members in Jacksonville. | News4Jax

Federal authorities bust violent drug trafficking gang in Jacksonville

A dozen gang members have been arrested after a seven-year reign of murder and drug dealing.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Jax mayor taps retired Florida Blue executive to return as chief of staff”

Darnell Smith, chief of staff for Mayor Donna Deegan, speaks during the city of Jacksonville's Black History Month celebration at City Hall on Feb, 27, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Jax mayor taps retired Florida Blue executive to return as chief of staff

Darnell Smith is returning as chief of staff as Mayor Donna Deegan enters the final year of her first term.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Stanton student sues Duval Schools over sexual assault on bus”

A Student Transportation of America school bus. | News4Jax

Stanton student sues Duval Schools over sexual assault on bus

The federal lawsuit alleges the district failed to prevent rising harassment and assaults on the bus.…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “How Duval Schools literacy compares to Florida’s largest districts”

A partnership between Communities in Schools Jacksonville, Kids Hope Alliance and the city of Jacksonville led to a Little Free Library at Sallye B. Mathis Elementary School in Northwest Jacksonville on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. The effort provided nearly three dozen picture books and chapter books for students. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

How Duval Schools literacy compares to Florida’s largest districts

Duval Schools has historically lagged Florida’s other large urban districts in literacy proficiency.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Hurricane Center monitors 3 disturbances, but none pose a direct threat”

A tropical outlook shows the chance of development across the Atlantic basin for Monday, Aug. 10, 2026.

Hurricane Center monitors 3 disturbances, but none pose a direct threat

Tropical activity appears to have ramped up, but conditions are still unfavorable for development.…

By Andrew Wulfeck - Storm Center

Featured image for “Duval and St. Johns schools close budget gaps before new school year”

Duval and St. Johns schools close budget gaps before new school year

Duval Schools faced a $100 million shortfall, and St. Johns ended last year $23 million in the red.…

By Ariel Schiller - News4Jax and Carlos Acevedo - News4Jax

Featured image for “Riverfront Plaza construction will close portions of Main Street Bridge”

The Main Street Bridge. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Riverfront Plaza construction will close portions of Main Street Bridge

The bridge will be reduced to one lane heading south for up to five months, beginning Aug. 24.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “St. Johns teens charged with cache of homemade guns and explosives”

Sgt. Gene Tolbert with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office demonstrates a makeshift gun confiscated during an investigation into two local teenagers. The gun, made of piping and wood, was part of a cache that included other makeshift firearms and explosive material. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today

St. Johns teens charged with cache of homemade guns and explosives

The boys, ages 13 and 14, made guns from standard hardware and espoused racist philosophies.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Fernandina voters will decide fate of paid parking. Or will they?”

A sign explains how to pay for parking in downtown Fernandina Beach. | News4Jax

Fernandina voters will decide fate of paid parking. Or will they?

Voters are deciding whether a referendum should be required to institute paid parking in Fernandina Beach.…

By Ariel Schiller - News4Jax and Jud Hulon - News4Jax

Featured image for “NOAA lowers hurricane forecast even further as El Niño ramps up”

Atlantic basin satellite image from Aug. 6, 2026. | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA lowers hurricane forecast even further as El Niño ramps up

NOAA forecasters predict seven to 13 named storms this year, including two to six hurricanes.…

By Andrew Wulfeck - Storm Center

Featured image for “Federal appeals court allows Florida to enforce drag show law”

Hamburger Mary's Orlando hosts drag shows and filed a lawsuit challenging the Florida law.

Federal appeals court allows Florida to enforce drag show law

The law restricts minors from attending certain “adult live performances,” including some drag shows.…

By Douglas Soule - WUSF

Featured image for “A Duval school reported more fights than any other school in Florida”

A Duval school reported more fights than any other school in Florida

Chaffee Trail Middle School reported 117 fights in the 2024-25 school year, the highest total at any grade level.…

By Tarik Minor - News4Jax and Matthew Garcia - News4Jax

Featured image for “Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville leads new U.S. News hospital rankings”

The Mayo Clinic campus in Jacksonville was the No. 1 hospital in Florida in the U.S. News' 2026-27 rankings. Mayo also was named to the Honor Roll, comprising the 20 best hospitals in the nation. | Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville leads new U.S. News hospital rankings

Mayo Clinic Florida joined its campuses in Minnesota and Arizona in the Honor Roll of 20 best hospitals.…

By Rick Mayer - Health News Florida

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Who’s in charge of Flock cameras in Jacksonville?”

This Flock camera on Hendricks Avenue has a solar panel on top to power it, plus electronics and the actual camera underneath. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today

#AskJAXTDY | Who’s in charge of Flock cameras in Jacksonville?

Flock cameras have created controversy around the country, and a Jacksonville Today reader has questions.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Book bans and budget hurdles: Clay County’s District 4 School Board race weighs incumbent’s record against challenger’s plan”

Political newcomer Michael Rathjen, left, competes for a seat on the Clay County School Board against incumbent Michele Hanson, right. The race will be decided during the Aug. 18 primaries. | Laura Pellicer

Book bans and budget hurdles: Clay County’s District 4 School Board race weighs incumbent’s record against challenger’s plan

The two candidates have differing views about Clay County’s book bans, the most widespread in the state.…

By Laura Pellicer - The Florida Trib

Featured image for “Historic Laura Street Trio auctioned to Indiana developer for $125K”

The back side of the Laura Street Trio, as seen July 10, 2024. | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today

Historic Laura Street Trio auctioned to Indiana developer for $125K

Becovic Management Group obtained the long-vacant Laura Street Trio in a foreclosure auction.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Forecasters expect least active hurricane season in more than a decade”

Hurricane damage in Flagler County in November 2022. | Flagler County government

Forecasters expect least active hurricane season in more than a decade

A strengthening El Niño is expected to persist in August and September, the busiest hurricane months.…

By Andrew Wulfeck - Storm Center

Featured image for “Backstage at The Amp with St. Augustine photographer Dustin Miller”

From a series of portraits by local photographer Dustin Miller, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks pose before and after the Tedeschi Trucks Band's October 2025 performance at The Amp | Dustin Miller

Backstage at The Amp with St. Augustine photographer Dustin Miller

Miller’s portraits capture pre-show jitters and post-show elation backstage at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre.…

By Matt Shaw

Featured image for “WHAT TO DO | Jax Beach Summer Fest; Native plant walk; CatVideoFest”

A native plant walk is one pick for What to Do this weekend | Jax Arboretum

WHAT TO DO | Jax Beach Summer Fest; Native plant walk; CatVideoFest

A weekend of music and family hangouts at Jacksonville Beach, a guided native plant walk, and CatVideoFest Downtown are What…

By Amy Garrett

Featured image for “Why Jacksonville may revise incentives for Downtown Publix project”

The future site of a proposed Publix grocery store at 119 W. Beaver St. Downtown. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Today

Why Jacksonville may revise incentives for Downtown Publix project

Developer Gateway Jax and city officials are renegotiating a nearly $50 million incentives deal for the Downtown Publix project.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Duval school bus drivers threaten strike, but more meetings planned”

A row of Durham School Services buses. | Durham School Services

Duval school bus drivers threaten strike, but more meetings planned

Durham School Services will meet with bus drivers this week in an attempt to avert a strike.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Sophia Nickerson Starks, the woman who built Jacksonville’s beauty empire”

THE JAXSON | Sophia Nickerson Starks, the woman who built Jacksonville’s beauty empire

Long before entrepreneurship became a buzzword, Sophia Nickerson Starks built one of Jacksonville’s most influential Black-owned institutions.…

By Jerry Urso