Education

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

Featured image for “St. Augustine Beach bans smoking and vaping at beaches and parks”

Smoking and vaping will be prohibited at the Ocean Pier when it reopens this year in St. Augustine Beach. | St. Johns County

St. Augustine Beach bans smoking and vaping at beaches and parks

The action this week brings St. Augustine Beach into line with the county’s rules on smoking and vaping.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Florida state parks grapple with maintenance backlog and not enough money”

Visitors have carved their names into the 50-foot-high observation tower at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. The structure was last rebuilt in 2015 and offers a scenic view of the park. | Curan Ahern, WUFT News

Florida state parks grapple with maintenance backlog and not enough money

Park advocates say the current state budget falls far short of all of the maintenance and repairs needed.…

By Curan Ahern - WUFT

Featured image for “Clay County School Board challengers make their case on pay and spending”

Clay County School Board challengers make their case on pay and spending

Three current School Board members have competition in the election, but none attended a recent forum.…

By Ariel Schiller - News4Jax and Elijah Morris - News4Jax

Featured image for “The ‘perfect storm’ most people miss after a hurricane”

The ‘perfect storm’ most people miss after a hurricane

Landfall is not the only threat from a hurricane. The recovery time is often more dangerous.…

By Leslie Hudson - Storm Center

Featured image for “Duval raises school lunch prices again”

Students walk up the steps at Atlantic Beach Elementary School in 2025. | Atlantic Beach Elementary via Facebook

Duval raises school lunch prices again

Students will need a little more lunch money when school starts in Duval County next week.…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | How can I donate supplies to Duval schools?”

Schools are collecting and distributing school supplies to students in need. | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today

#AskJAXTDY | How can I donate supplies to Duval schools?

Community members can call their local school to ask how to donate school supplies…

By Simone Endress

Featured image for “St. Johns County considers challenge to agricultural development law”

St. Johns County has received six proposals to develop agricultural land under a new state law. One large residential development would be just north of Nocatee. | Google Maps

St. Johns County considers challenge to agricultural development law

County commissioners want to know if it would be worth the time and money to challenge the law in court.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Judge orders Florida to rewrite ballot language for property tax amendment”

The rotunda of the Leon County Courthouse in Tallahassee. | Douglas Soule, WUSF

Judge orders Florida to rewrite ballot language for property tax amendment

A Leon County judge ruled that the ballot language on the property tax issue was not fair or neutral.…

By Douglas Soule - WUSF

Featured image for “Four Democrats face off in Duval School Board District 4 race. Who are they?”

Duval County School Board member Darryl Willie raises his hand in a community meeting about school closures. Four candidates are seeking to replace Willie on the School Board. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Four Democrats face off in Duval School Board District 4 race. Who are they?

Alfreda Denson Butler, Rhodesia Butler, James Jacobs and Gracie Bell Kearse-McCastler have a competitive race ahead.…

By Trinity Webster-Bass - The Florida Trib

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Sporting Jax Women’s club donates to local grocery store”

Sporting Jax donated money to The Corner at Debs for every save Jamie Gerstenberg (pictured) and fellow goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks made in the team's inaugural season. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

BIT OF JOY | Sporting Jax Women’s club donates to local grocery store

The Sporting Jax Women’s soccer club has donated $9,900 to The Corner at Debs ahead of their second season in…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “More than 5,200 drivers caught passing Duval school buses illegally”

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

More than 5,200 drivers caught passing Duval school buses illegally

See where the most school bus violations occurred over two months — and what the drivers did wrong.…

By Sophia Vitello - News4Jax

Featured image for “Public safety groups sound alarm over property tax ballot issue”

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri talks with reporters. | News Service of Florida file

Public safety groups sound alarm over property tax ballot issue

The Florida Sheriffs Association says it is “significantly concerned” about Amendment 3, which would cut property taxes.…

By Ana Goñi-Lessan - News Service of Florida

Featured image for “Meet the 3 candidates vying for Duval County School Board District 2 seat”

From left are Duval County School Board candidates Terence Myers, Donovan Bradley and Donna Westrich. | News4Jax

Meet the 3 candidates vying for Duval County School Board District 2 seat

Donovan Bradley, Terence Myers and Donna Westrich say they want to keep politics out of the classroom.…

By Ariel Schiller - News4Jax and Libby Clifton - News4Jax