Weather

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

Featured image for “OPINION | What does the Florida House get out of the special session?”

Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, delivers his speech during opening day ceremonies on January 13, 2026. | Florida House/Sarah Gray

OPINION | What does the Florida House get out of the special session?

After two years of adversarial positioning, does Florida House Speaker Perez simply fold? Or does the House push back against…

By A.G. Gancarski

Featured image for “Florida’s special session: Redistricting, vaccines and AI rights”

Sen. Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville, sponsored a bill that prohibited local governments from using taxpayer dollars to fund diversity, equity and inclusion offices and programs. He spoke during a bill signing Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Jacksonville. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Florida’s special session: Redistricting, vaccines and AI rights

Florida’s GOP lawmakers will bring new congressional maps into a nationwide redistricting battle next week.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Volunteer firefighter dies while fighting Hilliard wildfire”

Hilliard Volunteer Fire Department firefighter James Crews. | Nassau County Sheriff's Office

Volunteer firefighter dies while fighting Hilliard wildfire

Firefighter James Crews died after a medical emergency while battling a Hilliard wildfire, officials said.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “State education commissioner berates St. Johns County superintendent”

The St. Johns County School District faces a budget shortfall that the superintendent blames partly on private school vouchers. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today

State education commissioner berates St. Johns County superintendent

Superintendent Brennan Asplen was upbraided for criticizing Florida’s private school voucher program.…

By Noah Hertz and Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “Clay-Putnam wildfire now 65% contained”

Two fires burning near the Clay–Putnam County line have merged into the massive Railroad Fire. | Jesse Hanson, Newsw4Jax

Clay-Putnam wildfire now 65% contained

The so-called Railroad wildfire spans 4,413 acres, but evacuated families have been allowed to return home.…

By News4Jax staff

Featured image for “Whole Foods set to open May 21 in Brooklyn”

The Whole Foods grocery store in Brooklyn will open May 21 with giveaways to the first 300 customers. | Ric Anderson, Jacksonville Daily Record

Whole Foods set to open May 21 in Brooklyn

Whole Foods will open in the One Riverside development, at the site of the demolished Florida Times-Union building.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Beaches Habitat for Humanity opens townhomes”

The first quad building of townhomes at Coastal Haven will be complete in summer. | Leah Foreman, Jacksonville Business Journal

Beaches Habitat for Humanity opens townhomes

The 44-unit townhome project will address a a need for attainable housing in the Beaches area.…

By Leah Foreman - Jacksonville Business Journal

Featured image for “87 homes lost in Southeast Georgia wildfires”

Georgia Department of Corrections inmate fire teams are assisting with the Brantley County fires. | Georgia Department of Corrections

87 homes lost in Southeast Georgia wildfires

The wildfire destroyed dozens of homes within hours of erupting Tuesday. It remains only 15% contained.…

By News4Jax staff

Featured image for “Dozens of books removed from Duval Schools include ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ and Maya Angelou”

A statue of children reading in front of DCPS headquarters | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today

Dozens of books removed from Duval Schools include ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ and Maya Angelou

The district continues to remove books from its shelves because of a long-running internal review.…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “Former preschool teacher gets 10 years for enticing child”

Former preschool teacher gets 10 years for enticing child

The former Nocatee teacher was accused of communicating with an FBI agent who was posing as a 13-year-old girl.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Jacksonville Beach hosts annual Opening of the Beaches”

Volunteer lifeguards take part in a recent Opening of the Beaches parade in Jacksonville Beach. | City of Jacksonville Beach

Jacksonville Beach hosts annual Opening of the Beaches

Opening of the Beaches represents the unofficial start of the summer season in Jacksonville Beach.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Conservationists optimistic as sea turtle season ramps up”

Pink the sea turtle looks at the camera while at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon. | Courtesy of the Turtle Hospital

Conservationists optimistic as sea turtle season ramps up

Community education and conservation have led to cautious optimism heading into sea turtle nesting season.…

By Sofia Zarran - WLRN

Featured image for “St. Johns County adopts revised comprehensive plan”

A house under construction. | Jacksonville Daily Record

St. Johns County adopts revised comprehensive plan

The county revised its plan to comply with state law that restricts development regulations.…

By J. Brooks Terry - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “WHAT TO DO | ‘The Pillowman,’ Wild Wonders critter show; Celebrate Trails Day”

WHAT TO DO | ‘The Pillowman,’ Wild Wonders critter show; Celebrate Trails Day

A play in Downtown Jacksonville, a critter encounter in Atlantic Beach and a celebration of trails in LaVilla are What…

By Amy Garrett

Featured image for “Florida outlaws diversity, equity and inclusion in public policy”

Gov. Ron DeSantis tosses a pen to a member of the audience after signing a bill that will outlaw diversity, equity and inclusion in local governments on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. DeSantis is joined by members of the Florida Legislature who supported the bill, from left, Rep. Kiyan Michael, R-Jacksonville; Rep. Dean Black, R-Jacksonville; Sen. Clay Yarborough R-Jacksonville; and Rep. Berny Jacques, R-Seminole. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Florida outlaws diversity, equity and inclusion in public policy

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Wednesday in Jacksonville that prohibits DEI in local governments.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Southeast Toyota shows off huge new JAXPORT site”

New Toyotas wait for inspection and installation of options at the new Southeast Toyota Distributors facility at JAXPORT's Blount Island Marine Terminal. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today

Southeast Toyota shows off huge new JAXPORT site

The facility enables Southeast Toyota to process hundreds more vehicles per day to ship to dealers.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Smoke blankets area as Railroad wildfire grows”

A Clay County Fire Rescue unit battles the Railroad Fire at the Clay/Putnam County line on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. | Clay County

Smoke blankets area as Railroad wildfire grows

The wildfire grew slightly overnight, but firefighting efforts on the ground and air are helping to contain it.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Potbelly sandwich shop coming to Jacksonville in May”

The first Potbelly Sandwich Works shop in Northeast Florida is set to open May 5 in the Deerwood Village shopping center across from Florida State College at Jacksonville. | Jacksonville Daily Record

Potbelly sandwich shop coming to Jacksonville in May

Potbelly will open its first Northeast Florida location in the Deerwood Village shopping center.…

By Dan Macdonald - Jacksonville Daily Record

Reporter, Investigations

Jacksonville Today, a nonprofit media outlet delivering public-service journalism, is looking for a reporter to cover the policies and impact…

By Jacksonville Today

Featured image for “Wildfire destroys 47 homes in Southeast Georgia”

A massive wildfire burns in Southeast Georgia. | News4Jax

Wildfire destroys 47 homes in Southeast Georgia

Some families were evacuated with minutes to spare after the Brantley County wildfire exploded to 5,000 acres..…

By Briana Brownleee - News4Jax and Jesse Hanson - News4Jax

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The Farris family: From grocers to meatpacking pioneers”

An old newspaper advertisement for the Farris grocery store

THE JAXSON | The Farris family: From grocers to meatpacking pioneers

In honor of National Arab American Heritage Month, The Jaxson highlights the Farris family and the rise of a Syrian…

By Jerry Urso

Featured image for “Attorney general investigates ChatGPT in FSU shooting”

People sit in front of a makeshift memorial outside the student union at Florida State University in Tallahassee on April 17, 2025, after a campus shooting. | Kate Payne, AP

Attorney general investigates ChatGPT in FSU shooting

Prosecutors believe the chatbot advised the gunman about how to carry out the FSU shooting last April.…

By Mike Schneider - Associated Press