News

Featured image for “Possible Hard Rock on riverfront would not include casino, city says”

The Guitar Hotel at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is illuminated on Jan. 19, 2021, in Hollywood, Florida. | Wilfredo Lee, AP

Possible Hard Rock on riverfront would not include casino, city says

Several groups are looking at Downtown Jacksonville for development, including a possible Hard Rock hotel.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Fernandina gangway collapse blamed partly on large crowd”

This is the gangway that collapsed as people stood on it to watch July 4th fireworks from the Fernandina Harbor Marina. | City of Fernandina Beach

Fernandina gangway collapse blamed partly on large crowd

The gangway was supporting more weight than it was designed for when it collapsed during July 4 fireworks.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Heat illness: What to look for on these sweltering days”

Heat illness: What to look for on these sweltering days

Heat killed 199 Americans in 2024, making it the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States.…

By William Maxham - Storm Center

Featured image for “Q&A | Edward Waters president looks ahead to reaccreditation and new strategic plan”

A. Zachary Faison is the president of Edward Waters University. Florida's first HBCU held its 154th commencement on May 11, 2024, at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts. The location was moved Downtown to accommodate the growth of the university’s graduating class. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Q&A | Edward Waters president looks ahead to reaccreditation and new strategic plan

A. Zachary Faison spoke with Jacksonville Today as the HBCU prepares to identify its next aspirations.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “It’s August: Here’s where tropical storms typically form”

Areas for tropical storm formation in August.

It’s August: Here’s where tropical storms typically form

Tropical activity tends to ramp up in August with more tropical waves emerging from Africa.…

By Irene Sans - Storm Center

Featured image for “Rapper Ksoo and cousin guilty of 1st-degree murder”

Jacksonville rapper Hakeem Robinson — known as Ksoo — looks back as he learns of his guilty verdict in a Jacksonville courtroom on Thursday, July 31, 2025. | News4Jax

Rapper Ksoo and cousin guilty of 1st-degree murder

The two were charged in the 2020 shooting death of Charles McCormick Jr. at a shopping center in Arlington.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Florida DOGE adds Jacksonville to growing list of audits”

Blaise Ingoglia, Florida's chief financial officer and a former state senator. | Colin Hackley, News Service of Florida

Florida DOGE adds Jacksonville to growing list of audits

The state DOGE entity has requested access to a wide range of documents on Aug. 7 and 8.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “WHAT TO DO | Spring Park Food Truck Friday; St. Augustine photo walk; LOL JAX Film Fest”

WHAT TO DO | Spring Park Food Truck Friday; St. Augustine photo walk; LOL JAX Film Fest

Green Cove Springs’ Food Truck Friday, a St. Augustine nature walk that’s also a meetup for film photographers; and the…

By Amy Garrett

Featured image for “Jacksonville native hopes ‘Callas’ is next blossom of literary career”

Niveah Glover is a 20-year-old playwright and Jacksonville native whose first play, "Callas," will debut at the Jacksonville Arts and Music School on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Jacksonville native hopes ‘Callas’ is next blossom of literary career

“Callas” will debut at the Jacksonville Arts and Music School on Friday, written by 20-year-old Niveah Glover.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Hibernian captain says Sporting Jax fans are ‘incredible’ for women’s football”

Sporting Jax captain Sophie Jones, left, shares a moment with Hibernian Women captain Rachael Boyle during a news conference Wednesday, July 30, 2025, inside Visit Jacksonville headquarters. Sporting Jax will host the reigning Scottish Women's Premier League champion in its debut match. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Hibernian captain says Sporting Jax fans are ‘incredible’ for women’s football

Women’s pro soccer will kick off Saturday as Sporting Jax takes on the Scottish champion Hibernian Women.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Monthly rent in Florida increased $500 in 3 years”

Monthly rent in Florida increased $500 in 3 years

Median rent soared from $1,238 a month to $1,719, according to a study by the University of Florida.…

By Tristan Wood - WFSU

Featured image for “Hurricane supplies will be tax free starting Friday”

Hurricane kit supply list

Hurricane supplies will be tax free starting Friday

The Florida Legislature permanently exempted certain supplies from sales tax, effective Aug. 1.…

By Megan Borowski - Storm Center

Featured image for “JEA sets back-to-back records for electricity demand”

JEA's Northside Generating Station. | JEA

JEA sets back-to-back records for electricity demand

Extreme heat drove demand for electricity to record-setting levels on Monday, then did it again the next day.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “ACT 4 | Douglas Anderson works to step back into spotlight for the right reasons”

A student rehearses for the 2025 Douglas Anderson Extravaganza at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

ACT 4 | Douglas Anderson works to step back into spotlight for the right reasons

How do we know another Douglas Anderson scandal won’t happen? Here’s what the district and school have changed since 2023.…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “Jacksonville leads state in commercial sex ads”

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

Jacksonville leads state in commercial sex ads

Local leaders are beginning a campaign against human trafficking, starting in the Sports and Entertainment District.…

By Michelle Corum

Featured image for “Ponte Vedra Concert Hall to reopen after renovations”

The Ponte Vedra Concert Hall in St. Johns County will reopen Friday after a yearlong shutdown for renovations. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall to reopen after renovations

The much-loved concert hall is returning with a stacked concert lineup after a yearlong shutdown.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Northbank marina would be named for Mayor Hans Tanzler”

An illustration shows the marina and harbormaster house at the proposed Hans Tanzler Marina in Downtown Jacksonville, on what is now called The Ford on Bay property. | Jacksonville Daily Record

Northbank marina would be named for Mayor Hans Tanzler

Hans Tanzler was mayor from 1967 to 1979 and helped lead cleanup of the St. Johns River.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Two companies interested in old JEA headquarters”

The former JEA headquarters in Downtown Jacksonville once featured a revolving restaurant on the roof. | Jacksonville Daily Record

Two companies interested in old JEA headquarters

Live Oak Contracting LLC and Simple State Inc. have submitted proposals to buy the Downtown property.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Even manufactured homes are becoming unaffordable”

Melissa Preen stands by boxes filled with her belongings as she prepares to move back to Cleveland. She says she can no longer afford to live in Country Villa Estates in Riverview, due to rising lot rent and other fees. | Octavio Jones, WUSF

Even manufactured homes are becoming unaffordable

Floridians who live in manufactured homes are often older people on fixed incomes. Now lot rents are pricing them out.…

By Gabriella Paul - WUSF

Featured image for “ACT 3 | Was Douglas Anderson worse than other schools? District data issues make it hard to compare ”

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts students rehearse for the 2025 Douglas Anderson Extravaganza at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

ACT 3 | Was Douglas Anderson worse than other schools? District data issues make it hard to compare

Did something about the school lead teachers to misbehave? Did being an arts school play a part?…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Experiencing NAVI: The ‘Ultimate Urban Circulator’”

THE JAXSON | Experiencing NAVI: The ‘Ultimate Urban Circulator’

POV: I rode DowntownJacksonville’s autonomous shuttle…

By Marcus Nelson

Featured image for “Marquee is next step in restoration of Florida Theatre”

The Florida Theatre and its first marquee, as it appeared in 1927 when the theater opened. | The Florida Theatre

Marquee is next step in restoration of Florida Theatre

The marquee is in dire need of repairs, among years of renovations at the 98-year-old venue.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “St. Augustine still wants a carousel at Davenport Park”

The carousel at Davenport Park was dismantled nearly five years ago. | News4Jax

St. Augustine still wants a carousel at Davenport Park

Previous plans to bring back the carousel fell through, but the city is now seeking a private operator.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Middle Eastern restaurant coming to Bartram Park”

The Dough Show restaurant is planned at 12681 Bartram Park Blvd., south of Old St. Augustine Road and west of Interstate 295. | Jacksonville Daily Record

Middle Eastern restaurant coming to Bartram Park

The Dough Show already has locations in Orlando and Tampa as it tries to spread nationwide.…

By Karen Brune Mathis - Jacksonville Daily Record