Government & Politics

Featured image for “‘You ready to play the game?’ More details emerge in JEA texts from City Council president”

Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico listens to JEA Board Chair Joe DiSalvo during an Special Investigatory Committee meeting on April 13, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

‘You ready to play the game?’ More details emerge in JEA texts from City Council president

Texts from council President Kevin Carrico reveal his involvement with JEA and a former executive.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Faulty facial recognition leads to lawsuit after Jacksonville Beach arrest”

A Jacksonville Beach Police Department vehicle. | Jacksonville Beach Police

Faulty facial recognition leads to lawsuit after Jacksonville Beach arrest

A Fort Myers man says facial recognition wrongly identified him as the person who tried to lure a child.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “St. Johns County announces new young professionals program”

St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President Scott Maynard talks business with young professionals. | St. Johns County

St. Johns County announces new young professionals program

The county and chamber of commerce hope to increase networking and educational opportunities for young professionals.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Jacksonville’s Cuban Americans fought the Spanish-American War at home”

THE JAXSON | Jacksonville’s Cuban Americans fought the Spanish-American War at home

Cuban immigrants living in Jacksonville raised money, shipped supplies, and sustained a revolutionary movement dedicated to ending Spanish rule in…

By Jerry Urso

Featured image for “WHAT TO DO | ‘Violet’; GOALS 2.0 World Cup watch party; St. Augustine Pride”

People march in the 2025 St. Augustine Pride Parade. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today

WHAT TO DO | ‘Violet’; GOALS 2.0 World Cup watch party; St. Augustine Pride

A musical in Jacksonville Beach, a World Cup watch party in the Rail Yard District, and St. Augustine’s LGBTQ pride…

By Amy Garrett

Featured image for “Former JEA headquarters sold for $1M; 180 residences planned”

Plans for The Jewel at 21 West, the former JEA headquarters campus in Downtown Jacksonville, include street-level retail space. | Jacksonville Daily Record

Former JEA headquarters sold for $1M; 180 residences planned

Live Oak Contracting will convert the JEA building into residences, rooftop amenities and retail space.…

By Joe Lister - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Trout Creek Academy principal gets delay over yearbook controversy”

Trout Creek Academy Principal Katie O’Connell speaks to the School Board. | News4Jax

Trout Creek Academy principal gets delay over yearbook controversy

Principal Katie O’Connell says she’s not responsible for a Fetty Wap rap lyric that appeared in the school’s yearbook.…

By Briana Brownleee - News4Jax and Jesse Hanson - News4Jax

Featured image for “DeSantis and Cabinet greenlight $90M for immigration enforcement”

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet on Tuesday approved $90 million in grants for local law enforcement agencies for items related to enforcement of illegal immigration.

DeSantis and Cabinet greenlight $90M for immigration enforcement

Fifty-six city county police departments will receive money for radios, body cameras and other gear.…

By Ana Goñi-Lessan - News Service of Florida

Featured image for “City Council votes to put school tax extension on the ballot”

City Council member Raul Arias motioned to bring the school tax referendum for a vote on June 9, 2026. | City of Jacksonville/screenshot

City Council votes to put school tax extension on the ballot

Duval County voters will decide whether to renew a property tax levied by the Duval school district that, in part,…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “Public records delay: City releases council prez’s subpoena response after more than 100 days”

Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico speaks in August 2025 at City Hall. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Public records delay: City releases council prez’s subpoena response after more than 100 days

Jacksonville Today first requested copies of records Carrico gathered to comply with the subpoena more than 100 days ago, on…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Incoming City Council president questions grant for Downtown Publix”

City Councilman Nick Howland during a Finance Committee budget hearing. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today

Incoming City Council president questions grant for Downtown Publix

Incoming Jacksonville City Council President Nick Howland supports a Downtown Publix, but he questioned a cash incentive.…

By Mike Mendenhall and Steven Ponson

Featured image for “Demolition begins at MOSH as museum continues move to Northbank”

Demolition begins at MOSH as museum continues move to Northbank

MOSH’s walls have been partly demolished, windows removed and portions of the interior gutted.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “More people are homeless in Northeast Florida since last year”

A homeless camp in LaVilla. | Sydney Boles, Jacksonville Today

More people are homeless in Northeast Florida since last year

The annual Point in Time Count found 1,146 people experiencing homelessness, 14% more than last year.…

By Heather Henderson

Featured image for “Earthquake off Cuba shakes people across Northeast Florida”

A map shows the epicenter of the Cuban earthquake. | National Weather Service Miami, Facebook

Earthquake off Cuba shakes people across Northeast Florida

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck near western Cuba on Monday, shaking buildings in Havana and rattling people across the Sunshine State, from…

By The Associated Press and Ariel Schiller - News4Jax

Featured image for “Smoke ’em: New Callahan drag strip inaugurated with burnouts”

Hundreds of fans watched dozens of cars, truck and motorcycles do the first test at Callahan's Hicken Power Dragstrip on Sunday, June 7, 2026. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today

Smoke ’em: New Callahan drag strip inaugurated with burnouts

Hundreds of people came out to christen Hicken Power Dragstrip, the region’s first drag strip since 2017.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “State CFO attacks Jacksonville spending; city calls the criticism politics”

Florida's chief financial officer, Blaise Ingoglia, speaks at a news conference in Jacksonville Beach on Monday, June 8, 2026. | News4Jax

State CFO attacks Jacksonville spending; city calls the criticism politics

Appearing in Jacksonville Beach, CFO Blaise Ingoglia said Jacksonville wasted $275.7 million in its current budget…

By News4Jax staff

Featured image for “Pecan Park Flea Market will close in September after 40 years in business”

Shopper browse at Pecan Park Flea Market. | News4Jax

Pecan Park Flea Market will close in September after 40 years in business

The Pecan Park property has been sold and will be redeveloped as an automotile dealership.…

By News4Jax staff

Featured image for “How far does Florida’s property tax proposal go? There are some questions”

Gov. DeSantis calls for a special session during a news conference in Tampa. | The Florida Channel

How far does Florida’s property tax proposal go? There are some questions

The legislation and ballot language are unclear about what would happen with property taxes after 2028.…

By Douglas Soule - WUSF

Featured image for “OPINION | No local taxation, no local representation”

OPINION | No local taxation, no local representation

Local government isn’t perfect. But starving the beast will only erode home rule, opinion columnist A.G. Gancarski argues.…

By A.G. Gancarski

Featured image for “Demings announces prostate cancer diagnosis and suspends campaign for governor”

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings' wife, former Congresswoman Val Demings, and other family members stood beside him Friday as he announced his prostate cancer diagnosis and the suspension of his campaign for governor. | Joe Byrnes, Central Florida Public Media

Demings announces prostate cancer diagnosis and suspends campaign for governor

The Orange County mayor made the announcement after his final State of the County address Friday morning.…

By Joe Byrnes - Central Florida Public Media and Sam Stockbridge - Central Florida Public Media

Featured image for “Drivers rack up $719K in fines for passing Duval school buses illegally”

Drivers must stop from either direction for a stopped school bus. | News4Jax

Drivers rack up $719K in fines for passing Duval school buses illegally

Duval school police issued 3,197 tickets in the first month that school bus cameras recorded drivers.…

By Aaron Farrar - News4Jax

Featured image for “Rise Doro apartments reopen, more than 2 years after massive fire”

The Rise Doro apartment building was rebuilt after a fire in January 2024. | Joe Lister, Jacksonville Daily Record

Rise Doro apartments reopen, more than 2 years after massive fire

About 20% of the Rise Doro’s 247 apartments have been filled since the building was rebuilt.…

By Joe Lister - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Human remains found buried in yard of home in North Jacksonville”

Human remains were found in the backyard of this home in North Jacksonville. | News4Jax

Human remains found buried in yard of home in North Jacksonville

The remains were discovered after someone found a human bone lying on Lincrest Drive.…

By Aaron Farrar - News4Jax, Kendra Mazeke - News4Jax and Jenese Harris - News4Jax

Featured image for “How Jacksonville’s skilled trades pros identify workforce solutions”

Josue Salgado, center, received his certification as an operating engineer during the 75th Jacksonville General Apprenticeship Association graduation and awards ceremony on Friday, May 29, 2026. Salgado is flanked by Michael Joyner, left, vice president of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 673, and Local 673 Treasurer Andrew Slager. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

How Jacksonville’s skilled trades pros identify workforce solutions

The Jacksonville General Apprenticeship Association is among organizations filling Florida’s growing skilled trades shortage.…

By Will Brown