News

Featured image for “Jacksonville tests artificial intelligence in city budget process”

Mayor Donna Deegan presents her first city budget in July 2023. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Jacksonville tests artificial intelligence in city budget process

Jacksonville is one of the first cities in the country to use artificial intelligence to help draft a budget.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Regency mall’s new owner settles code compliance fines”

Regency mall’s new owner settles code compliance fines

Blackwater Regency LLC signed five settlement agreements with the city to settle the fines.…

By Karen Brune Mathis - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Senate president unveils compromise on tax relief”

Senate President Ben Albritton announced his chamber will release a compromise package that includes adding clothes and shoes under $75 to the list of products exempted from sales tax. Various sales tax holidays would continue, and a study would determine the effects of eliminating property taxes. | © Vedran Vukoja AKA vepar5 vedran.vukoja@gmail.com/vepar5, stock.adobe.com

Senate president unveils compromise on tax relief

The compromise would make some clothes and shoes tax-free and would study whether to eliminate property taxes.…

By Tristan Wood - WFSU

Featured image for “St. Johns Schools narrows superintendent search to 10”

St. Johns Schools narrows superintendent search to 10

The school district received 26 applications for the superintendent’s job and narrowed the field to 10 semifinalists.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Hurricane predictions vs. reality”

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Hurricane predictions vs. reality

Comparing Colorado State University’s April hurricane season predictions with the actual number of storms each year.…

By Megan Mallicoat and Jessica Palombo

Featured image for “Inmate dies of severe injuries suffered in Duval jail”

Charles Faggart of Chop it Charlie's food truck. | gofundme

Inmate dies of severe injuries suffered in Duval jail

Nine jail officers were suspended in an incident involving inmate Charles Faggart. The Sheriff’s Office has not explained what happened.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “How OysterFest will restore Trout and Ribault rivers in Northwest Jax”

Oysters could be a key to revitalizing and restoring the Trout River. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

How OysterFest will restore Trout and Ribault rivers in Northwest Jax

OysterFest is a community festival spotlighting an oft-neglected tributary of the St. Johns River.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Fernandina church secretary accused of embezzling $500K”

Amelia Baptist Church in Fernandina Beach. | Google

Fernandina church secretary accused of embezzling $500K

Police say Melissa Ganey English took money from Amelia Baptist Church for concerts, cruises, hotels and more.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Senate approves Black history museum in St. Johns County”

St. Johns County leaders have identified a West Augustine site, near the former location of Florida Memorial College, as a potential home for a Florida Museum of Black History. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Senate approves Black history museum in St. Johns County

A House bill regarding the Black history museum has not moved through committees.…

By News Service of Florida

Featured image for “Developer closes on purchase of Regency Square Mall”

Developer closes on purchase of Regency Square Mall

Blackwater Development plans a mixed-use development on the site of the mostly vacant mall.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Legislature integrates Gulf of America into schools and laws”

Legislature integrates Gulf of America into schools and laws

Here’s how your legislators voted on two Gulf of America bills.…

By Jim Saunders - News Service of Florida

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Student entrepreneur”

EverBank volunteers with winning student Joaquin Gasca from First Coast High School. | Submitted

BIT OF JOY | Student entrepreneur

A student from First Coast High School won a Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge with his snack company.…

By Heather Henderson

Featured image for “School districts beg Florida lawmakers not to slash bonuses for accelerated students”

School districts beg Florida lawmakers not to slash bonuses for accelerated students

Florida’s education funding could cost local districts millions if incentives for accelerated programs are reduced.…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “NIH cutbacks stifle research at Florida’s universities”

Florida A&M University is Florida's only public historically Black university. | Alejandro Santiago, WFSU Public Media

NIH cutbacks stifle research at Florida’s universities

Florida A&M, the state’s only public historically Black university, will lose funding for cancer research.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “WHAT TO DO | St. Augustine PoetFest; UniverSoul Circus; Shannon and the Clams”

WHAT TO DO | St. Augustine PoetFest; UniverSoul Circus; Shannon and the Clams

Poetry in St. Augustine, a multicultural circus in Jacksonville and the music of Shannon and the Clams are What to…

By Amy Garrett

Featured image for “Duval inmate severely injured; 9 officers suspended”

Charles Faggart of Chop it Charlie's. | gofundme

Duval inmate severely injured; 9 officers suspended

The Sheriff’s Office released no information about how the inmate was hurt. He remains hospitalized.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “State attorney subpoenas St. Johns Airport Authority”

Courtney Pittman, interim executive director of the St. Johns County Airport Authority, addresses the board March 10, 2025, about the departure of the board's legal counsel. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today

State attorney subpoenas St. Johns Airport Authority

The subpoenas seek information about a variety of Airport Authority operations and top-level administrators.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Universities face sweeping audits under Florida DOGE”

The James D. Westcott Building is on the campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee. | Lauren Witte, Fresh Take Florida

Universities face sweeping audits under Florida DOGE

The state DOGE has demanded that universities turn over a vast set of documents regarding staffing, research and grants.…

By Garrett Shanley - Fresh Take Florida

Featured image for “E-bikes may be allowed on the sand in Neptune Beach”

A sign on First Street in Neptune Beach lays out the rules for riding e-bikes.

E-bikes may be allowed on the sand in Neptune Beach

The police chief proposes to allow e-bikes on the beach if they’re operated safely and under 15 mph.…

By Heather Henderson

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | JU students selected as finalists in NASA competition”

Jacksonville University students work on their concept for storing cryogenic fuel in space. | Jacksonville University

BIT OF JOY | JU students selected as finalists in NASA competition

Two student teams from Jacksonville University are finalists in NASA’s Human Lander Challenge.…

By Heather Henderson

Featured image for “Achievement unlocked: UNF esports arena gets $3M boost from city of Jacksonville”

A rendering of the planned UNF esports arena | UNF

Achievement unlocked: UNF esports arena gets $3M boost from city of Jacksonville

The city has awarded UNF’s esports arena project $3 million for the development of competitive video gaming facility in the…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Before and after: The S-Line Urban Greenway”

THE JAXSON | Before and after: The S-Line Urban Greenway

S-Line Urban Greenway opened in 2008 as Jacksonville’s first dedicated urban multi-use trail. Here is a before-and-after look at the…

By Ennis Davis

Featured image for “Mayor pledges to work with ICARE on affordable housing”

More than 500 people from the community attended the ICARE Nehemiah Assembly on Monday, April 7, 2025. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today

Mayor pledges to work with ICARE on affordable housing

Mayor Donna Deegan agreed to meet with ICARE to explore the possibility of an affordable housing trust fund.…

By Dan Scanlan

Andrea Barnwell Brownlee is CEO of the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. | Cummer Museum

Cummer Museum’s CEO will retire May 1

Andrea Barnwell Brownlee will retire from the Cummer Museum of Arts & Gardens after almost five years at the helm.…

By Dan Scanlan