Government & Politics

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

Featured image for “Aldi sets opening dates for 3 stores in East Arlington and Downtown”

The refrigerated cooler at Aldi. | Aldi

Aldi sets opening dates for 3 stores in East Arlington and Downtown

The new stores — converted from Winn-Dixie and Harveys — will give Aldi 17 stores in the Jacksonville area.…

By Karen Brune Mathis - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Councilman withdraws zoning proposal that would have reduced public input”

Jacksonville City Council member Rory Diamond, shown here in 2023. | Jacksonville Daily Record

Councilman withdraws zoning proposal that would have reduced public input

Councilman Rory Diamond said he wanted to streamline zoning to create more affordable housing.…

By Joe Lister - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Jacksonville makes City Council legislation more accessible to the disabled”

A meeting of the Jacksonville City Council. | City of Jacksonville

Jacksonville makes City Council legislation more accessible to the disabled

The city restored online access to City Council bills after complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Duval Schools adding weapons-detection system at elementary schools”

The CEIA OPENGATE weapons detection system. | Duval County Public Schools

Duval Schools adding weapons-detection system at elementary schools

The district will equip about 30 schools each year with the same weapons-detection systems installed at middle schools.…

By Jonathan Lundy - News4Jax

Featured image for “St. Augustine Beach police mobilize to thwart planned teen takeover”

The St. Augustine Beach shoreline | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

St. Augustine Beach police mobilize to thwart planned teen takeover

Posts on social media indicated that a teen takeover was planned at the St. Augustine Beach pier.…

By Briana Brownleee - News4Jax and Jesse Hanson - News4Jax

Featured image for “WHAT TO DO | Summer at the Cummer; Black Rodeo; Duval Comic and Zine Fest”

Summer at the Cummer is a free event every Friday in June | Cummer Museum via Facebook

WHAT TO DO | Summer at the Cummer; Black Rodeo; Duval Comic and Zine Fest

Summer at the Cummer in Riverside, a Black Rodeo on the Westside and a celebration of zine culture in Riverside…

By Amy Garrett

Featured image for “St. Johns County leaders warn property tax cuts could decrease service”

St. Johns County Commissioner Christian Whitehurst holds up a sign reading "$113" in reference to the estimated $113 million in tax revenue the county could lose by 2029 if voters approved property tax cuts. | Screenshot, St. Johns County

St. Johns County leaders warn property tax cuts could decrease service

Property tax cuts are headed to Floridians’ ballots in November, and St. Johns County’s leaders are concerned.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Hundreds expected to pack Bayard Point for Boater Skip Day in Clay County”

Hundreds of boaters cluster around a floating DJ booth off Bayard Point for the 2025 Boater Skip Day in Clay County. | Chris Anthony, Boater Skip Day

Hundreds expected to pack Bayard Point for Boater Skip Day in Clay County

Police from several agencies will be present Friday to make sure boaters are following safety laws.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “City Year Jacksonville invests 100k service hours to support Duval students”

City Year Jacksonville says 56 student success coaches in its 2025-26 cohort devoted an estimated 100,000 service hours at Duval County Public Schools. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

City Year Jacksonville invests 100k service hours to support Duval students

City Year Jacksonville cultivates communication skills, empathy and leadership among young adults.…

By Will Brown