PerspectivesRobin Lumb Jacksonville Today Contributor
Featured image for “OPINION | Jacksonville’s hate crime legislation is too broad”
The FBI Jacksonville is encouraging the public to report hate crimes. l Steven Ponson
May 14, 2024

OPINION | Jacksonville’s hate crime legislation is too broad

What this legislation really does is criminalize speech.…

Featured image for “Panel begins to explore ways to spark Downtown”
A special committee is exploring how to speed up development in Downtown Jacksonville. | Monty Zickuhr, Jacksonville Daily Record
May 14, 2024

Panel begins to explore ways to spark Downtown

A special committe of Jacksonville City Council met for the first time as it tries to speed up Downtown development.…

Featured image for “Red Lobster closes three Jacksonville restaurants”
Red Lobster is closing restaurants all over the U.S., according to news reports. | Jacksonville Daily Record
May 14, 2024

Red Lobster closes three Jacksonville restaurants

The chain’s decision to place Ultimate Endless Shrimp on the menu permanently caused $23.5 million in losses, reports say.…

Featured image for “Heat risks increase for workers in the South, study says”
Gilberto Lujano, 49, wipes sweat from his face after while working on a roof on May 2, 2023, in Homestead. | Matias J. Ocner, Miami Herald
May 14, 2024

Heat risks increase for workers in the South, study says

After Florida lawmakers this year barred local heat protections for workers, a new study concludes that excessive heat puts their…

Featured image for “Ascension hospitals are open despite ransomware attack”
Ascension St. Vincent's St. Johns County is part of the nonprofit national chain attacked by ransomware on May 8, 2024. | Ascension Florida
May 14, 2024

Ascension hospitals are open despite ransomware attack

Ascension’s St. Vincent’s hospitals in North Florida are accepting patients as the health system works to restore its computer network.…

Featured image for “Superintendent hopefuls answer questions from School Board, parents ”
May 13, 2024

Superintendent hopefuls answer questions from School Board, parents 

A public meet-and-greet capped off a day when superintendent hopefuls talked with the School Board and community stakeholders.…

Featured image for “St. Augustine OKs Davenport Park carousel”
This concept image shows what Davenport Park could look if a new carousel is installed. | St. Augustine
May 13, 2024

St. Augustine OKs Davenport Park carousel

St. Augustine’s “Carousel Park” has been without a carousel since 2019, but that’s about to change thanks to a local’s…

Featured image for “Autonomous people movers could roll by June 2025”
Balfour Beatty LLC official Kevin Wishnacht, left, talks to City Council President Ron Salem during a community update Monday, May 13, 2024, at the Main Library. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 13, 2024

Autonomous people movers could roll by June 2025

JTA says the first phase of its Ultimate Urban Circulator, or U2C, could carry people down Bay Street in a…

Featured image for “Duval jail report calls for new public safety campus”
The Duval County jail. | Andrew Pantazi, The Tributary
May 13, 2024

Duval jail report calls for new public safety campus

The report suggests replacing the current jail with a new facility that has its own infirmary and separate buildings for…

Featured image for “Scars of success: Trap House Chicken chef embraces kitchen mishaps  ”
May 13, 2024

Scars of success: Trap House Chicken chef embraces kitchen mishaps  

It’s a given for Trap House chef Jamal Oakes that chefs are scarred: He would no sooner trust an unscarred…

Featured image for “Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls coming to Durbin Park”
Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls plans to open in The Pavilion at Durbin Park.
May 13, 2024

Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls coming to Durbin Park

The Maryland-based chain intends to open in the St. Johns County shopping center along Race Track Road and State Road…

Featured image for “BJ’s Wholesale Club plans store in St. Johns County”
BJ’s Wholesale Club plans to open a store in St. Johns County.
May 13, 2024

BJ’s Wholesale Club plans store in St. Johns County

The proposed store is east of State Road 210 in Beachwalk, a master-planned community.…

Featured image for “PHOTO ESSAY | Edward Waters commencement”
May 12, 2024

PHOTO ESSAY | Edward Waters commencement

Saturday’s Edward Waters University commencement was held Downtown because the HBCU’s gym can no longer fit its graduates.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Does Jacksonville get its money’s worth on EverBank Stadium?”
The city of Jacksonville has reached an agreement with the Jaguars to renovate EverBank Stadium. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
May 10, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | Does Jacksonville get its money’s worth on EverBank Stadium?

With a new Jaguars deal pending, a Jacksonville Today reader asks about the city’s return on investment for the stadium.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office sued over strip search”
Internal affairs investigators interviewed Officer Nicholas Hackley after he stripped-searched a man on a public street. | Screenshot from Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
May 10, 2024

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office sued over strip search

Ronnie Reed alleges his constitutional rights were violated when officers searched him on a public street during a drug investigation.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | What is going on at J.P. Small Park?”
Henry Aaron Field at J.P. Small Ballpark is undergoing a $9.6 million renovation. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 10, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | What is going on at J.P. Small Park?

A Jacksonville Today reader wonders why he sees dirt piles and construction equipment at J.P. Small Park.…

Featured image for “Construction begins on new concourse at Jax airport”
An American Airlines jet is parked at a gate at Jacksonville International Airport on Friday, May 10, 2024. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 10, 2024

Construction begins on new concourse at Jax airport

Concourse B will bring six new gates to the terminal, adding to the 20 on Concourses A and C.…

Featured image for “Hotelier has big plans for St. Augustine high-rise”
An illustration shows Cathedral Place as it may look if a luxury hotel is approved at the property. | City of St. Augustine.
May 10, 2024

Hotelier has big plans for St. Augustine high-rise

Jalaram Hotels of St. Augustine wants to turn the historic Cathedral Place into a luxury hotel with a parking garage.…

Featured image for “Welcome FSCJ’s new mascot: the Manta Ray”
FSCJ's new mascot is the manta ray.
May 10, 2024

Welcome FSCJ’s new mascot: the Manta Ray

The Manta Ray was chosen in a public vote among three potential mascots. The others were the kraken and the…

Featured image for “OPINION | Riverfront Plaza’s false choice”
Riverfront Plaza, as seen from the top of the VyStar Credit Union headquarters on May 2, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 9, 2024

OPINION | Riverfront Plaza’s false choice

If we want Riverfront Plaza finished any time soon, we need to free Park East from the insanity of “Pad…

Featured image for “Public pools in Duval, Clay, St. Johns set to open Memorial Day weekend”
Children in the Durkeeville neighborhood wade into the waters at the Emmett Reed Swimming Pool on Friday, July 14, 2023.
May 9, 2024

Public pools in Duval, Clay, St. Johns set to open Memorial Day weekend

The unofficial start to summer will jump off with a splash as community pools in Jacksonville, Green Cove Springs and…

Featured image for “Here’s the schedule of ‘community huddles’ on stadium deal”
Jacksonville Jaguars President Mark Lamping outlines the proposed renovation of EverBank Stadium during a "community huddle" on June 12, 2023. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 9, 2024

Here’s the schedule of ‘community huddles’ on stadium deal

The city of Jacksonville has scheduled five public meetings to explain a long-awaited agreement with the Jacksonville Jaguars to renovate…

Featured image for “Ascension heath system hit with ‘cyber security event’”
Ascension health care reported that it's dealing with a "cyber security event" across the country. l Shahadat Rahman via Unsplash.
May 9, 2024

Ascension heath system hit with ‘cyber security event’

The situation is disrupting some systems and clinical operations across the country, Ascension said.…

Featured image for “Crescent Beach body finally identified after 39 years”
A family photo of Mary Alice Pultz, whose remains were discovered in 1985 in a shallow grave on Crescent Beach. | St. Johns County Sheriff's office
May 9, 2024

Crescent Beach body finally identified after 39 years

The body of Mary Alice Pultz was discovered in a sand dune in 1985, but her identity was unknown until…