News

Featured image for “Republican-backed School Board candidates key on parental rights”

About two dozen people stand in the rain outside Duval school district headquarters on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. The rally was organized by Public School Defenders and Families for Strong Public Schools, two Jacksonville advocacy groups. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today

Republican-backed School Board candidates key on parental rights

Parental rights are again a topic of conversation because of the prominent role they play in Florida’s increasingly partisan school…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “City Council committee cuts DEI chief from budget”

The City Council Finance Committee pulled funding for the diversity and inclusion chief from Mayor Donna Deegan's budget.

City Council committee cuts DEI chief from budget

The panel’s members voted 4-2 to eliminate funding for the position of chief of diversity and inclusion.…

By Casmira Harrison

Featured image for “Outback Crabshack is back in St. Johns County”

Diners sit out back of the Crabshack during its soft reopening. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today

Outback Crabshack is back in St. Johns County

Eight years after suffering major hurricane damage from Hurricane Matthew, Outback Crabshack will reopen this weekend.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Food court closes permanently at Jacksonville’s airport”

The food court at Jacksonville International Airport is permanently closed to make way for the new Concourse B. | Monty Zickuhr, Jacksonville Daily Record

Food court closes permanently at Jacksonville’s airport

The food court between Concourses A and C is closed so work on the new Concourse B can continue.…

By J. Brooks Terry - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Migrant farmworkers left vulnerable in disasters”

A couple of farmworkers walk home in Immokalee after Hurricane Irma struck the small town in 2017. | Andrea Melendez, WGCU

Migrant farmworkers left vulnerable in disasters

Language barriers and immigration status are major hurdles to seeking emergency relief when natural disasters strike.…

By Nancy Guan - WUSF

Featured image for “Four Seasons can bring ‘a whole new market’ to Jax”

The Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Jacksonville is rising along the St. Johns River.

Four Seasons can bring ‘a whole new market’ to Jax

Katie Mitura of Visit Jacksonville says the luxury hotel will open the area to new categories of business travelers.…

By Max Marbut - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “City Council begins chopping at mayor’s budget proposal”

The City Council Finance Committee began working over Mayor Donna Deegan's budget this Thursday at City Hall. The budget discussions continue Friday, August 9. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today

City Council begins chopping at mayor’s budget proposal

City Council members are proposing cutting $10 million from Mayor Donna Deegan’s $1.92 billion budget.…

By Casmira Harrison

Featured image for “OPINION | Don’t Blow It: Jacksonville’s Special Committee on the Future of Downtown”

OPINION | Don’t Blow It: Jacksonville’s Special Committee on the Future of Downtown

Let’s rethink our understanding of and approach to reinvigorating Jacksonville’s historic Downtown urban core.…

By Sherry Magill

Featured image for “Acting CEO resigns at Jacksonville Housing Authority”

Jacksonville Housing Authority headquarters Downtown. | News4Jax

Acting CEO resigns at Jacksonville Housing Authority

Acting CEO Vanessa Dunn was appointed in February after former CEO Dwayne Alexander resigned in January.…

By Tiffany Salameh - News4Jax

Featured image for “Ollies and kick-flips abound as Artist Walk Skatepark opens”

Dozens of skaters and skateboarders used the Artist Walk Skatepark under the Fuller Warren Bridge on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today

Ollies and kick-flips abound as Artist Walk Skatepark opens

The skatepark that anchors the new Artists Walk between Riverside Arts Market and Park Street officially opened Thursday.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “ARTS PICKS | Aug. 9-11”

ARTS PICKS | Aug. 9-11

Storytelling in Riverside, new local music in Jacksonville Beach and two art museums offering free admission are this weekend’s Arts…

By Matthew Shaw

Featured image for “Black voter turnout courted ahead of pivotal election”

LaTeisha Reynolds snaps a selfie with Sharon Rashad, back left, and Lucretia McBride before early voting inside the Schell-Sweet Community Resource Wellness Center on the campus of Edward Waters University in Jacksonville's New Town community. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Black voter turnout courted ahead of pivotal election

Duval County has the highest percentage of Black voters in the state, but the question is how many melanated souls…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “4 school districts target substance abuse and violence”

4 school districts target substance abuse and violence

Putnam and St. Johns County schools are teaming with other school districts to increase awareness and support for students.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Norwood Plaza owner assailed over leaks and potholes”

Dozens of potholes pockmark the Norwood Plaza parking lot. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today

Norwood Plaza owner assailed over leaks and potholes

City Council member Ju’Coby Pittman joined business owners to demand repairs.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | How can you ‘run’ as a write-in candidate?”

#AskJAXTDY | How can you ‘run’ as a write-in candidate?

A Jacksonville Today reader wants to know more about how qualifying as a write-in candidate works in our elections.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY l Is Jack in the Box still coming to Northeast Florida?”

Jack in the Box remains interested in bringing a restaurant to Northeast Florida. l Dustin Thompson, Jack in the Box.

#AskJAXTDY l Is Jack in the Box still coming to Northeast Florida?

A Jacksonville Today reader is a fan of the fast food chain and wants to know if he’ll be able…

By Steven Ponson

Featured image for “Water is returning under the St. Augustine Beach pier”

Tropical Storm Debby brought water back to the St. Augustine Beach pier. | News4Jax

Water is returning under the St. Augustine Beach pier

The pier sat in sand last month after a beach renourishment project, but Tropical Storm Debby brought the water back.…

By Ashley Harding - News4Jax

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | West Palm Beach: A redevelopment example for Jacksonville’s historic Eastside”

THE JAXSON | West Palm Beach: A redevelopment example for Jacksonville’s historic Eastside

Here’s are eight Northwest West Palm Beach projects that would also be appropriate for Jacksonville’s historic Eastside.…

By Ennis Davis

Featured image for “Memorial considered to honor Dollar General victims”

This is the Dollar General store in Jacksonville where three people were shot to death Aug. 26, 2023. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Memorial considered to honor Dollar General victims

The historic marker would honor three Black people killed by a white supremacist in a mass shooting in Jacksonville.…

By Steven Ponson

Featured image for “Indoor pickleball is coming to South Jacksonville”

The Jacksonville PickleRage is planned in a former HHGregg store in the Avenues Walk shopping center. | PickleRage via the Jacksonville Daily Record

Indoor pickleball is coming to South Jacksonville

PickleRage plans to open in the fall at the Avenues Walk shopping center.…

By Dan Macdonald - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Shad Khan: ‘We’re building a neighborhood’ in Jacksonville”

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan is interviewed as part of the Bloomberg Originals “Power Players” documentary series on Bloomberg.com and YouTube. | Bloomberg via Jacksonville Daily Record

Shad Khan: ‘We’re building a neighborhood’ in Jacksonville

The Jaguars owner told Bloomberg he’s out to create a “new core” Downtown — a dining and entertainment district around…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Fitch raises credit rating for city of Jacksonville”

Jacksonville's credit rating has improved. l Steven Ponson, Jacksonville Today

Fitch raises credit rating for city of Jacksonville

Fitch Ratings increased Jacksonville’s rating from AA- to AA+. The move should lower the city’s interest rate when borrowing money.…

By Randy Roguski

Featured image for “Florida searches for ‘anti-Israeli bias’ in university coursework”

An unidentified University of Florida student wraps himself in an Israeli flag during a campus vigil Oct. 9, 2023, for victims of Hamas attacks. | Augustus Hoff, WUFT News

Florida searches for ‘anti-Israeli bias’ in university coursework

In an email to university presidents, Chancellor Ray Rodrigues outlined a process for flagging courses with “antisemitic material and/or anti-Israeli…

By Carter Mudgett

Featured image for “Early voting starts today in Duval and Nassau counties”

Early voting in Duval County was delayed by Tropical Storm Debby. l Steven Ponson, Jacksonville Today.

Early voting starts today in Duval and Nassau counties

Many local races will be decided in the Aug. 20 primaries, way before the general election in November.…

By Heather Henderson