PerspectivesA.G. Gancarski Jacksonville Today Contributor
Featured image for “OPINION | Property tax-cut push creates double bind for Deegan”
The City Council may be headed for a showdown with the mayor over property taxes. | Jacksonville Today
July 20, 2025

OPINION | Property tax-cut push creates double bind for Deegan

The political argument for the push to cut property taxes makes a lot more sense than the financial case.…

Featured image for “St. Johns fire union warns tax cut could jeopardize service”
St. Johns County's fire union is urging against cutting taxes for local property owners. | News4Jax
July 18, 2025

St. Johns fire union warns tax cut could jeopardize service

The union is concerned that county commissioners will cut taxes at a time when the fire department needs to grow.…

Featured image for “4 local sites listed among most endangered in Florida”
The Oneida Bungalow Court lines Wade Drive, one of two Jacksonville sites listed on the "11 to Save" list for 2025. | Florida Trust for Historic Preservation
July 18, 2025

4 local sites listed among most endangered in Florida

The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation included four sites in Northeast Florida on its “11 to Save” list for 2025.…

Featured image for “Unemployment in Northeast Florida hits post-pandemic high”
The biggest job losses in Northeast Florida continue to be in the financial activities sector, which had a net loss of 5,500 jobs over the past 12-month period. | Jacksonville Daily Record
July 18, 2025

Unemployment in Northeast Florida hits post-pandemic high

The jobless rate in the Jacksonville metropolitan area rose from 3.6% in May to 4.2% in June.…

Featured image for “Clay animal shelter could close due to road construction”
The Clay Safe Animal Shelter. | News4Jax
July 18, 2025

Clay animal shelter could close due to road construction

Donations and adoptions are down substantially as County Road 220 is widened to four lanes.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Why are there ‘smokestacks’ on the new Medical Examiner’s Office?”
Four ventilation ducts are visible on the roof of the new Medical Examiner's Office. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
July 18, 2025

#AskJAXTDY | Why are there ‘smokestacks’ on the new Medical Examiner’s Office?

A Jacksonville Today reader asks about what look like smokestacks atop the new Duval County Medical Examiner’s Office.…

Featured image for “Parks officials to give details about moving Fort Caroline”
Waters from the St. Johns River floods the Fort Caroline National Memorial. | Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve
July 18, 2025

Parks officials to give details about moving Fort Caroline

The National Park Service wants to move Fort Caroline to higher ground due to flooding from the St. Johns River.…

Featured image for “Supreme Court upholds North Florida redistricting”
This redistricting plan pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis eliminated the old Congressional District 5, a Black-majority district that stretched from Jacksonville to west of Tallahassee.
July 18, 2025

Supreme Court upholds North Florida redistricting

Justices said the plan, which broke up a majority Black congressional district, did not violate the Constitution.…

Featured image for “Emails show state blindsided local officials on ‘Alligator Alcatraz’”
Gov. Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump visited and toured the "Alligator Alcatraz" facility in July.
July 18, 2025

Emails show state blindsided local officials on ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

County officials were trying to chase down a rumor about the facility while state officials began construction.…

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Jacksonville’s purchasing power”
July 18, 2025

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Jacksonville’s purchasing power

Take a look at the money Jacksonville spends.…

Featured image for “St. Augustine mayor bolsters city’s ties with Israel”
St. Augustine Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline smiles for a photo with a group of Israeli Boy Scouts during her trip to the country in June. | Courtesy Nancy Sikes-Kline
July 17, 2025

St. Augustine mayor bolsters city’s ties with Israel

St. Augustine Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline says the city’s relationship with Israel is stronger than ever after a recent trip there.…

Featured image for “Eastside awash in hope and angst over community benefits agreement”
A. Philip Randolph Boulevard is the business corridor of the historic Eastside. After a race riot in 1969, businesses fled and the community suffered from longterm under investment from the public and private sectors. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
July 17, 2025

Eastside awash in hope and angst over community benefits agreement

Residents, business owners and advocates want to ensure the city fulfills the promises it has made to the Eastside.…

Featured image for “Popular Wolf and Cub to reopen in Phoenix arts district”
A conceptual image shows how Wolf & Cub will look at the Phoenix Arts & Innovation District | Wolf and Cub
July 17, 2025

Popular Wolf and Cub to reopen in Phoenix arts district

The boutique closed Downtown in February, but it plans to reopen in Springfield late this year.…

Featured image for “Corner Lot seeks rezoning for hotel next to Riverside building”
Corner Lot Tower could be the site of a new hotel. | Jacksonville Daily Record
July 17, 2025

Corner Lot seeks rezoning for hotel next to Riverside building

The developer said the 125-room hotel would be flagged as either a Marriott or Hilton.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville company lands $78M contract at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’”
President Donald Trump participates in a walking tour of the immigration detention center nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” on July 1, 2025. | Official White House photo by Daniel Torok
July 17, 2025

Jacksonville company lands $78M contract at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

Exactly how Critical Response Strategies LLC got the contract is unclear.…

Featured image for “WHAT TO DO | Lincolnville celebration; ‘War at the Beaches’; ‘The Armory South’ at MOCA”
July 16, 2025

WHAT TO DO | Lincolnville celebration; ‘War at the Beaches’; ‘The Armory South’ at MOCA

Celebrating 25 years of community redevelopment in St. Augustine; the Beaches Museum’s war exhibit and MOCA’s throwback show are What…

Featured image for “Jacksonville lawmakers consider ways to reduce taxes”
Jacksonville City Hall | File photo
July 16, 2025

Jacksonville lawmakers consider ways to reduce taxes

Some City Council members say they’ll support reducing the city’s millage rate if they can cut the mayor’s budget.…

Featured image for “Gate Petroleum donates $1M to mayor’s reading initiative”
Mayor Donna Deegan talks with a child on board the River City Readers bookmobile. | City of Jacksonville
July 16, 2025

Gate Petroleum donates $1M to mayor’s reading initiative

Gate’s president, former Mayor John Peyton, also is reviving a book club he created as mayor.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville animal shelter packed with dogs in need”
Sandy, a female mixed breed, is one of dozens of dogs available for adoption in Jacksonville. She has been at the shelter since Oct 24. | Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services
July 16, 2025

Jacksonville animal shelter packed with dogs in need

Animal Care and Protective Services aims to find homes or foster families for 100 dogs by the end of the…

Featured image for “UNF unveils new dorm as demand for housing grows”
July 16, 2025

UNF unveils new dorm as demand for housing grows

Osprey Ridge is the university’s first major housing expansion since 2009.…

Featured image for “Baptist Health entrance shifts as tower construction begins”
Baptist Health has closed its rotunda entrance as construction starts on its new emergency tower on Prudential Drive. | Baptist Health
July 16, 2025

Baptist Health entrance shifts as tower construction begins

The main entrance has moved to the Borowy Family Critical Care Tower at Palm Avenue and Baptist Way.…

Featured image for “Police shoot man to death after confrontation at home”
Police investigate an officer-involved shooting on Tuesday, July 16, 2025, on Brahma Bull Circle on the Jacksonville's Northside. | News4Jax
July 16, 2025

Police shoot man to death after confrontation at home

Officers shot the man after he ripped out a woman’s hair and refused to let her go.…

Featured image for “Support grows for selling Tampa Bay Rays to Jax group”
Steinbrenner Field, the spring training site for the New York Yankees, has been the home of the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2025 regular season. | Rick Mayer, WUSF
July 16, 2025

Support grows for selling Tampa Bay Rays to Jax group

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said he has “no reason to quibble” with reports of a sale.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville man executed for killing 2 outside bar”
Michael Bernard Bell was executed Tuesday even for a double murder in Jacksonville. | Florida Department of Corrections via AP
July 16, 2025

Jacksonville man executed for killing 2 outside bar

Michael Bernard Bell became the eighth person executed in Florida this year, matching a modern-era record.…