News
Featured image for “Expansive Riverfront Plaza and playground officially open”
Linda Schneader takes photos of her kids pumping water in the splash pad at the newly opened Riverfront Plaza. | Michelle Corum, Jacksonville Today
December 5, 2025

Expansive Riverfront Plaza and playground officially open

Visitors praised the first phase of Jacksonville’s newest park, which was more than a year in the making.…

By Michelle Corum

Featured image for “Gingerbread extravaganza takes its artistry to new home”
Gingerbread creations like a snow-covered White House are part of the 23rd annual Gingerbread Extravaganza at the Jacksonville History Center. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
December 5, 2025

Gingerbread extravaganza takes its artistry to new home

The Jacksonville Historical Society’s 23rd annual extravaganza features 41 gingerbread creations.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Palatka residents warned of lead in drinking water”
Palatka officials have issued a public drinking water notice after recent sampling showed elevated lead levels in more than 10% of homes tested. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
December 5, 2025

Palatka residents warned of lead in drinking water

Water samples showed elevated lead in more than 10% of the homes tested, the city said.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “City Council eyes funding for higher ed and job training”
Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida. | File photo
December 5, 2025

City Council eyes funding for higher ed and job training

The University of North Florida would get $6 million for upgrades to Hodges Stadium and additional practice fields.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Indiana developer says it’s buying Laura Street Trio”
The Laura Street Trio has been deteriorating for decades. | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today
December 5, 2025

Indiana developer says it’s buying Laura Street Trio

Becovic Management Group says it is buying the restored Barnett National Bank Building in addition to the Laura Street Trio.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record and Joe Lister - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Eye surgeon envisions more medical tourism in Jacksonville”
Dr. Arun Gulani is a Jacksonville ophthalmologist who has served people from nearly 100 countries. He says the region's medical tourism industry is ripe for growth. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 4, 2025

Eye surgeon envisions more medical tourism in Jacksonville

Dr. Arun Gulani has served people from nearly 100 countries and believes medical tourism can benefit the region.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Main Street Bridge could become a national landmark”
The Main Street Bridge is featured on a vintage postcard | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today
December 4, 2025

Main Street Bridge could become a national landmark

City lawmakers want to add the iconic Main Street Bridge to the National Register of Historic Places.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Final littoral combat ship destined for Mayport”
The USS Cleveland will join the littoral combat squadron at Naval Station Mayport, the last of its kind, the Navy says. | U.S. Navy
December 4, 2025

Final littoral combat ship destined for Mayport

The U.S. Navy has accepted delivery of the USS Cleveland. The ship will homeport at Mayport Naval Station.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Warm weather forecast for December and the holidays”
Christmas decorations in Orlando, Florida.
December 4, 2025

Warm weather forecast for December and the holidays

NOAA’s latest December outlook predicts the holidays will be drier and warmer than usual.…

By Florida Public Radio Emergency Network

Featured image for “Police officer cleared in shooting of unarmed boy”
State Attorney Melissa Nelson explains why she decided a police officer's shooting of an unarmed boy was lawful. | News4Jax
December 4, 2025

Police officer cleared in shooting of unarmed boy

The police officer was justified in shooting the boy, but communication errors contributed, the state attorney says.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “WHAT TO DO | Tea and Tales; Deck the Chairs; Gullah Geechee Heritage Festival”
The Gullah Geechee Heritage Festival takes over Armstrong Park in St. Johns County this Saturday.
December 3, 2025

WHAT TO DO | Tea and Tales; Deck the Chairs; Gullah Geechee Heritage Festival

A cozy Christmas tale read aloud in Fernandina Beach, a beloved holiday tradition at Jacksonville Beach and the 12th annual…

By Amy Garrett

Featured image for “State CFO touts immigration agenda in St. Johns County”
Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia speaks Wednesday beside (from left) State Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, state Rep. Kiyan Michael, R-Jacksonville, and St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
December 3, 2025

State CFO touts immigration agenda in St. Johns County

CFO Blaise Ingoglia came to the First Coast to discuss his immigration priorities in the upcoming legislative session.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “UNF gets $1.3M grant to develop STEM game”
Emmy Noether is a character in the game Adventures with Emmy, a STEM-related game under development at the University of North Florida. | Art by Vic Sullivan.
December 3, 2025

UNF gets $1.3M grant to develop STEM game

The game, called Adventures with Emmy, will be similar to Dungeons and Dragons but with a STEM theme.…

By Michelle Corum

Featured image for “Paid parking clears first vote in Fernandina Beach”
This parking spot in front of the Downtown Fernandina Beach post office at 401 Centre St could be included in the proposed paid parking plan.
December 3, 2025

Paid parking clears first vote in Fernandina Beach

The City Commission will take a final parking vote on Jan. 6, but a lawsuit and referendum are pending.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “St. Johns deputies kill gunman who threatened coworker”
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office investigates the fatal shooting Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, of a gunman on U.S. 1. | St. Johns County Sheriff's Office
December 3, 2025

St. Johns deputies kill gunman who threatened coworker

The gunman led deputies on a chase down U.S. 1 and yelled “shoot me, shoot me,” the sheriff said.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “JetBlue adding flights from Jacksonville to Puerto Rico”
A JetBlue Airways plane takes off from the Tampa International Airport in Tampa on May 15, 2014. | Chris O'Meara, AP file
December 3, 2025

JetBlue adding flights from Jacksonville to Puerto Rico

JetBlue will begin flying between San Juan and Jacksonville International Airport on March 13.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 6 Historic North Riverside Photographs”
North Riverside's West Lewisville Elementary School was replaced by Forest Park Elementary in 1954.
December 3, 2025

THE JAXSON | 6 Historic North Riverside Photographs

A photographic journey into the history of North Riverside, a neighborhood significantly affected by heavy industry and expressway construction.…

By Ennis Davis

Featured image for “Florida’s fog season begins: What you need to know”
Dense fog over Northeast Florida.
December 3, 2025

Florida’s fog season begins: What you need to know

Florida’s fog season typically runs from late fall through the early spring.…

By Florida Public Radio Emergency Network

Featured image for “A change to who reviews challenged books for Duval Schools”
Protestors demonstrate against removing challenged books from school libraries on Dec. 1, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 2, 2025

A change to who reviews challenged books for Duval Schools

School board members will now each appoint a parent to the committee that reviews challenged books.…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “St. Johns County adopts conservation fee on developers”
A new fee on developers would conserve undeveloped land like this in St. Johns County. | Flickr, Justin Ellenberger
December 2, 2025

St. Johns County adopts conservation fee on developers

The impact fee, phased in over five years, will pay for acquiring sensitive conservation land.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Ben & Jerry’s is coming to Five Points”
The city is reviewing a permit application for Ben & Jerry's in Five Points. | Jacksonville Daily Record
December 2, 2025

Ben & Jerry’s is coming to Five Points

The ice cream shop will be in the former space of Jane Doe Boutique, across from the Five Points Theatre…

By Karen Brune Mathis - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “St. Johns County bans smoking at parks and beaches”
Smoking cigarettes and vape pens is now against the rules in St. Johns County. | Brian Yurasits, Unsplash
December 2, 2025

St. Johns County bans smoking at parks and beaches

Students from Washington Classical Christian School had asked county officials to change smoking rules.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Shakeup shuffles leadership on St. Johns County Commission”
The current St. Johns County commissioners are, from left, Christian Whitehurst, Sarah Arnold, Krista Joseph, Clay Murphy and Ann Taylor. | St. Johns County
December 2, 2025

Shakeup shuffles leadership on St. Johns County Commission

A surprise vote Tuesday dumped the leadership appointed just two weeks ago.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Here’s a chance to keep a piece of Adventure Landing”
A Space Invaders game by Raw Thrills is up for auction at Adventure Landing in Jacksonville Beach. | Bill Ramsey & Associates
December 2, 2025

Here’s a chance to keep a piece of Adventure Landing

An online auction is selling memorabilia and equipment from the closed Adventure Landing entertainment center.…

By Dan Macdonald - Jacksonville Daily Record