Featured image for “Tourists can still get free orange juice entering Florida”
Florida orange juice will continue to flow at welcome centers targeting tourists who travel to the state, despite a promotional budget cut. | Florida Welcome Centers
May 9, 2024

Tourists can still get free orange juice entering Florida

Free orange juice will continue to flow at interstate welcome centers despite a budget cut for promotional efforts.…

Featured image for “Heat index could hit triple digits in Jacksonville”
May 9, 2024

Heat index could hit triple digits in Jacksonville

Temperatures this week could be the hottest of the year across the Sunshine State, hitting mid- to upper-90s in North…

Featured image for “Wanted: Bus drivers for Duval Schools”
May 8, 2024

Wanted: Bus drivers for Duval Schools

Duval Schools needs about 50 new bus drivers and some mechanics this fall.…

Featured image for “Shipyards West Park: Here’s what’s planned”
Senior volunteers from the USS Orleck maritime museum, on the west side of the planned Shipyards West Park, look at design drawings for the site. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 8, 2024

Shipyards West Park: Here’s what’s planned

The plans, 60% complete, include a cafe, open lawn for events, boardwalk, sports courts, kayak and boat rental, and more.…

Featured image for “Sports foundation launched to bring events to Jax”
Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida compete Sept. 23, 2023, at Southern Oak Stadium. | Official Florida FC
May 8, 2024

Sports foundation launched to bring events to Jax

The Jacksonville Sports Foundation will try to lure major sporting events to town. Meanwhile, the ASUN Conference is moving its…

Featured image for “Roundabout nearly done at Edgewood and Roosevelt”
The new Edgewood Avenue roundabout and medians are under construction. The Roosevelt Boulevard overpass is shown in the background. | Florida Department of Transportation
May 8, 2024

Roundabout nearly done at Edgewood and Roosevelt

State transportation officials say the project should improve traffic flow for drivers entering or exiting Roosevelt Boulevard.…

Featured image for “Jaguars stadium deal to be revealed Tuesday”
The Jacksonville Jaguars have proposed the team and city share the cost of renovating EverBank Stadium. | Jacksonville Jaguars
May 8, 2024

Jaguars stadium deal to be revealed Tuesday

A long-awaited agreement on the Jaguars’ “Stadium of the Future” is ready to go to the City Council for review.…

Featured image for “DeSantis signs bill increasing penalties for street racing”
A state trooper on patrol along the Gandy Bridge in Tampa pulled over a Nissan GTR traveling over 100 mph on Oct. 20, 2023. The driver was charged with street racing. | Florida Highway Patrol via WUSF
May 8, 2024

DeSantis signs bill increasing penalties for street racing

Rep. Kiyan Michael, a Jacksonville Republican, co-sponsored the bill. She said current penalities have not been a deterrent for many…

Featured image for “Florida challenges feds on gender-affirming care”
Members of the LGBTQ community protested the gender-affirming care ban at a medical board meeting. | Daylina Miller, WUSF Pubic Media
May 8, 2024

Florida challenges feds on gender-affirming care

Florida says a federal health care rule clashes with the state’s efforts to restrict treatments for transgender people.…

Featured image for “Home2 Suites hotel opens in Brooklyn area”
Home2 Suites by Hilton Downtown Jacksonville is an all-suites property at 600 Park St. in Brooklyn. | Corner Lot
May 8, 2024

Home2 Suites hotel opens in Brooklyn area

The Home2 Suites by Hilton Jacksonville Downtown is an all-suites property at 600 Park St. Players Grille will open there…

Featured image for “ARTS PICKS | May 10-12”
Credit: Photo by Toni Smailagic, courtesy of @cre8jax
May 8, 2024

ARTS PICKS | May 10-12

Jacksonville Today Arts and Culture Editor Matt Shaw shares his arts and culture picks for the weekend.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The year of the Downtown public space”
City officials cut the ribbon on the LaVilla Link of the Emerald Trail this week
May 8, 2024

THE JAXSON | The year of the Downtown public space

At long last, several high-profile parks in Downtown Jacksonville have opened this year, with more on the way in the…

Featured image for “2 Duval superintendent candidates advance as finalists ”
A crowd gathers before the School Board meeting on Tuesday, many to protest the potential closure of some schools. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
May 7, 2024

2 Duval superintendent candidates advance as finalists 

The Duval County School Board selected two candidates Tuesday as the finalists in its search for a new superintendent.…

Featured image for “Affordable housing plan denied near World Golf Village”
An affordable housing complex was proposed on this land near County Road 16 and Silverleaf Parkway in St. Johns County. | Google
May 7, 2024

Affordable housing plan denied near World Golf Village

Citing traffic concerns, the St. Johns County Commission voted against a 288-unit affordable housing proposal called The Preserve at Ward’s…

Featured image for “Service dogs help law enforcement carry the load”
Buster, one of four Jacksonville Sheriff's Office service dogs, sits during a news conference Tuesday, May 7, 2024. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 7, 2024

Service dogs help law enforcement carry the load

First responders from around the First Coast gathered Tuesday to honor their station dogs as part of Mental Health Awareness…

Featured image for “Hurricane Idalia gifted Florida with a flock of flamingos”
American Flamingos wade in Marco Island in September 2023 after Hurricane Idalia. | Col Lazau, special To WGCU
May 7, 2024

Hurricane Idalia gifted Florida with a flock of flamingos

Florida again has a flock of 101 wild American flamingos in several places, and Audubon Florida says there may be…

Featured image for “X Games considers TV event at Jacksonville skate park”
Artist Walk rendering
May 7, 2024

X Games considers TV event at Jacksonville skate park

The X Games asked the city about staging a one-day Skateboard Street event this summer at the new Artist Walk…

Featured image for “Baptist Health agrees to $1.5 million settlement”
Baptist Medical Center. | Sky Lebron, Jacksonville Today
May 6, 2024

Baptist Health agrees to $1.5 million settlement

Baptist settled allegations from the federal government involving discounts offered to some Medicare beneficiaries.…

Featured image for “Amelia recognized as ‘best island’ in US ”
Sailboats are moored on the Amelia River in Fernandina Beach's historic waterfront district. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 6, 2024

Amelia recognized as ‘best island’ in US 

Amelia Island was selected in a survey by Global Traveler Magazine. It topped destinations like Maui and Hilton Head.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville aims to curb its mental health issues”
Mayor Donna Deegan announces the city's new mental health initiatives on Monday, May 6, 2024. | News4Jax
May 6, 2024

Jacksonville aims to curb its mental health issues

Mayor Donna Deegan announced three new programs to address Jacksonville’s higher-than-average mental health problems.…

Featured image for “Bento restaurants close in Riverside and Jax Beach”
Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi has closed at 50 Riverside Ave. in the Brooklyn neighborhood and at 1198 Beach Blvd. in Jacksonville Beach. | Jacksonville Daily Record
May 6, 2024

Bento restaurants close in Riverside and Jax Beach

The Bento location at the Markets at St. Johns Town Center remains open.…

Featured image for “LaVilla Link goes green as first stretch of Emerald Trail opens”
A walker strolls over part of the 1.3-mile LaVilla Link, just after it officially opened Monday, May 6, as the first leg of the planned 34-mile-long Emerald Trail in Jacksonville. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
May 6, 2024

LaVilla Link goes green as first stretch of Emerald Trail opens

The first link in the 30-mile biking and walking trail opened Monday, the first step to connect parts of Downtown…

Featured image for “Boathouse restaurant opens in Ponte Vedra Beach”
The Boathouse restaurant is at 240 State Road A1A in Ponte Vedra Beach. It is in the former Zoes Kitchen in the Merchants Plaza shopping center. | Dan Macdonald, Jacksonville Daily Record
May 6, 2024

Boathouse restaurant opens in Ponte Vedra Beach

The restaurant, which is in Merchants Plaza shopping center, serves upscale food in a casual setting.…

Featured image for “Related Group high-rise resurfaces on Southbank”
The Related Group is proposing a 25-story residential tower, a river-facing restaurant and a ship store at the site for the former River City Brewery on the Downtown Southbank. | Jacksonville Daily Record
May 6, 2024

Related Group high-rise resurfaces on Southbank

The plan calls for a 25-story tower with no fewer than 390 luxury units, a river-facing restaurant, a ship store…