PerspectivesCole Pepper Jacksonville Today Contributor
Featured image for “SPORTS | Jaguars trudge to win in Nashville”
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby scores a touchdown during the game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Nashville. | AP Photo, Stew Milne
December 8, 2024

SPORTS | Jaguars trudge to win in Nashville

A win, yes, but by a poor team playing uninspiring football to end a season that isn’t going anywhere.…

By Cole Pepper

Featured image for “Number of the Week | Let’s all go to the movies”
December 6, 2024

Number of the Week | Let’s all go to the movies

Our Number of the Week is the number of First Coast residents per movie theater in our region.…

By Megan Mallicoat and Jessica Palombo

Featured image for “NoCo Center could become apartments and grocery”
December 6, 2024

NoCo Center could become apartments and grocery

A 16-story apartment building and grocery store could replace the former First Baptist Church main auditorium, now called NoCo Center.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Scammers want to make your holidays less merry”
If an online deal seems too good to be true, it could be a scam.
December 6, 2024

Scammers want to make your holidays less merry

The FBI warns people to be careful of spoof charities and hurricane recovery scams.…

By Steven Ponson

Featured image for “Maple Street co-founder has a new idea: Breakfast tacos”
Scott Moore founded Maple Street Biscuit Co. Now he's launching Calico Cactus, A Modern Taco Shop. | Jacksonville Daily Record
December 6, 2024

Maple Street co-founder has a new idea: Breakfast tacos

After selling Maple Street Biscuit Co. for $36 million, Scott Moore is planning Calico Cactus, A Modern Taco Shop.…

By Karen Brune Mathis - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “New Lincolnville park honors two ‘unsung heroes’”
St. Augustine Vice Mayor Barbara Blonder greets George Smith at the grand opening for a new park in Lincolnville honoring him and his late wife Ollie Smith. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 6, 2024

New Lincolnville park honors two ‘unsung heroes’

George and Ollie Smith are little-known pillars of the historically Black Lincolnville community.…

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Cold front arrives in North Florida; warmup to follow”
December 6, 2024

Cold front arrives in North Florida; warmup to follow

The cold front will bring temperatures near freezing from the Panhandle to Jacksonville.…

By Storm Center

Featured image for “Removed Douglas Anderson teacher was accused of sex with 14-year-old”
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts | Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today
December 5, 2024

Removed Douglas Anderson teacher was accused of sex with 14-year-old

Previously unreported records explain the circumstances surrounding Corey Thayer’s removal.…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “Jumbo Shrimp’s stadium now called VyStar Ballpark”
The Jumbo Shrimp's ballpark, soon to be named VyStar Ballpark.
December 5, 2024

Jumbo Shrimp’s stadium now called VyStar Ballpark

The ballpark’s new name is a result of VyStar’s merger with 121 Financial Credit Union.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “UNF gets federal grant to restore national park shorelines”
The shoreline at Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, where Pervious Oyster Shell Habitats units will be installed to combat erosion. | Michelle Corum, Jacksonville Today
December 5, 2024

UNF gets federal grant to restore national park shorelines

A nearly $800,000 grant from the National Park Service will help UNF restore the shoreline at three parks in Florida…

By Michelle Corum

Featured image for “Proposed law would restrict development in state parks”
Anastsia State Park | News4Jax
December 5, 2024

Proposed law would restrict development in state parks

The legislation would prohibit development like the lodge and pickleball courts once proposed at Anastasia State Park in St. Johns…

By News Service of Florida

Featured image for “New Mini Market caters to Downtown crowd”
Matt and Lindsay Moberg opened The Mini Market at 233 N. Hogan St. It is in the former space of Back to the Grind Downtown coffee shop. | Ric Anderson, Jacksonville Daily Record
December 5, 2024

New Mini Market caters to Downtown crowd

The Mini Market sells snacks, gifts, groceries and more to meet the needs of Downtown workers.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Florida’s property insurance market is rebounding”
A dog wades through floodwaters near collapsed homes on the coast of rural Taylor County on Sept. 27, 2024. | Kate Payne, AP
December 5, 2024

Florida’s property insurance market is rebounding

Changes to Florida laws are working as intended to bring the property insurance market back from the brink of collapse.…

By Dara Kam - News Service of Florida

Featured image for “Jacksonville volunteers welcome Gazan boy receiving medical treatment after bombing”
Mohammed Imad, 6, is a Gazan boy who is in Jacksonville to receive treatment for a skull fracture sustained when his home was bombed. Nearly 50 people welcomed Mohammed and his mother at Jacksonville International Airport on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 4, 2024

Jacksonville volunteers welcome Gazan boy receiving medical treatment after bombing

In addition to Tuesday’s arrival in Jacksonville, the nonprofit HEAL Palestine has brought Gazan children to Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco,…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Fallen firefighters honored, as one name is added to memorial”
Melanie O'Shea, widow of Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Engineer Heath O'Shea, accepts a photo of him on Firefighter Memorial Day ceremonies at Station 1 on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
December 4, 2024

Fallen firefighters honored, as one name is added to memorial

Fire Engineer Heath O’Shea was among 26 firefighters remembered during Fallen Firefighter Memorial Day.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Experts say UF meetings violated Sunshine Law”
The University of Florida confirmed that the public has not been allowed to attend board of trustees' private retreats. The university said the law did not apply to the retreats because board members don’t vote or take official actions during those sessions. | Azhalia Pottinger, WUFT News)
December 4, 2024

Experts say UF meetings violated Sunshine Law

The UF board of trustees has met repeatedly in private settings where the public was not allowed to attend.…

By Gabriel Velasquez Neira - WUFT

Featured image for “Two riverfront restaurants marketed at Four Seasons site”
A Colliers brochure touts The Marina Restaurant and Cafe on the Green sites near the Four Seasons Hotel & Residences. | Jacksonville Daily Record
December 4, 2024

Two riverfront restaurants marketed at Four Seasons site

Colliers is promoting the Marina Restaurant and the Cafe on the Green at the Four Seasons Hotel & Residences.…

By Max Marbut - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 14 historic JAXPORT photographs”
December 4, 2024

THE JAXSON | 14 historic JAXPORT photographs

Here’s a photographic journey showing JAXPORT’s facilities over the past 108 years.…

By Ennis Davis

Featured image for “Residents prevail in fight against Pondry development”
A marketing brochure for The Pondry says it “combines workspace, residential living, and commerce in a one-of-a-kind mixed-use ecosystem.” | Jacksonville Daily Record
December 4, 2024

Residents prevail in fight against Pondry development

A City Council committee voted against rezoning the former Allstate Campus to develop The Pondry residences and offices.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Federal judge will consider social media rules for minors”
December 4, 2024

Federal judge will consider social media rules for minors

Starting Jan. 1, kids 13 and under will no longer be able to have a profile on certain social media…

By Adrian Andrews - WFSU

Featured image for “ARTS PICKS | Dec. 6-8”
December 4, 2024

ARTS PICKS | Dec. 6-8

A storytelling competition, free concert Downtown, a local makers’ market, and free Flamenco fusion concert at the Beaches are this…

By Matthew Shaw

Featured image for “Women’s pro soccer arrives in Jacksonville”
Sporting Jax President and CEO Steve Livingstone shows one of the billboards that will promote Jacksonville's first professional women's sports team. | News4Jax
December 3, 2024

Women’s pro soccer arrives in Jacksonville

Jacksonville’s first professional women’s sports team — the Sporting Jax soccer club — will kick off in August 2025.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Stuck at a stoplight? Outdated traffic signals might be why”
A traffic signal stops vehicles at Sunbeam Road in Jacksonville.
December 3, 2024

Stuck at a stoplight? Outdated traffic signals might be why

A new study concludes that delays at traffic signals cause congestion and accidents, harm the environment and endanger pedestrians.…

By Camila Gomez - WUSF

Featured image for “FPL will increase bills to cover $1.2B in hurricane costs”
FPL workers restore power after Hurricane Helene in Madison County. | Mike Exline, News Service of Florida
December 3, 2024

FPL will increase bills to cover $1.2B in hurricane costs

The Florida Public Service Commission gave FPL approval to raise bills about $12 per month for the average customer.…

By Jim Turner - News Service of Florida