PerspectivesMike Clark Jacksonville Today Contributor
Featured image for “OPINION | Battle of Olustee, now a celebration, was infamous for its cruelty to Black troops”
Battle of Olustee drawing circa 1864 | State Archives of Florida
February 9, 2025

OPINION | Battle of Olustee, now a celebration, was infamous for its cruelty to Black troops

The annual Battle of Olustee reenactment and festivities are Feb. 14 through 16.…

By Mike Clark

Featured image for “Land swap for UF could bring new riverfront tower”
The Gateway Jax development would include 11 floors of residences, five floors of hotel rooms, two floors of podium parking and lobbies, a floor of public food and beverage space, and a public sky garden terrace. | Gateway Jax via Jacksonville Daily Record
February 7, 2025

Land swap for UF could bring new riverfront tower

The Downtown Investment Authority is proposing a swap of two city-owned riverfront properties with Gateway Jax.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Prosecutors say they discussed ‘nothing’ with witness after he alleged ‘false testimony’”
February 7, 2025

Prosecutors say they discussed ‘nothing’ with witness after he alleged ‘false testimony’

Prosecutors say nothing came of a meeting with a witness who said he gave “false testimony” in the Bridegan murder…

By Anne Schindler

Featured image for “Duval jail settles lawsuit for $300K in inmate’s death”
Inmate Dexter Barry didn’t receive his anti-rejection medications while in the Duval County jail. He died a few days after he was released. | Courtesy photo via the Tributary
February 7, 2025

Duval jail settles lawsuit for $300K in inmate’s death

Jail inmate Dexter Barry never received the medication he needed after a heart transplant. He died a few days later.…

By Nichole Manna - The Tributary

Featured image for “NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Spending Florida’s money”
Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposed budget | Chart by Megan Mallicoat
February 7, 2025

NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Spending Florida’s money

What’s in Gov. DeSantis’ proposed budget, plus a look at how past final state budgets have compared to the governor’s…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “Southwest and Breeze add flights at Jacksonville airport”
A Southwest Airlines plane lands at Manchester Boston Regional Airport in June 2023. | Charles Krupa, AP
February 7, 2025

Southwest and Breeze add flights at Jacksonville airport

Southwest is adding a flight to Austin, Texas, and Breeze has begun flying to New Haven, Connecticut.…

By Randy Roguski

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | VyStar Foundation grant winners”
Five local organizations were among the VyStar Foundation's grant awardees. | Submitted
February 7, 2025

BIT OF JOY | VyStar Foundation grant winners

Five Northeast Florida organizations have scored grants from the VyStar Foundation, which awarded a total of $202,621 to 11 youth-focused nonprofits. The…

By Heather Henderson

Featured image for “JAXPORT leaders project confidence amid tariff, Panama Canal uncertainty”
JAXPORT Chief Commercial Officer Robert Peek (left) chats with port CEO Eric Green during the 2025 State of the Port on Feb. 6, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 6, 2025

JAXPORT leaders project confidence amid tariff, Panama Canal uncertainty

Business diversity and investments in infrastructure are keeping officials optimistic at JAXPORT, Florida’s largest port by container volume.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Couple sues after Sea-Doo pontoon flips on toddler”
Vianca Grullon in a life preserver. | Provided by attorney Judd Rosen
February 6, 2025

Couple sues after Sea-Doo pontoon flips on toddler

Fifteen-month-old Vianca Grullon was trapped under the Sea-Doo Switch after it flipped on Black Creek.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Planned walking trail suddenly dead in St. Johns County”
The trail would have been built along the curvy two-lane Shore Drive, near the Matanzas River south of St. Augustine. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
February 6, 2025

Planned walking trail suddenly dead in St. Johns County

The trail south of St. Augustine died this week, a year after county commissioners approved the very same plans. …

By Noah Hertz

Featured image for “Trash fee increase still uncertain despite mayor’s support”
February 6, 2025

Trash fee increase still uncertain despite mayor’s support

Mayor Donna Deegan says she supports increasing the fee to cover the costs of collecting trash.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record and Michelle Corum

Featured image for “February’s rapid warmup could bring an early spring”
February 6, 2025

February’s rapid warmup could bring an early spring

For the next few weeks, expect warmer temperatures and drier weather across Florida.…

By Leslie Hudson - Storm Center

Featured image for “Fernandina Beach rejects bioethanol plant”
February 6, 2025

Fernandina Beach rejects bioethanol plant

The plant proposed by Rayonier Advanced Materials had met significant community pushback.…

By Khalil Maycock - News4Jax

Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Get married on Valentine’s Day”
Have an extra special Valentine's Day by tying the knot in a group ceremony in St. Augustine. | St. Johns County
February 6, 2025

BIT OF JOY | Get married on Valentine’s Day

Sure, you could celebrate Valentine’s Day by going out to dinner, or you could make it truly unforgettable by getting…

By Heather Henderson

Featured image for “Jags hire new offensive coordinator from Vikings”
Jacksonville Jaguars have hired Grant Udinski as its new Offensive Coordinator. | Jacksonville Jaguars
February 6, 2025

Jags hire new offensive coordinator from Vikings

The Jaguars’ new offensive coordinator is Grant Udinski, who was assistant offensive coordinator/assistant quarterbacks coach in Minnesota.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Star witness recants testimony in Bridegan murder case”
Jared Bridegan | Jacksonville Beach Police Department
February 6, 2025

Star witness recants testimony in Bridegan murder case

Henry Tennon stated during a court hearing that he wanted to recant his testimony in the high-profile slaying of Jared…

By Anne Schindler

Featured image for “Duval school officials respond to fears over federal immigration rules”
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers should be allowed access to school buildings, says Duval Schools attorney Ray Poole. | AP Photo/Alex Brandon
February 5, 2025

Duval school officials respond to fears over federal immigration rules

ICE agents have not come to local schools, but local officials are thinking about how to respond.…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “Historic Mayport lighthouse may get a new home”
The Mayport lighthouse stands inside a fence at Naval Station Mayport. | Mayport Lighthouse Association
February 5, 2025

Historic Mayport lighthouse may get a new home

The Mayport Lighthouse Association wants to move the 166-year-old lighthouse from the naval base to Mayport Village.…

By Michelle Corum

Featured image for “Pediatric center coming to palliative care facility”
An artist rendition of the Dorion Family Pediatric Center at the Mandarin campus of Community Hospice and Palliative Care. | Community Hospice & Palliative Care
February 5, 2025

Pediatric center coming to palliative care facility

Community Hospice & Palliative Care has begun construction of the Dorion Family Pediatric Center in Mandarin.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “ARTS PICKS | Feb. 7-9”
A celebration of the work of Joan Mitchell is on display at MOCA. | MOCA
February 5, 2025

ARTS PICKS | Feb. 7-9

3 things to see this weekend: A new painting exhibit at MOCA, a dance world premiere in Jax Beach, and…

By Matthew Shaw

Featured image for “Main Street program sparks historic Eastside corridor”
A crowd fills A. Philip Randolph Boulevard during a Melanin Market in 2023. | LIFT JAX
February 5, 2025

Main Street program sparks historic Eastside corridor

Florida Avenue Main Street aims to transform A. Philip Randolph Boulevard into a bustling business district.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Higher trash fees headed for final City Council vote”
Despite rising costs, Jacksonville residents have paid the same amount for trash collection for 15 years.
February 5, 2025

Higher trash fees headed for final City Council vote

Three of four City Council committees voted in favor of the proposed increase.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Gateway Jax takes step toward expanding into Springfield”
The former Park View Inn at 901 N. Main St., bordered by Main, State, Ocean and Orange streets. | Jacksonville Daily Record
February 5, 2025

Gateway Jax takes step toward expanding into Springfield

A City Council committee approved legislation to facilitate a mixed-use development on North Main Street.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Data breach exposes student data in St. Johns County”
February 5, 2025

Data breach exposes student data in St. Johns County

The breach at PowerSchool, an educational service company, included students’ names, contact information and dates of birth.…

By Melanie Lawson - News4Jax