Reporting on local and state politics, elections, legislation, and the leaders shaping policy in Jacksonville and Florida.
Featured image for “Florida seeks to expand Atlantic red snapper season”
Gov. Ron DeSantis points to increases in fishing due to state management of the Florida Gulf red snapper season. The governor spoke Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, at the Amelia Island Marina, | News4Jax
November 10, 2025

Florida seeks to expand Atlantic red snapper season

The state is asking the federal government for permission to oversee red snapper fishing off Florida’s East Coast.…

Featured image for “Pinellas radio station argues 1st Amendment case in Jax”
Representatives of the Black Power 96 radio station in St. Petersburg speak after a court hearing Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in Jacksonville. | Michelle Corum, Jacksonville Today
November 6, 2025

Pinellas radio station argues 1st Amendment case in Jax

The radio station, Black Power 96, says Pinellas County withheld COVID relief funds for racial reasons.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Where can I donate to a local food pantry?”
Fresh milk and bagged goods are ready for pickup at the Mandarin Food Bank's food pantry. | Mandarin Food Bank
October 28, 2025

#AskJAXTDY | Where can I donate to a local food pantry?

The U.S. government shutdown could leave millions of people without enough food. Here are places to help.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board’s scaled-back request to hire own attorney will go to Tallahassee”
Duval County School Board Chair Charlotte Joyce speaks during a School Board meeting. | Jacksonville Today
October 23, 2025

Duval School Board’s scaled-back request to hire own attorney will go to Tallahassee

A compromise bill says the city’s top counsel would have the final say over legal opinions issued by the school…

Featured image for “Bakery helps federal workers weather the shutdown”
Bakery manager Linda Holfinger consults her Pie Chart in the kitchen of The Pie Heaven Bakery Cafe in Atlantic Beach. The bakery is offering free chicken pot pies to those working without pay during the government shutdown. | Michelle Corum, Jacksonville Today
October 20, 2025

Bakery helps federal workers weather the shutdown

The Pie Heaven Bakery Cafe in Atlantic Beach is offering free pot pies for unpaid workers during the shutdown.…

Featured image for “Palatka officials continue to discuss embattled city manager”
Palatka City Manager Marcia Carty is sworn in in September 2024. | City of Palatka
October 17, 2025

Palatka officials continue to discuss embattled city manager

City commissioners will meet again Monday to consider complaints about City Manager Marcia Carty.…

Featured image for “Brunswick judge resigns after DUI at Jacksonville club”
Brunswick Judge Robert Guy has resigned after he was charged with DUI in Jacksonville. | Judicial Council of Georgia
October 17, 2025

Brunswick judge resigns after DUI at Jacksonville club

Judge Robert W. Guy was charged after a truck was hit outside Wacko’s Gentlemen’s Club on the Southside.…

Featured image for “Fleming Island lawmaker designated as House speaker”
Rep. Sam Garrison, R-Fleming Island, was formally designated Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, to become the next Florida House speaker. | Tom Urban, News Service of Florida
October 9, 2025

Fleming Island lawmaker designated as House speaker

Republican Rep. Sam Garrison will be the first House speaker from Clay County since John Thrasher in 1999 and 2000.…

Featured image for “2 Jacksonville roads would be renamed for Charlie Kirk under proposed bill”
Charlie Kirk speaks during a town hall meeting on March 17, 2025, in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. | Jeffrey Phelps, AP
October 9, 2025

2 Jacksonville roads would be renamed for Charlie Kirk under proposed bill

A state lawmaker has filed a bill to rename roads for Charlie Kirk at UNF and other colleges and universities.…

Featured image for “Florida growth law draws another legal challenge”
October 9, 2025

Florida growth law draws another legal challenge

The new law temporarily prohibits changes in growth plans, including one in St. Johns County.…

Featured image for “State development law hits home in St. Johns County”
St. Johns County Commissioner Ann Taylor wears handcuffs to illustrate what she says is an attack on home rule. | Screenshot from St. Johns County livestream.
October 8, 2025

State development law hits home in St. Johns County

A new law in Florida limits how local governments can respond to development after hurrricanes.…

Featured image for “These Florida laws will go into effect Oct. 1”
The Florida Historic Capitol Museum and State Capitol in Tallahassee.
September 29, 2025

These Florida laws will go into effect Oct. 1

Nearly 30 new laws, including part of a wide-ranging tax package, will take effect Wednesday.…

Featured image for “Florida DOGE launches audits in Broward and Gainesville”
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July 22, 2025

Florida DOGE launches audits in Broward and Gainesville

The task force wants access to buildings and data systems as well as information on DEI and green initiatives.…

Featured image for “Next council president seeks new approach to Downtown development”
Jacksonville City Council President-designate Kevin Carrico, left, and Vice President-designate Nick Howland celebrate after their elections Tuesday night. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Today
May 29, 2025

Next council president seeks new approach to Downtown development

Kevin Carrico wants to give City Council more say over the CEO of the Downtown Investment Authority.…

Featured image for “Jax Council finalizes city’s first garbage fee increase since 2010”
Homeowners received these notices of the trash fee increase this month. | Jessica Palombo, Jacksonville Today
May 27, 2025

Jax Council finalizes city’s first garbage fee increase since 2010

City lawmakers’ move to increase Jacksonville’s garbage fee for the first time in 15 years is meant to tackle a…

Featured image for “FAMU groups protest Marva Johnson as president”
Letters spell out FAMU in the Capitol courtyard during FAMU Day in Tallahassee. | Adrian Andrews, WFSU Public Media
May 23, 2025

FAMU groups protest Marva Johnson as president

Nearly 1,000 people participated in a Zoom meeting to discuss political and economic responses.…

Featured image for “FAMU chooses president despite community concerns”
Increasingly, Florida universities are choosing politicians as presidents. | Shock, stock.adobe.com
May 19, 2025

FAMU chooses president despite community concerns

Community members expressed concern about Marva Johnson’s politics and her lack of education experience.…

Featured image for “Search for president divides FAMU community”
Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor and Bethel AME Pastor Michael Price
May 9, 2025

Search for president divides FAMU community

Candidate interviews are scheduled next week, and the board of trustees will choose the new president May 16.…

Featured image for “City Council overrides mayor’s veto of pay hike for trash hauler; mayor vows not to pay”
A Meridian Waste garbage truck. | Meridian Waste
January 14, 2025

City Council overrides mayor’s veto of pay hike for trash hauler; mayor vows not to pay

“If it needs to go to a legal action, then that’s what we will have to do,” said Deegan. “We…

Featured image for “Decorum rules at Jax City Hall meetings could tighten”
Members of the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network toss signs up in the air while being escorted out of an October 22, 2024, Jacksonville City Council meeting. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
January 9, 2025

Decorum rules at Jax City Hall meetings could tighten

Finger snapping and sign waving would be added to the list of prohibited behaviors by the public, among other changes.…

Featured image for “Councilman questions Deegan’s expenses on London trip”
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan speaks at a town hall meeting. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
October 28, 2024

Councilman questions Deegan’s expenses on London trip

City Councilman Terrence Freeman claims Mayor Donna Deegan skipped out on her duties while in London.…

Featured image for “Here’s when early voting begins on the First Coast”
The Duval County Supervisor of Elections office provides signs in English and Spanish outside the Duval County Public Library Mandarin Branch location to notify voters where they can cast their ballot. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 18, 2024

Here’s when early voting begins on the First Coast

Early voting begins next week across Northeast Florida. Dates and times vary by county.…

Featured image for “Land conservation is on the ballot for Clay County voters”
Hurricane Milton flooded areas near Doctors Lake in Fleming Island that had been set aside for conservation. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 18, 2024

Land conservation is on the ballot for Clay County voters

Voters will decide whether to increase taxes by 0.2 mills to go toward land conservation efforts.…

Featured image for “Atlantic Beach, Jax Beach voters to weigh charter questions in November”
Bill Killingsworth, city manager for Atlantic Beach, explains the questions voters will see on their ballots this November at an election event hosted by Beaches Watch at the Beaches Branch Library. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today
October 18, 2024

Atlantic Beach, Jax Beach voters to weigh charter questions in November

Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach ballot questions, explained. Here’s what a yes does for each of the 8 questions.…