Featured image for “Are these truths self-evident at America 250? Some Black Jaxsons say no.”

Johnnetta Betsch Cole, Ph. D., narrated a performance of the Ritz Chamber Players’ commemoration of Juneteenth and celebration of Black Music Month on Saturday, June 20, 2026. “Free at Last: The Evolution of the American Spiritual” was a 20-song performance to the music that honed and energized enslaved people. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

Are these truths self-evident at America 250? Some Black Jaxsons say no.

Ahead of America 250, some believe Florida and the U.S. are not living up to the ethos of the country’s…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “How the Christobel sewer project improves community connections”

U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, R-Jacksonville, says connections between his office, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan's office and the federal Environmental Protection Agency helped secure $6.7 million in funding to remove septic tanks from the Christobel community in Northwest Jacksonville. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

How the Christobel sewer project improves community connections

The Christobel Septic Tank Phase Out Project fulfills a longstanding infrastructure promise to Northwest Jacksonville.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Corrections officer rebuilds memorial to victims of Dollar General murders”

Jacksonville corrections officer Mary Malcolm tends to the memorial she and her family rebuilt that commemorates the three people gunned down in a racially motivated shooting at the Dollar General store on Kings Road. The first memorial was destroyed in late April of 2026. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today

Corrections officer rebuilds memorial to victims of Dollar General murders

Mary Malcolm was moved to take action after someone destroyed the original memorial to victims of the racial killings.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “DeSantis’ office devotes millions to Northwest Jax job training programs, Boys & Girls Clubs”

Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, state Rep. Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville, and Jacksonville City Council Member Ju'Coby Pittman announce a $3 million investment in job training programs in Northwest Jacksonville on Thursday, April 16, 2026, near a memorial to the victims of a race-motivated shooting at a Dollar General in Grand Park. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today

DeSantis’ office devotes millions to Northwest Jax job training programs, Boys & Girls Clubs

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office devoted $3 million to Northwest Jacksonville training programs that will provide skills for trades and medical…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Black Democrats decry state’s stance on affirmative action”

Black lawmakers protest the attorney general's stance on affirmative action in the Florida Capitol on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. | News Service of Florida

January 23, 2026

Black Democrats decry state’s stance on affirmative action

Black lawmakers denounced a memo from Attorney General James Uthmeier saying affirmative action laws are discriminatory.…

By Dara Kam - News Service of Florida

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