News
Browse dated, source-linked local coverage from across Northeast Florida. Use the archive links to move through older stories, or open a section from the site navigation to follow a specific topic.
Infrastructure
St. Johns County approves $1.9B budget with $264M for capital projects
The Board of County Commissioners held the property-tax rate flat while approving a fiscal 2027 spending plan that commits a quarter-billion dollars to roads, facilities, and other capital improvements.
Healthcare Infrastructure
UF Health Opens 99-Bed Hospital, Medical Campus in Durbin Park
The new 42.5-acre campus off State Road 9B brings a full-service emergency room, six operating suites, and 72,000 square feet of specialty care to one of the fastest-growing parts of St. Johns County.
Infrastructure
JAXPORT names new Blount Island roadway for late operations chief
The port authority approved construction of a western entrance and security plaza at Blount Island Marine Terminal, naming the route James Bennett Way after the COO who oversaw the project before his death in 2025.
Housing
Habitat for Humanity Reaches 200-Home Milestone in St. Johns County
The nonprofit has built affordable workforce housing across five St. Johns County developments since 1992, with more than 80% of homes still occupied by original owners.
Real Estate
Homeowners in Northeast Florida see higher financial satisfaction amid costs
A national survey finds two-thirds of homeowners report financial satisfaction versus less than half of renters, a gap that may be widening as Jacksonville-area home values and equity climb.
Real Estate
Florida Renters: What Landlords Can—and Can't—Deduct from Security Deposits
A Fort Lauderdale attorney's answer to a tenant dispute highlights the statewide legal line between ordinary wear and tear and actual damage—protections that apply to Northeast Florida renters, too.
Real Estate
55-Plus Communities Lack Aging-in-Place Standards, Realtors Warn
The 55-plus label doesn't guarantee homes are built for aging in place, a concern for Northeast Florida's growing senior-housing market as baby boomers account for 42% of buyers statewide.
Education
Jacksonville's River City Readers pairs kids with shelter pets for literacy event
Second graders from Fort Caroline Elementary read to animals at ACPS as part of a citywide literacy program that has logged more than 3 million reading minutes since 2023.
Housing
Jacksonville region issued 1,291 home permits as Florida activity rebounded
Duval County accounted for 431 permits and St. Johns County for 338 in August, according to figures published by Florida Realtors from HBW.
Community
Palm Coast volunteers remove more than 800 pounds of waste near Intracoastal
More than 250 people joined Palm Coast’s annual cleanup, beginning at the Community Center and working near Waterfront Park.
Traffic Alert
Whiteview Parkway overnight closures planned Oct. 5-8 at Belle Terre
Palm Coast plans eastbound lane closures and intermittent road closures from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. while crews install new traffic signals.
Transportation
County Road 220 bridge replacement opens ahead of schedule in Clay County
The completed project adds a four-lane bridge over Little Black Creek and includes intersection work at Rideout Ferry Road.
Real Estate
Florida insurance rate cuts approved for more than 62,000 homes
Four insurers received approval for homeowners-rate reductions ranging from 3.2% to 10.4%, while regulators review additional decrease requests.
Utilities
Palm Coast utility rates change Oct. 1 across four services
Water, wastewater, stormwater and solid-waste charges on Palm Coast utility bills will change Oct. 1 under previously approved rate schedules and service agreements.
Economic Development
St. Johns County links entrepreneurs to local business resources
More than 50 people attended a county resource event connecting entrepreneurs with business planning, capital, mentoring and professional support.
Community
Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing Park hosts free concert series Sept. 27
The fifth installment of The Pop-Out live music series brings headliners from Michigan to downtown Jacksonville's waterfront park, with food trucks and vendors on the lawn.
Local Government
Clay County students shadow commissioners in civic-engagement program
Five high schoolers spent Tuesday as commissioners for a day in Green Cove Springs, part of an ongoing effort to introduce teens to how county decisions are made.
Real Estate
New credit-score option expands mortgage access in Northeast Florida
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac now allow all approved lenders to use VantageScore 4. 0, opening a potential pathway for buyers with nontraditional credit histories who are close to qualifying.
Real Estate
Jacksonville home prices rise as tight inventory offsets slower sales
Statewide data show median single-family home prices up over 1% in August despite declining sales, a pattern playing out across Northeast Florida's competitive housing market.
Infrastructure
St. Johns County Explores Beach Trolley to Unlock Federal Funding
A preliminary concept for public transit along South Ponte Vedra and Vilano beaches could reduce the county's share of a major coastal restoration project by increasing public beach access.
Real Estate
Jacksonville real estate pros push mentorship to close skills gap
As Northeast Florida's market evolves, veteran agents say new licensees need more than scripts and CRM systems to serve buyers and sellers effectively.
Real Estate
Seller impersonation scams surge in Florida real estate market
A national study found 59% of title firms encountered fraudsters posing as property owners in 2025, up sharply from 28% a year earlier, with vacant land and absentee-owner parcels the top targets.
Recreation
Palm Harbor Golf Club sets new rates for 2026-27 peak season
The city-owned course in Palm Coast will charge residents $55. 60 for morning rounds starting October 1, with discounted junior rates to grow the game.
Conservation
St. Johns County Residents Weigh In on Beach Access and Wildlife Protection Plan
More than 1,000 people responded to a county survey shaping the renewal of a 20-year Habitat Conservation Plan that balances beach driving, coastal development, and sea turtle and beach mouse habitat.
City Budget
Palm Coast to vote on $534M budget, 4. 14 millage rate Sept. 23
The Palm Coast City Council will consider a $533. 9 million fiscal-year 2027 budget and set a property-tax rate during a public meeting next week, with a separate $4 million redevelopment fund for the SR 100 corridor also on the agenda.
Education
St. Johns County School Board sets Sept. 22 workshop
The district has scheduled a public workshop for Tuesday morning, with in-person and virtual attendance options available.
Housing
Jacksonville launches rental-property database with code violations, evictions
A new searchable site shows code enforcement history and eviction filings for Duval County rental units, giving tenants transparency into property conditions before they sign a lease.
Education
St. Johns Schools Begin Review of World Languages Instructional Materials
The district is inviting parents and community members to help evaluate new textbooks and digital resources for foreign language classes across St. Johns County.
Education
St. Johns County Schools Begin Review of Career & Technical Ed Materials
The district has opened public review of instructional materials for CTE programs, with committee slots available to parents through October 30.
Real Estate
Northeast Florida home prices rise despite slower sales as inventory tightens
Statewide inventory fell more than 10% in August, keeping upward pressure on median prices for both single-family homes and condos even as closed sales slipped.
