Technology
Public Health
Three Jacksonville ZIP Codes Rank Among Florida's Worst for Child Gun Injuries
Hospital data from 2018 to 2024 shows Jacksonville has three of the state's 10 worst ZIP codes for pediatric firearm injuries, concentrated in neighborhoods west and north of downtown.
August 25, 2026
Consumer Protection
Jacksonville residents trapped in home repair scams despite state licenses
Two home-repair companies with extensive complaint records continue to operate in Northeast Florida with active state contractor licenses, ensnaring elderly homeowners in inflated loans and liens.
August 25, 2026
Politics
Jacksonville Rep. Angie Nixon wins Democratic U.S. Senate primary, will face Moody in November
Jacksonville state lawmaker Angie Nixon defeated Alex Vindman in Tuesday's Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, setting up a November showdown with Republican incumbent Ashley Moody for the seat vacated by Marco Rubio.
August 19, 2026
Education
All Three Duval County School Board Races Head to November Runoffs
With no candidate winning outright in Districts 2, 4, and 6, November runoffs will determine the board's composition as two conservative members exit and the district faces enrollment declines and school closure decisions.
August 19, 2026
Public Safety
Jacksonville Sheriff attends political rally hours after 14th JSO shooting of 2026
Sheriff T.K. Waters appeared at a Byron Donalds gubernatorial victory event in Orlando while Chief Michael Paul briefed media on the latest officer-involved shooting in Jacksonville.
August 19, 2026
Elections
Criminal defense attorney Matt Lufrano wins Duval County court judge race
Lufrano captured 57% of the vote to fill the County Court Judge Group 1 seat, defeating personal injury attorney Latoya Williams Shelton in Tuesday's primary election for a six-year term on Jacksonville's county court bench.
August 19, 2026
Election 2026
Duval County Primary Turnout Lags State Leaders as Northeast Florida Voters Head to Polls
With polls closing at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Duval County's 12.19% early and mail-in voting rate trails regional neighbors, while Flagler County ranks among Florida's highest-turnout counties at over 19%.
August 18, 2026
Education
Duval School Board Race Focuses on Violence Despite Five-Year Decline in Fighting
Three Republican candidates vying for the District 6 school board seat are campaigning on student discipline, even as state data shows fighting incidents have dropped 16% since 2022. Meanwhile, the district faces budget pressures, enrollment decline, and a millage renewal vote.
August 17, 2026
Healthcare
$18.5M Rural Health Grant Targets Northeast Florida Preventive Care Access
Florida awards $188 million statewide to expand rural healthcare, with Northeast Florida receiving the state's largest single grant for preventive and at-home services under a five-year federal transformation program.
August 16, 2026
Health Care
Federal Appeals Court Grills Florida Over Medicaid Termination Process
A federal appeals panel expressed deep skepticism over how the DeSantis administration handled Medicaid terminations after the pandemic, with one judge calling the state's notices to beneficiaries 'pretty bad.' The case could affect hundreds of thousands of Northeast Florida residents.
August 15, 2026
Education
Clay County School Board Challengers Pitch Change as Incumbents Skip Forum
Four candidates vying for three Clay County School Board seats outlined their platforms at a League of Women Voters forum Monday, while all three incumbents were absent ahead of the Aug. 18 primary election that could decide the races.
August 15, 2026
Elections
1.33 Million Early Votes Cast in Florida Primary as Tuesday Election Nears
With early voting ending this weekend, Republicans have cast more in-person ballots while Democrats lead in mail returns. Duval County has seen nearly 40,000 early votes and 18,400 outstanding mail ballots ahead of Tuesday's primary.
August 14, 2026
Education
Three candidates vie for Clay County School Board District 5 seat in August primary
Incumbent Ashley Gilhousen faces challenges from Gerald Beasley and Veronica Powell-Faison in the nonpartisan race. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent on Aug. 18, the top two will advance to November.
August 14, 2026
Politics
Lawsuits, big money roil Jacksonville City Council special election race
The bitter contest for an at-large Jacksonville City Council seat has drawn $300,000 from a Democratic donor and multiple legal challenges over candidate eligibility, as Democrats seek to break the council's Republican supermajority.
August 14, 2026
Government
Jacksonville City Council's In-House Lawyer Sparks Debate Over Authority and Consolidation
Jason Teal, the City Council's secretary and legislative counsel, has emerged as a powerful figure challenging the mayor's appointees and the city's general counsel, raising questions about checks and balances in Jacksonville's consolidated government.
August 12, 2026
Courts & Justice
Three Attorneys Vie for Duval County Judge Seat in Competitive August Primary
A public defender, former magistrate, and human rights prosecutor are competing to fill a retiring county court judge's seat in Jacksonville. The winner will handle misdemeanors, traffic cases, and civil disputes for a six-year term.
August 9, 2026
Courts
Two attorneys vie for open Duval County Court judge seat in August primary
Matt Lufrano and Latoya Williams Shelton are competing for the County Court Group 1 bench in Jacksonville, both emphasizing their civil legal aid work as early voting begins August 7.
August 8, 2026
Education
Five Candidates Vie for Jacksonville Westside School Board Seat in $208K Race
The District 6 Duval County School Board race has drawn more campaign money than nearly any other school board contest in Florida, as candidates debate school safety, discipline, and spending on the county's far Westside.
August 4, 2026
Education
Two Candidates Vie for Vacant Flagler County School Board Seat in August Election
Retired federal executive Cathy Moon and former teacher Jill Woolbright are competing for the District 1 seat left vacant when Derek Barrs joined the federal government. The nonpartisan race centers on kindergarten readiness, teacher retention, and fiscal management.
August 4, 2026
Education
Gadsden County School Board race heats up as enrollment, budget challenges loom
Four candidates are vying for Gadsden County School Board District 2 as the North Florida district grapples with declining enrollment, teacher shortages, and financial pressures.
August 2, 2026
Education
Clay County School Board Challengers Lay Out Priorities; Incumbents Skip Forum
Four candidates seeking three Clay County School Board seats outlined competing visions for teacher pay and district spending at a League of Women Voters forum, while the three current board members did not attend the standing-room-only event.
July 26, 2026
Infrastructure
Florida's JEA ratepayers could see data center cost protections under Trump pledge
Republican governors from 23 states signed onto a White House initiative requiring tech companies to pay for their own power infrastructure, but Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was notably absent. The move could affect how Jacksonville's JEA and other utilities handle explosive data center growth.
July 25, 2026
Environment
Federal endangered species rule changes threaten Northeast Florida development, wildlife protections
New Trump administration interpretations of the Endangered Species Act, set to take effect in August and September, would weaken habitat protections for more than 100 Florida species and could accelerate development across the region's sensitive ecosystems.
July 25, 2026
Education
Gilchrist County School Board Race Spotlights Enrollment Decline, Funding Pressures
Two Trenton natives are vying for the District 5 school board seat as the small North Central Florida county grapples with a 7% enrollment drop since 2024, aging facilities, and teacher retention challenges tied to state funding constraints.
July 24, 2026
Government Accountability
Florida Wildlife Agency Secretly Surveilled Environmental Critics
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission illegally accessed the driving records of more than a dozen activists who opposed agency policies, including bear hunts and development approvals, claiming they were under criminal investigation when they were not.
July 23, 2026
Politics
Jacksonville Rep. Nixon, Senate candidate Vindman split on Israel funding vote
The two Democrats vying for Florida's U.S. Senate seat offered starkly different positions on a congressional measure to strip military aid to Israel, highlighting a deepening divide within the party over Middle East policy.
July 22, 2026
Education
Moms for Liberty's Political Influence Wanes in Duval County School Board Races
The conservative parent-rights group that reshaped Duval County's school board in 2022 has made no financial contributions to Florida school board candidates this cycle, signaling a sharp retreat from local politics in its home state.
July 22, 2026
Public Health
Tick season expands across Florida as emergency room visits climb statewide
Emergency room visits for tick bites reached 112 per 100,000 people in June, the highest level since 2017, as warmer weather extends tick season and aggressive lone star ticks expand their range across Northeast Florida and the state.
July 21, 2026
State Government
Miami Beach Rep. Fabian Basabe Found Liable for Sexual Harassment; Jury Awards $450K
A Leon County jury found state Rep. Fabian Basabe liable for sexual harassment, battery, and defamation in a civil case brought by two former staffers. The verdict raises questions about potential legislative action against the two-term Republican lawmaker.
July 21, 2026
Politics
Jacksonville State Rep. Angie Nixon Faces Uphill Battle in U.S. Senate Primary
Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon of Jacksonville trails in fundraising and faces a campaign declining to debate ahead of the August primary, as her opponent Alex Vindman sets sights on the general election against Republican Ashley Moody.
July 20, 2026