Technology
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
Government
Congressional gridlock threatens Northeast Florida defense, infrastructure funding as midterms loom
Republican infighting over voter ID legislation has stalled annual government funding bills and defense policy measures that shape military installations and infrastructure projects across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, with only 24 House session days remaining before November elections.
July 10, 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
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
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 16, 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 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 26, 2026
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 26, 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
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 4, 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
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
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
Higher Education
Stuart Bell Named University of Florida President After Contentious Selection Process
The former University of Alabama president pledged to reject diversity initiatives and embrace conservative education priorities during a Board of Governors meeting that concluded a highly politicized search process for Florida's flagship university.
July 11, 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 27, 2026
Workforce
Proposed federal work-permit rule could cut 500,000 workers from Florida economy
A Trump administration proposal to eliminate work permits for asylum applicants, combined with TPS revocations, threatens to remove more than 590,000 workers from Florida industries including construction, hospitality, and health care — potentially cutting $24.6 billion from the state's economy annually.
July 15, 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 10, 2026
State Government
Miami Beach lawmaker represents himself in Tallahassee sexual harassment trial
Republican state Rep. Fabian Basabe faces civil claims from two former staffers in a rare public trial of alleged Capitol misconduct, with proceedings disrupted by the lawmaker's self-representation and what the judge called 'staggering' legal violations.
July 15, 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
Government
Duval County Medicaid Bill Hits $22.7M as Property Tax Cut Looms
Jacksonville and Duval County will pay nearly $23 million toward Florida's Medicaid program this fiscal year, state economists confirmed this week — even as a proposed constitutional amendment threatens to slash local government revenue by billions statewide.
July 20, 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 16, 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 22, 2026
Utilities
JEA approves 8.2% electric, 6% water rate hikes for Jacksonville customers
The municipal utility's board voted to raise rates effective October 1 to close a $107 million budget gap, marking the second increase in a year as JEA prepares to build a $1.6 billion natural gas plant.
July 13, 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
Government
Jacksonville Aviation Authority prepares lawsuit against City Hall over Cecil Airport spending dispute
The agency's board meets Thursday to consider hiring outside attorneys to sue the City Council, accusing officials of trying to raid the authority's $300 million cash reserves. The fight centers on development plans for Cecil Airport on the Westside.
July 13, 2026
Development
New Florida law lets developers bypass local zoning to convert farmland to subdivisions
SB 686 allows landowners to build homes and businesses on 'agricultural enclaves' surrounded by development, with automatic approval if local governments don't act within 90 days. The 18-month window closes January 2028.
July 13, 2026
Health Care
Jacksonville Federal Court Forces Florida to Fix Medicaid Notices After Years of Complaints
A federal judge in Jacksonville ruled that Florida's confusing Medicaid termination letters violated the Constitution, forcing the state to send nearly 1 million corrected notices after years of saying the fix would be difficult and costly.
July 11, 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 18, 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
Development
How Florida's property tax rollback could reshape Northeast Florida's small towns
A proposed constitutional amendment on November's ballot would raise the homestead exemption to $250,000, potentially costing Jacksonville $180 million in the first year and threatening the fiscal viability of smaller municipalities across the region.
July 15, 2026