News archive
Older First Coast Observer coverage — page 11 of 14.
Education
St. Johns County School Board schedules July 14 meeting amid rapid enrollment growth
The school board will convene its July 14, 2026 meeting as the district continues managing one of Florida's fastest-growing student populations, driven by sustained residential development across the county.
Education
Wards Creek Elementary Spotlights Student Leadership Initiatives in St. Johns County
Superintendent's tour highlights the growing school's focus on character development and social-emotional learning as enrollment pressures mount across the fast-growing district.
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.
Workforce Development
Jacksonville animal care training program reopens enrollment for students with disabilities
The Professional Animal Workers program, a partnership between Animal Care and Protective Services and The Arc Jacksonville, provides certification training and job placement assistance for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Maritime Trade
JAXPORT lands new Asia container service from ZIM Line and MSC
The weekly ZCP-Amberjack service connects Jacksonville to five major Asian ports and expands transshipment options to Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean through hub connections in Kingston and Cartagena.
Public Safety
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Marks 140 Years of Service to Duval County
The city's first paid fire department began operations on July 16, 1886. Today, JFRD is among the largest fire-rescue organizations in the country, serving more than 1 million residents across 885 square miles.
Development
New York Data Center Moratorium Signals Shift as Northeast Florida Pursues Tech Growth
New York became the first state to halt large-scale data center construction amid concerns about utility bills and grid strain — a development that could reverberate in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, where data centers represent a major piece of economic development strategy.
Infrastructure
Jacksonville Aviation Authority Threatens Lawsuit Over City's $400M Cash Grab
JAA board unanimously voted to pursue legal action against City Hall over alleged attempts to divert airport cash reserves to other projects, but agreed to a 30-day mediation window first.
State Government
Miami Beach Lawmaker Faces Calls to Resign After Jury Finds Him Liable for Sexual Harassment
State Rep. Fabian Basabe vowed in 2024 to resign if harassment allegations were proven true. Following a civil jury verdict against him, he remains in office with no public indication that Florida House leadership will take disciplinary action.
Environment
DeSantis Veto Blocks Limits on Sewage Sludge Dumping Across Northeast Florida
The governor vetoed a unanimous bipartisan bill that would have regulated Class AA biosolids — treated sewage sludge — on farmland, leaving Northeast Florida waterways and the St. Johns River without new protections against nutrient pollution.
Public Health
CDC Nominee Faces Uncertain Path After Senate Hearing; Northeast Florida Public Health Role in Focus
Dr. Erica Schwartz's confirmation to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention appeared on shaky ground following a tense Senate hearing, raising questions about the future direction of federal public health policy that impacts Northeast Florida's disease surveillance and health preparedness.
Public Health
Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Hits Florida: Salad Greens Under Investigation as Cases Spread Nationwide
Florida is among 34 states reporting cases in a nationwide intestinal illness outbreak linked to contaminated produce. Federal and state health officials are investigating lettuce and salad greens as the likely source, with more than 1,600 cases confirmed by the CDC and thousands more reported by states.
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.
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.
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.
Community
Free Fitness Classes Continue at Downtown Jacksonville Parks Through Summer
JaxParks is maintaining its weekly schedule of free fitness programming at Friendship Fountain and other downtown locations, even as some community events temporarily relocate from the waterfront park.
Media
Northeast Florida newsrooms join statewide election reporting partnership
Jacksonville Today and other regional outlets are part of a 27-organization collaboration launching free coverage of school board races across Florida's 67 counties, including contested seats in Duval, St. Johns, Clay, and Nassau.
Infrastructure
Jacksonville's Talleyrand Terminal Handles 226 Million Gallons of Liquid Bulk Annually
BWC Terminals operates a 75-year-old liquid bulk storage facility at JAXPORT's Talleyrand Marine Terminal, moving cooking oil, chemicals, and renewable fuels by ship, rail, and truck to customers across Florida and the U.S.
Education
St. Johns County School Board to Meet July 14 on Budget, Growth Pressures
The School Board will convene Tuesday morning at the Orange Street offices to address operational matters as the fast-growing district prepares for another school year.
Civic Development
Clay County seeks public input for America 250 memorial plaza in Green Cove Springs
The county is building a permanent Charters of Freedom monument to mark the nation's 250th anniversary and wants residents, businesses and organizations to help shape the commemorative project in the county seat.
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.
Higher Education
UF Interim President's $2M Severance Raises Legal Questions in Gainesville
Donald Landry's unusual employment contract awards him $2 million for not being selected as permanent president, an amount experts say is unprecedented for an interim leader and may violate Florida's 20-week severance cap.
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.
Public Safety
Jacksonville Activates Cooling Centers Through Sunday Amid Summer Heat
The City of Jacksonville is opening cooling centers at libraries, community centers, and pools through July 12, with free JTA bus rides to help residents escape dangerous heat. Two main centers will operate Sunday when most facilities are closed.
Infrastructure
Jacksonville secures $12.5M in federal, philanthropic grants for port, transit, housing
The city has landed five grants to rebuild Mayport's commercial fishing docks, launch a downtown transportation accelerator, expand homeless services, reduce tree risk in Ribault River neighborhoods, and fund youth-led sustainability projects.
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.
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.
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.
Arts & Culture
Jacksonville Jazz Festival Marks 40+ Years of Drawing National Acts Downtown
The 2026 Jacksonville Jazz Festival wrapped another successful weekend in downtown Jacksonville, continuing a four-decade tradition of bringing major musical acts to the urban core and energizing the riverfront district.
Dining & Development
European Street Cafe, Chick-fil-A Expand Downtown Jacksonville Footprint
European Street Cafe will open its fourth Jacksonville location at Riverfront Plaza this fall, while Chick-fil-A tests downtown demand with a pop-up at 50 North Laura Street through August.
