News archive
Older First Coast Observer coverage — page 12 of 21.
Public Safety
Jacksonville activates cooling centers through Sunday amid extreme heat
The City of Jacksonville is opening 70 public facilities as cooling centers through August 16, offering free air-conditioned refuge and transportation as temperatures climb. Two main centers will operate Sunday when most facilities are closed.
Municipal Finance
Jacksonville Earns Top 'AA' Bond Ratings, Saving Millions on Infrastructure Funding
Three major credit rating agencies have affirmed top-tier ratings for Jacksonville's 2026 bonds, citing strong fiscal management and a $7 billion development pipeline. The ratings will lower borrowing costs for infrastructure projects across Duval County.
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.
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.
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.
History
How a Jacksonville Beauty School Built an Economic Engine on Myrtle Avenue
Sophia Nickerson Starks trained generations of Black women for professional careers at her Durkeeville institution, anchoring one of the South's most prosperous segregation-era business districts and creating a model for economic mobility decades before modern workforce development.
Infrastructure
JAXPORT wins third straight Quest for Quality Award for customer service excellence
The Jacksonville Port Authority earned top marks from shippers for its intermodal network and terminal operations, reflecting investments in cranes and infrastructure that position the Northeast Florida port as a Southeast cargo gateway.
Real Estate
Cooling inflation offers hope for Northeast Florida homebuyers as mortgage rates hover near 13-month high
July's softer inflation reading—3.4% annually, down from 3.5% in June—could ease pressure on mortgage rates that have climbed to 6.69% in Northeast Florida and across the country, though the Federal Reserve is expected to hold steady in September.
Population Growth
Northeast Florida Migration Surges as State Records 200K New Residents in First Half of 2026
More than 200,000 people transferred driver's licenses to Florida from other states in the first six months of 2026, the highest first-half total in three years, with implications for housing demand and infrastructure across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida.
Real Estate
Florida Migration Wave Brings Workers, Not Just Retirees, to Northeast Florida
New migration data shows Florida attracting movers across all age groups, with the biggest income gains coming from households still in their peak earning years — a pattern reshaping Northeast Florida's housing market and economy.
Real Estate
Florida's property tax amendment rewritten for November ballot after court ruling
A judge ordered the attorney general to revise 'misleading' language on the statewide homestead exemption proposal that Northeast Florida voters will decide this fall. The amendment could dramatically reshape property taxes for homeowners and local governments.
Real Estate
New federal housing law opens doors for Northeast Florida homebuilding, financing
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act changes rules for manufactured homes, frees up grant money for construction, and could expand financing options for lower-priced properties — but implementation timelines and local decisions will determine when the effects reach Jacksonville and surrounding counties.
Conservation
Nassau County to Review Piney Island Viewshed Management Plan at Aug. 20 Workshop
The county's conservation lands committee will hold a public workshop to discuss management plans for the Piney Island viewshed, a protected area in Nassau County's expanding portfolio of conservation properties.
Infrastructure
Palm Coast to Close Parkway Drive Shoulder for Stormwater Repairs
The city will repair underground drainage infrastructure at the Parkway Drive and Packard Lane intersection starting Monday, a three-day project aimed at protecting nearby homes and roads from flooding.
Housing
Nassau County to Open Bids for SHIP Home Rehabilitation Project in Yulee
Nassau County will publicly open bids on August 20 for a State Housing Initiatives Partnership rehabilitation project, part of the county's affordable housing program. The project targets an existing home for improvements under state and federal funding guidelines.
Infrastructure
Palm Coast to Close Edgely, Edgemont Lanes for Stormwater Repairs
The city will shut down two residential streets in Palm Coast for five days starting August 17 as crews repair underground drainage systems designed to prevent flooding in the neighborhood.
Regulation
Clay County considers new commercial solid waste fees after impact analysis
County commissioners are reviewing changes to garbage collection and disposal rules that could affect businesses across Clay County, with a public hearing scheduled as the proposal moves through the regulatory process.
Infrastructure
Fernandina Beach migrates to digital permitting system Aug. 31
The Nassau County city is launching CityView software to streamline building, planning, and utility permit applications, with a two-day migration period causing temporary service adjustments.
Environment
Water Quality Advisory Lifted at River-to-Sea Preserve in Flagler County
The Florida Department of Health-Flagler has lifted a water quality advisory for River-to-Sea Preserve after recent tests showed acceptable bacteria levels, clearing the popular coastal preserve for recreational use.
Infrastructure
Emerald Lane in Palm Coast to See Lane Restrictions Next Week for Drainage Work
The City of Palm Coast will restrict traffic on Emerald Lane from Aug. 17-21 as crews pour concrete over recently installed stormwater infrastructure, finishing work designed to prevent flooding in the area.
Real Estate
St. Johns County Property Tax Notices Show Market Cooling, Values Up 2.83%
TRIM notices mailing August 17 reveal St. Johns County's preliminary 2026 tax roll at $92.9 billion in total property value, with signs of slowing growth and declining sales as the housing market stabilizes after years of rapid appreciation.
Infrastructure
St. Johns County Remains Under Extreme Water Restrictions Despite Recent Rain
The St. Johns River Water Management District's Phase III Extreme Water Shortage Order remains in effect across St. Johns County, with officials warning that regional drought recovery requires sustained rainfall — approximately 32 inches over three months — even as localized afternoon storms have brought temporary relief.
Education
St. Johns County School Board Approves Major Capital Projects for August 2026
The St. Johns County School Board met August 11 to advance construction and facility initiatives across the district, addressing capacity needs in one of Florida's fastest-growing counties.
Education
Inside Pacetti Bay Middle: St. Johns Schools Chief Spotlights Student Programs
Superintendent Tim Asplen's visit to the St. Augustine-area middle school highlights peer mentoring, media production, and extracurricular growth as the district manages enrollment pressures across its fastest-growing corridors.
Real Estate
Northeast Florida real estate businesses exempt from federal ownership reporting
A finalized federal rule permanently exempts U.S.-formed LLCs and corporations from beneficial ownership reporting requirements, simplifying compliance for Jacksonville-area real estate professionals and property investors who use domestic business structures.
Real Estate
Mortgage Rates Dip Slightly in Northeast Florida as Homebuyers Watch for Relief
The 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 6.67% this week, the first decline in six weeks, offering a modest reprieve for prospective homebuyers in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida — though rates remain higher than a year ago and well above pre-conflict levels.
Real Estate
New Google tool helps Northeast Florida real estate agents track social media reach
Google's expanded Search Console now lets agents connect Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X accounts to see which posts drive online searches — offering free market research for professionals whose social media is a primary marketing tool.
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.
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.
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.
