City Council approved Ordinance 2026‑0363 to let licensed private firms review site plans, promising faster approvals, training and conflict safeguards. Supporters say the move will cut carrying costs for builders.

Engineers found significant structural problems at the Jacksonville Fire Museum, postponing a planned Northbank reopening. Officials say repairs and a timeline are still under evaluation.

Muggy start to Friday with highs near 93°F and heat indices near 103°F. Scattered storms are likely after 2 p.m., especially near I‑95 and the beaches.

Fatboy Fried Rice converted its 2,500‑sq‑ft commissary into a 70‑seat Jacksonville restaurant, moving from truck windows to a permanent dining room. The menu and delivery service continue.

Mostly clear and muggy this morning in Jacksonville with highs near 94°F. Scattered storms are expected after 2 p.m., and heat will build into the weekend.

A U.N. report finds data centers already consume country‑scale energy and could double water and power use by 2030; local officials in North Florida are taking notice.

Residents packed a Ponte Vedra FDOT hearing and pushed back on a proposed A1A redesign that would reroute turns and extend lanes.

Latorray Collins pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was sentenced to 12 years for a Murray Hill traffic confrontation that left a woman shot in the head.

Two inmates at the St. Johns County jail were arrested after deputies say they plotted an escape that included a broken cell window and a planned drone drop.

A camouflage ATV used by Flagler Turtle Patrol was stolen from a shed behind Marineland, forcing volunteers to patrol beaches on foot.

NWS has issued a Flood Warning for the Satilla River at Atkinson; the river is forecast to hit 13.0 feet by Wednesday, threatening campgrounds and low roads.

A juvenile girl was shot in the chest in northwest Jacksonville; a juvenile suspect was arrested at the scene and police recovered a firearm near Benedict and Moncrief.

Parents in Clay County say they were blindsided after a volunteer wrestling coach was arrested and are pressing the district for clearer vetting and faster notifications.