A new state bill lays out a timetable to restore the Ocklawaha River while deferring the dam‑removal question to an advisory council of local and state appointees.

Patchy frost before 8 a.m. Wednesday, then sunny and breezy with highs near 70°F. Elevated fire danger inland this afternoon; rain and storms arrive Friday–Saturday.

House Bill 233 would require booster seats for most Florida children through age 8, with height and medical exceptions and a July 1, 2026 effective date. Local safety groups are offering free checks and low‑cost programs.

Human remains and parts of a submerged Neon believed to be Mary Lou Combs were recovered from the Intracoastal, bringing closure to a 2003 cold case. DNA confirmation is pending.

Local favorite 1928 Cuban Bistro opened its eighth Northeast Florida location Monday at 501 Riverside Ave in Brooklyn, bringing cubanos and cafecito to the downtown riverfront.

A pedestrian was struck and later died after being hit on Dunn Avenue near Biscayne Boulevard. Troopers say the driver tried to avoid the collision.

Heavy police activity shut parts of Beach Boulevard near 2nd Street as Jacksonville Beach officers investigated multiple incidents; three adults were taken to hospitals with non‑life‑threatening injuries.

A new taco truck called Taqueria Picazo has plan‑review paperwork for a University Boulevard West spot in Jacksonville, but the owner says the opening date is still TBD.

A Jasper County jury convicted Charles Saunders in the 2024 Walsh Drive double slaying; a judge imposed life sentences Thursday. The case began after a June 18 shooting that left two people dead.

Drug dealer convicted for possessing over 6,000 bags of fentanyl after an Elk County Sheriff and ATF operation.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is searching for Margaret Hanley, a 72-year-old missing from Jacksonville, Florida, last seen in Hinesville, Georgia.

A person stole $900 worth of Dior perfume from a Jacksonville store on Valentine's Day; the suspect's images have been circulated by police for identification.

A sweeping AI 'Bill of Rights' moved through a Florida Senate committee Wednesday, adding parental opt‑outs and tighter rules for chatbots and school AI tools.