A 25‑year St. Augustine patrol supervisor was arrested and has resigned after being charged with two counts of felony intimidation, officials say.

Licensed foster homes in Florida have declined sharply, leaving fewer beds for children. Local nonprofits and students are recruiting and training new foster parents.

Patchy smoke will linger through Saturday with highs near 80°F. Elevated fire danger and moderate rip currents could affect outdoor plans.

Mesa West Capital supplied a $50.5M five‑year loan to refinance Gran Bay Apartment Homes, a 308‑unit property on Jacksonville’s Southside. The move underscores investor interest in stabilized Sun Belt rentals.

Chicago‑born Potbelly will open its first Jacksonville shop May 5 at Deerwood Village, with a May 16 grand‑opening giveaway and plans for more Northeast Florida locations.

St. Johns County ordered a popular St. Augustine food-truck hub closed; the owner vows to fight to keep vendors operating. A rehearing is set for May 13.

Gov. DeSantis signed SB 182 on April 20, 2026, restoring cursive instruction for grades 3–5 and requiring proficiency by the end of fifth grade. The law also mandates presidential portraits and a teacher-mentoring program.

An evacuation order in Bradford County was lifted after a brush fire scorched roughly 170 acres near Deden Loop. Crews continue water drops while roads remain restricted.

A $13.5M permit advances interior work at UF Health Durbin Park as the campus moves toward a late‑2026 opening.

Winnipeg’s Activate plans a company‑owned, 8,700‑sq‑ft live‑action game center at St. Johns Town Center with 12 interactive rooms and an estimated $1.6M build‑out. Opening is expected this year.

Sheriff Craig Nobles says he never asked for furloughs as Long County faces a multimillion-dollar shortfall and a $50,000 inmate invoice that briefly raised layoff talk. County leaders have frozen spending while they hunt for cash.

Employers across Florida are trimming classic starter roles and favoring experienced hires as AI automates routine tasks, narrowing opportunities for new grads.

Florida issued a 90-day emergency order allowing winter-grade gasoline starting May 1 to try to ease pump pain — but experts warn of environmental tradeoffs and uncertain savings.