Months after saying it was planning to open charters inside 25 existing Duval County public schools under the “Schools of Hope” law, Miami-based Mater Academy withdrew 23 of those letters of intent this month, according to a report from our news partner, Jacksonville Today. A DCPS parent shared her thoughts on the development.

Missouri and Virginia brought their Gator Bowl celebrations to Jacksonville Beach Friday night, with free pep rallies preceding Saturday's historic matchup where both teams chase milestone victories.

The Clay County chapter of the NAACP has joined calls for the resignation of a school board member who is under fire for controversial social media posts about the African American community.

After a pair of crashes that sent three deputies to the hospital this month, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is urging drivers to avoid distractions and pay attention on the roadways, particularly over the holidays.

Public outrage and concern continued to mount as investigators continued to search for the person or people who tied a dog to a tree and shot it to death.

President Donald Trump says he will be extending invitations to next year’s Group of 20 summit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

After a license plate law went into effect back in October, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has made his opinion clear on any future legislation for license plates.

While many families are hitting the road to celebrate the holidays, new data shows that the stretch right before Christmas can be one of the deadliest times to drive in Florida.

Get ready, Jacksonville, the Jaguars are officially in the NFL playoffs.

Florida's new offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner brings a history of turnarounds, recently transforming Georgia Tech in just three years.

Lawyers for former CIA Director John Brennan want the Justice Department to be prevented from steering an investigation of him and other former government officials to a “favored” judge in Florida who dismissed the classified documents case against President Donald Trump.

A controversial social media post by a member of the Clay County School Board captured the attention of the Florida Commissioner of Education on Monday, and he’s calling for the board member to explain himself at a State Board of Education meeting next month.

Florida state officials warned of heightened wildfire risks across the state as dry conditions were expected to continue into 2026.

As 2026 approaches, affordability remains a dominant concern for Americans, with health insurance costs poised to rise sharply, especially in Florida. Government law attorney Chris Hand explained on This Week in Jacksonville that the end of COVID-era subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could have severe consequences.

If you’ve ever taken a sip only to end up chewing on a soggy paper straw, you’re not alone — and Florida lawmakers are taking notice.

Jennifer Lawrence playing a new mother whose behavior becomes increasingly erratic in “Die My Love” and three more “Stranger Things” episodes are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

In Split Happens, Episode 6, host Katie Garner sits down with board-certified marital and family law attorney Jay Henderlite of Sasso Guerrero & Henderlite to unpack a topic many people overlook until it’s too late: courtroom etiquette.

Jacksonville-based Hanania Automotive Group has expanded into Flagler County with the purchase of Flagler Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Palm Coast, marking another milestone in the company’s growth across Northeast Florida.

The Jaguars are keeping receiver Jakobi Meyers, agreeing to a three-year contract extension with him on Thursday night, according to multiple media reports.

The high school football coaching carousel continues to spin, including the return of a coaching legend in Robby Pruitt and new hires at both Keystone Heights and Menendez.

A federal judge has denied a request to close an immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”.

A judge in Miami has dismissed a complaint challenging a college’s decision to gift prime downtown real estate for President Donald Trump’s future presidential library.

Weekend brings sunny skies and mild temperatures

For the first time in more than a decade, Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state-backed insurer of last resort, is proposing a 2.6% statewide average rate decrease, a move insurance experts say signals growing stability after years of soaring costs.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference Thursday morning in Sebring.

Holiday travel is one of the busiest times on Florida’s roads, and agencies like the Florida Department of Transportation work around the clock to ensure a smooth and safe trip for drivers.

A man convicted of killing a man and his girlfriend during a 1987 home invasion has been put to death in Florida.

A St. Johns County middle school student was arrested Wednesday after school officials found a fake explosive device on campus.

After Sunday’s game against the Jets, Lawrence was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week.

As millions of travelers take to the skies this Christmas holiday, safety teams at Jacksonville International Airport are focused on a threat most passengers never see: wildlife on and near the runway.

Hamburger Mary’s in Riverside will pause its family-friendly drag shows starting in January, after a federal appeals court cleared the way for Florida to enforce a law restricting children from attending certain “adult live performances.”

Alachua County farmer Steven Davis said he could lose over a million dollars as acres of cabbage sit unharvested on his farm.

A new Florida bill filed this week could result in higher fees for homeowners’ associations across the state, according to our sister station WKMG in Orlando.

If Obamacare subsidies expire at the end of the year, Florida will be hit harder than any other state. The clock is ticking with Congress struggling to unite behind a plan to extend tax credits.

Florida has paved the way for new SNAP restrictions in 2026.

Changes to Florida’s homestead property tax rules would produce “clear winners and losers,” sharply reduce municipal revenue and widen gaps between wealthier coastal communities and smaller inland and rural towns, a Wichita State University analysis for the Florida League of Cities found.

A leading Muslim civil rights group in the U_S_ has sued Florida Gov_ Ron DeSantis over his order labeling it a “foreign terrorist organization.”.

Meteorologist Katie Garner says Jacksonville faces one more cold morning and freeze warnings, but warmer weather and sunshine are forecast by midweek, with slight rain chances as drought conditions continue.

Epilepsy is when the brain has an electrical misfire that causes multiple seizures. And depending on where the misfire takes place, the seizure will have different effects, such as freezing you or causing convulsions that result in you passing out.

Two dozen Kemp's ridley sea turtles are rehabilitating in Florida after cold waters off Cape Cod left them with frostbite and pneumonia.

Marineland

A warming trend will start on Wednesday

A new state law, House Bill 253, took effect in October and makes it illegal to display anything that obscures a vehicle’s license plate — even partially or from an angle. Since the law passed, questions and confusion have flooded social media and local law enforcement inboxes.

Florida quarterback DJ Lagway is entering the transfer portal.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a roundtable Monday morning at FAU to continue to push for legislation to protect Floridians, especially parents and children, from the dangers of artificial intelligence.

News4JAX sports reporter Jamal St. Cyr's Four Cents analysis after the Jaguars hammered the Jets 48-20 on Sunday.

Career afternoons from Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne kept the Jaguars on their playoff path. Now comes the difficult test.

Former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner is calling on state lawmakers to convene a special legislative session before the Christmas holiday to roll back property taxes, saying Floridians need “immediate relief.”

Jacksonville resident Billy Pitman, 61, recently claimed a $1 million prize from the Florida Lottery’s $25,000,000 Gold Rush Multiplier Scratch-Off game.

A Kentucky father will be able to celebrate Christmas with his daughter for the first time in 43 years, and it was all thanks to a Crime Stoppers tip from Florida.

Catch by catch, Kyle Pitts Sr. put the mistake-prone Atlanta Falcons on his back and carried them to a thrilling comeback victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Duval County parents expressed continued concern after the school board did not move forward with a resolution for the expansion of Florida’s Schools of Hope program.

We've known the opponents for the Florida Gators' 2026 football schedule, but now we know when Florida will play them.

U.S. congressman and candidate for Florida governor, Byron Donalds, says his mission is to keep Florida the best state in America while preparing it for future growth.

Local officials in Florida’s capital city have voted to sell a city-owned golf course built on top of the graves of enslaved people to a once-segregated country club.

Ninety-six north Florida residents will take the Oath of Allegiance and become U.S. citizens during halftime of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ game against the New York Jets on Sunday, Dec. 14, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida said Thursday.

A Jacksonville homeowner association president spoke out against a proposed Florida law that would allow residents to dissolve their HOA with a two-thirds majority vote — a move he said would devastate neighborhoods across the state.

A fast-moving proposal backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to eliminate property taxes on owner-occupied homes is drawing mixed reactions from Floridians and fresh warnings from housing experts who say the plan could worsen the state’s affordability crisis.

Over 40 dogs were rescued from an alleged dog-fighting operation spanning multiple properties in Union County, following a multi-agency investigation that led to at least one arrest.

News4JAX is inviting the community to help make the holidays a little brighter for local pets through its annual Santa Paws donation drive, happening Dec. 15–19.

The Raines Vikings return to Miami seeking redemption in a state championship rematch against Northwestern. Players are intensely focused on avenging last year's loss and bringing the trophy back to Jacksonville.

A fatal crash on I-295 at Pulaski Road is causing traffic backups, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis presented on Wednesday his $117 million budget proposal for fiscal year 2026-2027.

A bill filed last week in Florida aims to dissolve HOAs across the state — but that’s only if it even makes any headway.

Solo Ball scored 19 points and No. 5 UConn earned its fourth victory over a ranked opponent already this season, beating No. 18 Florida 77-73 in the Jimmy V Classic.

Gov_ Ron DeSantis has labeled the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a "foreign terrorist organization."

A day after Gov. Ron DeSantis designated one of the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy groups in the U.S. a “foreign terrorist organization,” Florida’s governor said he welcomes being sued over the move.

Jacksonville detectives have investigated more than 220 overdose deaths in 2025 and have arrested 17 drug dealers on manslaughter charges in connection with some of those cases, Sheriff T.K. Waters announced Tuesday.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference Tuesday morning in North Miami Beach.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has designated one of the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy groups in the U.S. a “foreign terrorist organization,” following a similar step by Texas last month.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is expanding on his plan to eliminate property taxes in Florida — a proposal that is drawing mixed reactions from Jacksonville city council members.

Arizona has taken the top spot in the AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll.

Locally produced comedy film

News4JAX sports reporter Jamal St. Cyr's Four Cents analysis after Jacksonville's 36-19 win over the Colts on Sunday.

One official in Florida is urging state leaders to eliminate the state’s physical yellow registration decal, calling the move a “common-sense step forward” that would save residents millions and modernize the system.

On a nasty, rainy afternoon at EverBank Stadium, the Jaguars lit up the Colts 36-19 to move into sole possession of first place in the AFC South.

The Main Street Bridge is more than just a way to cross the St. Johns River — it stands as an iconic symbol of Jacksonville’s skyline and identity.

WJXT had a big night at the Suncoast Emmy Awards, taking home four wins across multiple categories.

James Fishback, an investment firm executive, recently announced his candidacy for Florida governor in the 2026 race. He aims to challenge Republican Congressman Byron Donalds, who has President Trump’s endorsement.

A slow-moving front will keep clouds and rain the forecast as we head into early next week. The heaviest of the activity has been focused across southeast Georgia. This front will slowly shift south into Florida tonight.

This week, four proposed constitutional amendments aimed at property tax reform in Florida took another step toward becoming law.

Jacksonville’s Chief Health Officer, Dr. Sunil Joshi, addressed recent accusations of financial misconduct related to the city’s telemedicine program, Healthlink JAX. The program aims to provide virtual healthcare to uninsured residents, reducing emergency room visits and improving health outcomes.

For the first time in a decade, hunters are fanning out across Florida to legally hunt the Florida black bear.

A Jacksonville nonprofit is accepting toys and monetary donations for its 10th annual Community Christmas Party on Dec. 14.

Heavy rain, Impact Weather Saturday night, Sunday

Florida’s Republican-dominated congressional delegation is urging the Trump administration to drop a plan that would allow new oil drilling off the state’s coast.

WJXT and WCWJ, in Jacksonville, FL is seeking a Broadcast Maintenance Engineer with a solid track record of providing excellent service and support.

Despite numerous efforts to try and stop it, the Florida black bear hunt officially kicks off Saturday.

Cooler temperatures to follow weekend showers

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday he will be proposing to the Florida Legislature a bill of rights to protect Floridians from the dangers of artificial intelligence.

L Marks CEO Daniel Saunders joins Kent Justice to discuss the launch of Jax Hub, a new corporate innovation initiative based in Jacksonville. Learn how this global program aims to accelerate fintech growth, foster collaboration among local businesses, universities, and international partners, and position Northeast Florida as a leading innovation hub.

The St. Johns County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to ban smoking and vaping on county beaches and in parks.

Jacksonville is in for a wet weekend with rain expected to impact the Christmas parade and Jacksonville Jaguars game, plus dropping temperatures and possible localized flooding risk, according to Katie Garner with News4JAX’s The Weather Authority.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference Wednesday morning in Tampa.

Wednesday marks the start of the three-day window for high school football players to sign national letters of intent with college programs. Here is a list of players who are signing with college programs.

Isaiah Evans hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 19.7 seconds left, and No. 4 Duke held on to beat No. 15 Florida 67-66 in the ACC/SEC Challenge.

Duval County parents are raising concerns about the expansion of Florida’s Schools of Hope program, which allows charter schools to co-locate with underutilized traditional public schools.

Heavy rain possible with the next cold front

As home prices continue to climb across Florida, a new analysis suggests it could take the typical household nearly a generation to save for a modest down payment.

The Florida House could be ready after the 2026 legislative session starts in January to take up a bill that would lower the minimum age from 21 to 18 to buy rifles and other long guns.