Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner oversees the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which supports and promotes Florida agriculture, protects the environment, safeguards consumers, and ensures the safety and wholesomeness of food. The incumbent, Republican Wilton Simpson, is seeking re-election. He faces one opponent, Matt Taylor, in the Republican primary. There are two candidates in the Democratic primary, Joey Atkins and Donald “Don” Prichard.

Incumbent Republican Wyman Duggan is term-limited and can’t seek re-election in District 12, which includes portions of Duval County, including neighborhoods west of the river stretching from Ortega to Chimney Lakes, and neighborhoods east of the river from San Marco to Mandarin. There are two candidates in the race: Republican Terrance Freeman and Democrat Benjamin Sandlin.

A Southern fox squirrel — larger, rarer and harder to spot than the common gray squirrel — has been caught on camera at a wildlife crossing beneath Wekiva Parkway (S.R. 429) in Central Florida.

Sean Freeder, faculty director for the poll, joined us on The Morning Show with a look at your take on these key issues.

A University of North Florida poll of likely Florida midterm voters found that most supported the idea of phasing out property taxes until they learned of potential effects to local budgets.

A report released Friday by the Department of Commerce shows the state’s jobless rate for June at 4.7 percent, a reduction from 4.8 percent the prior two months. The rate is still 0.5 percentage points higher than the national average.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center said that Florida residents are among those being targeted by a phishing-as-a-service platform called Kali365 that is aimed at users of Microsoft 365 products.

Attorney General James Uthmeier has issued a civil subpoena to General Mills Inc. and General Mills Operations LLC as part of an inquiry under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act into the supply chain for products containing potassium bromate sold in Florida.

More Floridians are turning to nonprofit credit counselors for help as household expenses rise and debt grows faster than income, according to new data from Money Management International.

This year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed off on over 200 new state laws, many of which took effect last week. However, he didn’t OK all of the bills that were sent to his desk.

Florida’s new spectrum alert system took effect July 1, bringing a targeted, potentially life-saving tool to help locate missing children with autism spectrum disorder.

With crowds expected all across Florida’s beaches Friday through the weekend and lots of people getting into the water, safety is a big talking point.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a nearly $118 billion Florida budget on Monday during a news conference in Tampa at Hillsborough College.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two pieces of legislation Wednesday he says will increase transparency, accountability and fiscal discipline in local government while advancing property tax relief for Florida homeowners.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a Civil Investigative Demand to CVS Health Corporation, the owner of the Caremark pharmacy benefit manager and hundreds of CVS retail pharmacies across the state.

Attorney General James Uthmeier signed an emergency rule that took effect immediately to control highly concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7‑OH) and several related chemical products being sold across Florida.

AAA is cutting insurance rates in Florida. The Auto Club Group announced reductions of up to 5% on AAA-branded home and auto insurance policies. The association says that equates to more than $28 million in annual savings to Florida policyholders.

A sweeping tax cut for homestead property owners pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis now waits for voters to act in November. But what exactly will be on your ballot?

Today is the first day of hurricane season, and experts say now is the time for Floridians to prepare for flooding, a risk that isn’t limited to the coast or to hurricanes.

The state of Florida has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, claiming the company knowingly released and aggressively marketed ChatGPT to the public while concealing serious risks.

For many people struggling with mental health challenges, the hardest step is simply speaking up. At a Jacksonville church, leaders are working to change that by bringing conversations about trauma, healing and emotional wellness out of the shadows and into the community.

San Marco residents in a flood-prone area are watching a rainy week closely as hurricane season begins, hoping drainage improvements help prevent streets from flooding like last year’s high water.

A Flagler County jury awarded truck driver Jo’Relle Deleston $8.64 million after a 2022 I-95 crash. Dashcam video shows the collision. He describes lasting injuries, PTSD triggers, and recovery.

There won’t be a suspension of the gas tax this year in Florida, after a provision pushed by Democrats failed to make it into the tax cut bill negotiated by legislative leaders and approved late Sunday.

UF/IFAS experts say lovebugs are a common Florida nuisance, but they do not bite, sting, or spread disease despite persistent public myths.

On Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed off on another two bills, adding to the list of over 80 laws approved so far this year.

Nearly one in four registered Florida voters have placed a sports bet using an online or mobile app, but most Floridians oppose expanding legal sports betting and many question the integrity of games tied to wagering, a University of North Florida poll released Thursday found.

With hurricane season weeks away, Florida homeowners are watching Washington amid uncertainty over the future of FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program, which helps millions recover after floods.

Commemorative celebration of Black History at LEVS Park with Ritz Theatre & Museum

A new report from the Humana Foundation is shedding light on a silent crisis unfolding across Florida — one that affects hundreds of thousands of older residents and often goes unnoticed.

Florida utility customers won’t bear the additional costs brought by new large scale data centers that power artificial intelligence, under a bill signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday.

"Here Tomorrow," a Neptune Beach-based nonprofit focused on suicide prevention, recently launched a program specifically designed to serve military members and first responders struggling with mental health — free from stigma and with full confidentiality guaranteed.

A group of parents, students, educators, school board members and civil rights organizations has had enough, and now they’re taking the fight to court.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two education bills Thursday, targeting the power of teacher unions in Florida and expanding flexibility for school districts.

How and why we can protect our planet and nature preserves

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said during a news conference on Tuesday in Ocala that a recent case ended with a record-breaking $5.4 million in cryptocurrency recovered.

A major shift in the U.S. housing market is reshaping who owns property and who can afford to buy in.

The cost of living in Florida has accelerated at nearly five times its previous pace over the last decade, driven largely by housing, insurance and rent increases that are outstripping wages and forcing some residents to consider leaving the state.

Florida’s ban on cultivated meat will remain in effect after a federal appeals court upheld the law in a ruling released Monday.

A push to officially do away with yellow registration decals will not become a reality in Florida after the bill did not pass the House, at least not for now.

Affordability remains the top concern for Floridians, but state lawmakers wrapped up the 2026 legislative session with little to show for it, as several high-profile housing and insurance proposals failed to pass.

After a state lawmaker brought up eliminating HOAs last year, a new Florida bill would allow residents to do exactly that, according to a report from our sister station WKMG in Orlando.

The coming year will reveal how much risk Floridians are willing to accept for lower property taxes, whether they support replacing lost revenue with higher consumption or targeted taxes, and how they want to balance local autonomy with state oversight.

Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried discussed the party’s organizing strategy and challenges facing Democrats in Florida on This Week In Jacksonville.

PFLAG and Equality Florida are urging parents, families and allies to travel to the state Capitol next week to oppose several measures they say would harm LGBTQ+ youth and families.

Florida State Senator Tom Leek, representing St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam counties and parts of Volusia, shared insights from the ongoing legislative session in Tallahassee. Leek highlighted progress on Senate Bill 482, known as the AI Bill of Rights, which aims to protect vulnerable populations.

Secretary of State Cory Bryd’s Department of State had posted that “All twenty-two active proposed constitutional amendments by initiative petitions failed to meet the requirements of Florida law for placement on the 2026 General Election ballot.”

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

A Jacksonville health center is expanding its reach to treat more people, especially those who do not have insurance.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis highlighted on Monday their efforts to improve the safety and integrity of the food supply across the state.

Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon has announced her candidacy for the Florida U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Ashley Moody in the 2026 election.

Black Democratic lawmakers are hosting a press conference on Thursday to address the attorney general’s opinion concluding that state laws requiring racial discrimination are unconstitutional under the U.S. and Florida Constitutions.

Federal subsidies under the Affordable Care Act expired Dec. 31 after Congress failed to pass an extension, a move that could leave nearly 1 million Floridians without affordable coverage and strain hospitals across the state, the Florida Hospital Association said Tuesday.

Florida House Member has proposed legislation that would allow HOA’s to dissolve

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.

With alcohol-impaired driving involved in nearly one-third of all U.S. traffic deaths, AAA is once again stepping up during the holidays to offer its "Tow to Go“ program.

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.

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 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.

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.”

Florida is poised to join the wave of states debating how they might reshape congressional voting districts, as political parties grapple for an edge in next year’s midterm elections.

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.

The holiday travel rush is here, with thousands of people expected to fly out of Jacksonville International Airport on Wednesday.

Florida is holding onto more than $2 billion in unclaimed property and some of that money might have your name on it. To show just how easy it is to check, we took our Holiday Money Hunt to the Riverside Arts Market, where shoppers walked away not with gift but with their own forgotten dollars.

Millions of Floridians will continue to see their electricity bills rise.

Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins is scheduled to speak Tuesday afternoon at a retirement community in Jacksonville.

A state database could hold the key to a little extra cash for your wallet, during the holiday season.

The southeastern U.S. has plunged into record-low temperatures, affecting 18 million people under a freeze warning across Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.

Upcoming temperature swings could mean a lot of ups and downs on your thermostat, but local utilities warn against making big swings on that dial – because they could affect your wallet.

A recent poll from the University of North Florida shows housing costs and property taxes are among the biggest worries for Floridians heading into 2026. “Affordability, affordability, affordability. That is the dominant theme of this poll,” said government law attorney Chris Hand.

Jacksonville businesses are stepping up to help families affected by the SNAP benefit delay. At Jerome Brown BBQ on the Northside, owners and volunteers are feeding hundreds of people and expect to serve thousands throughout the day.

Florida officials successfully evacuated 28 residents from Jamaica following the devastation caused by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Saturday.

The Florida-Georgia college football rivalry, a Jacksonville tradition since 1933, will temporarily move away from the city due to stadium renovations, with games scheduled in Atlanta and Tampa for the next two years.

Vanessa Lockett, a 73-year-old disabled retiree living on a fixed income in Jacksonville, is worried about losing her Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. She relies on the program to buy food, but the current federal government shutdown threatens to halt SNAP funding starting Nov. 1.

Florida Democratic legislators are urging Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency on food insecurity, as nearly 3 million Floridians face potential loss of federal food assistance if the government shutdown extends beyond Nov. 1.

As the federal government shutdown drags on, 42 million Americans, including 3 million Floridians, brace for the possibility that their SNAP benefits won’t arrive in November.

This week, we’re getting answers for all Floridians who have questions about the new open carry law.

House Bill 133 would lower the minimum age to purchase or transfer firearms from 21 to 18, reversing a major part of the law passed after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

The former Republican congressman, now running as a Democrat, emphasized his core values and vision for the state. “The economy should work for everybody,” Jolly said. He explained that this means the economy must support the lowest wage earners, retirees, and families trying to put food on the table.

The Federal Trade Commission says that Florida is one of the highest-ranking states for debt collection calls. At least 31,000 Floridians have filed complaints about these calls that are persistent and sometimes even aggressive.

While this year’s hurricane season has remained relatively calm so far, Floridians are reminded that preparation is key — especially with storms possible through late November.

Jacksonville Today reader Sherry C. says she and her father got COVID coming back to Florida on a plane. She wonders whether she should report her positive test anywhere so it could be tracked with other people.

Attorney General James Uthmeier announced charges against six defendants involved in a multi-year theft and identity fraud scheme across at least five Florida counties.

Florida residents could be a step closer to being able to openly carry guns in public.

Jacksonville and nearby areas are in for heavy rain, strong winds, and coastal flood advisories this week. Get the latest updates from News4JAX’s meteorologist with details on Exact Track 4D radar, rainfall forecasts, and tide timings.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference on Monday morning in Plant City.

On Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized local governments that have proposed budget increases, saying that they should focus on core functions and cut property taxes.

The Florida Hometown Heroes Housing (HTH) Program reopened today, giving first-time homebuyers who serve their communities a chance to receive down payment and closing cost assistance.

Experts say it’s worth checking your policy now — before a storm hits — and getting help from a trusted insurance agent or licensed professional if you’re unsure.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia said Thursday that over $44 million in unclaimed property was returned to Floridians during July, with about $3 million of that being returned to Jacksonville residents.

Senator Rick Scott will join state, local, and emergency management officials in Jacksonville on Wednesday for a press conference urging Floridians to stay prepared with Hurricane Season underway.

The researchers behind the most recent UNF Public Opinion Poll, Michael Binder and Sean Freeder, will join News4JAX anchor Bruce Hamilton on this week’s Politics & Power.

Hours after Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia posted a letter to social media claiming that some local governments are “trying to place ‘conditions’ and restrictions” on DOGE auditors, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan has responded, insisting that it’s a misrepresentation of her office’s intentions.

The My Safe Florida Home program opened for applications Monday morning, and millions of dollars are up for grabs to help homeowners make improvements that can lower their insurance premiums and protect against storms.

As Florida enters the heart of hurricane season, residents are getting a financial break on the essentials they need to stay safe. A new, permanent sales tax exemption on key hurricane supplies has replaced the state’s traditional short-term sales tax holidays.

Nearly half of Florida Republicans now believe the state’s top priority should be housing-related issues, according to a poll released Thursday by the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab.

Tariffs on imports like cars and building materials will likely push prices higher for everyday Floridians.

Floridians can now save on disaster supplies year-round. A new law removes sales tax on essential items like batteries, generators, and tarps — no more waiting for seasonal tax holidays.

A Florida man has been charged with orchestrating a multi-county construction fraud scheme that defrauded at least 13 victims across seven Florida counties, resulting in more than $3 million in losses, the Florida Attorney General announced Monday.