JOHN RUTHERFORD

House Democrats have pushed through a long-sought policing and public safety package after overcoming internal differences on legislation they plan to make central to their election-year pitch.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist has defeated Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried in Florida's closely watched gubernatorial primary.

U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, who has served three terms in District 4, chose to run in District 5 this year and defeated two Republican opponents in the August primary. Since no Democrats or other candidates qualified to run in the district this year, the former Jacksonville sheriff will return to Congress for two more years.

Naval Station Mayport might be on track to keep several ships threatened with decommissioning.

The House Office of Congressional Ethics found “substantial reason to believe” Congressman John Rutherford, R-Florida, and Congressman Pat Fallon, R-Texas, failed to disclose stock trades in a timely manner and violated House ethics rules, multiple news outlets reported, citing documents released Tuesday.

As the nation grapples with the emotions following the school shooting – the issue is also taking center stage for politicians.

Lithium "button" batteries can pose a deadly threat to young children if swallowed.

It’s a move by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that could change the face of North Florida politics and who represents you in Congress.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday said flights that have been carry migrants from the southern border into and through Jacksonville have halted, for the time being.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, is demanding answers from the U.S. attorney general and the Department of Homeland Security about flights carrying migrants into and through Jacksonville.

The News4Jax I-TEAM is looking into claims that the U.S. government is flying immigrant adults and children into Jacksonville under the cover of darkness as they deal with an influx of people crossing the southern border.

The election for the next Jacksonville sheriff isn’t until 2023, but on Tuesday Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams and Congressman John Rutherford threw their weight behind Republican candidate T.K. Waters.

U.S. Representative John Rutherford on Thursday honored the life of Nassau County Deputy Joshua Moyers with a speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

A special election for the Jacksonville City Council seat vacated by Tommy Hazouri, who died earlier this month, is set for December and at least five people are attempting to run for the open spot.

A bill to establish a national prisoner of war and missing in action memorial and museum in Jacksonville was just reintroduced by U.S. Reps. John Rutherford (R-Jacksonville) and Al Lawson (D-Tallahassee) reintroduced a bill that would designate a POW/MIA memorial and museum at Cecil Field to honor all former prisoners of war and those still considered missing in action.

Jacksonville’s Afghan community and its supporters are coming together to rally for peace and demand the world put pressure on the Taliban.

Rep. John Rutherford held a roundtable discussion in Jacksonville on Thursday with sheriffs from several local counties.

U.S. Reps. John Rutherford (R-Jacksonville) and Stephanie Murphy (D-Orlando) introduced the Scientific Assistance for Very Endangered (SAVE) Right Whales Act that would invest $5 million annually in grants that states, nonprofits and members of the fishing and marine shipping industries can use to fund research and efforts that restore the North Atlantic right whale population.

Florida political leaders expressed bipartisan support for Cubans after thousands of the island’s citizens took to the streets this weekend to protest against the nation’s government amid economic turmoil and lack of access to COVID-19 vaccinations.

On this edition of “This Week in Jacksonville,” we discuss the response to and impact from Tropical Storm Elsa, with state Sen. Audrey Gibson and U.S. Rep. John Rutherford. We also look ahead to 2022, talking with Gibson about her endorsement of Democrat U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist in the race for Florida governor. Rutherford gives us an update from Washington, D.C., talking about the Freedom to Fly Act and the Essential Caregivers Act. And we talk with Mary Daniel, a local advocate for senior care and the founder of Caregivers for Compromise. Her husband, who has Alzheimer’s, resides at a memory care facility, and she couldn’t see him during the first months of the pandemic. Hear how her experiences during that time led her to take action and push for change.

Former Jacksonville Sheriff and Congressman John Rutherford (R-FL) testified before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands in support of H.R. 2107, the Nation’s Oldest Port National Heritage Area Act, which was reintroduced by Rutherford earlier this year.

A sting called Operation Guardian set up by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and other agencies to lure men looking for sex with juveniles netted 12 arrests, and more are expected, Sheriff John Rutherford announced Friday morning. Law enforcement personnel from Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Clay and St. Johns County, Gainesville, Daytona Beach and other agencies set up fake social media accounts and posted messages as if they were minors and waited for men to contact them.

While the commission would have been bipartisan, the vote Friday clearly was not.

In a statement he shared with News4Jax following Wednesday’s vote, he reaffirmed his stance, but spoke about “extremists” from both major political parties. The statement reads:“Dangerous political rhetoric from extremists on the left and the right divides our nation and threatens the safety of our friends and neighbors. Last week, our Capitol was raided by anarchists and supporters of President Trump. A vote to impeach the president without proper due process and with only seven days left in office only further divides us. Since then, they have been pushing their divisive impeachment narrative and already put the country through one impeachment.

An aerial banner that flew over Jacksonville on Tuesday called for U.S. Rep. John Rutherford to resign. Five deaths resulted from the violence, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died of injuries suffered in the fray. pic.twitter.com/87v1BmsRUT — Rep. John Rutherford (@RepRutherfordFL) January 1, 2021“Objecting to state electors is not undemocratic,” Rutherford tweeted Jan. 4. The remarks rang hollow to the group behind Tuesday’s banner, who believe the best way for Rutherford to honor Officer Sicknick is to step down. — Rep. John Rutherford (@RepRutherfordFL) January 9, 2021“In choosing party over country, Congressman Rutherford played a very real part in the events that led to Officer Sicknick’s death,” the group said.

Pelosi put out a letter to Congressional Democrats saying if Pence doesn’t heed her timeline, the House will move forward with impeachment. “Next, we will proceed with bringing impeachment legislation to the Floor,” the letter stated. Representative James Clyburn says the country must reject Trump after the siege of the U.S. Capitol that many blame him for inciting. Passing in the upper House would be difficult because two thirds of senators would have to approve an impeachment, meaning numerous Republicans would have to approve. There is also talk of censuring Trump, which would be a step short of impeachment.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – News4Jax political analyst Rick Mullaney of Jacksonville University’s Public Policy Institute, Florida Sen. Audrey Gibson, U.S. Rep. John Rutherford and News4Jax anchor Tom Wills join this edition of “This Week in Jacksonville” as they discuss the invasion of the halls of Congress, objections to Electoral College votes and whether impeachment should be attempted. In addition, former advisor to President Donald Trump, Omarosa Manigault Newman, provides her perspective on the breach of the U.S. Capitol.

Lawmakers were resolved to complete their constitutional duty despite frayed nerves, high tensions and the nation’s capital on alert. The only other challenge was to the Pennsylvania electors, but that was also debated and denied. Florida Sen. Rick Scott was one of only eight in the nation who voted to sustain one or both objections. Florida’s senior senator, Marco Rubio, voted with the majority to accept the Electoral College vote and called on Trump to do more to help restore order. In the House, 12 Florida congressmen and six from Georgia voted to object to either the Arizona or Pennsylvania slate of Biden electors.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A group of protestors gathered outside the Jacksonville office of Representative John Rutherford on Thursday afternoon calling for his resignation. Some protesters were holding signs calling Rutherford a “traitor.”“In every way, he is acting like an enemy of the people. MORE | Local lawmakers who objected to Electoral College certification denounce Washington violenceOn Wednesday night, after the chaos in Washington D.C., Rutherford spoke with News4Jax about the impending Electoral College count. On Twitter, Rutherford condemned the violence at the Capitol and on Thursday he acknowledged President-elect Joe Biden’s win. News4Jax reached out to Rutherford asking for a comment on the demonstration but haven’t heard back yet.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Local lawmakers who objected to the Electoral College certification process denounced the violent protesters that swarmed the Capitol on Wednesday in protest of President-elect Joe Biden. U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, the former sheriff of Jacksonville, came out strongly against the actions of protesters supporting President Donald Trump. “Please pray for our law enforcement and for peace,” Cammack tweeted. Pray for our law enforcement as they secure the area and keep us safe. As pro-Trump protests raged in Washington, about 50 protesters also took to the state Capitol grounds in Tallahassee.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A former Jacksonville police detective who investigated a high-profile racially motivated killing in 1964 was recognized Wednesday in a virtual Historical Impact Celebration. Sheriff Mike Williams, Mayor Lenny Curry and U.S. Rep. John Rutherford shared kind words for the veteran and former detective, who investigated the murder of Johnnie Mae Chappell. RELATED: 2014 - 50 years later, racial killing haunts familyIn a dark time for the River City, Chappell was gunned down on March 23, 1964, because of the color of her skin. We lived in a racist city and a racist town run by racist people,” Cody said. The overview says, “two police detectives solved one of our nation’s worst hate crimes and paid for it with their careers.”

And they (the Affordable Care Act) helped me. Some patients at UF Health said they rely on the Affordable Care Act. One woman, who asked not to be named, said the Affordable Care Act really helps those on the poverty line. He wants a new health care program and says the current Affordable Care Act needs to go. President-elect Joe Biden was in the Obama Administration when the Affordable Care Act first came was created.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For the first time in decades, Duval County turned blue in a presidential election. The last time a Democratic candidate took Duval in a presidential election was President Jimmy Carter. With 100% of the precincts in Duval reporting, Biden took Duval with 250,942 votes. Among Duval County voters, Rutherford got 57.49% of the vote compared to Democratic challenger Donna Deegan, who received 42.40% of the vote. It’s also worth noting that during the gubernatorial race in 2018, Andrew Gillum carried Duval County with more than 51% of the votes cast.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – President Donald Trump has won Florida’s 29 electoral votes, defeating Democrat Joe Biden in a prized battleground state crucial to the Republican’s bid for another four years in the White House. In the end, Trump prevailed with the help of a loyal base, particularly in the state’s rural reaches. Both campaigns made Florida a priority in the waning weeks of an election year thrown off-kilter by the pandemic. It remains to be seen how the social unrest after high-profile police killings of Black people might have influenced the race. Biden did win Duval County this year -- the first time a Democrat had won the county since Jimmy Carter swept the south in 1976.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Incumbent U.S. Rep. John Rutherford is the projected winner of Florida’s 4th Congressional District race. The former sheriff of Duval County won 61% of the vote over former TV anchor Donna Deegan’s 39% to seal the Republican’s third term in Congress. Florida 4th District: Donna Deegan vs. John Rutherford District includes Nassau and most of Duval and St. Johns counties. When Rutherford was first elected to Congress in 2016, he received 70% of the vote. Still #grateful pic.twitter.com/4g10E01xtM — Donna Deegan (@DonnaDeegan) November 4, 2020Rutherford said he’s looking forward to going back to Washington, D.C., and helping Americans get back to work.

— District 3: Republican Kat Cammack has won Florida’s U.S. House seat held by her former boss, retiring Florida Republican Rep. Ted Yoho. He defeated Democrat Donna Deegan, a former television news anchor who has worked to raise money for breast cancer research and to help patients. — District 15: Republican Scott Franklin has won Florida Rep. Ross Spano’s seat in the U.S. House. Deutch was first elected in 2010 and represents a firmly Democratic district that includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A supermajority of Florida voters approved the amendment to the Florida Constitution that will raise Florida’s minimum wage from the current $8.56 an hour to $15 an hour by 2026.

Senior County Judge Brent Shore resigned from the Duval County Canvassing Board on Thursday, News4Jax confirmed. Judicial rules bar judges from political donations of any kind, and canvassing board rules bar members from displaying a candidate’s campaign signs. And I would expect that from my fellow members of the canvassing board,” Boylan said. The canvassing board has been at the center of a recent controversy that has captured statewide attention. News4Jax called the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission to ask if a complaint has been filed against Judge Shore.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Donna Deegan, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and other Democrats held a rally Thursday to urge voters to head to the polls early. Deegan, who in a recent poll was trailing U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla. in the 4th Congressional District race, made a late pitch to voters on the fourth day of early voting in Florida. “It was clear after the debate the other night, that there are very big differences between myself and my opponent,” Deegan told News4Jax. As of Thursday afternoon, there have been nearly 90,000 registered Democrats in Duval County who have voted either by mail or at early voting sites. According to a UNF poll from earlier this month, 57% of registered voters asked indicated they would vote for Rutherford, and 38% said they would vote for Deegan.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Republican leaders and candidates from Northeast Florida urged voters to visit early voting sites and cast their ballots as early voting began Monday. “You want to be first in line, and you can do that now because election day actually starts today.”Black said early voting sites are safe and hygienic. There were crowds waiting when early voting sites opened Monday across Jacksonville and across Florida. Hogan said masks are encouraged but not required at voting precincts, and he’s taken extra steps to ensure voting sites are thoroughly cleaned. The Republicans who spoke Monday encouraged in-person voting for Duval County residents on the first day of early voting but made no mention of mail-in voting.

Both promise coverage for pre-existing conditions. One which would amend the HIPAA law to make sure that pre-existing conditions are always covered. The other bill ... is actually a bill that should the ACA be struck down by the Supreme Court, that it would require that pre-existing conditions still be covered,” Rutherford said. It explodes costs and it puts a ceiling on what insurance companies are willing to pay," Deegan shot back. The rest are White,” Rutherford said.

REPLAY: Rutherford & Deegan square off in only televised debatePublished: October 14, 2020, 9:45 pmWatch U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., and Donna Deegan square off in Jacksonville for the only televised debate in the 4th Congressional District race. Wednesday’s debate, hosted by News4JAX in partnership with Jacksonville University’s Public Policy Institute, will be moderated by Kent Justice.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., and Democratic challenger Donna Deegan squared off Wednesday evening in the only televised debate in the 4th Congressional District race. During the debate, Deegan and Rutherford both touched on the coronavirus pandemic, health care, the economy and social justice. The individual income tax cuts expire in 2025. Deegan said she would support that plan, while Rutherford said absolutely not. People simply want racial justice.”Watch: Rutherford & Deegan ask each other a questionTo learn more about the candidates, visit News4Jax’s Voter’s Guide.

News4Jax, in partnership with Jacksonville University’s Public Policy Institute, hosted the debate, which was moderated by Kent Justice. During the debate, Deegan and Rutherford both touched on the coronavirus pandemic, health care, the economy and social justice. It is anything but affordable.”Supreme CourtThe debate comes on the same week as Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation hearings. The individual income tax cuts expire in 2025. People simply want racial justice.”Watch: Rutherford & Deegan ask each other a questionTo learn more about the candidates, visit News4Jax’s Voter’s Guide.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – News4Jax, in partnership with Jacksonville University’s Public Policy Institute, will host the only televised debate between U.S. Rep. John Rutherford and challenger Donna Deegan in the 4th Congressional District race, which covers Nassau and parts of Duval and St. Johns counties. We’ve compiled biographies and questionnaire responses for both Rutherford and Deegan as part of our Voter’s Guide — check it out. We’ll carry the debate live on Channel 4 and it will be streamed live on News4Jax.com. News4Jax Political Anchor Kent Justice is the moderator for this debate. The candidates may have the chance to ask each other questions during this hour-long debate.

Democrat Donna Deegan and Republican John Rutherford (WJXT)News4Jax’s 4th Congressional District debate: WATCH | RECAP | TRUST INDEXScroll down to read each candidate’s responses to News4Jax’s questionnaire, presented verbatim as submitted.,Donna DeeganParty affiliation: DemocratAge: 59Candidate’s family: Tim Deegan, husband. I also believe people deserve to feel safe when they go to work or school or church. The large majority of Americans of all parties (93 percent in a Fox News poll) believe we need universal background checks. I love to talk with people, listen to their ideas and struggles face to face. I miss those face to face meeting we have had with hundreds of constituents and the “work alongs” with scores of businesses.

Cammack’s 25% of the vote propels her into the general election to face Democrat Adam Christensen, who narrowly prevailed in his three-way primary. “I am so honored to have earned the trust and support of the voters,” Cammack said in a statement Tuesday night. He will face Republican Gary Adler, who won that primary, in November. In District 6, which includes southern St. Johns and all of Flagler and Volusia counties, Clint Curtis narrowly won a Democratic primary. He will face incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Daytona, who drew no primary opponent.

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – A day after Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels surrendered to law enforcement to face criminal charges stemming from a sex scandal investigation, Gov. He is prohibited from receiving any pay or allowance and from any privileges of public office during the suspension. RELATED: Making sense of the charges against Clay County Sheriff Darryl DanielsThe Florida Department of Law Enforcement confirmed an internal investigation last year into a corrections officer, Cierra Smith, who had been Daniels’ mistress while he was her supervisor. News4Jax on Friday spoke with Rep. John Rutherford, R-Florida, a former Jacksonville sheriff who worked with Daniels during his time at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. King noted in his letter: “I do not know Sheriff Daniels, his politics, his opponents, nor for that matter any citizen in Clay County.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Transportation Authority will use an $11.9 million grant from the federal government to take eight diesel buses out of service and replace them with eight compressed natural gas buses. Replacing them with cleaner CNG powered buses is part of the JTA’s mission of sustainability. JTA spokesman David Cawton said all buses purchased by JTA since 2015 have been CNG buses. The eight new CNG buses will make a total of 96 CNG buses in JTA’s fleet of 220 buses total. Four other projects in Florida also received funds from the bus and bus facilities grant program:

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Rep John Rutherford tweeted that NOAA announced a four day red snapper fishing season for 2020 for the South Atlantic, which includes Georgia and Florida. Today, @NOAA announced there will be a four day Recreational Red Snapper season in the South Atlantic on July 10th, 11th, 12th, and 17th. This four day season will benefit our fishing industry which has been hit especially hard during the coronavirus pandemic. He points out that the four day season will help the hard hit fishing industry which has suffered during the coronavirus pandemic. Rutherford followed his initial tweet with a promise to push for more days to fish for red snapper in the future.

Deegan to challenge U.S. Rep. John Rutherford in 2020. If you need help with WJXT’s or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801.