MANDARIN

China is launching an aggressive campaign to promote Mandarin, saying 85% of its citizens will use the national language by 2025.

China is launching an aggressive campaign to promote Mandarin, saying 85% of its citizens will use the national language by 2025. The move appears to put threatened Chinese regional dialects such as Cantonese and Hokkien under even greater pressure, along with minority languages such as Tibetan, Mongolian and Uyghur. The order issued Tuesday by the State Council, China’s Cabinet, said use of Mandarin, known in Chinese as “putonghua" or the “common tongue," remains “unbalanced and inadequate” and needs to be improved to meet the demands of the modern economy.

The Mandarin football team is parting ways with head coach Bobby Ramsay just three years after a state championship, the school announced in a release.

Mandarin’s Gage Hulbert won a state title in the 100 fly and Creekside’s Grace Gavin added to the Knights’ sterling tradition by winning an individual title in the 100 back in the Class 4A state tournament.

A glance at Thursday night's high school football scoreboard.

The first round of the high school volleyball playoffs are in the books.

The high school football season is in full swing and News4Jax has you covered. The Super 10 rankings will be a fixture on Tuesday’s during the regular season. All games are Friday at 7 p.m. unless indicated. District games indicated by an *.

The News4Jax Super 6 high school volleyball poll will be published each Thursday during the regular season. With district tournaments beginning next week, this is the final rankings of the season.

Residents of a Mandarin neighborhood say their cars were burglarized overnight -- one woman saying all of her credit cards were taken.

A man is dead after a single-car crash in Mandarin late Friday night.

It's Week 7 of the high school football season. A glance at the top four games this week, the next four and the full schedule.

The high school football season is in full swing and News4Jax has you covered. The Super 10 rankings will be a fixture on Tuesday’s during the regular season.

It’s the midway point of the high school football season. News4Jax picks its top four games of Friday night, followed by its next four.

The high school football season is in full swing and News4Jax has you covered. The Super 10 rankings will be a fixture on Tuesday’s during the regular season. All games are Friday at 7 p.m. unless indicated.

Britain’s Emma Raducanu, who surprised the world with her U.S. Open win, is sharing her excitement with a special message in Mandarin.

Social media’s favorite cookie shop has made a big slash in the Mandarin community. Crumbl Cookie recently opened its doors on San Jose Blvd in Mandarin offering delicious, freshly baked cookies to Jacksonville. What makes Crumbl stand out is their massive social media platform. They have taken over Tik Tok having hundreds of thousands of people review their cookies each week. Why do users review the cookies each week? Crumbl rotates its menu weekly while keeping their signature chocolate chip cookie on the menu at all times. Be sure to head to Mandarin to try the latest craze to take over Jacksonville!

Animal Care & Protective Services rescued and removed 74 cats from a home in Mandarin on Wednesday.

The News4Jax Super 6 high school volleyball poll will be published each Thursday during the regular season.

High school football season begins this week in Florida. A glance at four of the top games in the area this week.

It appears that plans to build a controversial waste transfer station next to hundreds of homes along Greenland Chase Blvd. in Mandarin will not happen.

Two southbound lanes of Interstate 295 across the Buckman Bridge will be detoured from Friday evening through early Monday morning for the next several weekends while permanent repairs are made to expansion joints forced the Buckman Bridge to close for nearly eight hours in May, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

A glance at team-by-team schedules for area teams in Florida and southeast Georgia.

Tristen Riley played wide receiver for Mandarin’s High School’s football team and was captain during his senior year. He also played left field for the Mustangs baseball team.

After hours of congestion Saturday afternoon, traffic began moving smoothly on the Buckman Bridge shortly after 8 p.m.

After Tropical Storm Elsa blew through Northeast Florida, some Clay and Duval county residents were left with messy yards.

A 2-year-old boy was hospitalized Tuesday after being pulled from a pool in Jacksonville’s Mandarin neighborhood, authorities said.

The US swimming trials are in the books and the results are in.

Qualifying for the Team USA swimming team picks back up Sunday and quite a few local swimmers will be in the mix.

Thousands of homes were reportedly without power Friday night, according to JEA.

Neighbors in one Jacksonville community can weigh in on a proposed waste transfer station on Thursday evening. The proposed station would go right behind the tree line of the Greenland Chase neighborhood in Mandarin.

Many minority cultures in China face a stark choice: Assimilate into Han culture or reject it and get left behind. The Yi want to find a 'third way.'

All northbound lanes of Interstate 295 at Old St. Augustine Road in Mandarin are blocked by a multi-car crash involving at least five people -- at least two of them have critical injures.

A glance at first-round high school baseball results and matchups for the second round.

Two men face murder charges in the shooting death of a Jacksonville man whose killing was the result of an attempted robbery gone wrong, according to court records obtained by News4Jax.

High school baseball season is back and so are our Super 6 rankings. They’ll be published every Thursday during the regular season. District tournaments begin Monday so this is the final ranking of the season. Records are through April 20 games.

High school baseball season is back and so are our Super 6 rankings. They’ll be published every Thursday during the regular season. Records are through April 13 games.

High school baseball season is back and so are our Super 6 rankings. They’ll be published every Thursday during the regular season. Records are through April 7 games.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Following gunfire at a youth football game in Mandarin, a Jacksonville City Councilman called for a discussion about park safety Monday night at City Hall. Inside the council chambers, several youth football coaches voiced their concerns. “Nothing is going to be done until a child dies,” said Shawn Fountain, athletic director with Westside Football League. By News4Jax count, there have been two incidents involving shots fired during Jacksonville-area youth football games in the past year. RELATED: Parents react to gunfire at youth football jamboreeDetectives said more than 500 players and spectators were in attendance at the Mandarin Athletic Association football jamboree but no injuries were reported.

Runners compete on Saturday at the Bob Hayes track and field meet at Raines. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Bob Hayes track and field meet was back, and so were a deluge of victories by area athletes. The Vikings relay team of Quincy Burroughs, Kareem Burke, Jaquon King and Kenton Kirkland clocked a 3:24.32 in the event to edge Miami Northwestern (3:25.75). Jeremiah Kollman (Richmond Hill), 44-0.75; 4. Miami Northwestern, 3:52.34.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The excitement and energy were contagious Saturday morning as people ran the Gate River Run and many participants told News4Jax they were just excited to be racing again. First-time runner Krista Roehlig was one of 8,000 who made their way through the streets of the River City in cool and windy conditions. It’s the best race,” Roehlig said. Hard, but fun.”RELATED: Emily Sisson, Clayton Young win Gate River Run | Mandarin, UNF grad Sem Sultanov claims top local honor at River Run | Look up finish timesAdSeveral runners said the wind was especially challenging on the Hart Bridge, somewhat affectionately dubbed the “Green Monster” by participants. “It was very tough.”WATCH IT AGAIN: News4Jax broadcast of the 2021 Gate River RunAdDid we spot you among the runners this year?

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Counselors on Wednesday evening met with children who were at Greenland Park in Mandarin over the weekend when shots rang out during a youth football game. “I was just waiting for my football game and I just heard gunshots, and my mom pulled me the ground,” said Elijan Palumbo, a youth football player who met with the counselors. “Then we called 911 and the police came.”Kathryn Palumbo, a mother who attended Wednesday’s meeting, said she appreciates the counselors offering to help. AdDetectives said more than 500 players and spectators were in attendance at the Mandarin Athletic Association football jamboree but no injuries were reported. LINK: Parents react to gunfire at youth football jamboreeThe JSO incident report said a witness described the gun as a short-barrel rifle.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Police are seeking information about gunfire that erupted Sunday during a youth football jamboree at a Mandarin park, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday. The request for information came just hours before parents of youth football players met with the Mandarin Athletic Association to weigh whether the spring football season will be canceled. Shortly after 4:30 p.m. Sunday, officers responded to shots fired at Greenland Park, where there were about 500 players and fans gathered for youth football games. Parents like Brown would also be refunded the money they paid in advance for their child to participate in spring football. Earlier Tuesday, News4Jax learned that parents were also told Elite South Youth Football League wanted parks to be responsible for security.

Detectives said more than 500 players and spectators were in attendance at the Mandarin Athletic Association football jamboree but no injuries were reported. In October, police said a man was targeted, shot and killed at an Arlington Athletic Association event. The jamboree was hosted by the Mandarin Athletic Association, but there is a different host for each game. Elite South Youth Football League organized the game where the argument and gunfire happened. Mandarin Athletic Association parents told News4Jax they will be meeting to decide if they will continue the youth football program or cancel it.

Russell Hanna, 38, is charged with murder in a stabbing at a McDonald's in Mandarin. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 38-year-old man has been charged in a deadly stabbing Thursday night at a McDonald’s on Old St. Augustine Road, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said. Russell Hanna is accused of killing a man in his 60s who police said was stabbed “several times” Thursday afternoon at the fast-food restaurant. He said the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, which was also called to the scene, transported the older man to a hospital, where he died from his injuries. They were inside of the restaurant and at some point an altercation ensued, and the suspect stabbed the victim several times,” Blinn said.

(1) St. Johns Country Day (8-0, Class 2A)Notable wins: Bartram Trail, Bolles, Glynn Academy, Spruce Creek, University Christian. Glance: This is your weekly reminder that St. Johns is very, very good this year. 1 St. Johns on Feb. 20. (5) Bolles (8-2, Class 4A)Notable wins: Clay, Mandarin, St. Joseph. 1 St. Johns Country Day.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tru by Hilton just opened its doors at its tucked-away spot in Jacksonville’s south Mandarin area located near Whole Foods, Publix and Target. The four-story, 106-room hotel at 2970 Hartley Road opened its doors on Feb. 16 and is one of five that the brand intends to open in the area. The “Tru” brand is a newer, more modernized version described as “minimal but meaningful.”The Tru by Hilton brand promotes its rooms with “open shelves, doorless closets and wood-like flooring,” along with a “large TV and premium channels” that create an open feel. Game area at Try by Hilton in Mandarin“Our hotel rooms are minimal but meaningful,” said Kyle Stanton, night auditor at Tru by Hilton. The lobby provides plenty of seating for any guests wanting to eat food, work, or just relax.”Pool area at Tru by Hilton in MandarinRoom rates are available online.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Planning Commission has voted to approve an exception for a liquor store off San Jose Boulevard, and the decision has some business owners in Mandarin upset. AT 10:15: Businesses in Mandarin shopping center upset after Jacksonville planning commission approves turning a building into a liquor store. “We’ve had to install security cameras.”Farnham and his business neighbors in the Mandarin Square fear that if the liquor store is built, things might worsen. “If this liquor store is built, that will be the sixth liquor store within 1.9 miles. Requests for comment from the Planning Commission, the city and the building owner of the proposed liquor store were not immediately returned Friday.

Line of seniors waiting for vaccine Monday at the Lane Wiley Senior Center on Jacksonville's Westside. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Beginning Monday, the Mandarin and Lane Wiley Senior Centers that were utilized for vaccine distribution will return to providing COVID-19 testing. Beginning Monday, Feb. 22, both locations will open for testing from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Both sites will be open Monday through Friday. Makeup days were available for people age 65 and older and health care workers who received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at either Mandarin or Lane Wiley senior centers and missed their appointment for the second shot, the city of Jacksonville announced Friday.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The boys high school soccer playoffs rolled on Wednesday night, with nine teams from the area advancing to the second round. The biggest wins of the opening night belonged to Mandarin, which edged 16-1-1 Spruce Creek 2-1 in double OT in Region 1-7A. Stanton topped a 17-1 Gulf Breeze 1-0 in Region 1-5A. There are three all-local regional semifinals on Saturday, including St. Joseph at St. Johns Country Day, Bolles at Episcopal and Menendez at Bishop Kenny. Yonge 1Episcopal 4, Crescent City 3 (PKs)Region 1-2ASt. Johns Country Day 8, Bishop McLaughlin 0St. Joseph 8, Seven Rivers Christian 0Regional semifinalsSaturday (all games at 7 p.m.)Mandarin (16-3-1) at Lake Mary (19-2-1)Region 1-6AFletcher (14-3-2) at Lake Howell (11-5)Region 1-5AFort Walton Beach (10-5-1) at Stanton (11-1-5)Region 1-4AMenendez (14-2) at Bishop Kenny (12-3-5)Region 1-3AEpiscopal (6-8-3) at Bolles (6-4-5)Region 1-2ASt. Joseph (12-5-2) at St. Johns Country Day (13-2-1)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Makeup days will be available this week for people age 65 and older and health care workers who received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at either Mandarin or Lane Wiley senior centers and missed their appointment for the second shot, the city of Jacksonville announced Friday. The two sites have been open for second doses for two weeks, but they closed on Friday. The city is aware that no everyone was able to make their appointments. While copies of the Department of Health Vaccine Screening and Consent Form will be available at the vaccination sites, those participating are encouraged to bring a completed form to reduce their wait time. AdIndividuals may call the city’s customer care center at 904-630-CITY (2489) for assistance or additional information.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Crews are searching for a 20-year-old man after an empty boat was found Thursday morning near the Buckman Bridge. The boat hit one of the pillars of the bridge, and by the time Jacksonville Fire and Rescue personnel found it, no one was aboard. AdNEW VIDEO: A multi-agency search is on after a boat hit one of the pillars of the Buckman Bridge this morning. By the time Jacksonville Fire and Rescue personnel found it, no one was aboard. Rescue vehicles on the Buckman Bridge were blocking two lanes of traffic on the westbound side Thursday morning, which caused some major delays.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It’s national signing day around the country and quite a few local athletes are deciding on their college destinations on Wednesday. FletcherBella Phillips, volleyball, Florida State College at Jacksonville. MandarinSummer Alexander, softball, East Georgia State; Brennan Baker, baseball, Tallahassee Community College; Zach Mizrahi, baseball, Daytona State College; Madison Price, girls diving, Indian River State College. MenendezBrooks Berry, boys lacrosse, Berry; Ella Chang, girls swimming, University of North Florida; Ahnalie Layman, girls soccer, University of West Florida; Jasmyn Newson, girls swimming, Indian River State College; Mandy Taylor, softball, Eastern Florida State College. YuleeIan Cochran, baseball, Thomas University; Josh Green, baseball, Florida State College at Jacksonville.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The first signing day for high school football athletes came and went in December. A look at athletes from around the area who signed letters of intent on national signing day. Athletes who played sports other than football and signed on Wednesday can be found here. AdThis list will be updated throughout the day and in the weeks to come as more athletes finalize their college plans. Full Screen Full Screen 1 / 19 Mandarin baseball player Brennan Baker signs with Tallahassee Community College.

Danke, a Chinese residential rental company, has a debt-dependent business model that is showing signs of strain. Debt-fueled growthRenters who work with Danke often pay monthly installments to the company's banking partners after taking out a loan. In 2019, 65.9% of Danke's tenants had rent-financing agreements in place, according to a company filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Media reports in China have begun to raise questions about Danke's financial health. Rival Qingke employs a similar business model with tenants taking out loans and paying a year's worth of rent upfront.

BEIJING — As China's leaders get ready to release their national development plan for the next five years, some government advisors emphasize the priority is building up China's domestic strength. "China's economy needs to continue to develop. He is also honorary dean of the National School of Development at Peking University, and formerly the chief economist of the World Bank. The greater emphasis on the domestic Chinese market is part of a new term — "dual circulation" — that has emerged as leaders deliberate on the next five-year development plan set to kick off in 2021. Many economists predict China will surpass the U.S. as the world's largest economy in the next several years, when the 14th five-year plan will be in place.

A senior Chinese government official challenged President Donald Trump's handling of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, accusing him of wasting weeks after the threat posed by the virus first became apparent. In a wide-ranging interview with NBC News conducted in Mandarin on Tuesday, Executive Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng also hit back at the politicization of the virus. Instead, he termed the virus a "natural disaster" and called for greater cooperation and an end to accusations. Chinese Executive Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng attends the Universal Periodic Review of China before the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council on November 6, 2018 in Geneva. FABRICE COFFRINI | AFP via Getty ImagesA memorial for Dr Li Wenliang, who was one of the whistleblowers of Covid-19 when it first emerged in Wuhan, China and caused the doctor's death.

On Monday, he appeared in red inmate garb and spoke through a Mandarin interpreter. He told the judge that he understood the terms of the agreement and that he was guilty. It did not appear that he had family or other supporters in the room.

Some included QR codes formatted for WeChat and Alipay, ubiquitous apps used in mainland China for chatting and online payment. Hong Kong protesters have mobilized around an extradition bill that would have allowed suspected criminals to be deported to mainland China, which many Hong Kongers see as a threat to the freedom of speech and rule of law that Hong Kong currently has. But the messaging of Sundays march expanded far beyond the extradition law, touching on multiple issues censored in mainland China. ALSO:First Hong Kong protested. In Hong Kong, one protester pulls off his mask and defines a movement A new kind of Hong Kong activism emerges as protesters mobilize without any leaders

Prince William speaks Mandarin in Chinese New Year message The Duke of Cambridge has posted a video message to the people of China wishing them a happy new year. Prince William is set to visit China next month, and he's clearly been brushing up on his Mandarin.