Contract negotiations have broken down between the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, the union representing the food service workers in the Duval County Public Schools system, and Chartwells K12, the district’s food service provider.

Several charges against Le’Keian Woods, whose arrest sparked outrage in September, were downgraded by the State Attorney’s Office, according to court documents.

Several charges against Le’Keian Woods, whose arrest sparked outrage in September, were downgraded by the State Attorney’s Office, according to court documents.

Nearly a month after the racially motivated shooting at Dollar General, two local groups are coming together to ask city council to address racism issues in Jacksonville.

Organizations that worked closely with Ben Frazier say the work is not done.

After speaking with civil rights activists – one of whom is a survivor of white supremacy – they say it’s important for everyone to see who this person is, no matter how uncomfortable it may be.

Jacksonville City Council President Sam Newby sent a note to council members on Thursday. It said the work of the “Safer Together Committee” is complete.

Vernell Bing Jr. was shot and killed during a police-involved shooting and chase, a shooting found justified by the State Attorney's Office. Five years later to the day, his mother said she still mourns his death.

“Black voters in this part of the state are critical to winning statewide,” said Adrianne Shropshire, the executive director of BlackPAC. Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly 40,000 registered voters in Duval County, and more than half of the county's Democrats are African American. That was not the case when Hillary Clinton lost in Duval County to Trump in 2016. The area has also been a proving ground for Trump's attempt to peel off some Black voters — especially Black men — from Democrats. In Duval County, she won by a margin of fewer than 3,000 votes.

Councilman Garrett Dennis moved to withdraw the amendment during a meeting of City Council. “And the only commitment that I ask, council president, is that we have a committee in the near future to address these issues.”City Council President Tommy Hazouri then withdrew the amendment. The amendment Dennis offered would have changed how the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office received its $484 million in funding allocated by the city. It would have allocated $234 million to the Sheriff’s Office off the bat and then release the rest in increments as the agency reports back periodically. “We’re disappointed that the City Council chose to go with the status quo," Sampson said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. About 200 activists and supporters gathered Saturday afternoon in the large grass field near the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office headquarters to protest racial injustice and demand police reform. Organizers said their demands cover concerns about law enforcement and the criminal justice system as well as racial and economic issues. The protest was a drive-in rally to allow for social distancing, and hundreds of protesters, most wearing masks, gathered to voice their concerns. The drive-in protest was spearheaded by the JCAC and the Northside Coalition. (WJXT)The recurring racial attacks by police officers prove theres a pressing need for police reforms, JCAC spokesman Michael Sampson said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. A group called March on the RNC plans to hold a rally during the Republican National Convention, which it says will be in opposition of President Donald Trump and the convention. I believe were going to have one of the biggest marches and rallies weve seen in Jacksonville history.Sampson said March on the RNC group has applied for permits through the city to hold the rally in August. The organizers of the protest organized marches that drew demonstrators during the 2008 RNC in St. Paul, Minesota, and the 2012 RNC in Tampa. Sampson said the rally will be a peaceful one. He said the group is also demanding change for social injustices and an end to police brutality.