Nearly two years after a mass shooting at a Dollar General in Northwest Jacksonville left three people dead, city and state leaders say they are investing millions into the community — with the goal of preventing violence before it starts.

City officials announced that the state has approved a $3 million appropriation to support programs in northwest Jacksonville aimed at boosting small businesses, expanding vocational and workforce training, addressing food insecurity and preventing youth crime.

Jacksonville City Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman is speaking out after a shooting near Raines High School that triggered a lockdown and heightened concerns about safety in the area.

The University of North Florida broke ground Thursday on its new Student Success Center, which will house various student services.

The Clara White Mission got $400,000 for its Food Distribution II Initiative at Eartha’s Farm & Market.

The Florida House on Friday approved a $5.008 billion tax package after making a change to a controversial proposal about shifting money collected for tourism marketing.

As access to artificial intelligence expands, concerns are growing about the potential for individuals to fall victim to deepfakes. In response, a bill championed by Jacksonville state representative Wyman Duggan is making its way through the Capitol, aiming to protect Floridians from the harmful effects of such technology.

A bill moving through the Florida Capitol could have significant implications for victims of deepfakes, with its roots firmly planted in Jacksonville.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and his administration faced criticism after a report from Tallahassee suggested the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) may have lost $160 million.

Republican Wyman Duggan is seeking re-election in this district, which covers neighborhoods along the east side of the St. Johns River in Duval County, from San Marco to Mandarin, as well as Ortega, NAS Jacksonville, and portions of the Westside between 103rd St. and the Duval-Clay line. He faces Democrat Benjamin Sandlin.

State Sen. Jennifer Bradley is one of four Northeast Florida lawmakers who won re-election without opposition. She will cruise to her second term without having to campaign.

State Sen. Jennifer Bradley and three of the Florida state House members who represent voters in the News4Jax viewing area are cruising to another term without opposition in this year’s elections.

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.

Farm Share will be distributing food at five events this week in the Jacksonville area.

Among the items in the massive $101.5 billion state budget for the upcoming year is $6 million for the septic tank phase-out project in Jacksonville. Lawmakers still have to vote on the bill.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Farm Share announces plans to distribute food in the Jacksonville area later this week. Farm Share currently serves all 67 counties in Florida. AdSince its inception, Farm Share has distributed nationally more than 707 million pounds of food with a value of more than $1.3 billion. In 2020 alone, Farm Share distributed more than 104 million pounds of food and served more than 86 million meals to Floridians. For more information about Farm Share, visit FarmShare.org.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville motel that has been a magnet for violent crime, including eight deadly shootings this year, has been shut down. He noted that the city is giving motel residents until Thursday to clear out, and they’ll be given assistance. “I think we could’ve declared this a public nuisance under a city ordinance sometime ago,” State Sen. Audrey Gibson of Jacksonville told News4Jax on Wednesday. While news of the motel’s emergency closure was met with applause on Wednesday morning’s Zoom call, not everyone was thrilled about it. It’s unclear exactly how many residents will be affected by the emergency closure, or how long the closure is expected to last.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Farm Share partnered with city leaders to host two food drives Saturday. In total, nearly 30,000 pounds of food was distributed to hundreds of Jacksonville families. At Duval Charter School off 103rd Street, cars packed into two lines for a drive-thru food giveaway. It was great.”Farm Share Jacksonville serves 11 counties throughout northeast and central Florida. “So we are all over Jacksonville trying to hit different areas on the same day,” Johnson said.