Met Park Marina, a new piece of Jacksonville’s downtown riverfront, is now open next to EverBank Stadium on the St. Johns River.

Smith previously served as Chief of Staff in 2024 and Co-Chair of Mayor Deegan's transition team in 2023.

Three Jacksonville restaurants received official recognition Wednesday from the Michelin Guide, the internationally acclaimed dining authority, in a ceremony that city leaders say signals a turning point for a culinary scene that has long been overlooked.

The Jacksonville Aviation Authority and the City of Jacksonville announced Friday that the authority will not file a planned lawsuit against the city over a dispute about the airport budget.

Jacksonville City Council members are set to take up a high-stakes vote Tuesday on whether to override Mayor Donna Deegan’s veto of Ordinance 2025-872, a measure that would shift some appointment power for two city-related boards from the mayor’s office to the City Council president.

Mayor Donna Deegan is asking the Jacksonville City Council to approve $11 million for affordable housing and homelessness initiatives in the city’s proposed budget, marking a significant increase after affordable housing funding was largely scaled back during the past two budget cycles.

Mayor Donna Deegan’s proposed budget puts millions of dollars toward addressing those everyday concerns, including nearly $36 million for roadway resurfacing, nearly $12 million for new sidewalks and sidewalk repairs, and $25 million for stormwater drainage projects.

Mayor Donna Deegan unveiled Jacksonville’s budget proposal, keeping public safety the top priority. Sheriff T.K. Waters says JSO will spend carefully, while City Council begins weeks of review amid property tax uncertainty.

Mayor Donna Deegan on Monday presented a proposed $2.03 billion budget for fiscal 2026-27 to the Jacksonville City Council and announced a citywide series of budget town halls beginning Aug. 5 so residents can review priorities and ask questions.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan will deliver her budget address for the next fiscal year to the City Council on Monday.

Mayor Donna Deegan on Monday proposed a $2.03 billion city budget for fiscal 2026-27 that keeps reserve funds intact, holds non-public-safety staffing steady and boosts spending on roads, sidewalks, septic-tank phaseout and public safety.

Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department is celebrating a major milestone Thursday: 140 years of serving the community.

The DONNA Foundation opened registration on Tuesday for the 20th running of DONNA Marathon Weekend, a milestone celebration that will bring thousands of runners, survivors, volunteers and supporters to Jacksonville Feb. 5-7, 2027.

Sulzbacher and city leaders broke ground Friday on Phase 2A of Enterprise Village, the nonprofit’s $28 million development that will add health care and job-training services to a new 17-acre campus.

The city of Jacksonville has chosen European Street Cafe to run a café at the new Riverfront Plaza, introducing one of the area’s most well-known local restaurant brands to the center of Downtown’s revitalized riverfront.

The City of Jacksonville said it has been awarded about $12.5 million in federal and philanthropic grants to modernize its Mayport working waterfront, advance multimodal transportation projects downtown, expand emergency shelter services, and invest in urban trees and youth-led sustainability efforts.

Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., chief executive officer of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, told the JTA Board of Directors Friday that he will resign effective Jan. 8, 2027, concluding more than 13 years with the agency.

The City of Jacksonville has planned family-friendly fun for its Fourth of July events to celebrate America’s 250th birthday in downtown.

Local Republicans held a press conference on Tuesday to demand accountability and address concerns over what they called “wasteful spending” under Mayor Donna Deegan’s administration.

City of Jacksonville and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development officials will hold a signing ceremony Tuesday to launch an initiative aimed at expanding affordable housing in the city through the use of manufactured homes, city leaders said.

Mayor Donna Deegan on Thursday unveiled the Childcare Solutions for Early Learning Task Force report and recommended a new initiative, River City Care, aimed at making child care more affordable and accessible while strengthening Jacksonville’s workforce.

Jacksonville was named the “Best-Run City in Florida” and ranked 18th best-run city in the nation out of 148, according to WalletHub’s 2026 Best- & Worst-Run Cities in America ranking.

Jacksonville’s Septic Tank Phase Out program is getting a major boost from the Environmental Protection Agency, with city leaders announcing about $6.7 million in funding to help move more than 500 homes and businesses from septic tanks to city water and sewer service in the Christobel neighborhood near Lem Turner Road and Edgewood Avenue.

Mayor Donna Deegan joined city officials and advocates Friday at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the LaVilla Lift Ev’ry Voice & Sing Heritage walking trail.

Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico’s attorney says the public is not entitled to all of Carrico’s text messages and emails turned over under subpoena, arguing personal communications do not automatically become public records under Florida law.

Voters will get to decide on extending Duval County Schools’ 1-mill property tax referendum this November after a delay from the City Council finance committee caused public outcry last week.

Families on Jacksonville’s Eastside now have a new place to turn for help. Mayor Donna Deegan joined officials from the nonprofit Family Support Services on Friday to cut the ribbon on the Center of Hope at Kennedy, a family resource center off Ionia Street.

A Jacksonville City Council finance committee has delayed a vote on whether to send Duval County Schools' 1-mill property tax renewal to the November ballot, drawing pushback from teachers, parents, and city leaders.

On Thursday, Mayor Donna Deegan is expected to discuss the local impact of a major property tax overhaul that state lawmakers passed during a special session and that is now headed to the ballot in November.

A sweeping Florida property tax overhaul now headed to the November ballot is drawing growing concern from local leaders who warn it could reshape how cities and counties fund essential services like police, fire rescue and emergency response.

From Democratic Mayor Donna Deegan to Republican controlled Clay County, leaders across the Jacksonville area are voicing concerns about local budget reductions that could result from a major property tax cut plan devised by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Mayor Donna Deegan and city officials are demonstrating new equipment in the city’s ongoing campaign to fight litter and blight on Monday.

The city is opening 30 community pools this Memorial Day weekend, with an additional pool slated to open later this summer.

Mayor Donna Deegan and Related Group developers are hosting a groundbreaking of Southbank Residences, a 25-story mixed-use development along the St. Johns River in Downtown on Wednesday.

Every year, National Safe Boating Week is a time to remind boaters about the rules and safety tips for everyone to be safe on the water, along with raising awareness about manatees.

Many Ironman competitors and organizers praised the River City as a host, but some local officials, businesses, and residents say race-day traffic and safety concerns caused major headaches.

Nearly 2,000 athletes took on Jacksonville’s first full Ironman triathlon Saturday, pushing through scorching heat and a grueling 140.6-mile course that tested even the most seasoned competitors.

IRONMAN athletes will race through city streets over the course of 17 hours on Saturday. The city is urging residents to review planned street closures, be patient and plan their travel accordingly.

The City of Jacksonville will unveil the Riverfront Music Garden and formally reopen the Northbank Riverwalk at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 11 a.m. at 300 Water Street, city officials said.

The Winn-Dixie Company has received approval from Jacksonville City Council for an agreement that will pave the way for a $65 million investment in the company’s local operations over the next five years.

Mayor Donna Deegan on Friday, will formally name one of VUP-19’s MQ-4C Tritons “Spirit of Jacksonville” to honor the longstanding support and partnership between Jacksonville and the military.

A city review of Jacksonville’s multimillion-dollar telehealth contract found no evidence of fraud or illegal conduct, but concluded the program did not deliver measurable financial benefits to taxpayers.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office sent a subpoena in recent days to JEA for records relating to a controversial lobbying contract that the agency’s CEO nixed at the beginning of the year.

A series of anonymous text messages criticizing prominent Jacksonville leaders has escalated, with the sender now directly contacting News4JAX Anchor/Reporter Tarik Minor.

The Republican Party of Florida on Friday announced that it is filing a formal complaint with the Florida Elections Commission against Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan’s re-election campaign.

Community members are getting hands-on training and safety tips on Friday at JaxReady Fest at the Prime Osborn Convention Center.

Advocates are renewing their push for a $10 million affordable housing trust fund in Jacksonville, as city leaders face growing pressure to address rising housing costs.

Mayor Donna Deegan will officially file paperwork on Thursday to seek re-election, citing progress on neighborhoods, public safety, affordability and economic development that the mayor said is transforming downtown.

A nonprofit developer plans to build 120 affordable apartments on Jacksonville’s Northside at the site of the former Lake Forest Elementary School, which closed in 2019.

JEA received a subpoena on Friday from State Attorney Melissa Nelson’s office seeking a broad swath of communication records about the agency’s CEO, Vickie Cavey, as well as discussions involving City Council President Kevin Carrico and a high-powered lobbying firm that employs former Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry.

A sexual assault survivor told her story at Jacksonville’s 25th sexual assault awareness month press conference on Tuesday.

Jacksonville City Council’s Rules Committee delayed JEA board appointments for Randy Wyse and Joe DiSalvo, citing ongoing investigations and internal questions at the utility. Mayor Deegan supports pausing appointments.

A countdown from Mayor Donna Deegan kicked off Riverfront Palooza Saturday morning, as families sprinted into Jacksonville’s largest egg hunt.

Jacksonville City Council was preparing to vote on who would help decide how millions of dollars are spent on the Eastside, and not everyone agreed with the mayor’s picks.

he City of Orlando rolled out the red, er, teal carpet for the Jaguars braintrust on Wednesday morning, saying that it has waited for this opportunity for decades.

The new Jaguars executive office buildings, called One Tower Court, just opened this week, the first multi-story office building constructed downtown in several years.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan and other city officials celebrated the opening of the Stockton Street Bridge on Wednesday morning, which is a part of the McCoys Creek restoration project.

In a March 24 vote, the Jacksonville City Council approved a $5 million loan for an affordable housing development that drew support from Republican Council members and from Mayor Donna Deegan, a Democrat.

The City of Jacksonville on Thursday launched the SHIP Single-Family Development Program to build 10 affordable single-family homes and pair eligible buyers with downpayment assistance, officials said.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan criticizes a new City Council investigative committee targeting JEA, calling it politically charged. Council President Kevin Carrico says the panel will subpoena witnesses and review disputed fees, workplace allegations.

With Jacksonville one step away from extending alcohol sales to 3 a.m. in the Downtown Entertainment District, some people are expressing safety concerns. The measure, which passed the City Council with a 17–1 vote on Tuesday, is now on Mayor Donna Deegan’s desk awaiting her signature.

The Florida attorney general is challenging state attorney Melissa Nelson’s decision not to pursue criminal charges after finding that city of Jacksonville security logbooks kept records of privately-owned firearms and the people who carried them into two city buildings.

Mayor Donna Deegan will recognize nine of the city’s top young readers on Monday, at Southeast Regional Library as part of the River City Readers initiative.

The executive committee of JEA’s Board of Directors made an unusual -- but expected -- move on Monday, opting to forego the traditional succession of leadership as controversies swirl around the city-owned utility.

All eyes will be on JEA as one of its board committees gets ready for a key meeting on Monday, where the city-owned utility’s board chooses its leaders for the next year.

Locally, leaders such as Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, Florida Senator Rick Scott, Congressman John Rutherford, and Georgia Representative Buddy Carter released statements on the U.S. joining Israel in attacking Iran.

The University of North Florida’s new esports and innovation arena, The Flight Deck, is now open for students, marking a major step in the school’s plan to expand technology learning and strengthen the region’s future workforce.

With Jacksonville one step away from extending alcohol sales to 3 a.m. in the Downtown Entertainment District, safety concerns are mounting. The measure, which passed 17–1, is now on Mayor Donna Deegan’s desk awaiting her signature.

Signaling one of the most significant policy shifts for downtown in years, the Jacksonville City Council overwhelmingly approved a plan Tuesday to push last call to 3 a.m. in key entertainment zones and formally fold the Brooklyn corridor into the city’s nightlife footprint.

During a board meeting Tuesday amid rising tensions over leadership, JEA Vice Chair Ricardo “Rick” Morales III admitted that he privately asked CEO Vickie Cavey to resign after he said employees voiced concerns to him about a “toxic” workplace culture at the city-owned utility.

Former Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry pushed back Monday, just days after a news conference in which Mayor Donna Deegan and JEA officials addressed allegations about the utility’s culture and leadership.

Jacksonville city officials recently submitted documents to the Florida attorney general’s office following a criminal subpoena related to immigration enforcement.

A “big favor” text about a JEA board appointment sparked scrutiny, a nominee’s withdrawal and new leadership allegations. Mayor Deegan and JEA leaders defended the CEO, urging transparency.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Monday announced that he sent a “criminal subpoena” to the administration of Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, questioning the city’s immigration enforcement.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan met with Westside residents for the second town hall in her ongoing series to hear directly from the community about their concerns. The meeting at Westside High School focused on pressing issues such as trash, homelessness, affordability, and the need for more family-friendly activities.

Since an incident Saturday involving a weapon being discharged outside the Avenues Mall, Jacksonville City Councilmember Raul Arias, who represents the district where the mall is located, told News4JAX that he wants the city and JSO to work with parents to curb the issues that led to the bedlam.

Mayor Donna Deegan, Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department Chief Percy Golden II, and other officials will hold a press conference to address the elevated wildfire risk on Friday.

The Jacksonville City Council approved two ordinances Tuesday night that will provide funds for firefighting equipment and neighborhood improvements while establishing oversight for a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) Board for the Eastside neighborhood.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Monday announced that he sent a “criminal subpoena” to the administration of Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, questioning the city’s immigration enforcement.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan addressed recent controversies during her appearance on This Week In Jacksonville, including criticism over a hologram display at Jacksonville International Airport and tensions with Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier regarding a gun registry probe at City Hall.

A controversial hologram that stood at the Jacksonville International Airport for months has been removed after the agreement between the city and the airport expired on Sunday, according to Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan is beginning a new round of town hall meetings aimed at addressing some of the most pressing issues facing residents, including housing affordability, access to health care and long-standing infrastructure concerns.

Runners at the 19th annual Donna Marathon faced chilly conditions Saturday morning as they set out for the 5K and ultra marathon to raise money for breast cancer research.

The 19th Annual DONNA Marathon, a longtime weekend tradition in the Jacksonville area, kicks off Friday.

Nine months after announcing that he was looking to sell his beloved Intuition Ale Works brewery, owner and founder Ben Davis shared an updated post on Facebook, saying “the right buyer never came” and the eatery will be closing in April after more than 15 years in Jacksonville.

The City of Jacksonville said one of its employees has been placed on administrative leave after she posted a video on Wednesday talking about recent reports of increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents across the area.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan is bringing back her town hall series to hear from the community about issues that shape the city.

The city of Jacksonville will launch its “State of Food” initiative on Tuesday.

Protestors organized on Friday outside Jacksonville’s City Hall downtown to condemn recent operations by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and demanded that a city employee who was placed on leave following a controversial video be reinstated.

Jacksonville will officially kick off Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend on Friday with a long-standing tradition that brings the community together—the Dr. MLK Jr. Breakfast.

The City of Jacksonville said one of its employees has been placed on administrative leave after she posted a video on Wednesday talking about recent reports of increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents across the area.

The City of Jacksonville said one of its employees has been placed on administrative leave after she posted a video on Wednesday talking about recent reports of increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents across the area.

Mayor Donna Deegan honored her friendly bet with the Buffalo mayor by sending a truck-load of Mayport shrimp and a monetary donation to a local food bank.

Mayor Donna Deegan made a friendly wager with the Buffalo mayor ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ playoff game against the Bills.

An anti-trafficking sign in EverBank Stadium changed the life of a young mother and her child a few months ago. That sign was made possible because of a coordinated effort in Northeast Florida to combat human trafficking.

An investigation into a registry of people legally carrying firearms into Jacksonville’s City Hall and the Yates Building has found no evidence of criminal intent, the state attorney’s office said.

The Raines High School Vikings are still riding the high of their 3A state championship win, which capped a perfect season that the team dubbed its “Revenge Tour.”

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan and other local leaders will celebrate and honor the Raines High School community on Thursday after the Vikings football team’s state championship win.

The Prime Osborn Convention Center was filled with excitement Saturday morning as thousands of children poured in for the 26th Children’s Christmas Party of Jacksonville.

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD) held its annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ceremony on Thursday morning to honor 28 firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.