First Coast

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department is receiving a $14.4 million federal grant to bolster its workforce. 

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry has been quick to try and capitalize on the possibility of the August Republican National Convention's being moved out of North Carolina.

The City Council is expected to take up a proposal Tuesday that would help the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department recruit more women and minority firefighters. 

As bad as the unemployment numbers are, the Jacksonville metropolitan area’s four big counties are all doing better than the state as a whole.

Jacksonville City Council President Scott Wilson said May 25 he continues to back Tommy Hazouri as the next Council president.

The Jaguars began a slow return to work Tuesday, but don’t expect to catch a glimpse of players at TIAA Bank Field just yet.

As Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to tout improvements to Florida’s unemployment system, some First Coast applicants who believe they qualify for assistance are being told they’re not eligible.

While families and friends are welcome to visit Jacksonville’s National Cemetery on Memorial Day, they will not see thousands of small American flags decorating the gravesites as in years past.

Gas prices are creeping up as businesses reopen and people get back to doing the things they couldn’t do during the total coronavirus shutdown.

Testing for COVID-19 antibodies is being expanded to everyone who gives blood at a LifeSouth Community Blood Center or bloodmobile.

Florida has a growing number of children with a COVID-19 related illness, but how long it has been attacking children and the number of pediatric patients who have been treated remains a mystery.

North Florida Congressman Al Lawson (D-FL 5) is co-sponsoring the Save Our Streets (SOS)  Act to give small businesses and nonprofits up to $250,000 to help them deal with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Some 59,000 pounds of non-perishable goods are going to local food pantries after two weekend food-drives this month in St. Johns County.

The St. Johns County fishing pier in St. Augustine Beach reopens to the public Friday morning.

An award-winning Duval Schools teacher with honors from then-governor Rick Scott refused to abide by a transgender teenager’s pronouns, prompting school-wide training and an apology to his boss. But that same week — and for the rest of the school year — he continued posting bigoted memes mocking the LGBTQ community.

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is continuing to urge people to wear masks in public settings, saying he thinks there’s a “disconnect of the importance of it” among residents. 

With local and state officials moving quickly, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation has approved plans that allow vacation-rental properties to operate in 16 counties, including Duval, St. Johns and Nassau counties.

The resumption of elective surgeries means hospitals in Northeast Florida need more blood.

Thanks to millions of dollars in federal aid and the potential for record enrollment this fall, Edward Waters College looks as if it will make it through the coronavirus pandemic relatively unscathed.

Jacksonville City Councilman Danny Becton is running for the Council presidency. 

Councilman Rory Diamond tweeted a letter from Becton declaring his candidacy. He will run against current councilman and former Jacksonville mayor Tommy Hazouri. 

Councilman Danny Becton in the race for Council President for 2020-21. Got his letter this afternoon. Vote is Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/ZjgEBN1xkm

Wednesday was the last day COVID-19 that tests were offered at Jacksonville’s Prime Osborn Convention Center.

Stopping the spread of COVID-19 requires social distancing, and the wearing of face masks, according to health officials.

The captain of a guided missile cruiser based at Naval Station Mayport was relieved of command this week. 

San Marco merchants, customers, residents and visitors are noticing work at the East San Marco site, the high-profile property at Hendricks Avenue and Atlantic Boulevard that has been the target of development for almost 20 years.

The Chair of Jacksonville’s Special Committee on Resiliency, tasked with helping the city prepare for the impacts of sea level rise, is proposing three new subcommittees to better engage the public ahead of the committee’s first meeting since the coronavirus pandemic took hold in Florida.

Adults aren’t the only ones who may be feeling more anxious than usual due to COVID-19.

Administrators at Duval County Public Schools are asking students, parents and staff for their input as the district plans for how to reopen schools in the fall.