St. Johns County

A petition drive is underway in an attempt to get the St. Johns County school board to require everyone to wear face masks in school buildings for the fall semester.

Beginning in October, St. Johns County will add an additional 1-cent tax to overnight stays in hotels, bringing the so-called “bed tax” there from 4- to 5-cents. 

If you’re heading to Vilano Beach, here’s a parking note to be aware of:

The original Outback Crab Shack opened in 1984 and was popular with locals and tourists until it was heavily damaged by Hurricane Matthew and forced to close in 2016. Now it’s making a comeback as a new restaurant is built at the site.

Face masks will be optional for the fall semester in the St. Johns County School District.

Florida’s governor continues to prohibit local governments from enforcing mask mandates  — but at least one area business is voluntarily requiring its own staff to return to wearing face masks at work.

The Jacksonville-based toy company Safari Ltd. is planning to open its first retail store, called Toytopia, at the Nocatee Town Center in St. Johns County. 

A National Transportation Safety Board investigator is expected to arrive at the Northeast Florida Regional Airport in St. Augustine Wednesday to investigate a deadly plane crash.

A groundbreaking was held Monday for an affordable housing complex west of State Road 207 in St. Johns County.

A staff shortage is being blamed for delays in yard waste pickups in St. Johns County.

A $34 million program aimed at strengthening the coastline dunes in Ponte Vedra Beach, South Ponte Vedra Beach and the southern portion of Crescent Beach will be getting underway this summer.

The owner of the St. Augustine Outlets at northeast Interstate 95 and Florida 16 wants to redevelop the 31-acre property into a mixed-use development.

Gatlin Development Co. Inc. plans a $250 million mixed-use development called Grand Cypress at the former greyhound racetrack and poker room site in St. Johns County after buying the nearly 100-acre property last week for $16.5 million.

The public defender representing 14-year-old Aiden Fucci entered a written not guilty plea on his behalf Thursday in the murder of 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey.

The city of St. Augustine is following in Jacksonville's footsteps by offering homeowners a free tree, with planting included.

The St. Johns County School District is forming a committee to consider dress code changes after Bartram Trail High School edited the photos of 80 female students to cover more of their bodies. 

Two free concerts will be held at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre (The Amp) on Saturday, June 19, to celebrate Juneteenth as part of the St. Augustine Music Festival’s 15th anniversary celebration.

A new tourism website touting outdoor adventures in St. Johns County has launched.

The St. Johns Board of County Commissioners approved an economic development incentive agreement 4-1 with the PGA Tour on May 18 with an estimated value of $16,778,760.

Hundreds of local businesses will be looking for employees with an online “job fair” on Thursday, May 20, hosted by the Career Source Northeast Florida and the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce.

The state of Florida will be hosting COVID-19 vaccination pop-up sites in St. Johns County through the end of the month.

In a large showing of support for the family of Tristyn Bailey, members of the community gathered in St. Johns County for a vigil Monday night to remember the 13-year-old.

St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick announced Monday morning that the body found in the woods near Durbin Crossing just after 6 p.m. Sunday is that of Tristyn Bailey, and a fellow student at her school has been arrested and charged with her murder.

It’s that time of a year again as several species of endangered or threatened sea turtles begin nesting on St. Johns County beaches.

Driving on the sand at Vilano Beach will be prohibited, and swimming will be limited this weekend due to the Pro Watercross National Tour.

Wednesday, April 28, is the last day St. Johns County will offer first doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine at the Solomon Calhoun Community Center on Duval Street.

The iconic folk duo Indigo Girls play the St. Augustine Amphitheatre next month.

Eight days of sailing and social events begin in a week as part of St. Augustine Race Week. 

The intersection of County Road 220 West and State Road 21 in Clay County will reopen in its new configuration on Friday, April 9.

Starting on Thursday, April 8 and continuing only on weekdays between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., through Friday, April 23, the city of St. Augustine’s contractor, Preferred Materials, will resurfacing asphalt roadways in various locations to repair numerous utility cuts and damage caused to the roadways over time.