A 34-year-old Putnam County man and convicted sex offender was indicted Friday on two new charges of capital sexual battery.

The Animal Welfare League (AWL) of Putnam County is encouraging residents to give input on how to ensure that animal welfare laws, regulations, and ordinances are fully enforced in the area.

According to a Putnam County fire marshal, burn patterns behind a refrigerator inside the mobile home that went up in flames on Monday show signs of an electrical fire that killed four people and injured two others.

The Florida State Fire Marshal is investigating a deadly mobile home fire on Monday in Putnam County.

One day after a residential fire in Putnam County killed three people and consumed their home, the sheriff’s office provided an update on the condition of the other people who were inside.

The fire broke out on North Maryland Avenue near Cynthia Street, and State Fire Marshal Clu Wright said he has investigated some pretty bad fires during his career, however, he added that this one ranked with some of the worst.

The Florida State Fire Marshal is investigating a deadly mobile home fire on Monday in Putnam County.

The Palatka Jr.-Sr. High School was put on a brief lockdown on Thursday after a man brought what was initially believed to be a firearm on campus.

A two-seater seaplane crashed in Crescent Lake on Tuesday morning, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

The family of a Putnam County mail carrier turned their grief into action after she was killed in a dog attack in 2022.

A task force has been established in Putnam County to tackle safety issues on State Road 100.

The House passed a new bill aimed at creating a dog registry and requiring owners of those dogs to have $100,000 in liability insurance on Wednesday.

A 71-year-old man from Putnam County died Monday afternoon after his pickup truck veered off the road and crashed into a tree, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

Farm Share, Florida’s leading food nonprofit and the state’s largest food bank, is distributing food at two locations in Putnam County on Friday.

Voters in parts of Northeast Florida have until 7 p.m. Tuesday to cast a ballot in a special election to replace Rep. Michael Waltz. Waltz resigned from Congress on Jan. 20 to join the Trump administration as national security advisor.

The nation is watching a special congressional election in our area on Tuesday, which features Republican State Senator Randy Fine and Democrat Josh Weil, with the winner filling the seat vacated by Mike Waltz, who left the seat to become President Trump’s National Security Advisor.

It is just days away from a special election in Northeast Florida and we will soon find out who will be the new Representative for Congressional District 6.

Agricultural resource deputies with Putnam, Flagler and St. John’s counties' sheriff’s offices expanded their jurisdiction across county lines to tackle crime.

Voters in parts of Northeast Florida have through Saturday to cast an early, in-person ballot in the special election to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by Michael Waltz.

A Putnam County day care director has been arrested after a months-long investigation into alleged abuse at a Crescent City day care.

Local governments and organizations partnered to organize the third annual Great St. Johns River Cleanup in Duval County on Saturday.

A chase across multiple Florida counties ended in the safe return of a kidnapped mother and her two small children. Michael Anthony McNeal, 36, was arrested in connection to the alleged kidnapping.

Be safe on your commute this morning

As daylight saving time begins on Sunday, March 9, the St. Johns River Water Management District is reminding residents and businesses across the St. Johns River Lower Basin—Nassau, Duval, Baker, Bradford, Clay, St. Johns, Flagler, and Putnam—about important changes to watering restrictions.

Polls opened Tuesday morning for municipal elections in Putnam and Flagler counties.

The Town of Welaka is expecting to receive a decision this week regarding its request for an extension on a past-due financial audit. The outcome of the request could significantly impact the town’s financial future, as state funds may be withheld if the extension is not granted.

An outraged Putnam County community sounded the alarm to the sheriff’s office about living next to a trailer park that was home to convicted sex offenders and child predators.

A head-on crash Tuesday morning left two people dead and a 12-year-old boy in critical condition on State Road 100, about 7 miles northwest of the Palatka Municipal Airport, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The Florida Highway Patrol said a 24-year-old motorcyclist from Raiford died on Tuesday evening following a crash in Bradford County.

A head-on crash Tuesday morning left two people dead and a 12-year-old boy in critical condition on State Road 100, about 7 miles northwest of the Palatka Municipal Airport, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

A 26-year-old woman died Friday in Putnam County when she crawled out of a pickup truck window while it was in motion, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

As the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office continues investigating the potential disturbance of historic gravesites in Crescent City, deputies have requested the help of the University of Florida.

A Haines City man was killed early Wednesday morning after colliding with a tractor-trailer on State Road 19 in Putnam County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

State Sen. Tom Wright filed Senate Bill 572 after an 8-year-old boy was mauled to death last month in Volusia County, which Wright represents.

To help food-insecure Floridians, Farm Share is hosting two food distributions in Putnam County on Friday.

Rain returns Thursday

News4JAX has learned that the state is no longer investigating the disturbance of a cemetery in Putnam County after discovering the cemetery is exempt. Now, a group of historians are pushing back against the state’s decision, arguing that dozens of bodies buried there remain in unmarked graves.

Last week, locals voiced concerns over missing headstones after a known cemetery from the 1800s was cleared. The land is also the site of the “The Battle of Braddocks Farm.”

Outrage is growing in Putnam County after reports surfaced that a historic cemetery dating back to the 1800s was cleared and headstones are now missing.

A mother wanted on a child neglect charge after the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office helped bring her unresponsive 1-year-old son back to life turned herself in to authorities on Wednesday, according to deputies.

The search is underway for a Putnam Couty couple accused of child neglect after deputies responded to reports of an unresponsive child.

Voters in parts of northeast Florida have until 7 p.m. to cast a ballot in a special primary election to replace Rep. Michael Waltz. Waltz resigned from Congress on Jan. 20, to join the Trump administration as national security advisor.

A severe winter storm brings cold temperatures to Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, with wind chills expected to drop into the teens and 20s. Residents without adequate heat or shelter are encouraged to seek out warming centers in their area.

Voters in parts of northeast Florida will be able to cast an early, in-person ballot this weekend in the special election to fill the seat of Congressman Michael Waltz. Waltz is resigning effective Monday, when he will join the incoming Trump administration as national security advisor.

The Florida Highway Patrol said a 75-year-old man from Palatka died Saturday evening after a crash involving two pickup trucks took place in Putnam County.

The Palatka Police Department provided an update on Wednesday regarding a Christmas Day shooting that left two people dead and one person hospitalized.

The Putnam County School Board voted unanimously to dub two new Palatka schools a K-2 and 3-6.

Possible Hard Freeze Thursday

The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is monitoring wildfire activity near 602 Hickory Nut Trail in Putnam County. The resulting smoke could affect visibility for drivers on U.S. Highway 17.

Two people were killed and a third was critically injured Wednesday night in a shooting near the Palatka Daily News, police said.

An investigation into the City of Palatka’s former interim city manager, Jonathan Griffith, has concluded that he concealed a significant business relationship while serving in his position.

Palatka is embracing the holiday season with its annual Jingle Jam at Riverfront Park.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 54-year-old former Interlachen teacher for possessing nude photos of a former student on Friday.

Residents in St. Johns County’s District 6 have just two weeks to register for the upcoming special election.

A family in Putnam County is meeting their brother/son for the first time after going 52 years without knowing they existed.

Detectives in North Carolina on Tuesday arrested former QI Roberts Junior-Senior High School teacher Robert Grady Bush Jr., 54, of Palatka and accused him of a second-degree felony of authority figure soliciting or engaging in lewd conduct with a student.

The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors October Market Statistics report revealed a trend of increased inventory and moderate price growth, signaling a stabilizing market.

The family of a man who was reported missing in September told News4JAX he was found buried in rural St. Johns County Tuesday, and investigators confirmed his on-again/off-again girlfriend is a person of interest in this case.

Live updates for the Presidential race, U.S. Senate, Congress, Florida Legislature and Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia-area races

Live updates for the Presidential race, U.S. Senate, Congress, Florida Legislature and Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia-area races

Results for Putnam County races in the general election

The family of a man who was reported missing in September told News4JAX he was found buried in rural St. Johns County Tuesday, and investigators confirmed his on-again/off-again girlfriend is a person of interest in this case.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday it may have found the body of a man who was last seen by his family in September.

It’s nearly fall and the pumpkin patches, hayrides, haunted houses, and more spooktacular events are back!

Sex offenders also have specific rules about what they can and can't do around Halloween, depending on what county they live in. We've compiled a county-by-county breakdown of those rules and regulations.

A two-year-old boy was transported to the hospital in serious condition after being mauled by a family dog in Putnam County on Tuesday.

A look up at the sky saw sunny skies across Northeast Florida on Friday. But in Putnam County, some communities are looking outside their doors and seeing water -- lots of water.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office lifted a curfew Friday morning that was originally set Thursday for all residents due to widespread power outages and flooding caused by Hurricane Milton.

Putnam County is continuing to assess the damage left behind by Hurricane Milton after the storm plowed across Florida on Thursday.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office ordered a curfew for all residents starting Thursday night and will remain in effect until further notice due to widespread power outages and flooding caused by Hurricane Milton.

Some low-lying areas in the county have seen flooding due to heavy rain. Some residents plan to evacuate while others will stay home and ride out the storm.

Evacuations are recommended for Putnam County residents in areas likely to flood, including Zones F and A.

Counties in Northeast Florida are preparing for Hurricane Milton’s impact as the Category 5 storm aims at the Gulf Coast.

A county-by-county look at expected wind speeds, rainfall totals and when the worst conditions are expected (as of 3 p.m. on Wednesday):

Evacuations are recommended for Putnam County residents in areas likely to flood, including Zones F and A.

A 59-year-old Crescent City man died Sunday afternoon after he was struck by a car while trying to drive across U.S. 17 in Putnam County in a golf cart, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

As a journalist who began his career in the 90s, I’ve reported on my fair share of tragedies involving gun violence. Everything from the drug deal that turned into a deadly robbery, and drive-by-shootings between gangs to terror attacks and ... mass shootings.

A man was killed Thursday evening in a shootout with Putnam County law enforcement after he barricaded himself inside a home during a botched burglary attempt.

Two shootings in Palatka left one dead and three people injured on Monday, according to the police department.

A psychologist said the shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia could have influenced the increase of threats made at Northeast Florida schools.

Putnam County Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach, a Republican, is seeking re-election this year. He faces no Republican or Democratic challengers, though there is one other candidate running without party affiliation, Edison Edison. As there are no primaries in this race, it will not appear on the ballot until the November general election.

Dozens of school threats have been reported since a deadly school shooting at a Georgia high school earlier this month, including several locally.

Another student was arrested on Wednesday in Putnam County, accused of using a computer at Interlachen Junior-Senior High School to make a threat.

Voters in three Putnam County communities will face choices in the general election, for city officials or a referendum question.

A newly released age-progression photo for HaLeigh Cummings shows what the missing child could look like at 21 years old.

Sheriff T.K. Waters, Superintendent Christopher Bernier of Duval Couty Public Schools, and Adair Newman, one of the Chief Assistants of the State Attorney’s Office, are set to hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss recent serious threats made against local schools and students.

Sheriff T.K. Waters, Superintendent Christopher Bernier of Duval Couty Public Schools, and Adair Newman, one of the Chief Assistants of the State Attorney’s Office, are set to hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss recent serious threats made against local schools and students.

A man and his dog were severely injured after being attacked by five unleashed dogs last week in Ponte Vedra Beach, near Turtle Shores, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.

A search for an autistic 3-year-old boy ended in tragedy Tuesday after he was found dead in a canal behind his home, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

A United States Postal Service office in Melrose is being renamed Monday in honor of a mail carrier who was fatally mauled by a pack of dogs in Putnam County in 2022.

The Palatka High School community came together Friday to honor the life of a 15-year-old football player who suddenly passed away from a possible cardiac arrest.

Sunday is the last day for voters around Northeast Florida to cast an early, in-person ballot ahead of the state’s primary election on Tuesday, for congressional, state and local races.

A vigil is being held for a Palatka Junior-Senior High School (PJSHS) football player after he died unexpectedly in his home Tuesday morning, according to the Putnam County School District.

If you have any questions or issues with your child’s bus, we have the numbers for each district’s transportation department and bus hotline.

A Green Cove Springs man running to be a state representative is looking for answers about who stole more than a dozen of his campaign signs last Friday.

District and state leaders in St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam and Volusia counties want to “change the script” when it comes to substance use and violence among students.

Two candidates are seeking this office. It is a non-partisan race that will appear on the August ballot open to all voters.

The incumbent District 5 commissioner, Paul Adamczyk, ran for superintendent of schools, leaving the commission seat open. Walton Pellicer won a three-way Republican primary in August. While there are no Democrats in the race, a write-in candidate did qualify for the general election, so the August primary was only open to Republican voters.

Putnam County Superintendent of Schools Rick Surrency is seeking re-election this year. He defeated challenger Paul Adamczyk in the Republican primary in August. There is a write-in candidate who qualified for the general election, so the primary was only open to Republican voters in the county.

Incumbent Putnam County Judge Anne Marie Gennusa is seeking re-election, and will face Alex Sharp in the general election. They were the top two finishers in a three-way primary in August, where no candidate got more than 50% of the vote. This is a non-partisan race, and will be on the ballot for all Putnam County voters.