Florida's defensive front could surprise in 2025. Hear from Brendan Bett, Emmanuel Oyebadejo, and coach Bam Hardmon on why.

An “exceptional” drought has expanded in coverage across the region. This now includes all of Columbia County and most of Baker and Union Counties in Florida. In Georgia, most of Ware County is under an “exceptional” drought.

Duval County’s top elections official is weighing in on a newly signed Florida law that will require proof of U.S. citizenship to vote, a move supporters said would strengthen election security and critics argue could create confusion.

The next Florida vs. Georgia matchup on the football field may still be more than six months away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t see how the states stack up when it comes to how they conduct their primaries in an election year.

The Clay County Historical Society, which was founded in 1966 by local residents, collects, preserves and promotes the history of Clay County. It will host a Railroad Festival in May for the first time in 15 years.

Summerlike day ahead with highs in the 80s across inland northeast Florida, southeast Georgia, mid-to-upper 70s along the coast.

Today is a historical day! The first crewed mission of the Artemis program is set for launch this evening at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The Northeast Florida housing market showed signs of shifting momentum in February, with the median sales price for single‑family homes rising 5.3% from January to $388,500 even as affordability weakened and inventory expanded, the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 991 — the state’s version of the federal SAVE Act on Wednesday at The Villages, expanding on years of election integrity reforms and positioning Florida as a national model at a moment when birthright citizenship is being debated at the highest levels of the U.S. government.

Governor Ron DeSantis will hold a press conference on Wednesday in the Villages.

Residents in Florida and South Georgia have a good chance to catch a glimpse of the evening launch of Artemis II from their own backyards.

An early morning crash left two men dead Wednesday after they were hit while standing outside their vehicles on I-95 northbound, near Old St. Augustine Road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Florida players begged Napier for tougher practices. Now Sumrall delivers. Spring scrimmage takeaways, QB battle, and defensive standouts.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he has no plans to end the league’s Rooney Rule despite recent objections from Florida’s attorney general, who wrote that the league’s minority hiring guidelines violate Florida state law.

Downtown Jacksonville’s newest ordinance allowing bars to serve alcohol until 3 a.m. has been in effect for about a month, and early signs point to a boost in business.

You have likely seen Tussock moth caterpillars around your home or at local parks in the past few weeks. These hairy insects can give you a rash if you touch them.

The national average for gas has climbed past $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022, and truck drivers say they are feeling every cent of it.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is drawing a sharp line between dangerous criminals and non-violent offenders when it comes to gun rights — and he’s putting his office’s legal weight behind it.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he has no plans to end the league’s Rooney Rule despite recent objections from Florida’s attorney general, who wrote that the league’s minority hiring guidelines violate Florida state law.

Clay County officials are holding a press conference on the logistics of the upcoming fair.

The world’s tallest college basketball player is on the move.

The world’s tallest college basketball player is on the move.

The University of Florida Military Alumni Association is offering a $5,000 scholarship to incoming freshmen with military ties — and organizers said the need has never been greater. The deadline to apply is April 17 at 5 p.m. on the UFAMA website.

A Florida hospital has dropped a lawsuit that aimed to force a discharged patient to leave her hospital room.

A little more than a year after the two clashed over the Republican presidential nomination, DeSantis on Monday signed legislation (HB 919) delivered to him earlier in the day, which dubs the West Palm Beach airport as “President Donald J. Trump International Airport.”

A Hillsborough County circuit judge has denied requests from four defendants accused in the killing of Charles Jones, known to many as “Julio Foolio,” to be tried separately, keeping the case on track for a joint trial, according to a court order filed on Thursday.

NOAA hurricane specialists will join experts from other fields this week for workshops and panel discussions about tropical cyclones during the National Hurricane Conference in Orlando.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis approved seven more bills, according to a report from our sister station in Orlando, WKMG.

The Winn-Dixie Company LLC confirmed on March 28 to News4JAX news partner The Jacksonville Daily Record that it will close two Harveys Supermarket locations in Jacksonville in May.

Inside Florida's first spring scrimmage under Jon Sumrall — standout players, QB battle, OL concerns, and exclusive coaches clinic takeaways.

The 2026 Spring Fling at Jacksonville Beach has been cancelled due to high winds, organizers said.

Two surprise Democratic wins this week — one in Hillsborough County and one in Palm Beach County — are being read by local analysts as more than isolated events.

A federal judge has ruled that the immigration detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz” must provide people detained there with better access to their attorneys.

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump said he is investigating what he describes as a possible pattern of excessive force by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, following the release of video showing a violent arrest in Clay County.

A bill to overhaul the way homeowners’ associations operate will not become law July 1.

Golfing legend Tiger Woods was involved in rollover vehicle crash in Jupiter, Florida, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

A brother and sister have been charged after an explosive device was found outside a gate at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.

New population estimates show that U.S. growth in metro areas slowed sharply as immigration dropped and hurricanes pushed people out of some Gulf Coast counties.

A Florida sea turtle hospital is getting help from space to monitor animals they've rehabilitated.

A new coach’s challenge rule has changed college basketball this season.

Attorney General James Uthmeier is calling a penalty on the National Football League, claiming its policies encouraging teams to hire nonwhite coaches violate Florida’s employment laws banning discrimination.

A 23-year-old man died early Wednesday after his sedan left the roadway, struck a sign and trees and overturned on State Road 26 in Putnam County, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Florida isn’t around to defend its title anymore, but all the other top seeds in this year's NCAA Tournament are still around.

Jacksonville City Councilman Rory Diamond is expected to share more information Wednesday about an effort to bring Safe Haven baby boxes to one fire station in each city council district.

New Florida cornerbacks coach Brandon Harris is building a culture of accountability, effort, and trust inside the Gators' CB room.

Jacksonville Councilman Rory Diamond introduced legislation Tuesday that would fund the installation of Safe Haven baby boxes at a fire station in each city council district, giving parents in crisis a secure, anonymous option to surrender newborns.

A 63-year-old Florida woman was arrested Tuesday on a Flagler County fugitive warrant after a two-year investigation into the alleged fraudulent sale of multiple properties, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said.

A Florida law meant to keep license plates clearly visible is now facing a federal challenge after some drivers were criminally charged over something as simple as a license plate frame.

As part of the sweeping Florida Farm Bill he signed on Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis approved a provision that includes new accountability measures for state contractors.

Spring has arrived, and black bears across Florida are becoming more active, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said, urging residents and visitors to be BearWise and secure potential food sources.

Sailors assigned to the USS Mason at Naval Station Mayport set sail Tuesday on a scheduled deployment overseas.

Florida’s ban on cultivated meat will remain in effect after a federal appeals court upheld the law in a ruling released Monday.

A proposal from DeSantis to eliminate the TSA is drawing mixed reactions from travelers, aviation experts and lawmakers.

Florida has paved the way for new SNAP restrictions starting next month, according to a report from our sister station in Orlando, WKMG.

A dominant frontcourt helped Florida earn another No. 1 seed and positioned the defending national champion Gators for a chance at a repeat.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed the wide-ranging 2026 Florida Farm Bill, which lawmakers say benefits the state’s farmers, ranchers, anglers and rural communities.

Henry Tenon, the accused gunman in the Jared Bridegan murder‑for‑hire case, appeared in court for a pre-trial hearing on Monday, his first since withdrawing his 2023 guilty plea.

A dominant frontcourt helped Florida earn another No. 1 seed and positioned the defending national champion Gators for a chance at a repeat.

Alvaro Folgueiras nailed a 3-pointer with 4.5 seconds remaining and Iowa eliminated defending national champion Florida, sending the top-seeded Gators home with a 73-72 victory in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Monday will be another warm day with temperatures coming close to if not exceeding record levels. It will be sunny and warm with highs in the mid to upper 80s. The record high for Jacksonville International is 89 degrees in 1952.

A blind fourth grader in Clay County is boosting her braille literacy and advocating for access to books with help from the New Worlds Reading program.

With dry air + gusty wind, we’ll have an elevated fire danger, so avoid outdoor burning and be careful with anything that can spark.

It will be another warm day on Sunday with temperatures coming close to if not exceeding record levels. It will be sunny and warm with highs in the mid to upper 80s. The record high for Jacksonville International is 89 degrees in 1968. The fire weather threat will be elevated on Sunday due to a westerly breezy, dry ground and low humidity. Exercise extreme caution if you are outside and make sure to follow the county burn bans in place.

For the first full day of spring, you can expect above-normal highs, abundant blue skies, and over 12 hours of sunlight after a beautiful sunrise.

Florida began its national title defense with the second-largest victory margin in NCAA Tournament history, pounding Prairie View A&M 114-55.

More than 20-thousand fans packed UNF Arena over two-and-a-half weeks, as teams from across Florida competed for state titles. The event featured 48 high school games and was part of a busy stretch that saw the University of North Florida host 74 total basketball games in just 19 days.

The dreams of a perfect NCAA Tournament bracket have already gone bust for the vast majority of those hoping to go an improbable 63-0.

A judge granted on Tuesday morning a motion to withdraw the guilty plea of the accused gunman in the Jared Bridegan murder-for-hire case.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is reminding residents and visitors that sea turtle nesting season has begun and urging simple steps to protect vulnerable nesting adults and hatchlings while enjoying Florida’s beaches.

NASA's moon rocket is back at the launch pad following hangar repairs.

A push to officially do away with yellow registration decals will not become a reality in Florida after the bill did not pass the House, at least not for now.

Life Time Inc. is exploring the Durbin Park area of St. Johns County for the health club chain’s second fitness center in Northeast Florida, according to a JEA filing that signals early-stage plans, according to our news partners at the Jacksonville Daily Record.

Jacksonville’s rapid growth is putting new pressure on an old bottleneck: permitting. On this episode of This Week in Jacksonville Business Edition, Kent Justice talks with Sabrina Dugan, managing partner of SwiftBuild.ai, about how artificial intelligence is being used to speed up plan review—without removing human oversight.

Affordability remains the top concern for Floridians, but state lawmakers wrapped up the 2026 legislative session with little to show for it, as several high-profile housing and insurance proposals failed to pass.

As self-driving robotaxis expand across Florida, with Waymo now operating in Tampa, Orlando, and Miami, Jacksonville officials are weighing a potential expansion amid growing safety concerns from transportation analysts.

Governor Ron DeSantis will hold a press conference on Thursday in Bradenton with Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis Lambert.

Gas stations in Jacksonville are reporting prices as high as $4 a gallon, forcing some households to rethink budgets and travel plans.

Jacksonville’s Downtown Investment Authority voted 6-0 Wednesday to begin a public notice process for a city-owned, roughly 2-acre surface parking lot next to the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center in LaVilla. A step tied to the University of Florida’s planned Jacksonville graduate campus.

Frost advisory issued for southeast Georgia early Thursday

Nearly a decade after the tragedy at the Pulse nightclub, demolition of the building got underway on Wednesday, marking a significant step toward creating a permanent memorial honoring the 49 victims.

The Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens has been named the No. 4 Best Zoo in the United States in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, the zoo said, marking the second consecutive year it has placed among the nation’s top zoos.

Six Florida supermarkets are set to become Winn-Dixie stores, including two in Jacksonville, according to our sister station in WKMG in Orlando.

Waste Pro USA Inc. filed suit in Columbia County on Wednesday, saying county procurement errors in a recent bid for trash collection services could cost residents millions and that correcting the math would save taxpayers about $2.3 million over a five-year contract.

Environmentalists want to permanently open a dam built for a canal that was supposed to cut through the middle of Florida from the Atlantic to the Gulf.

Multiple social media posts and news reports have confirmed that Rex Culpepper, a former Syracuse quarterback and son of former UF star Brad Culpepper, has died after a dirt bike crash Saturday in Georgia.

Jacksonville and Northeast Florida are under a freeze warning as temperatures dip to near freezing in mid March, but warmer 70s and 80s are expected by the weekend. Ongoing drought and fire risk remain concerns as dry weather continues.

Breaking down Florida's 2026 spring trench battles, spotlighting offensive line competition, defensive line talent, and key roster questions.

The Trump administration is expanding its growing Medicaid fraud crackdown to Florida.

A beloved Nocatee teacher and coach was airlifted to a local trauma center after a car accident last week, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help cover medical expenses.

The defending champions open at home on March 27 at VyStar Ballpark, and with championship-themed giveaways, fireworks and one of the most entertaining promotional schedules in minor league baseball, the Jumbo Shrimp look ready to make another memorable run in 2026.

Strong winds cause damage; Alma breaks rainfall record

Body and dash camera video shows a March 15 high‑speed pursuit across Flagler and Volusia counties that ended when Florida Highway Patrol used PIT maneuvers to stop a Sanford man who fled after a reported violent domestic incident, authorities said.

A Florida man has been executed for the murder of a young mother who called 911 seeking help while tied up in her attacker's car.

AAA offers “Tow to Go” program for St. Patrick’s Day to provide a safe alternative for partygoers.

Over the past 12 days, according to AAA, the state average for gas prices in Florida rose 84 cents, adding about $12 to the cost of filling an average-sized gas tank.

Music festival featuring 35 bands, yoga, family events and more

Florida lawmakers put forward just under 2,000 bills and resolutions as they entered the 2026 legislative session. They returned home on Friday, having agreed to about 235 measures that await action from Gov. Ron DeSantis. Here is what became of 10 key issues.

Florida Gators earn the #1 seed. Breakdown of NCAA bracket, SEC over/under win totals, and the spring QB battle.

Winds out of the south/southwest will bring moisture up into our southern counties of northeast Florida, raising the chance of rain and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening.

Tyler Tanner scored 20 points as No. 22 Vanderbilt beat fourth-ranked Florida 91-74 to end the defending national champion’s bid to win a second straight Southeastern Conference Tournament title and possibly hurt the Gators’ bid for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.