Sandbags, shelters, closures: Northeast Floridaโs inland counties prepare for Helene
Officials from Northeast Floridaโs inland counties are preparing for what will become Hurricane Helene before it hits the Florida Panhandle on Thursday.
High school football โ24: Fridayโs scoreboard and looking ahead to Week 6
It was a wild Week 5 of the high school football season as the halfway mark officially arrived. Hereโs a glance at notables, scores and schedules from Friday night.
Sunday is last day to vote early in Duval County ahead of Tuesdayโs Florida primary
Sunday is the last day for voters around Northeast Florida to cast an early, in-person ballot ahead of the stateโs primary election on Tuesday, for congressional, state and local races.
2024 Voter's Guide: Union County Library Referendum
Since 1988, Union County voters have approved a referendum for a 1/2 millage ad valorem tax for a special dependent taxing district for the purpose of funding a library in Union County. The library referendum is on the ballot every two years for its continued funding.
2024 Voter's Guide: Union County Commission, District 3
Six Republicans are seeking to serve as Union County Commissioner in District 3. Since no Democrats or unaffiliated candidates are seeking this office, the August primary is open to all voters and the winner is elected without opposition in November.
2024 Voter's Guide: Union County Clerk of Court
Union County Clerk of Court Kellie Hendricks Rhoades is seeking re-election. She will face one challenger in the Republican primary, Ryan Perez. As no Democrats or other candidates entered the race, the Republican primary in August will be open to all Union County voters.
Final days for early voting ahead of Tuesdayโs Florida primary
Voters around northeast Florida will be able to cast an early, in-person ballot as soon as Monday for the stateโs August 20 primary, which includes congressional, state, and local races.
High school football โ24: A look at team schedules for the upcoming season
High school football season in Florida begins in less than a month. News4JAX has you covered. Here are the team-by-team schedules for schools in the North Florida coverage region.
St. Johns, Nassau school districts lead state in Floridaโs end-of-year student testing
Two years into Floridaโs new form of standardized student testing, two northeast Florida school districts once again have the leading scores in the state, marking student progress at the end of the year.
High school baseball playoffs โ24: Beachside, Clay, Creekside, Union County win openers
Four area teams made it through to the second round of the high school baseball state playoffs on the first of two nights in the postseason.
Where to vote, what to bring for Tuesdayโs presidential primary, local races in Northeast Florida
While only Republicans are eligible to vote in Tuesdayโs presidential preference primary in Florida, three Jacksonville-area municipalities have additional local races on the ballot Tuesday.
Final days of early voting in northeast Florida for presidential primary, local races
Ahead of Floridaโs Presidential Preference Primary on March 19, early voting starts this week across northeast Florida, giving voters an opportunity to cast their ballot in-person, before election day.
21-year-old Lake Butler woman dies in head-on collision with semi in Union County
A 21-year-old Lake Butler woman died in a head-on collision with a semi-truck in Union County on Wednesday at 5:17 a.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Familiar feel to it: A first look at the FHSAAโs new football district assignments
The Florida High School Athletic Association released its new classification and district assignments for football on Friday morning, unveiling some new twists for area teams.
High school football playoffs โ23: Baker, Bradford, Bartram, St. Augustine and Union after final four spots
Itโs the third round of the high school football state playoffs and the area still has five teams standing in the regional finals. Baker County, Bartram Trail, Bradford, St. Augustine and Union County are all chasing berths in the state semifinals in the Suburban and Rural divisions.
High school playoffs โ23: Bartram, Bradford, Mandarin, Trinity among 2nd-round winners
Baker County, Bartram Trail, Bolles, Bradford, Mandarin, St. Augustine, Trinity Christian and Union County all won second-round games on Friday night.
With rule changes about yard signs, hereโs how to check your trick-or-treating route for sex offenders, predators
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.
High school volleyball โ23: Trinity Christian, Middleburg, Bishop Kenny nab top seeds for state playoffs
The high school volleyball playoff brackets are set, with three local teams grabbing top seeds in their regions for postseason play.
Van driver killed in wrong-way crash with semi in Union County: FHP
A 37-year-old Baker County man died Monday afternoon when his van veered into the oncoming lanes on State Road 121 in Union County and side-swiped a semi, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
High school football team schedules for the 2023 season
The high school football season begins next month. Here are team-by-team schedules for the 2023 season. Some teams have not finalized schedules. They will be updated as they are finalized.
Nassau, St. Johns counties score higher than any other district in Florida on end-of-year testing
Two Northeast Florida school districts had the highest scores in end-of-year math and English language arts test, according to recently released statewide data.
Justice Dept. settles with New Jersey county over ballot languages, highlighting widespread barrier
The Justice Department has reached a settlement with a New Jersey county over language barriers for Spanish-speaking voters, emphasizing a growing challenge for certain minority communities nationwide.
High school football playoffs โ22: Bolles, Bradford, Columbia, UC, Union, Ware headed to state semis
The night started with a dozen area teams in the state playoffs and only six of those remain.
Do you know how to check your Halloween trick-or-treating route for sex offenders, predators?
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.
Former local corrections officer gets 3 months probation after entering Capitol twice during Jan. 6 riot
A former corrections officer at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has been sentenced to three months of probation.
Over 50 neglected cats & dogs rescued from Florida home
More than 50 cats and dogs are undergoing examinations after they were found in a filthy Lake Butler home, according to a news release from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
High school football โ22: Week-by-week schedules, results for area teams
High school football season is right around the corner. Here's the weekly schedule for teams from the North Florida and South Georgia coverage area.
Referendum: Extend library property tax
Since 1988, Union County voters have approved a referendum for a 1/2 millage ad valorem tax for a special dependent taxing district for the purpose of funding a library in Union County. The library referendum is on the ballot every two years for its continued funding.
Union County Commission, District 2
Two Republicans are seeking to serve as Union County Commissioner in District 2. Since no Democrats or unaffiliated candidates are seeking this office, the August primary is open to all voters and the winner is elected without opposition in November.
Prosecutors want prison time for former local corrections officer who pleaded guilty in Capitol riot
A former corrections officer at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol wants to be sentenced to probation. But prosecutors are asking for more than that.
Prison truck involved in hit-and-run crash outside Union Correctional Institution, FHP says
A Department of Corrections vehicle was involved in a hit-and-run crash Wednesday morning outside Union Correctional Institution, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
News4JAX Super 6 baseball: Suwannee moves in as teams head into districts
The News4JAX Super 6 baseball rankings will be published each Tuesday through the end of the regular season. Results are through April 25 games.
News4JAX Super 6 baseball: Trinity moves up, Fletcher, Bishop Snyder back in rankings
The News4JAX Super 6 baseball rankings will be published each Tuesday through the end of the regular season. Results are through April 11 games.
State Department of Corrections van backs into correctional officer inside Union County facility: FHP
A correctional officer was hurt in a crash involving another correctional officer Monday at the Florida Department of Corrections Reception and Medical Center in Union County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Suspect in deadly triple shooting in Lake Butler arrested
The Union County Sheriffโs Office is searching for a Lake Butler man accused of shooting at least three people Saturday night. One of the victims died, the Sheriffโs Office said.
Deputies search for man accused in deadly triple shooting in Lake Butler
The Union County Sheriffโs Office is searching for a Lake Butler man accused of shooting at least three people Saturday night. One of the victims died, the Sheriffโs Office said.
22-year-old Starke woman dead, 32-year-old Lake City man seriously hurt in head-on crash: FHP
A woman was killed and a man was seriously injured in a head-on crash early Friday morning in Union County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
DeSantis announces $3.5M for Lake Butler wastewater system improvements
More than $3.5 million has been awarded to Lake Butler to make improvements to the cityโs wastewater collection and pumping system to further mitigate infrastructure damage from future storms, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday.
Local food giveaway events highlight year-round need
According to Feeding Northeast Florida, 257,000 people in its eight-county coverage area are considered โfood insecure,โ meaning they live in constant uncertainty as to their source of nourishment.
Union County stays perfect , tops Hilliard thanks to strong ground game
Union County got the running game going on the very first drive of the game, and they never let up as the Tigers improved to 12-0 with a 52-14 win over Hilliard to advance to the regional finals in the 1A playoffs.
High school football โ21: Six area teams advance to 3rd round on tough night for locals
Only six area teams survived the second round โ Baker County, Bolles, Nease, Pierce County, Trinity Christian and Union County.
High school football โ21: Friday nightโs playoff scores and next weekโs schedule
The first night of the high school football playoffs are in the book. How did your favorite area team do and whoโs moving on to the second round?
Trick-or-treating safety check: How to know if sex offenders, predators are on your route
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.
High school football โ21: How teams did on Friday night and looking ahead to Week 10
Week 9 of the high school football season is in the books. How area teams fared on Friday night and looking ahead to Week 10.
High school football โ21: Week 7 scoreboard, looking ahead to Week 8
The high school football season is rolling along. The big story Friday night โ the unbeatens are fewer than they were before the night started.
2 killed in head-on crash in Union County
A Jacksonville man and a woman from Hawthorne were both killed when the cars they were driving collided early Friday morning on State Road 121 in Union County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
County by county: How NE Florida school districts are reacting to stateโs new quarantine policy
Floridaโs newly appointed surgeon general on Wednesday signed new protocols allowing parents to decide whether their children should quarantine or stay in school if they are asymptomatic after being exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Outbreaks strand some students at home with minimal learning
As coronavirus outbreaks driven by the delta variant lead school districts around the U.S. to abruptly shut down or send large numbers of children into quarantine, some students are getting minimal schooling at home.
Community pays respects to Union County correctional officer who died after battling COVID-19
Loved ones, community members and law enforcement agencies on Tuesday paid their respects to Union County Sheriffโs Correctional Officer Stacy Crawford.
Union County correctional officer dies after battle with COVID-19
Union County Sheriffโs Correctional Officer Stacy Crawford died Tuesday at a hospital after a long battle with COVID-19, the Sheriffโs Office said.
High school football 2021: How area teams fared in Week 1 and whatโs next
High school football season is off and running. A glance at the area scoreboard for teams in North Florida and Southeast Georgia on Friday night, and schedules for next week.
Thousands in Union, Alachua, Columbia counties lose power as Tropical Storm Elsa hits state
At least 26,000 Floridians were without power early Wednesday morning as Tropical Storm Elsa swept across the state.
Cammack aims to bring high-speed internet to rural Northeast Florida
A Florida congresswoman is introducing legislation that would bring internet access to rural parts of North Florida in an effort to address an inequality affecting tens of thousands of local residents.
Digital divide creates high speed internet โhaveโ and โhave notsโ
Imagine having to drive 10 to 15 miles every single time you want to check your email, join a Zoom meeting, or help your child complete their homework. The News4Jax I-Team found that nearly 100,000 people in North Florida donโt have access to reliable internet service.
Rural North Florida counties worry about โdevastatingโ prison closures
A plan to shutter up to four state prisons is alarming officials in Floridaโs rural regions where correctional institutions have played an outsized role in providing jobs and supporting businesses for decades.
Corrections officer from Raiford faces charges connected to Capitol riot
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ A corrections officer from Florida faces charges connected to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Jonathan Carlton, of Raiford, faces two misdemeanor charges of unlawful entry into a secure government building and disorderly conduct while making threats to impede government process. Carlton appeared Thursday afternoon in the downtown Jacksonville federal courthouse before Judge Patricia Barksdale. After Carlton walked out of the courthouse, News4Jax asked him if he was in Washington, D.C., on the day of Capitol siege, and he remained silent. Itโs OK. No comment.โNews4Jax reached out to the Florida Department of Corrections for comment on Carltonโs charges but had not received a response as of Thursday evening.
Area girls weightlifters bring home the medals in state championship meet
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Area girls weightlifters brought home eight individual championships at the high school state tournament. Tyler Bauer (Bartram Trail) 335. Bartram Trail 16. Mahailya Reeves (Union County) 390; 4. Union County 19; 4.
FHP: Lake City man dies when car hydroplanes, hits tree
A 68-year-old man was attempting to pass another vehicle on State Road 100 in Union County Tuesday morning when his car hit standing water and hydroplaned, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The vehicle left the road and the driverโs side slammed into a tree. The Lake City man died at the scene, troopers said. A 64-year-old man riding in the car suffered minor injuries, according to a crash report. Troopers said both men were wearing seat belts.
Florida inmate COVID-19 deaths top 200
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ More than 200 Florida prison inmates have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic started early last year, according to information released Wednesday by the state Department of Corrections and the state Department of Health. Also, six prison staff members have died of COVID-19, up one from last week. The Reception and Medical Center in Union County has been linked to 44 inmate deaths, while the South Florida Reception Center in Miami-Dade County has been linked to 24, according to a breakdown on the Florida Department of Health website. Union Correctional Institution has had 15 inmate deaths, while Columbia Correctional Institution and Dade Correctional Institution have each had 10. In all, 17,614 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began, according to the Florida Department of Corrections website.