WJCT News Now

The Jacksonville City Council’s Finance Committee delays a vote on a measure that would place the Duval County school district’s teacher pay tax referendum on the November ballot, putting pressure on council members to act before election deadlines. Plus, Jacksonville Beach launches a pilot program allowing some bars and restaurants to temporarily expand outdoor capacity during Jaguars...

In late April, the White House abruptly fired the entire board of the National Science Foundation, the agency that provides the largest support and funding for nonmedical research and education. It was just the latest in a series of unprecedented decisions that has upended the scientific world. Along with funding freezes, spending caps and deep cuts to ongoing research, the effects are being felt...

As state lawmakers are in Tallahassee this week for a special session focused on property tax reform, we’ll look at concerns from Jacksonville leaders who warn the changes could have major impacts on local budgets and city services. Plus, there's a threat of heavy storms and localized flash flooding this evening in Northeast Florida. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After much bitterness, delay and a two-week extended special session, the state House and Senate finally coalesced around a $114.5 billion budget, including $30 billion for K-12 education, more than $500 million for Everglades restoration and $425 million for the Rural and Family Lands program. But what lies beneath? Investigative reporter Jason Garcia breaks down what he calls “the more int...

Northeast Florida's restaurant scene earns new recognition as eight local establishments are added to the Michelin Guide, including restaurants in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Amelia Island. Also, Florida lawmakers return to Tallahassee for a special session focused on property taxes today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week: Members of the Jacksonville Aviation Authority Board accuse City Council President-elect Nick Howland of harassment and threats. Gov. Ron DeSantis pushes to eliminate property taxes on most primary homes. A busy end to the Duval County school year, with the ouster of the school chief, and new...

A rainy weekend is ahead for Northeast Florida as forecasters warn of widespread storms, possible flooding, and several inches of rain through Sunday. Plus, despite the wet forecast, communities across the region are kicking off summer with events ranging from line dancing at the beach to a family-friendly music celebration in Jacksonville’s historic LaVilla neighborhood. See omnystudio.com/...

In the beginning, World Golf Village promised a lifestyle as smooth and manicured as a putting green. Originally, the golf course community was home to PGA Tour Productions, the World Golf Hall of Fame, the PGA Tour Stop — Florida’s largest golf store — and an IMAX theater, all arrayed around a 190-foot-tall steeple-topped tower. But in the intervening years, the village has lost...

Jacksonville leaders are backing a proposal to bring a Culinary Institute of America campus to downtown as part of a Northbank development plan. Plus, Florida lawmakers prepare for a special session on property taxes as Governor Ron DeSantis pushes a plan that could eliminate property taxes for most homeowners while raising concerns about funding for local services. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Mark Maron, Kevin Smith and Sarah Koenig are just some of the voices that redefined audio journalism. A new documentary traces the evolution and triumph of podcasting, a medium that resurrected audio storytelling through the technology of RSS feeds and (initially) the iPod platform. We meet the director of the film Age of Audio ahead of the screening at WJCT Studios . The film features interviews...

Jacksonville City Council members reject a resolution aimed at keeping a proposed new Duval County jail out of urban and historically Black neighborhoods. Meanwhile, a Florida judge declines to block the state’s newly approved congressional maps ahead of this year’s midterm elections, while voting rights groups vow to continue their legal challenge. See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

A new directive from ICE has echoes of Fight Club rules: Not only does it instruct local law enforcement to keep immigration enforcement actions secret, the secrecy applies to the directive itself. A recent report by Florida investigative journalist Monique Madan was sparked when she obtained a copy of the confidential ICE directive, a federal order that directly contradicts Florida’s vaunte...

Downtown Jacksonville’s Pearl Square development is moving forward, with the first apartment complex expected to open by the end of the year as part of a larger plan to reshape the city’s downtown area. Also, Florida legislative leaders have reached a budget agreement that includes funding for school choice programs, Everglades restoration, and targeted pay raises for law enforcement a...

Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week: Congestion, confusion and contusions complicate Jacksonville’s inaugural Ironman. The NAACP calls on college athletes to boycott eight Southern states, including Florida, for voting rights rollbacks. Yet another subpoena expands the JEA investigation sparked by City Council President Kev...

On today’s episode, we hear how new ownership is reshaping the future of Marineland Dolphin Adventure after months of uncertainty for the historic aquarium and its dolphins. Plus, a look at Memorial Day weekend events across Northeast Florida, including the Blue Crab Festival in Palatka, JAX Anchor Fest in Jacksonville and Riverfest in Green Cove Springs. See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

Making sure new homes aren’t built in flood zones sounds like a no-brainer, but a surprising number of developments are in at-risk areas, made more vulnerable by rising seas. A proposed amendment to the city’s master plan for development focuses on steering new development out of harm’s way. Nearly three years after the mayor rolled out the 50-year resilience plan, the city is co...

Jacksonville city leaders move closer to approving $35 million in public incentives aimed at bringing the Culinary Institute of America to a proposed downtown riverfront development. Plus, the Jacksonville History Center adds four new sites to its annual list of endangered historic structures in Duval County. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From his role in the birth of alt-country to his tragic death at age 26, we explore the life and legacy of Florida’s own Gram Parsons on the eve of his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Known for his work playing with The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, in addition to launching the career of Emmylou Harris, Parsons is considered the founding father of country rock and a...

Jacksonville City Council moves forward with subpoenas for top JEA officials as an investigative committee examines allegations involving workplace culture, unpaid water fees from large customers, and a natural gas-fired power plant. Meanwhile, St. Johns County commissioners reject a Hastings restaurant’s request to serve beer and wine after objections from a nearby church. See omnystudio.co...

The typical office worker checks email 77 times a day. You may have already figured out: That’s not the most efficient use of your time. New York Times bestselling author David Epstein breaks down why setting boundaries helps us make better life decisions in his new book, Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better. He also explores why more choices, whether it’s swiping on a dating...

A new heat safety research lab has opened at the University of North Florida, where scientists will study the health effects of extreme weather on athletes, workers and military personnel. Also in Jacksonville, a Harveys Supermarket in Brentwood remaining open after a deal between the city and Winn-Dixie will transition into a Winn-Dixie location. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

A murder conviction in one of the most high-profile crimes of the past decade was overturned by the South Carolina Supreme Court last week based on the meddling of a small-county court clerk. The decision was both evidence of a robust system designed to protect the rights of the accused and a glaring example of how our nation's jury system is vulnerable to the interference of even bit players. We...

Duval County Public Schools is considering accelerating repairs and construction projects at several aging campuses, including a full rebuild of Raines High School that could begin next year. Also, demolition is expected to begin soon on Jacksonville’s former Museum of Science and History building on the Southbank. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each Friday, our panel of media experts dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week: Civil rights attorney Ben Crump picks up two new clients over concerns about law enforcement response in Duval and Clay counties. The city gives Winn-Dixie $12 million to keep it in Jacksonville, even as residents of Brentwood and Green Cove Springs fight to keep the grocer in their comm...

Jacksonville residents got a first look at plans for the second phase of Riverfront Plaza, with new renderings showcasing a beer garden café, riverfront swings, winding walkways, and expanded pedestrian and bicycle access near the Main Street Bridge. Also ahead this weekend, the first-ever Ironman Jacksonville is set to bring nearly 2,000 athletes from around the world to compete in a full-...