Jax

A.G. GancarskiAugust 7, 2018

A July report from the Jacksonville City Council auditor says Duval County is leaving $366,000 per year on the table when it comes to the so-called bed tax. One source of a revenue increase could be Airbnb. Unlike 39 other Florida counties, Airbnb does not pay this tax — six cents per dollar — to the […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 7, 2018

In 1984, there was no bigger star in the world than Michael Jackson. With the songs from 1982’s Thriller still resonating on the charts, he and his brothers thought the time was right for a family Victory tour. That tour came to Jacksonville: a three-night Gator Bowl stint in a metropolitan area much less populous than […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 7, 2018

Just hours after U.S. Rep. Al Lawson and former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown threw elbows in a meeting with the Florida Times-Union editorial board, the two Democrats made their respective cases at a Jacksonville AME political forum. The two have jousted throughout the campaign, exchanging jabs on everything from Lawson’s positions on Stand Your Ground and ICE, […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 6, 2018

With three weeks until Election Day, and polls showing him behind as absentee ballots are cast, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is investing some time this week in the Jacksonville market. On Monday evening, Putnam gripped and grinned at Grape and Grain in San Marco, at a “Conservatives and Cocktails” bash/straw poll event held by the Jacksonville […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 6, 2018

Alvin Brown, challenging U.S. Rep. Al Lawson in the Democratic primary in Florida’s 5th Congressional District, scored some key endorsements from The Florida Education Association and Duval Teachers United Monday. Interestingly, Brown spotlighted a different position on one key issue than Lawson in accepting the endorsements. “Unfortunately,” Brown said, “there’s a long-running trend toward giving for-profit […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 6, 2018

It is rare that a Jacksonville City Council resolution gets four committee stops, but such is the case with 2018-429, a resolution of disinclination to sell local publicly owned utility JEA. It is even rarer that a bill can’t get a second to move into consideration. That was the case in Monday’s Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 6, 2018

Ordinance 2018-75, which would revise existing medical cannabis regulations, moved out of its first of two Jacksonville City Council committees Monday. The code was first formulated in response to “Charlotte’s Web” low-THC cannabis being the single legal strain, and after an extended period of debate, processing and dispensing were allowed in commercial districts, with cultivation permitted […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 6, 2018

Two powerful Northeast Florida Senators, Appropriations Chair Rob Bradley and Regulated Industries Chair Travis Hutson, spent big in late July as part of an effort to maintain the Republican majority in the chamber. On July 25, Bradley’s “Working for Florida’s Families” committee moved $150,000 to the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, the vast majority of the committee’s […]

Staff ReportsAugust 4, 2018

U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, facing a primary challenge as he runs for his fourth term representing Florida’s 3rd Congressional District, will have the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus by his side at three Saturday stops. Rep. Mark Meadows’ first stop with Yoho will be a “freedom brunch” at 9:00 a.m. at the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club. Note: a […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 3, 2018

Senate Minority Leader-designate Audrey Gibson, a Jacksonville Democrat, submitted her petition to call the Legislature into special session to address problems with the “Stand Your Ground” law. “Today I signed a letter to Secretary of State Ken Detzner to poll members of the Legislature for a special session to amend or repeal the ‘Stand Your Ground’ provisions […]

Jax
Image via NOAA

As other counties move forward, Duval County leaves Airbnb money on the table

Forgotten about for 34 years, Michael Jackson’s money will fund Jacksonville music scholarships

Alvin Brown, Al Lawson deliver tepid performances in Jax AME forum

With time running short in campaign, Adam Putnam bivouacs in Jacksonville

Accepting teacher endorsements, Alvin Brown decries charter schools … but takes Gary Chartrand’s money

JEA ‘no-sale’ bill appears to be ‘black flag dead’ in Jacksonville City Council

Jacksonville City Council panel approves cannabis code change

Rob Bradley, Travis Hutson committees spending big to keep Senate red

Freedom Caucus chair stumping with Ted Yoho

Audrey Gibson wants ‘Stand Your Ground’ special session