All articles tagged with #jacksonville
The final Hooters location in Jacksonville has permanently closed following a state health inspection that cited rodent droppings and dead roaches. The Mandarin restaurant, which opened in 1986, was the last of three Northeast Florida locations to shut down. The closure follows a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 2025 and a subsequent restructuring that reduced the chain's U.S. footprint to approximately 208 locations.
Former Jacksonville Transportation Authority board member Megan Hayward says warnings about the agency’s spending and oversight were ignored, contributing to a financial crisis, layoffs, and the Skyway/NAVI shutdown under the U2C project. She was removed from the board by Mayor Donna Deegan in March 2025 and now calls for criminal investigations by state and federal authorities and the DOT; the mayor’s office disputes the claims and defends board appointments.
JTA plans a $39 million FY2027 budget cut, suspend the Skyway on Nov. 2, pause Navi autonomous service on Jan. 1, 2027, and eliminate up to 150 frontline positions plus 44 administrative roles as part of ongoing cost reductions. Budget drops to $139 million (from $178 million current year), with savings including about $10 million from Skyway and roughly $487,000 monthly from Navi pauses. Bus service will shift to a Saturday-like weekday schedule, with First Coast Flyer lines continuing, as leadership says the moves balance revenue and expenses while stabilizing finances and aiming to reinstate full service later.
Two new felony counts of lewd and lascivious molestation have been filed against Mario Fernandez, who remains in custody after being convicted of murder-for-hire in the Jared Bridegan case. A decade-spanning abuse allegation involves a victim who began when she was about 8 in 2020; a second, redacted-age victim described a 2022 incident at Fernandez's home. Prosecutors say new evidence prompted the charges, with Fernandez set for arraignment Sept. 17. Bridegan's ex-wife Shanna Gardner's murder trial is delayed to May 2027 as related proceedings unfold.
Three Jacksonville restaurants—Eggboy, Rue Saint Marc and The Bearded Pig—received Michelin Guide recognition in a City Hall ceremony, marking a turning point for the city’s dining scene after a 2025 FinanceBuzz study labeled Jacksonville the most boring city; officials say the honor will raise Jacksonville’s international profile and reflect a decade of local culinary dedication.
Jacksonville-area stores will have varied Independence Day hours: Publix and Winn-Dixie operate on regular hours; Aldi opens but closes at 4 p.m.; Trader Joe’s closes around 5 p.m.; The Fresh Market is open 8 a.m.–9 p.m.; Whole Foods Jacksonville 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Big-box retailers: Target 8 a.m.–10 p.m.; Walmart 6 a.m.–11 p.m.; Costco closed all day. CVS stores 8 a.m.–10 p.m., with in-store pharmacies 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; Walgreens hours vary by location. Starbucks and Dunkin’ are open with location-dependent hours—check ahead.
Johnson & Johnson announced a more than $1 billion investment in Jacksonville, Florida to scale U.S.-based Vision manufacturing, packaging, and a new distribution facility as part of a $55 billion U.S. investment through 2029. The upgrades aim to boost ACUVUE contact lens production for about 40 million patients, support 3,500 local jobs, and strengthen supply chain resilience, with the facility slated to be fully operational in 2028 and Florida’s economy benefiting from an estimated $6 billion annual impact.
A 10-year-old Jacksonville girl named Gianna, who previously had her right leg amputated for osteosarcoma and was cancer-free last year, has learned the cancer has returned in a different part of her body (lungs). She’ll travel to Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City to participate in an experimental trial since there’s no standard relapse treatment. The visit is expected to cost at least $7,000, and a GoFundMe has been launched to cover this initial cost and related expenses as her family navigates the next steps.
Florida rapper Lil Poppa (Janarious Wheeler) has died at 25, reportedly in Georgia on Feb. 18; the cause of death has not been confirmed. Tributes poured in from peers and industry figures. Poppa was signed to Yo Gotti’s CMG and released Almost Normal Again in Aug 2025; his track Love and War has over 22 million Spotify streams, and he had about 645,000 monthly listeners.
Florida rapper Lil Poppa (Janarious Wheeler) died by suicide at 25; officials say the cause was a gunshot wound to the head. The Jacksonville artist, signed to Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group, released tracks such as Love & War, Mind Over Matter, and HAPPY TEARS, with his latest album Almost Normal Again and a new track Out of Town Bae issued days before his death. Friends and collaborators note his work ethic and impact, as the community processes the loss; crisis resources are provided for anyone in need.
Two children from the same household who went to Baptist Health’s main campus ER on Jan. 16 have been confirmed to have measles. They were treated and released; the hospital says the risk of infection from exposure there is very low, and the Department of Health will contact anyone potentially exposed. The CDC notes measles is highly contagious and that vaccination with the MMR vaccine is the best protection: first dose at 12–15 months and a second dose at 4–6 years, with a pre-travel dose for babies 6–11 months traveling internationally followed by two additional doses after their first birthday.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, the AFC South champions, will host the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card Playoff, with the game scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. The Jaguars, riding an eight-game winning streak and seeded third in the AFC, are excited to play at home in front of their passionate fans, which head coach Liam Coen emphasizes as a crucial advantage. The Bills, the AFC East champions and sixth seed, are experienced postseason contenders. The game marks a continuation of the Jaguars' recent playoff history and their strong community support.
Daily's Place in Jacksonville will close for two years starting December 30, 2025, due to renovations at EverBank Stadium, including replacing upper decks and adding a roof. The venue, which opened in 2017 and hosts concerts and events, will suspend programming in 2026 and 2027, with a possible return in 2028 after the stadium's renovation is complete. The closure is part of the larger 'Stadium of the Future' project, and the venue's management plans to resume activities once the construction is finished.
The 2025 Georgia-Florida game in Jacksonville marks the final match at EverBank Stadium before a major renovation, ending a long-standing rivalry in its current form. The game holds significant emotional value for both teams, especially Florida, which is undergoing coaching changes and rebuilding efforts, while Georgia aims to continue its winning streak and return to the College Football Playoff. The series will move to neutral sites for the next two years, returning to Jacksonville in 2028, amid financial considerations and stadium renovations.
Kirby Smart supports playing the Florida-Georgia rivalry on campus sites rather than Jacksonville, emphasizing the positive experience for players and the tradition of home games, despite the financial benefits of neutral-site games. The rivalry will return to Jacksonville in 2028 after a two-year hiatus for renovations.