The Florida Trib
@thefloridatrib.bsky.social
The Florida Trib is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom investigating Florida.
Reposted by The Florida Trib
I’m proud of this collaboration between @thefloridatrib.bsky.social and @revealnews.org, and especially our reporter, Trinity Webster-Bass.
revealnews.org/podcast/loca...
revealnews.org/podcast/loca...
The Trump administration’s policies are disrupting and dividing communities. We visit three of them.
From farm country to cities and even Native American reservations, communities are being shaped (and divided) by Trump administration policies.
revealnews.org
January 31, 2026 at 3:28 PM
I’m proud of this collaboration between @thefloridatrib.bsky.social and @revealnews.org, and especially our reporter, Trinity Webster-Bass.
revealnews.org/podcast/loca...
revealnews.org/podcast/loca...
NEW: After months of surveying city budgets, Florida’s Department of Government Efficiency presented a 98-page report to the legislature on Wednesday that provided examples — but not a full accounting — of alleged wasteful spending within select local municipalities.
floridatrib.org/2026/01/31/f...
floridatrib.org/2026/01/31/f...
Florida DOGE wants to slash millions of dollars in alleged waste across local governments. A new report detailed far less
Named after one of President Donald Trump’s signature initiatives, the state DOGE effort and Jacksonville’s own city council-driven initiative illustrate the impact of national politics on the local l...
floridatrib.org
February 2, 2026 at 3:00 PM
NEW: After months of surveying city budgets, Florida’s Department of Government Efficiency presented a 98-page report to the legislature on Wednesday that provided examples — but not a full accounting — of alleged wasteful spending within select local municipalities.
floridatrib.org/2026/01/31/f...
floridatrib.org/2026/01/31/f...
A campaign that could extend health care coverage to an estimated half a million Floridians has been suspended, and a push to legalize adult use of marijuana may unravel before it ever reaches the ballot.
NEW from Florida Trib reporter Kate Payne:
floridatrib.org/2026/01/30/t...
NEW from Florida Trib reporter Kate Payne:
floridatrib.org/2026/01/30/t...
The ‘virtually impossible’ path for citizens’ ballot initiatives in Florida
New ballot initiative restrictions, approved by the Florida Legislature and enforced by state officials, are so strict that advocates say they make the process effectively impossible for grassroots ca...
floridatrib.org
January 30, 2026 at 10:17 PM
A campaign that could extend health care coverage to an estimated half a million Floridians has been suspended, and a push to legalize adult use of marijuana may unravel before it ever reaches the ballot.
NEW from Florida Trib reporter Kate Payne:
floridatrib.org/2026/01/30/t...
NEW from Florida Trib reporter Kate Payne:
floridatrib.org/2026/01/30/t...
First District Court of Appeal Judge Adam Tanenbaum's appointment comes as the governor and Legislature are again considering congressional redistricting, which typically only happens every 10 years, following the completion of the U.S. Census.
jaxtrib.org/2026/01/15/b...
jaxtrib.org/2026/01/15/b...
Before ascending to Florida Supreme Court, judge backed DeSantis’ redistricting push
First District Court of Appeal Judge Adam Tanenbaum would be a critical ally to DeSantis on a high court that the governor has already shaped significantly.
jaxtrib.org
January 15, 2026 at 11:45 PM
First District Court of Appeal Judge Adam Tanenbaum's appointment comes as the governor and Legislature are again considering congressional redistricting, which typically only happens every 10 years, following the completion of the U.S. Census.
jaxtrib.org/2026/01/15/b...
jaxtrib.org/2026/01/15/b...
More than 1 million Floridians will not have representation in one of the two chambers in the statehouse this legislative session as Gov. Ron DeSantis has slow-walked setting special elections to fill four vacant seats between the House and Senate.
jaxtrib.org/2026/01/12/o...
jaxtrib.org/2026/01/12/o...
One million Floridians won’t have full representation for high-stakes legislative session
The diminished representation comes at a time when lawmakers are expected to weigh sweeping measures to redraw the state’s congressional voting maps and drastically reduce local property tax revenues.
jaxtrib.org
January 12, 2026 at 11:19 PM
More than 1 million Floridians will not have representation in one of the two chambers in the statehouse this legislative session as Gov. Ron DeSantis has slow-walked setting special elections to fill four vacant seats between the House and Senate.
jaxtrib.org/2026/01/12/o...
jaxtrib.org/2026/01/12/o...
On college campuses across Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to expand his army of political loyalists — both college presidents and university trustees, who are poised to dominate for many years to come, no matter who is elected governor in 2026.
jaxtrib.org/2026/01/07/w...
jaxtrib.org/2026/01/07/w...
With army of loyalists, DeSantis built a conservative higher-ed empire
With an ally expected to take over at UWF early this year, and a presidential vacancy at UNF, DeSantis is poised to build on his remarkable transformation of Florida higher education.
jaxtrib.org
January 8, 2026 at 7:25 PM
On college campuses across Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to expand his army of political loyalists — both college presidents and university trustees, who are poised to dominate for many years to come, no matter who is elected governor in 2026.
jaxtrib.org/2026/01/07/w...
jaxtrib.org/2026/01/07/w...
NEW: Ronnie Ferrell, 1 of 3 men convicted in the 1991 murder of Gino Mayhew, wrote a letter to the State Attorney saying he was wrongfully convicted.
Melissa Nelson's office began a review into Ferrell's case, which was then abruptly stopped.
We asked why:
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/31/s...
Melissa Nelson's office began a review into Ferrell's case, which was then abruptly stopped.
We asked why:
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/31/s...
State began, then halted, probe into murder conviction that relied on a known liar's testimony
The aborted review demonstrates the limitations of a unit set up to fanfare, the first of its kind in Florida, to seek justice for the wrongly accused
jaxtrib.org
December 31, 2025 at 8:15 PM
NEW: Ronnie Ferrell, 1 of 3 men convicted in the 1991 murder of Gino Mayhew, wrote a letter to the State Attorney saying he was wrongfully convicted.
Melissa Nelson's office began a review into Ferrell's case, which was then abruptly stopped.
We asked why:
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/31/s...
Melissa Nelson's office began a review into Ferrell's case, which was then abruptly stopped.
We asked why:
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/31/s...
Reposted by The Florida Trib
New from @jaxtrib.org’s ‘Cold-Blooded’ series | The ‘hanging judge’: Legacy of Jim Crow looms over Jacksonville Death Row case
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/22/t...
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/22/t...
The 'hanging judge': Legacy of Jim Crow looms over Jacksonville Death Row case
An examination by The Tributary shows that Judge Hudson Olliff possessed retrograde views on race that were an open secret in Jacksonville's legal community but less understood by the general public.
jaxtrib.org
December 22, 2025 at 9:16 PM
New from @jaxtrib.org’s ‘Cold-Blooded’ series | The ‘hanging judge’: Legacy of Jim Crow looms over Jacksonville Death Row case
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/22/t...
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/22/t...
Reposted by The Florida Trib
Those who found themselves in Judge R. Hudson Olliff’s chambers say he would sometimes say things about Black people that raised questions about whether such defendants would find equal justice in his courtroom.
The latest in our ‘Cold-Blooded’ series:
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/22/t...
The latest in our ‘Cold-Blooded’ series:
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/22/t...
The 'hanging judge': Legacy of Jim Crow looms over Jacksonville Death Row case
An examination by The Tributary shows that Judge Hudson Olliff possessed retrograde views on race that were an open secret in Jacksonville's legal community but less understood by the general public.
jaxtrib.org
December 22, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Those who found themselves in Judge R. Hudson Olliff’s chambers say he would sometimes say things about Black people that raised questions about whether such defendants would find equal justice in his courtroom.
The latest in our ‘Cold-Blooded’ series:
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/22/t...
The latest in our ‘Cold-Blooded’ series:
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/22/t...
It’s unclear how many people work in JSO’s dispatch command center and whether it’s adequately staffed to handle the some 1 million incoming calls each year.
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/05/p...
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/05/p...
Police shooting of 14-year-old boy exposes JSO dispatch failure
The shooting, which the state attorney said was a "perfect storm" of unusual circumstances, revealed a critical flaw in JSO's dispatch system.
jaxtrib.org
December 5, 2025 at 8:26 PM
It’s unclear how many people work in JSO’s dispatch command center and whether it’s adequately staffed to handle the some 1 million incoming calls each year.
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/05/p...
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/05/p...
Reposted by The Florida Trib
New from @jaxtrib.org | A communication breakdown within the JSO dispatch system led multiple officers on a frenzied search for the wrong car in the wake of a fatal drive-by shooting. An officer shot a 14-year-old boy who had nothing to do with the crime.
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/05/p...
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/05/p...
Police shooting of 14-year-old boy exposes JSO dispatch failure
The shooting, which the state attorney said was a "perfect storm" of unusual circumstances, revealed a critical flaw in JSO's dispatch system.
jaxtrib.org
December 5, 2025 at 8:25 PM
New from @jaxtrib.org | A communication breakdown within the JSO dispatch system led multiple officers on a frenzied search for the wrong car in the wake of a fatal drive-by shooting. An officer shot a 14-year-old boy who had nothing to do with the crime.
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/05/p...
jaxtrib.org/2025/12/05/p...
An investor lawsuit accusing Florida Power & Light’s parent company, NextEra, and several current and former executives of securities fraud can move forward, a panel of federal appeals judges ruled this week in a remarkable resurrection of the case.
jaxtrib.org/2025/11/28/r...
jaxtrib.org/2025/11/28/r...
Resurrected lawsuit puts FPL's past controversies back in the spotlight
The federal appeals court decision could re-open the company's old wounds from a series of controversies across Florida.
jaxtrib.org
December 1, 2025 at 4:11 PM
An investor lawsuit accusing Florida Power & Light’s parent company, NextEra, and several current and former executives of securities fraud can move forward, a panel of federal appeals judges ruled this week in a remarkable resurrection of the case.
jaxtrib.org/2025/11/28/r...
jaxtrib.org/2025/11/28/r...
Reposted by The Florida Trib
New | A federal appeals panel overturned a decision from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon (yes, that Aileen Cannon) and resurrected an investor lawsuit accusing FPL of securities fraud, potentially re-opening old wounds from a sprawling series of controversies.
jaxtrib.org/2025/11/28/r...
jaxtrib.org/2025/11/28/r...
Resurrected lawsuit puts FPL's past controversies back in the spotlight
The federal appeals court decision could re-open the company's old wounds from a series of controversies across Florida.
jaxtrib.org
November 29, 2025 at 4:08 AM
New | A federal appeals panel overturned a decision from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon (yes, that Aileen Cannon) and resurrected an investor lawsuit accusing FPL of securities fraud, potentially re-opening old wounds from a sprawling series of controversies.
jaxtrib.org/2025/11/28/r...
jaxtrib.org/2025/11/28/r...
Unless there is a last-minute snag, Manny Diaz will become the latest Republican politician and ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis installed as president of a Florida university.
jaxtrib.org/2025/11/25/i...
jaxtrib.org/2025/11/25/i...
Inside track: Manny Diaz Jr., powerful interim president, emerges as sole finalist at UWF
Secret presidential searches have tightened Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ grip on college presidencies.
jaxtrib.org
November 25, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Unless there is a last-minute snag, Manny Diaz will become the latest Republican politician and ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis installed as president of a Florida university.
jaxtrib.org/2025/11/25/i...
jaxtrib.org/2025/11/25/i...
Reposted by The Florida Trib
New | The story of Manny Diaz Jr.'s remarkable ascendancy at the University of West Florida, where he turned an interim job into one in which he enjoys "presidential privilege" - pricey renovations, country club memberships and unusual protection from board firing.
jaxtrib.org/2025/11/25/i...
jaxtrib.org/2025/11/25/i...
Inside track: Manny Diaz Jr., powerful interim president, emerges as sole finalist at UWF
Secret presidential searches have tightened Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ grip on college presidencies.
jaxtrib.org
November 25, 2025 at 10:19 PM
New | The story of Manny Diaz Jr.'s remarkable ascendancy at the University of West Florida, where he turned an interim job into one in which he enjoys "presidential privilege" - pricey renovations, country club memberships and unusual protection from board firing.
jaxtrib.org/2025/11/25/i...
jaxtrib.org/2025/11/25/i...
The police report of Michael Norris arrest accused him of not complying and alleged that Norris resisted police by “curling his arms underneath his body.”
The body-cam footage shows he was already being hurled to the ground before any instructions were given.
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/23/t...
The body-cam footage shows he was already being hurled to the ground before any instructions were given.
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/23/t...
'They just tackled me to the ground.' Man left severely injured during JSO arrest
After a struggle with several officers, Michael Norris, who was not armed, was hospitalized with multiple facial, elbow and rib fractures, along with a hemorrhage in his right eye, bruising up and dow...
jaxtrib.org
October 23, 2025 at 4:31 PM
The police report of Michael Norris arrest accused him of not complying and alleged that Norris resisted police by “curling his arms underneath his body.”
The body-cam footage shows he was already being hurled to the ground before any instructions were given.
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/23/t...
The body-cam footage shows he was already being hurled to the ground before any instructions were given.
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/23/t...
An examination by The Tributary of dozens of previously unpublicized cases of alleged Jacksonville Sheriff's Office brutality revealed striking patterns in the agency’s conduct.
Here's what we found.
Reporting by @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/23/f...
Here's what we found.
Reporting by @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/23/f...
‘Force is ugly, but’: JSO seldom punishes cops accused of abuse
Jacksonville Sheriff's officers inconsistently report when they've injured civilians, thanks in part to a vague use-of-force policy.
jaxtrib.org
October 23, 2025 at 12:19 PM
An examination by The Tributary of dozens of previously unpublicized cases of alleged Jacksonville Sheriff's Office brutality revealed striking patterns in the agency’s conduct.
Here's what we found.
Reporting by @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/23/f...
Here's what we found.
Reporting by @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/23/f...
Reposted by The Florida Trib
The latest dispatch from Michael Vasquez, @jaxtrib.org’s new reporter —
“In my language arts methods course, one of the topics is selecting a ‘diversity’ of texts to engage student leaders,” UNF Professor John White said. “That has nothing to do with DEI. That’s the word ‘diverse’ as in a myriad, or plethora.”
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/16/f...
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/16/f...
Florida wipes 'culture,' 'diversity' and other terms from UNF teacher-education courses
State officials cast a wide net in seeking to ban certain terms, ensnaring courses where words like “culture” and “diversity” appear in innocuous contexts.
jaxtrib.org
October 16, 2025 at 5:42 PM
The latest dispatch from Michael Vasquez, @jaxtrib.org’s new reporter —
“In my language arts methods course, one of the topics is selecting a ‘diversity’ of texts to engage student leaders,” UNF Professor John White said. “That has nothing to do with DEI. That’s the word ‘diverse’ as in a myriad, or plethora.”
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/16/f...
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/16/f...
Florida wipes 'culture,' 'diversity' and other terms from UNF teacher-education courses
State officials cast a wide net in seeking to ban certain terms, ensnaring courses where words like “culture” and “diversity” appear in innocuous contexts.
jaxtrib.org
October 16, 2025 at 4:10 PM
“In my language arts methods course, one of the topics is selecting a ‘diversity’ of texts to engage student leaders,” UNF Professor John White said. “That has nothing to do with DEI. That’s the word ‘diverse’ as in a myriad, or plethora.”
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/16/f...
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/16/f...
Reposted by The Florida Trib
New joint reporting from @jaxtrib.org *and* The Florida Times-Union:
Money, aerospace drive turbulence between City Councilman and aviation CEO
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/15/m...
Money, aerospace drive turbulence between City Councilman and aviation CEO
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/15/m...
Money, aerospace drive turbulence between City Councilman and aviation CEO
A Jacksonville City Council member and the CEO of the city's four airports have butted heads for years over the aviation authority's spending and governing powers
jaxtrib.org
October 15, 2025 at 6:37 PM
New joint reporting from @jaxtrib.org *and* The Florida Times-Union:
Money, aerospace drive turbulence between City Councilman and aviation CEO
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/15/m...
Money, aerospace drive turbulence between City Councilman and aviation CEO
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/15/m...
TONIGHT!
NEXT FRIDAY!
Join @jaxtrib.org journalists as we launch our new project, the Night of the Living Deadline pumpkin ale in collaboration with Bold City Brewery
$10 at the door = a spooky beer and commemorative koozie.
See you there 🤝
Join @jaxtrib.org journalists as we launch our new project, the Night of the Living Deadline pumpkin ale in collaboration with Bold City Brewery
$10 at the door = a spooky beer and commemorative koozie.
See you there 🤝
October 3, 2025 at 6:36 PM
TONIGHT!
Reposted by The Florida Trib
Exciting news! @jaxtrib.org was chosen as part of @propublica.org's Local Reporting Network. I'll be working on a pretty awesome project with them over the next year.
www.propublica.org/atpropublica...
www.propublica.org/atpropublica...
ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network Selects Five New Partners for Its 50 State Initiative
ProPublica is an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest.
www.propublica.org
October 1, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Exciting news! @jaxtrib.org was chosen as part of @propublica.org's Local Reporting Network. I'll be working on a pretty awesome project with them over the next year.
www.propublica.org/atpropublica...
www.propublica.org/atpropublica...
NEXT FRIDAY!
Join @jaxtrib.org journalists as we launch our new project, the Night of the Living Deadline pumpkin ale in collaboration with Bold City Brewery
$10 at the door = a spooky beer and commemorative koozie.
See you there 🤝
Join @jaxtrib.org journalists as we launch our new project, the Night of the Living Deadline pumpkin ale in collaboration with Bold City Brewery
$10 at the door = a spooky beer and commemorative koozie.
See you there 🤝
September 26, 2025 at 8:42 PM
NEXT FRIDAY!
Join @jaxtrib.org journalists as we launch our new project, the Night of the Living Deadline pumpkin ale in collaboration with Bold City Brewery
$10 at the door = a spooky beer and commemorative koozie.
See you there 🤝
Join @jaxtrib.org journalists as we launch our new project, the Night of the Living Deadline pumpkin ale in collaboration with Bold City Brewery
$10 at the door = a spooky beer and commemorative koozie.
See you there 🤝
NEW: 11 Jacksonville Fire and Rescue first responders were subpoenaed over the summer related to the April death of Charles Faggart in the Duval County jail, according to records obtained by @natemonroe.bsky.social + @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/09/25/f...
jaxtrib.org/2025/09/25/f...
Federal prosecutors subpoena first responders in controversial Duval jail death
Prosecutors began ordering witnesses to arrive at the federal courthouse downtown to give testimony in June and July.
jaxtrib.org
September 25, 2025 at 6:15 PM
NEW: 11 Jacksonville Fire and Rescue first responders were subpoenaed over the summer related to the April death of Charles Faggart in the Duval County jail, according to records obtained by @natemonroe.bsky.social + @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/09/25/f...
jaxtrib.org/2025/09/25/f...
NEW: The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office will take the lead investigating the death of a 31-year-old father in the Duval County Jail in April, according to State Attorney Melissa Nelson’s office.
via @natemonroe.bsky.social + @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/09/18/f...
via @natemonroe.bsky.social + @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/09/18/f...
Feds to take lead in controversial Duval jail death investigation
The scope of the federal investigation into the death of Charles Faggart is unclear, and State Attorney Melissa Nelson did not say what conclusions her office has drawn about the case.
jaxtrib.org
September 18, 2025 at 7:09 PM
NEW: The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office will take the lead investigating the death of a 31-year-old father in the Duval County Jail in April, according to State Attorney Melissa Nelson’s office.
via @natemonroe.bsky.social + @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/09/18/f...
via @natemonroe.bsky.social + @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/09/18/f...