Jacksonville Bold for 1.28.26: Smoking gun

Florida politics collide over guns, budgets, abortion, vaccines, and power. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

From: Extensive Media Enterprises Attorney General James Uthmeier says his ongoing probe of a list of Jacksonville gun owners who carried weapons into a local government building is almost complete. And he takes issue with State Attorney Melissa Nelson for missing the mark in her own report on the controversy, which absolved the administration of Mayor Donna Deegan of legal responsibility for the practice that has drawn scrutiny from the right. "We are investigating this. We'll have more to announce soon," Uthmeier said in St. Johns County. Donna Deegan faces renewed scrutiny as James Uthmeier signals an update on Jacksonville gun registry probe, disputing Melissa Nelson's findings. "I think a local State Attorney concluded that it was a lower-level staff person who didn't know what they were doing. You know, most everybody here knows that ignorance of the law is not typically a defense. So, I do believe what happened was wrong and unlawful. We're taking a hard look at it. We'll have some updates soon." The 4th Circuit State Attorney's Office (SAO) concluded late last year that while Jacksonville officials were guilty of "poor communication and a lack of legal review, not from deliberate misconduct" regarding a registry of people carrying guns into City Hall and the Yates Building, there is no ground for criminal charges related to the practice. Gov. Ron DeSantis and others have pilloried the gun registry as a violation of constitutional rights by the Deegan administration. The "Check Points and Perimeter Security" memo from facility manager Mike Soto was drafted on June 30, 2023, during the transition between the outgoing Lenny Curry administration and Deegan's incoming group. It was revised in July after Deegan assumed office. Nelson's office notes that the city "stopped the practice immediately once it was discovered," but not before memorializing "more than 140 entries recording the names, birth dates, ID numbers, and firearm types of over 100 individuals."

Senate run   Rep. Angie Nixon couldn't wait until a rally in her hometown of Jacksonville on Sunday to announce her next move. Nixon says she is running for the U.S. Senate, ending months of speculation about her next move. She enters a race where the Democratic nomination may be in reach, but a General Election win against incumbent U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody would seem to be a tall task. Nixon will be up against the state's Republican registration advantage, Moody's proven prowess in statewide races, and the nearly $4 million Moody has on hand as of her most recent campaign finance report. Angie Nixon launches U.S. Senate bid, slamming Ashley Moody's appointment and the GOP leadership. After a statewide listening tour in recent months, Nixon said Republicans, independents and Democrats all told her the same thing. "We can't afford to go on like this. But these establishment politicians, including Ashley Moody, aren't listening to us. Meanwhile, the cost of everything is exploding," she said, referring to groceries, health care, child care, property insurance and housing costs. Republicans welcomed her to the campaign. "Angie Nixon's radical agenda and toxic divisiveness are a gift to Republicans," said Florida GOP Chair Evan Power. "Floridians reject this extremism. Sen. Ashley Moody will continue championing safe borders, strong schools, low taxes, and family values."

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Nassau knockdown   Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia blasted Nassau County government for excessive spending late last week, becoming the latest municipal government in the crosshairs of his self-proclaimed government watchdog crusade. Ingoglia has already ripped about a dozen county and municipal governments in the past year for what he says is "excessive and wasteful spending." He held a news conference on Wednesday in Fernandina Beach, the county seat of Nassau County in Northeast Florida. He unloaded on the county's handling of budgetary issues and claimed county government officials had excessively spent more than $53 million. Blaise Ingoglia criticizes Nassau County spending — calling $53 million 'excessive' during Fernandina Beach news conference amid budget growth concerns statewide. "Taxpayers throughout Florida are tired of their locally elected officials wasting their hard-earned money on government bloat. The amount of excessive, wasteful spending in Nassau County announced (Wednesday) is yet another example that the growth in government is wasteful in itself," Ingoglia said. "As CFO, I will keep bringing transparency to Floridians and holding local governments accountable for overtaxing their citizens. With each review of a local government, we are proving that real tax relief is not only possible but necessary." Ingoglia said Nassau County's general fund budget skyrocketed in the past half-decade, climbing by $96.2 million since the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Meanwhile, Nassau County's population has grown "only" by 16,597 people, Ingoglia lamented.

Museum movement   A bill that would affirm St. Johns County as the site of a future Florida Museum of Black History and set up its Board is again advancing in the Legislature's upper chamber. Members of the Senate Government Oversight and Accountability Committee voted unanimously for the measure (SB 308), which faces one more Committee stop before reaching a floor vote. It's substantively the same bill the Senate passed unanimously last year, which subsequently stalled out in the House. Legislation advancing in the Senate would establish St. Johns County as the future home of Florida Museum of Black History. St. Augustine Sen. Tom Leek and Jacksonville Rep. Kiyan Michael — both Republicans — are carrying the legislation again this Session. If passed, SB 308 and its House twin (HB 525) would codify a prior recommendation by the Florida Museum of Black History Task Force to select St. Johns County as the preferred site for a future museum. It would also create a new section of Florida law establishing the Florida Museum of Black History Board of Directors, which would oversee the facility's planning, construction and operation. The Governor, Senate President and House Speaker would appoint Board members. Except for two Senators and two Representatives who would serve in ex officio capacities, members would not be able to hold any other elected or appointed office. St. Johns County was the top-ranked site among three finalists for the museum chosen in April 2024, followed by Eatonville in Orange County and Opa-locka in Miami-Dade County. Last June, the Legislature earmarked $1 million for the planned project in St. Johns.

Reproductive rights   Democratic Legislative leaders filed the Reproductive Freedom Act to dramatically roll back Florida's abortion restrictions and establish a statutory right to reproductive health care. Senate Minority Leader Designate Sen. Tracie Davis, of Jacksonville, and House Minority Leader Rep. Fentrice Driskell, of Temple Terrace, filed SB 1308 and HB 1151 on the 53rd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. Fentrice Driskell and Tracie Davis file legislation expanding reproductive health care rights and rolling back Florida abortion restrictions. The legislation declares a "fundamental right to reproductive health care," including abortion, contraception, fertility services, and pregnancy-related care, and would prohibit the state from interfering with an individual's access to those services. The proposals also specify that a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus "does not have independent rights under the laws of this state." The measures would also bar state and local law enforcement agencies from penalizing, prosecuting, or taking adverse action against individuals for obtaining reproductive health care or for aiding another person in doing so. They would also provide civil immunity to individuals who obtain or assist with reproductive care and prohibit local governments from adopting more restrictive regulations. The bills also repeal several existing statutes, including provisions related to the use of state funds, medical conscience protections for health care providers and payors, and restrictions on consent for specific medical procedures.

Oath oof   A bill that would require teachers to say loyalty oaths from Sen. Clay Yarborough is in trouble, as it doesn't have the votes to get through its first Committee, the Senator told the Florida Phoenix. If passed, new hires would have to affirm the language in the oath starting in July. In contrast, those employed before July would have one year to subscribe to the language, except for college teachers, who would have to do so during tenure review or other performance evaluations. Clay Yarborough's proposal requiring teacher loyalty oaths stalls, lacking votes to advance through its first Committee. The oath is as follows. "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States and the Constitution and Government of the State of Florida; that I am duly qualified for employment as a member of the school personnel in this state; that I will well and faithfully perform the duties of a member of the school personnel in a professional, independent, objective, and nonpartisan manner; that I will uphold the highest standards of academic integrity and professional ethics; that I will foster a respectful learning environment for all students which promotes critical thinking, civic responsibility, and lifelong learning; and that I will serve as a positive role model in both conduct and character, so help me God." Yarborough's bill is a companion to HB 147, sponsored by Rep. Tom Fabricio of Miami-Dade. The Senator had filed an amendment, but the bill wasn't even heard last week, so that may be moot.

Vax vexation   SB 1756, a wide-ranging "medical freedom" proposal also filed by Yarborough, is advancing to its second Committee after receiving the Health Policy panel's favor. But even supporters said the bill needed more fine-tuning before the floor, raising questions about whether the final version of this legislation will be much different from the iteration that appeared Monday. "Parents need to be in the driver's seat," the Jacksonville Republican said of his attempt to bolster parental rights. Gayle Harrell raises concerns as vaccine legislation advances, warning changes could weaken herd immunity protections. The bill, which Yarborough says "makes great strides to ensure Florida parents can make educated medical decisions for their children," would prohibit the state health officer from mandating vaccines during public health emergencies, expand religious and conscience-based exemptions for school entry, and require new parental acknowledgment forms before minors receive vaccines. An amendment offered by Sen. Gayle Harrell that would require parents to talk to doctors before raising religious or conscientious objections was rejected, leading her to vote no. Parents who choose to have their children vaccinated, said Yarborough, must have information available on the risks and the benefits. As of the end of 2024, nearly 89% of children had gotten their shots. The legislation would also allow pharmacists to dispense ivermectin, stored behind the counter, without a prescription and allow parents to request spaced-out vaccine schedules for their children, changes that public health advocates say could weaken uniform immunization standards. An amendment offered by Harrell and adopted on Monday provides civil and criminal immunity for that course of treatment for physicians as well. Yarborough said that ivermectin, when used at the appropriate dose, is "well-tolerated" according to the Food and Drug Administration. The debate revealed divisions within the Committee over this legislation. "This presents a great deal of angst in me," said Republican Harrell, saying herd immunity is under threat given that only 81% of kindergarten students are vaccinated. Harrell warned that polio could return just as measles has. Sen. Rosalind Osgood, a Democrat, lauded Yarborough's "intent" but said the policy implications of the bill, including for her minority-majority district, give her pause, given that families she represents live close together, sharing space, air, and responsibility. Meanwhile, Sen. Ralph Massullo, a doctor by trade, said he'd support the bill but wanted Yarborough to include more information to educate parents about their health options. "This is a step in the process. I'd like to see it much better going forward," Massullo, a Republican, said. Chair Colleen Burton also tentatively supports the bill but worries that the legislation could expose children to illness from unvaccinated individuals.

Chat circuit   Deegan is scheduling another round of meetings with constituents to discuss policy in various neighborhoods across the city during February and March. Per a release from her office, the first-term Democrat will "discuss her administration's efforts to make housing and health care more affordable, shore up underserved neighborhoods, and improve infrastructure across the city." Donna Deegan to address residents during neighborhood meetings focused on housing, health care, and infrastructure priorities. All meetings begin at 6 p.m. and end at 7:30 p.m. The first one, on Feb. 3, is at William Raines Senior High School. On Feb. 17, Deegan will go to Westside High School. The meetings continue through the end of March at various schools.

Builder business   The Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA) has selected its new President for 2026. NEFBA chose Scott Brannock of Tidewater Homes to be the 82nd President of the advocacy organization for First Coast-area builders. Brannock assumed the group's mantle this week. Scott Brannock is named Northeast Florida Builders Association President for 2026, succeeding outgoing leadership this week. "It is an incredible honor to serve as President of the Northeast Florida Builders Association. As we enter this next chapter, my focus is on honoring the leaders who built this Association while preparing NEFBA for the future," Brannock said. "Through education, advocacy, networking, and giving back, we will continue to elevate our industry, invest in the next generation of builders and trades, and strengthen the communities we serve. NEFBA is not just the largest builders' association in Florida; we are a national leader, and together, we will continue to set the standard." The NEFBA also recognized state legislators who supported the organization in the past year. The Legislator of the Year Award went to state Sen. Jennifer Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican. Meanwhile, Jacksonville Republican and House Speaker Pro Tempore Wyman Duggan was honored with the Good Government Award for his advocacy of the building industry in the Florida Legislature.

Bexley Boxes boom   A movement to provide Florida children comfort after traumatic incidents when they are taken to law enforcement offices got a big boost Monday. In 2023, widow Kirsten Bridegan started what is called "Bexley Boxes," named after her daughter, who was found in a car after her father, Jared Bridegan, was murdered in 2022. After the shooting, then-2-year-old Bexley was taken to a police station in Jacksonville Beach, where there were no diapers, no sippy cups, and few other comforts to speak of. Kirsten Bridegan expands Bexley Boxes initiative, bringing comfort supplies to law enforcement offices across Florida. "Our daughter was strapped in her car seat," Bridegan said, noting that a passing motorist arrived on the scene and wrapped the girl in a blanket. "She was taken to a police station where there weren't many things to comfort her … I came up with the idea to make a difference." Bexley Boxes ensure law enforcement offices have those necessities — wipes, sippy cups, premixed formula, snacks and blankets — as well as comforting extras such as stuffed animals, books, coloring supplies and more. Kirsten Bridegan was recognized by Uthmeier last year for launching the initiative, and he said he was intent on getting the boxes into law enforcement offices in all 67 counties. "This is a great story to come out of a tragic situation," he said. On Monday, he took it a step further, saying Walmart has agreed to shoulder much of the cost and assemble the boxes. During a Ponte Vedra Beach news conference, the Attorney General said that 65 Bexley Boxes were already in place at Florida law enforcement offices and that another 120 are expected to be distributed within a month.

Minding measles   City officials acknowledged on Jan. 23 that they had received confirmation of multiple measles cases and urged people to get immunized. The city, along with the Florida Department of Health (DOH) in Duval County, is urging residents to get immunized and to regularly visit DOH locations at 515 W. Sixth St. and 3225 University Blvd., open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The city also has a phone line to help make appointments at 904-253-1130. City officials urge immunizations after confirming multiple measles cases and announcing pop-up vaccination clinics. But city officials have also scheduled a "pop-up" immunization site to serve residents on Sunday, Feb. 1. The Immunization Clinic will be open from 9 a.m. to noon at the Regency Library, 9300 Regency Square Blvd. Immunizations will be administered to prevent measles, influenza and hepatitis.

Former Mandarin stars head to Super Bowl   The Super Bowl matchup is set with the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots meeting at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Feb. 8, and Jacksonville will be represented with a pair of players on the Patriots roster from the same high school. New England wide receiver DeMario "Pop" Douglas and running back Terrell Jennings both attended Mandarin High School, and both were on the 2018 Mustangs' state championship-winning team. DeMario Douglas and Terrell Jennings represent Mandarin High School as Patriots teammates who reach the Super Bowl. Douglas grew up in St. Augustine and began his high school career at Pedro Menendez High School before transferring to Mandarin for his final two seasons. Douglas starred at Liberty before being selected by the Patriots in the sixth round in 2023. In three seasons with New England, he has started 14 of 48 games and caught 146 passes for 1,629 yards and six touchdowns. Jennings went to Florida A&M after high school, where he rushed for 1,860 yards and 24 touchdowns in his college career. He went undrafted and signed with the Patriots before the 2024 season. He was cut before the season but was brought back on the practice squad and eventually landed on the active roster, playing in three games in 2024. This season, the pattern repeated: Jennings was cut and then re-signed to the practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster and scored his first NFL touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 2, but was placed on injured reserve after being placed in the concussion protocol following the Dec. 1 game against the Giants. Jennings has since been cleared of the concussion protocol and has been a full participant in practice, but has not been active for either of the Patriots' postseason wins. It's been quite a football season for players from the Mustangs' state title-winning team. Carson Beck quarterbacked Miami to the College Football Playoff national title game before falling to Indiana. The Jaguars won't have to find new offensive and defensive coordinators. The team announced on Tuesday that both offensive coordinator Grant Udinski and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile had agreed to new contracts to remain in Jacksonville. Both were courted by other NFL teams as head coaching candidates. Udinski was a candidate for the Cleveland Browns' and Buffalo Bills' head coaching jobs, but he withdrew his name from consideration for the Browns on Monday, and then the Bills promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach the following day. Udinski got a richer deal with the Jaguars to remain on head coach Liam Coen's staff. It should be noted that Coen was the Jaguars' playcaller in 2025 and is expected to be again in 2026. Campanile was a hot prospect as well, interviewing with the Arizona Cardinals twice. But on Tuesday evening, the Jaguars announced that he, too, would remain in Jacksonville. Campanile also interviewed with the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins.

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