Jacksonville Bold for 5.20.26: True heroism

Jacksonville headlines span politics, budgets, housing, sports and growth. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

From: Extensive Media Enterprises Attorney General James Uthmeier is recognizing a Clay County deputy as the 2025 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year after the “rescue and recovery” of four victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation. Detective Eva Solis is being honored for an investigation into a child exploitation and human trafficking case, where the probe uncovered seven identified victims, one child rescued, three victims recovered, and more than two million CSAM files. James Uthmeier recognized Eva Solis after her investigation helped rescue and recover victims in a child exploitation case. “The dedication shown by Detective Solis led to the takedown of true predators, who are now in federal custody, and her work reflects the highest ideals of law enforcement and protecting those who cannot protect themselves — especially children,” a release from Uthmeier’s office reads. Uthmeier announced the honor on Wednesday morning.

Crossed lines   State Rep. Angie Nixon continues to make news regarding congressional reapportionment, which weakens her leverage on her political side and draws discipline for using a bullhorn during last month’s vote. Nixon was then detained on Friday to end an hourslong sit-in at Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office. Nixon wanted to meet with DeSantis to urge him to call a Special Session to repeal the new, allegedly “race-neutral” congressional map his office pushed through, but DeSantis did not oblige. She was removed from his office; only then did he comment on the scene via social media. “FAFO,” he posted Friday, presumably not referring to the efforts of the Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight, as he amplified an allied journalist’s post that called the Black Jacksonville Democrat “ghetto.” Angie Nixon was detained after a sit-in at Ron DeSantis’ office over Florida’s congressional map dispute. DeSantis has a history of not shying away from atavistic signifiers interpreted by many as obtuse to our nation’s history of institutionalized racism, of course, including worrying that a Black Democratic opponent would “monkey” up Florida’s progress if elected in 2018, and delivering a parody of the speech patterns of the House Democratic Leader that revealed more about DeSantis’ inherent biases to critics. He also boosted Chief of Staff Jason Weida’s post that trumpeted Nixon’s arrest with a less racially charged reaction. “Deservedly so. Our office isn’t a platform for this performative nonsense,” the Chief Executive chided. Nixon, a candidate for the U.S. Senate who is leaving the House this year after six years of making more headlines than legislative wins, had been sanctioned by the House Rules and Ethics Committee days before. The panel did not pursue harsher sanctions or have any significant debate about the punishment in what was a very quick meeting. For her part, Nixon said she was “annoyed and aggravated for Floridians” after she was released from being sequestered in the basement of the Capitol Building. Nixon maintains her arrest was for seeking a meeting, revealing she is due in court next month.

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Insurance summit   Insurers and medical professionals concede that rising healthcare costs too often fall on patients. But getting Congress to approve a solution acceptable to all parties remains frustratingly out of reach. U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean hopes to find an elusive bipartisan policy answer, bringing together interests, including Florida medical professionals, for a health summit in the U.S. House. Aaron Bean hosted a U.S. House health summit focused on bipartisan solutions to rising healthcare costs and the No Surprises Act. “We’re looking for consensus, and that consensus has to have bipartisan support if we’re going to have action,” the Fernandina Beach Republican said. “The first thing is identifying the problem, shining light on it.” Hopefully, it will lead to policy action that brings all parties together, though Bean’s event highlighted disparities in agendas and a lack of desire to reach consensus. The summit included a lengthy debate about potential changes to the No Surprises Act, a law passed in 2020 and implemented in 2022 that aims to standardize prices for procedures and treatments. Read more here.

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Eyes in the skies   Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters may soon have more eyes in the sky funded by the state of Florida. The House Justice Budget Subcommittee agrees with the Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice’s $610,000 allotment to fund the Drone First Responder Program. The funding was prioritized this Session by Sen. Clay Yarborough and House Speaker Pro Tempore Wyman Duggan. T.K. Waters could see Jacksonville’s drone response program expand with $610,000 in proposed state funding. The money, should it make it to the final budget ratified by Gov. Ron DeSantis, will allow for the development of this program, which is intended to augment the efforts of officers on the ground who will deploy the devices. Drones are expected to help with response times, make efforts more efficient and keep police safer as they manage what the House appropriations request calls “improbable situations.” The $610,000 is expected to cover one fixed-wing mapping drone with required accessories, 10 drone inverters, 10 external drones for reconnaissance, 25 interior drones to assess building safety, batteries and maintenance. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office will be required to document the program’s efficacy should it be funded. Given the close relationship between DeSantis and Waters, whom the Governor endorsed in a 2022 Special Election, it should be an easy sell for the executive branch.

In the Navy   It’s anchors aweigh for another tranche of state funding for Jacksonville’s USS Orleck Museum. The House is agreeing to the Senate’s $782,000 request to improve public access and safety for the Cold War-era Gearing-class destroyer parked in Downtown Jacksonville. The ask was carried by Sen. Clay Yarborough this Legislative Session. The USS Orleck Museum could receive $782,000 to expand access, improve safety and enhance STEM-focused educational exhibits in Jacksonville. The money, per the appropriations request, will “greatly expand one of the most STEM worthy areas of the ship (the Communications compartments), provide increased access to new areas on board for students and the public, such as the After Fireroom, and five Veterans Museum Kiosks.” It will facilitate classes in “Seamanship, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math + History (SSTEAM+H).” It’s the only Naval museum of its type in the state, and it's proven to be a destination. Visiting students are not just from every county in Florida, but from all 50 states. Current exhibits include a simulated Russian submarine encounter from the Cold War and a Mount 52 experience from the Vietnam Conflict, designed to give visitors a sense of the perils sailors faced during the ship’s 37 years of service.

Hanging on the telephone   The Senate and House are aligned on allocating more than $1.6 million to Flagler Hospital’s Be Resilient and Voice Emotions (BRAVE) program, which will help ensure that young people in Florida with mental health struggles continue to have access to resources. Legislators have funded this initiative before. This year, Republican Sen. Jay Trumbull and Republican Rep. Josie Tomkow carried the requests. Flagler Hospital’s BRAVE program could receive $1.6 million to expand youth behavioral healthcare support across Florida. Flagler says the program “supports families throughout the treatment process by helping them find timely and appropriate care through offering telephonic assistance.” BRAVE screens families for behavioral health services that meet their needs, then links them to partners for services, and offers support through treatment that includes at least eight visits. The model is designed to address a recurring problem in youth behavioral health: families seeking help often run aground at the referral stage, with appointments booked weeks out, providers that do not take their insurance, or screening conversations that route them to services that do not fit the child’s needs. The legislative request aims to keep no-show rates below 7%, indicating an effort to ensure follow-through and provide help.

Vet bet   The Senate and House Budget Committees agree to support two Five Star Veterans Center projects poised to benefit those who served their country but now struggle with reentry into civilian life. The House Health Care Budget Subcommittee and Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services conference aligned on allotting $500,000 to expand the facility in the Arlington neighborhood that currently accommodates 40 vets, as well as $250,000 for the Homeless Housing and Reintegration Project. Five Star Veterans Center could receive $750,000 to expand housing, behavioral health and reentry services for veterans. Bringing the money home was a bipartisan effort championed by Senate Democratic Leader-designate Tracie Davis and Republican Sen. Clay Yarborough, as well as House Speaker Pro Tempore Wyman Duggan and Republican Rep. Dean Black. Jacksonville, a place with a rich military tradition and multiple bases for many decades, is a place that service members gravitate to when they leave the armed forces. It’s that appeal, in part, which makes the facility need to be expanded beyond its current capacity, along with renovations to ensure that those who gave their health for the country can recover once their service is completed. Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and related issues will benefit from the funding, as the center does its part to ensure, via behavioral health services, job support, and urine tests to ensure they stay off illegal drugs, that they can integrate into the community at large. Jobs are one part of the puzzle, of course. Housing is another. The Homeless Housing and Reintegration Project includes on-site security, residential living expenses and behavioral health assessments.

No go?   There certainly was a lot of hoopla about a planned autonomous-vehicle manufacturing plant in Northwest Jacksonville. But tangible evidence of any construction on the factory is scant. As Florida Politics and other outlets reported in March, Holon announced it will build a new facility in Jacksonville to produce 15-passenger self-driving vehicles, with the factory set to open in 2028. Holon officials had promised they’d have a groundbreaking on the facility in April. Questions are growing around Holon’s delayed Jacksonville factory after a promised groundbreaking failed to materialize. But as the Jacksonville Business Journal reported this week, any progress on the plant is hard to find. Neither Holon nor City Hall has explained what happened to the Holon plans, and the factory’s groundbreaking hasn’t happened yet. JAXUSA Partnership, the business development wing of the JAX Chamber, commissioned an economic impact study from the University of North Florida (UNF) Coggin College of Business to assess the factory’s impact. It is estimated that Holon, a German-based autonomous-vehicle manufacturer, would contribute about $300 million to the First Coast economy. The city of Jacksonville approved an incentive package that required Holon to invest $80 million locally by the end of this year. But neither the city nor the company could explain where things stand to the Business Journal.

Pier review   A high-profile tourist draw in a county loaded with tourist attractions will be out of commission for most of this year. St. Johns County officials closed the Ocean and Fishing Pier this week to repair the pilings to the seaside platform in St. Augustine Beach. County engineers are working to strengthen and repair the structure’s pilings. The work will continue through November. St. Johns County closed its Ocean and Fishing Pier for repairs that will limit access through November. The work is extensive. County officials say the project will be so involved that beach access to the area will be affected. Access to the north side of the pier will be closed, while the south beach access will remain open, allowing visitors to reach the ocean. Officials advise that surfers, anglers and swimmers should stay at least 500 feet away from the pier if they’re in the water. The parking lot at the pier site at 350 State Road A1A will also see some reduced parking spaces to accommodate construction equipment. But officials say the lot will remain open, with most of the parking spaces available. The gift shop at the base of the pier will also stay open. The St. Johns County pier has endured some tough times in the past few years. In July 2024, the St. Johns County pier became basically defunct after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed a sand replenishment project on the beach around the pier. Years of erosion had depleted the shoreline of sand, and the beach renourishment effort was designed to restore the area of much-needed beach.

Home hum   The number of home sales in Northeast Florida dropped in April as house prices flattened out. The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR) released figures for the six-county housing market, showing that single-family unit transactions were sluggish. There were 1,845 closed sales in April on the First Coast, down by 4.9% from a year ago, when 1,940 homes were sold. It’s also a 3.4% drop compared to March, when there were 1,910 transactions. Northeast Florida home sales fell in April while prices flattened and inventory shifts signaled a more balanced market. The median home sales price was mixed for the North Florida area. That figure came in at $390,000, which is a slight 0.4% increase from April 2025 but a 1.3% decline from March. NEFAR President Kim Knapp said the figures for April reflect a housing market that favored sellers for the past few years and is beginning to iron out. “April’s numbers continue to reflect a market that is stabilizing and becoming more balanced across Northeast Florida. Buyers are seeing more options and greater flexibility, while sellers continue to benefit from steady activity. As inventory grows and affordability continues to influence decisions, we are seeing a healthier pace emerge across the region,” Knapp said in a news release. The active inventory of houses on the market was mixed, with 2,755 homes for sale in April. That’s down by 13.5% from April 2025, when there were 8,209 houses for sale. But the latest inventory figure is 10.7% higher than the March figure of 6,414. In Duval County, home to Jacksonville and the largest population on the First Coast, there were 910 homes sold last month. That’s a drop of 8.8% from April 2025, when there were 998 closings. It’s down by 7.2% from the 981 sales in March. The median home sale price came in at $332,500, a 0.3% drop from a year ago and a 0.3% increase over March.

Ospreys ascendant   UNF keeps making news, with two items this week particularly worthy of note. Per a media release, the school “has received a National Science Foundation (NSF) award that will allow researchers to make 3D‑printed metal parts more reliable and less wasteful.” The goal of the initiative, which will be led by Dr. Longfei Zhou and supported by students Maria Fernanda Ocrospoma Figueroa, Tessa Baur and Taylor Uhruh, is to address problems as they arise during the fabrication process. Essentially, preemptive quality control is used to rectify a nagging problem. UNF announced new research advances with an NSF grant and a heat lab focused on manufacturing and extreme temperatures. The arm of a 3D Printer is prone to streaks when used to create parts for airplanes, medical implants, and energy systems, thereby impeding structural integrity and function. In some cases, this can render the product unusable. UNF also opened a new heat lab this week to study the impact of elevated temperatures on the human body. UNF opened the Perry Weather Heat Lab on Monday, which will serve as a research hub studying the effects of extreme heat on people. It’s located within the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI) at UNF and will help develop protocols and policies for people dealing with hot climates and seasons. The Heat Lab will be located within the KSI at the Southside Jacksonville Campus. The original KSI was founded in 2010 at the University of Connecticut in memory of Korey Stringer, an NFL player. He passed away after suffering heat stroke during training camp when he was on the roster for the Minnesota Vikings in 2001. His widow, Kelci Stringer, was at the UNF ceremonial opening of the Heat Lab on campus Monday. The KSI satellite facility at UNF originally opened in 2005.

Lottery pick   Some 350 student-athletes from 17 public high schools across Duval County were honored for their performance on the field and academic achievements as well at the Gateway Conference Awards in Jacksonville this month. The May 11 event at the Florida Theatre in Downtown Jacksonville brought officials from the Florida Lottery and the Jacksonville Jaguars to present awards to the student-athletes who compete in 22 different sports. Coaches, athletic directors, school administrators, families and other community leaders attended the event. The student-athletes being honored for their leadership were nominated by those school officials for their dedication both on and off the field. More than 350 Duval County student-athletes were honored in Jacksonville for academic achievement, leadership and athletic excellence. “This celebration goes far beyond athletic performance — it’s about recognizing the discipline, commitment, and leadership these student-athletes demonstrate every day,” said Florida Lottery Acting Secretary Reginald D. Dixon. “At the Florida Lottery, our mission is to support education and create opportunity for Florida students, and these young leaders embody exactly what that investment is meant to build. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and support their continued journey toward success in school, in sports and in life.” Dixon added at the ceremony that there are additional measures to support the athletes through the Florida Lottery Bright Futures Scholarship Program when they go on to attend college. The program assists students in higher education to pursue career goals. Jacksonville’s NFL franchise, the Jaguars, also added their support for the event as partners. Team officials added that the event shares values such as teamwork, preparation and perseverance that are essential to athletics. “Once again, the Jaguars are honored to celebrate high school students in the Gateway Conference Awards whose well-rounded accomplishments in academics, sports and beyond represent the complete package,” said Jaguars Senior Vice President and Chief Community Impact Officer Whitney Meyer. “Their commitment to leadership and excellence sets them apart today and signals a bright future for Jacksonville as these students graduate and go on to make meaningful contributions to our community.”

Sporting JAX to host playoff match   On Sunday, Sporting JAX makes history as the first fully professional women’s team in the city’s history to host a postseason game. Sporting JAX is set to host Carolina Ascent FC at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday at Hodges Stadium (Peacock). As the first expansion team in the nine-team Gainbridge Super League, Sporting JAX exceeded expectations, leading the league for much of the second half of the season. But a late-season slump, including a 3-1 loss at Carolina in the regular-season finale, left Jacksonville level on points with Lexington SC. Lexington won the Players’ Shield as regular-season champions because of a tiebreaker. Sporting JAX will host Jacksonville’s first professional women’s postseason match Sunday at Hodges Stadium. The team has already earned some accolades. Midfielder Ashlyn Puerta, 19, earned the Golden Playmaker honor in the Gainbridge Super League as the league’s leading assist provider. Puerta won the award over teammates Paige Kenton, Meg Hughes, and Sophia Boman, along with Brooklyn FC’s Sam Kroeger, who all had seven assists. Puerta accomplished the feat in the fewest minutes of the group. Puerta, Kenton, and Baylee DeSmit all scored at least 10 goals, becoming the first trio to reach double-digits in the league. It has been a remarkable success on the field for the first-year team. “(Associate head coach) Alan (Kirkup) was saying from the first day that we could be the best team in the league,” said captain Sophie Jones. “Looking back on that, how many people believed that? I think we thought it was a possibility, but we knew there was going to be a lot of work to be done.” In the early days of the season, results were inconsistent. Sporting JAX notched just one win in the first four games. Then, a 4-3 victory at Carolina, powered by the club’s first hat trick by Puerta, started a run. Between Sept. 28 and Feb. 7, the team did not lose a game. They became the league's highest-scoring team (54 goals in 28 games) and arguably played the most attractive soccer of any Gainbridge Super League team. “When we first talked about our goals at the beginning of the season, it was making the playoffs,” said vice-captain Parker Roberts. “But it was also to create our own identity. We have our core values: hard working, cohesive, combative, and creative. Can we embody all of these things and bring them together? That’s where our success has come from.” Carolina has some unfinished business. Last season, they won the Players’ Shield but were eliminated in the semifinals by Fort Lauderdale United FC. The Ascent has won six straight games and is unbeaten in the last 11, both matching league records set by Carolina last season. The winner of Sunday’s match will face the winner of Saturday’s other semifinal between Lexington and Dallas Trinity FC. The league final is set for Saturday, May 30. If Sporting JAX wins on Sunday and Dallas upsets Lexington, the final will be held at Hodges Stadium. If Lexington wins, they will host the final in Kentucky.

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