Friday, Dec. 19: Autonomous Transit + Downtown Development + Grocery Shift
Friday, Dec. 19
Your local news briefing
5 Headlines You Should Know Today
🎧 Prefer to listen to the news?
Find Wake Up, Jacksonville! on
Spotify,
Apple Podcasts,
YouTube,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
Autonomous shuttle rides free again as JTA defends NAVI system.
Six months into Jacksonville’s experiment with autonomous transit, the NAVI shuttle system is under pressure. Ridership plummeted after JTA began charging fares in October, prompting the agency to reinstate free rides this week. CEO Nat Ford said retreating now would mean “walking away from the very advancements that cities across the country are embracing.” Mayor Donna Deegan called the initiative “the wave of the future,” and Council President Kevin Carrico said it’s essential for a world-class city. Public hearings are planned next year to gauge support for expansion.
DIA approves $50M incentives for Publix-anchored downtown tower.
Downtown Jacksonville and the adjacent Springfield neighborhood are one step closer to getting a long-anticipated Publix. The Downtown Investment Authority board unanimously approved a $50 million incentive package for Gateway Jax’s redevelopment on West Beaver Street. The $148 million project includes a 14-story tower with 259 residential units and a ground-floor Publix grocery store—Downtown Jacksonville’s first full-service grocer with a pharmacy. Incentives include a 17-year, $21 million tax refund and a $28 million completion grant, pending City Council approval. Some Council members have raised concerns about the financial impact, citing a projected $80 million city deficit.
Kroger ends delivery, expands Harris Teeter stores in Jax.
The Kroger Company is closing its grocery delivery operations in Florida, including a Jacksonville “spoke” station that employed 181 people. However, the grocer is simultaneously ramping up brick-and-mortar plans in Northeast Florida. Kroger’s Harris Teeter brand will open a new store in Jacksonville’s Atlantic North shopping center, with plans filed for two more possible locations in St. Johns County. Interim CEO Ronald Sargent called Jacksonville “an important adjacent geography” for expansion. The Harris Teeter brand last operated locally in the early 2000s. The delivery service will end January 6.
Family of slain musician demands arrest in road rage case.
The family of Jacksonville musician Joe Starkey is calling for justice after his death in what police described as a road rage incident earlier this month. The 62-year-old sound engineer was shot on December 10 on St. Johns Bluff Road South. Although the shooter turned himself in and is cooperating, no arrest has been made. Starkey’s family, represented by attorney John Phillips, is demanding answers from the State Attorney’s Office and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. They say the lack of charges and information has left them devastated.
Turbulent 2025: Deegan, City Council clash and cooperate.
A year-end lookback by Jacksonville Today focuses on tensions between Jacksonville’s Republican-led City Council and Democratic Mayor Donna Deegan. Much of 2025 was defined by disputes over budget priorities, committee assignments, and investigations into city programs. Council President Kevin Carrico authorized a local watchdog panel targeting alleged waste, including scrutiny of a telehealth initiative backed by Deegan. Despite the friction, the two sides aligned on major downtown investments and public safety funding. As fiscal pressures mount ahead of the 2027 mayoral election, both Carrico and likely future president Nick Howland say they want to prioritize collaboration.
* Subscription or free account may be required.
✉️ Do your neighbor a favor — forward this newsletter or send them to our signup page.
