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<\/a>Downtown Jacksonville is ready for the annual Florida-Georgia football clash at EverBank Stadium. Image via Downtown Vision, Inc.<\/p>\nGEICO is running shuttles from more remote lots, such as Lot S, Lot X, Lot Z and Met Park, for those who may not want to walk for one reason or another.<\/p>\n
And yes, kickoff is at 3:30, but you are advised to enter the stadium as early as 1:30 to avoid what the city calls \u201clast-minute gate pressure, which frequently occurs before kickoff.\u201d<\/p>\n
Express shuttles are running if you want to park remotely as well. If that option interests you, there are lots around town<\/a>.<\/p>\n Security is always a priority, of course.<\/p>\n \u201cThere will be magnetometers in place, enabling fans to walk through carrying their clear bag and leave their cellphone and keys in their pockets. After entering, fans will then proceed to the self-scan ticket kiosks to have their mobile tickets scanned.\u201d<\/p>\n Georgia is favored by roughly a touchdown, but anything can happen in Jacksonville. Enjoy the game if you\u2019re going; it\u2019s like no other experience in college sports.<\/p>\n Bear market<\/p>\n Not into football?<\/p>\n The Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens, in conjunction with Nemours Health, has an option for you.<\/p>\n The Teddy Bear Affair returns Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Zoo\u2019s Range of the Jaguar exhibit. It allows kiddos to bring their stuffed animals for \u201cmedical care,\u201d including patch jobs and casts.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re proud to partner with Nemours Children\u2019s Health to offer an event that brings education, wellness and fun together, all while families enjoy the Zoo and connect with nature,\u201d said Nikki Smith, the Zoo\u2019s Chief Philanthropy and Marketing Officer.<\/p>\n While the future of the Affordable Care Act and associated subsidies may be in doubt for humans, at least their stuffed friends have access to medical help.<\/p>\n Tweet, tweet<\/p>\n Video vibrations<\/p>\n Those frustrated by the Jacksonville City Council\u2019s streaming options now have new ways to access telecasts.<\/p>\n It\u2019s called Jax+<\/a>, and it will allow viewers to access livestreams of Committee and Council meetings on the official city of Jacksonville YouTube channel, Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV.<\/p>\n The City Council hopes this makes people feel more connected to local government.<\/p>\n \u201cTransparency and access to government are the foundation of a healthy democracy,\u201d said Teresa Eichner, Public Information Officer for the City of Jacksonville City Council.<\/p>\n \u201cBy livestreaming Council meetings, we\u2019re breaking down barriers to participation and inviting our community to take an active role in the legislative process. This is about ensuring every resident can stay informed, engaged and empowered.\u201d<\/p>\n The City Council website will continue offering streaming and archived video as well.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are committed to making our government more accessible and transparent,\u201d said City Council President Kevin Carrico.<\/p>\n \u201cBy livestreaming our meetings, we encourage residents to stay informed and engaged with the decisions that shape our community.\u201d<\/p>\n Bowling night<\/p>\n Gone but not forgotten. That\u2019s the attitude of Jacksonville\u2019s<\/a> City Council, as members honored former Chief Administrative Officer<\/a> Karen Bowling<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bowling\u2019s departure from the Donna Deegan<\/a> administration was announced earlier this month, and the mystery of why she left still shrouds the matter.<\/p>\n However, the City Council unanimously voted for and sponsored a resolution to \u201ccommend and honor (Bowling\u2019s) steadfast commitment to this community, demonstrating vision, service, leadership and innovation across sectors,\u201d with members of both parties offering testimonials.<\/p>\n \u201cKaren Bowling was our chief administrative officer, did an incredible job, and all of a sudden was gone,\u201d remarked Republican Rory Diamond, a frequent critic of the Democratic Mayor.<\/p>\n \u201cKaren Bowling is a history maker. She was the first woman to do this job in the history of the city of Jacksonville,\u201d added Democrat Rahman Johnson.<\/p>\n \u201cI got a chance to know Karen as a colleague in media, who, as a reporter, when she started her career in this city and continued to change the game and everything she does. So, I was honored to do this. I think it\u2019s important when young people, like the ones we see as pages today, can see people like Karen Bowling rise to the highest heights of our city. It shows that anything, in any way, is possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Bowling moved from television media to become the former CEO of Solantic Urgent Care, a company she co-founded with current U.S. Sen. Rick Scott<\/a> in 2001. She had numerous other governmental roles before joining the Deegan administration, including serving as former Mayor Alvin Brown\u2019s CAO.<\/p>\n Plan B<\/p>\n Jacksonville International Airport is well on its way to having a new concourse by next Christmas.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen terminals A and C were opened, they contemplated building Concourse B. But the economy wasn\u2019t the greatest at the time. They decided to put it off,\u201d Jacksonville Aviation Authority President Mark Van Low explained, per Action News Jax<\/a>. \u201cSo right after 2008, they started thinking about this. And again, when I came seven years ago, it was on the drawing books, but we really didn\u2019t have the muscle to go forward. We decided with the Board\u2019s approval to 1761764648 make it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n Six new gates and new restaurants are on the way \u2026 and perhaps international flights as well.<\/p>\n \u201cAmerican Airlines is taking all these new gates. Currently, American Airlines doesn\u2019t need all these gates. So, if you put two and two together, we think that\u2019s big news for American, which is our No. 1 carrier now in Jacksonville,\u201d Van Low said. \u201cI would love to see the Caribbean and Mexico immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n Tweet, tweet<\/p>\n DJ culture<\/p>\n Jacksonville\u2019s WJCT is celebrating Public Radio Music Day with an all-star lineup this evening.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Neighborhood\u201d with Mr. Al Pete kicks things off at 9 p.m.<\/p>\n The hip-hop moves to bop at 10 \u2026 as Daniel Stark\u2019s \u201cBop City\u201d begins.<\/p>\n WJCT Musical Director David Luckin holds down the 11 p.m. spot with \u201cElectro Lounge.\u201d<\/p>\n And as the clock strikes 12, \u201cBlues Horizon\u201d with Andrew Wiechman starts up.<\/p>\n \u201cPublic Radio Music Day is about celebrating how public radio helps people discover new sounds and connect with the artists who define their local community,\u201d said Luckin. \u201cOur mission has always been to introduce listeners to something fresh, something inspiring, and something made right here in Jacksonville. That\u2019s what makes WJCT News 89.9 a home for music lovers.\u201d<\/p>\n Magic bus business<\/p>\n An autonomous vehicle company has signed a development agreement to build a production facility in Jacksonville, which could create up to 800 jobs on the First Coast.<\/p>\n Holon<\/a> signed a term sheet<\/a> with the city this week, signaling they\u2019ll begin construction of the factory located at the Eastport Industrial Park. The facility will cover about 580,000 square feet and will be undertaken with InLight Real Estate Partners<\/a>, which owns the property. Groundbreaking on the project is scheduled for April.<\/p>\n \u201cWith this partnership, we are not only creating the basis for technological innovation, but also for sustainable growth in Jacksonville,\u201d said Clemens Rengier, Holon\u2019s chief financial officer. \u201cI would like to mention once again the city of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA<\/a>), which supported our vision from the beginning. Now, Jacksonville is becoming the center for autonomous mobility in the USA.\u201d<\/p>\n Holon is based in Germany and develops electric-powered autonomous vehicles. The Jacksonville site will specifically build the Holon model Urban<\/a>, which is a self-driving shuttle. Company officials also announced they\u2019ll locate their U.S. headquarters in Jacksonville.<\/p>\n The construction of the new production facility is estimated to cost $100 million, and it should be completed in late 2027. The construction agreement was signed at a JTA Board meeting.<\/p>\n Tweet, tweet<\/p>\n Coastal capture<\/p>\n An organization has donated four acres of environmentally sensitive land near the coastline to the North Florida Land Trust (NFLT<\/a>) near the Matanzas Inlet in southern St. Johns County.<\/p>\n St. Johns Wildlife Care Inc. offered the land to the NFLT for conservation. The land itself is in a tidal area and is actually a salt marsh. The property is in the Matanzas Inlet Beach subdivision, just to the west of the Summer Haven subdivision on the coast.<\/p>\n The stretch of property is in the middle of heavy vegetation. Black mangrove, southern red cedar, oak, Indian blanket flower, sabal palm and other plants envelop the property. NFLT officials said in a press release that keeping the property in its natural state will help foster habitat for wildlife that can thrive in those conditions.<\/p>\n \u201cThis land is in an area that is very attractive to developers, but thankfully, the property owners realized the value in keeping this land in its natural state,\u201d said Allison DeFoor, President and CEO of NFLT. \u201cWe appreciate that they reached out to us to take ownership and preserve this land because it is now or never. This is a real win for community conservation.\u201d<\/p>\n NFLT officials say the coastal property aligns with the organization\u2019s Salt Marsh and Climate Resilience Priority Preservation Area<\/a>. That program focuses on protecting salt marshes and other coastal habitats that foster environmental benefits to the community.<\/p>\n In addition to the natural habitat and community benefits, NFLT officials said protecting such coastal stretches assists with climate resilience.<\/p>\n Florida Blue backing<\/p>\n A survey of more than 3,000 workers concluded with high praise for Jacksonville-based Florida Blue<\/a> and its advancement opportunities.<\/p>\n Careerminds<\/a>, a global career development and job services firm, surveyed professionals<\/a> in the state to find out which workplaces are most favored. Florida Blue, with headquarters on the First Coast, finished as the third most favored company in Florida for career growth.<\/p>\n \u201cFlorida Blue stands out in the survey as the state\u2019s leading health insurer, serving millions of members across Florida. Employees value the company\u2019s investment in training programs that support mobility across customer service, technology and health care administration,\u201d Careerminds analysts concluded. \u201cFlorida Blue remains a workplace where professional growth is built into a mission of improving community health.\u201d<\/p>\n Other Florida companies that stood out in the survey included Royal Caribbean Group in Miami, finishing first, and<\/p>\n St. Johns safe way<\/p>\n St. Johns County Commissioners celebrated a long-planned roadway unveiled this week.<\/p>\n The County Commission was part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a large stretch of County Road 2209<\/a>. The event took place on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n The section of the roadway runs from International Golf Parkway to a connection with Silverleaf Parkway. It\u2019s a new four-lane divided corridor designed to ease traffic flow in northern St. Johns County.<\/p>\n It\u2019s one of the busiest areas of St. Johns County, which is one of Florida\u2019s fastest-growing counties. The northern areas are where new housing developments are being built regularly, and many residents there commute to Jacksonville to the north for work.<\/p>\n Firefightin\u2019 finery<\/p>\n Osvaldo \u201cOzzy\u201d Sene, a paramedic with the Palm Coast Fire Department, was named \u201cFirefighter of the Year\u201d by the Flagler-Palm Coast Kiwanis Club this month.<\/p>\n Sene only joined the fire department two years ago, but Kiwanis officials note he\u2019s become a standout member of the service in just a short time. He\u2019s not only dedicated, Kiwanis members said, but he also mentors many of his fellow firefighters and paramedics.<\/p>\n \u201cOzzy exemplifies what it means to be a Palm Coast firefighter \u2014 committed, compassionate, and community-minded,\u201d said Palm Coast Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill. \u201cHis leadership in mentoring young people and his willingness to go above and beyond for his fellow firefighters truly embody the spirit of service that defines our department.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>Children bring stuffed animals for \u2018medical checkups\u2019 during the Teddy Bear Affair at Jacksonville Zoo. Image via Facebook.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Newly launched Jax+ expands City Council meeting access via YouTube, Roku and Apple TV.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>City Council members commend Karen Bowling for civic leadership after her departure from city administration.<\/p>\n<\/a>Mark Van Low discusses Jacksonville International Airport\u2019s new Concourse B project scheduled for completion next Christmas.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>David Luckin hosts WJCT\u2019s Public Radio Music Day lineup, celebrating Jacksonville\u2019s diverse local music scene. Image via WJCT.<\/p>\n<\/a>Clemens Rengier announces Holon\u2019s plan for an autonomous-vehicle manufacturing facility at Eastport Industrial Park.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Allison DeFoor celebrates a four-acre conservation donation near Matanzas Inlet protecting North Florida salt marshes.<\/p>\n<\/a>Florida Blue ranks third statewide for career growth in Careerminds\u2019 survey of Florida professionals.<\/p>\n<\/a>Commissioners cut the ribbon on County Road 2209, easing traffic congestion in northern St. Johns.<\/p>\n<\/a>Osvaldo Sene receives Firefighter of the Year honors from the Flagler-Palm Coast Kiwanis Club. Image via Facebook.<\/p>\n