Do you want to keep your pets safe before fireworks start popping off in the sky on New Year’s Eve?

A new bill creates a 25-foot barrier between first responders and the public. Anyone who comes within that barrier will get a warning. And if they don’t leave, they could face criminal consequences.

Three firefighters and a dozen passengers have been injured in Florida after a fire truck drove around the crossing arms into the path of a high-speed passenger train after waiting for a freight train to pass.

An apartment fire at Hunter’s Run Apartments in Clay County displaced six families on Friday night. Officials said on Saturday that the initial cause "appears to be children setting off fireworks."

Experts say seniors are particularly at risk, making Florida a prime target for scammers. Americans aged 60 and older faced $405 million in losses from phone scams and $130 million from text scams this year.

Final Jags Game Forecast

Lions, tigers, and other big cats love playing with trees, so the staff at Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jacksonville suggests that people help both the environment and their furry friends by recycling Christmas trees.

A pizza deliverer in Florida has been charged with pushing her way into a motel room and stabbing a pregnant woman after a dispute over a tip.

Fireworks are a holiday favorite, but it’s important to understand the rules to avoid fines or injuries. In Florida, fireworks are only permitted on July 4th, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.

The St. Johns County Dive Team was called to pull a car out of the water Friday morning after a driver sped down the boat ramp.

With 2024 soon coming to a close, it’s important to take a look at all of the bills that made it into law during this year’s Legislative Session.

North Florida Land Trust has expanded the Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Corridor by acquiring 1,109 acres in Bradford County.

As the Jacksonville International Airport undergoes garage construction, a new parking policy has raised concerns among disabled veterans.

For the first time in 30 years, the St. Johns River Ferry will get a companion.

Some News4JAX Florida stories really topped the charts this year.

On Tuesday, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved a $317 million investment to protect Florida’s critical lands, and Duval County is among those to benefit.

News4JAX obtained a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office memo that was sent to patrol officers after an accidental shooting during a traffic stop.

Holidays are typically associated with hectic travel, and according to the American Automobile Association, 2024 is no different.

A family in Columbia County is working to rebuild their lives after a devastating house fire destroyed their home two weeks before Christmas.

The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into why several drones collided and fell from the sky during a holiday show over the weekend in downtown Orlando, Florida.

With Marco Rubio likely going into Trump's cabinet and DeSantis weighing his political future there's uncertainty for the future of the Senate seat and Governor's office. Over the weekend Lara Trump withdrew her name and Matt Gaetz indicated he might run for either office.

Here are eight of the biggest political stories we covered in 2024, in no particular order.

Dr. Ivana Parker recently received a $2.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health that stretches over five years to allow her to further her BV research in hopes of finding a more effective solution and addressing concerns about known health disparities among different races.

AAA will work to help stranded motorists while also keeping impaired drivers off the road this holiday season. Tuesday night, the Auto Club Group will activate its Tow to Go program in Florida and other select states.

The House Ethics Committee found evidence that former Congressman Matt Gaetz paid women tens of thousands of dollars for sex or drugs, including paying a 17-year-old girl for sex in 2017, according to a final draft of the panel’s report on the Florida Republican.

President Joe Biden is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment mere weeks before President-elect Donald Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office.

The historic event resulted when arctic air pushed temperatures below freezing through Florida with ice accumulating down to Miami.

Will Richard scored a career-high 26 points, three teammates notched double-doubles and No. 7 Florida remained undefeated with a 99-45 victory over North Florida.

Santa arrived early, bringing joy to children this Christmas. The 43rd annual Christmas event, hosted by J.P. Hall Children Charities, provided thousands of toys and bikes to families in Clay County, creating an unforgettable holiday experience.

Florida's win over Tulane caps off the 2024 season with an 8-5 record and marks Billy Napier's longest winning streak as Florida head coach.

Cold air arrives on the first day of Winter.

School shootings have become an all-too-common occurrence in the news, and the tragedy earlier this week in Wisconsin has brought deep sorrow to another community.

Florida’s growth reflected two key issues in the Census Bureau data: international migration and population increases in the South.

My hot dog has a first name, it’s O-R-L-A-N-D-O, my hot dog has a – well, that’s it, I ran out of words – but you can run out and see a piece of Americana when the famous Wienermobile visits Central Florida this month.

The Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) system is a critical tool in the detection and real-time reporting of tsunamis.

The Florida Department of Education is working with Trinity Education Group to create a singular database that allows parents, teachers, and staff the ability to access school materials. Critics say the $15.6 million price tag is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

Beginning January 1, 2025, a widely used adult website will be revoked from the state of Florida.

Beginning January 1, 2025, a widely used adult website will be banned in the state of Florida.

A Florida state senator introduced a bill Monday aimed at preventing flags representing political viewpoints, race, sexual orientation, gender, and more from being displayed at public schools, colleges, universities, and government buildings.

The advocacy group Public School Defenders: Duval County (PSD) is pushing back on a statewide contract from the Florida Department of Education that would spend millions on creating a system to review educational materials.

Florida authorities say they're pursuing a criminal case against a man accused of trying to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump for a car crash that occurred after his arrest.

The Florida Theatre was named the #1 Most Attended Venue in Northeast Florida, Southeast Georgia, according to 2024 statistics released by Pollstar, a leading concert industry publication.

Homeowners’ insurance policies appear poised to continue flowing out of the state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. in 2025.

Florida Rep. Kat Kammack will hold a news conference with bipartisan lawmakers and the families of hostages in Gaza.

A release from the governor’s office indicated the news conference would be “on a matter of law and order” but did not offer specifics.

A civil rights attorney is weighing in on an incident involving a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officer that left a man with a bullet hole in his leg after the gun he was carrying fired while the officer tried to remove it from his waist.

Following the opening of Bass Pro Shops and the announcement of a new Walmart, officials moved Tuesday to push critical road improvement projects forward for state and federal funding.

Christmas came early for a Ponte Vedra Beach resident who recently took home a million-dollar prize.

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season was a nail-biter to the end, keeping seasonal hurricane forecasters on the edge of their seats this past hurricane season. So how did they do in predicting the numbers?

Madison Schemitz gave her first sit-down interview to News4JAX after a horrific attack left her paralyzed last year

Almost three dozen high-rise condos and luxury hotels are sinking or settling along South Florida beaches.

DeSantis was joined by Florida Department of Veterans Affairs Director James “Hammer” Hartsell to recognize Purple Star schools and districts.

Senate President Ben Albritton on Monday suggested phasing out a decade-old law that allows some undocumented immigrant students, known as “Dreamers,” to receive in-state tuition rates at Florida universities and colleges.

Mild and foggy conditions tonight.

A former prison guard trainee has been sentenced to death for the 2019 execution-style killings of five women inside a Florida bank.

President-elect Donald Trump has held a wide-ranging news conference in which he took questions from reporters for the first time since winning the election.

Two Florida lawmakers, both campaigning for U.S. House seats, have recently filed bills aimed at rolling back gun control measures.

Brian Thomas Jr. capped his stellar first season with a pair of franchise records on Jacksonville’s opening drive of the game Sunday against the Jets.

Temperatures remain above average until a cold front moves through next week

The holidays are here, making packages vulnerable to theft. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office reminds residents to secure their deliveries.

The Clay County Public Library System in Fleming Island, Florida, is collaborating with community partners to distribute over 500 books to families at Baptist Medical Center Clay’s Labor & Delivery Unit.

A U.S. Navy veteran from Florida was one of the 39 people pardoned by President Joe Biden in the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history.

Rep. Fentrice Driskell, Democratic Leader of the Florida House of Representatives, is urging action on the expansion of the Florida KidCare program.

SpaceX has announced the target time for the next launch of its Falcon 9 rocket from Florida’s Space Coast on Friday night.

The family identified the victim as Ilson Miriam Kim, 64, the Beauty Max beauty supply store owner.

The University of Florida’s Florida Semiconductor Institute is coming to Jacksonville's LaVilla

A Florida woman has been charged with threatening her health insurance provider after police say she uttered the same words found on the bullet casings used in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

A chilling true-crime thriller directed by Jacksonville’s own Warren Skeels makes its debut in theaters nationwide tonight, Friday the 13th.

The University of Florida’s Florida Semiconductor Institute is coming to Jacksonville's LaVilla

New safety guidelines for condominiums in Florida are causing significant disruptions in the real estate market.

Change is in the air with a mild warm up starting Friday.

UNLV is reaching into the Southeastern Conference to keep momentum going for its 24th-ranked football team by hiring former Florida and Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen on Thursday.

Publix has opened a new store in Palm Beach County, offering a variety of new features, such as beer on tap, flavored popcorn, burritos, pizza, pasta and more.

Teddy Bridgewater has turned Miami Northwestern into a force to be reckoned with, having won more games this season than the previous two combined.

Florida’s chief financial officer announced the launch of a study to see how gold and silver can be used as money in the state.

While many may be heading “over the river and through the woods” to grandma’s house for the holidays, plenty of families prefer to venture away from home to see festive sights.

The University of Florida’s Florida Semiconductor Institute is coming to Jacksonville's LaVilla

The University of Florida’s Florida Semiconductor Institute is coming to Jacksonville's LaVilla

For one lucky fisherman, it was an unforgettable day. Not every day, you come across a Great White Shark, and that’s exactly what happened to Alberto Vanegas.

Zjones Productions produces theatrical stage productions in the city of Jacksonville. This product produces stage plays that displays "real life" events from a biblical to personal perspective.

Two luxury real estate brokers and their brother have been charged in a federal indictment with sex trafficking.

Florida leads the nation with more than 88 reported burglaries per 100,000 people. That’s nearly four times the national average of 22.5 per 100,000.

Florida’s coast is welcoming its first right whales of the winter season. New images from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirm sightings near Amelia Island, including a mother whale with her calf and two adult females.

U.S. Postal Service workers are facing a dangerous trend. According to new data, violent robberies are up nearly 30%.

A St. Johns County gas resident won a $1 million prize from the 500X The Cash Scratch-Off game.

Could visions of highs in the 80s be in the forecast for Jacksonville this Christmas? It’s happened before, but don’t bank on it this year.

Are you ready to get into the Christmas spirit? News4Jax has compiled a list of the best light displays and events around our area.

The cost of home insurance in Florida was a hot topic at this year’s Florida Chamber of Commerce Insurance Summit in Orlando.

Vacancies are on the rise in the heart of Jacksonville, according to Downtown Vision, Inc.’s (DVI) 2024 State of Downtown Report, which was released last week.

Two News4JAX stories have won Regional Emmy awards, the Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced Saturday.

There are four steps you should follow to prevent worms and insects from taking over your vegetable garden without having to use harmful chemicals.

Miami probably was one win away from getting into the College Football Playoff.

After cold front temperatures drop back into 60s

Duke and Ole Miss will meet in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, a solid ACC-SEC matchup that pits a pair of nine-win teams in the 80th game at EverBank Stadium.

The president of Atlanta-based Tyler Perry Studios has died when the small plane he was piloting crashed on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

A Florida prosecutor says he will seek to vacate as many as 2,600 convictions of people who bought crack cocaine manufactured by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office between 1988 and 1990.

A family is looking to turn the holidays around for two children after their mother and siblings died.

Councilmember Jimmy Peluso made headlines when he declined an invitation to a holiday party hosted aboard Jaguars team owner Shad Khan’s 410-foot yacht, the Kismet.

Two firefighters were injured Friday morning when a car struck them while on duty at the Safety Harbor Fire Department.

A woman brought a baby to a St. Johns County fire station Friday afternoon after she found the newborn inside a box on the side of a road, according to the St. Johns County Fire Rescue Department.