A Florida metal detector enthusiast found a Clemson University class ring on Daytona Beach, leading to a month-long search for its owner and forming an unexpected friendship between two families.

An official with the Palatka Housing Authority is being accused of funneling over $150,000 intended for the organization into a separate company that he controlled, according to a federal indictment filed on Wednesday.

If you have any questions or issues with your child’s bus, we have the numbers for each district’s transportation department and bus hotline, along with info for districts with bus apps.

The Florida Highway Patrol is asking the community to help locate the suspect vehicle of a hit-and-run crash that killed a 59-year-old man in Putnam County early Tuesday morning.

A Palatka mother was arrested early Tuesday morning after deputies learned that she had left her child home alone with seven dogs while she took a multi-week vacation to Las Vegas, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

A 59-year-old man from Crescent City was killed early Tuesday morning in a hit-and-run crash on U.S. 17 in Putnam County, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Heat Warnings and advisories continue

A man who jumped into the St. Johns River to rescue men who had fallen into the water said he was only doing what came naturally to him.

A multi-agency search was underway Tuesday morning for at least one person who fell into the St. Johns River Monday night while shrimping in Palatka, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

A crash early Monday morning on Huntington Shortcut Road in Crescent City claimed the life of a 24-year-old woman from Welaka, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

A Putnam County Sheriff’s Office 911 dispatcher lost her job after an employee discovered two deceased dogs in her former apartment, leading to her arrest on animal cruelty charges.

Soaring summer highs and humidity

Wednesday Wednesday

A 30-year-old Bradford County woman died early Sunday morning after another vehicle and her ATV crashed into each other in Putnam County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The Florida State Fire Marshal is investigating a deadly mobile home fire on Monday in Putnam County.

A woman told News4JAX that a mobile home fire that sent her, her fiancé and their roommate to the hospital Sunday night started in the laundry room.

A woman told News4JAX that a mobile home fire that sent her, her fiancé and their roommate to the hospital Sunday night started in the laundry room.

A woman told News4JAX that a mobile home fire that sent her, her fiancé and their roommate to the hospital Sunday night started in the laundry room.

State Attorney R.J. Larizza announced plans to seek the death penalty against Dimeco Henderson, marking the first death penalty prosecution for a sexual assault case in Florida’s seventh judicial circuit.

Dr. Wendolyn Sneed, the medical examiner for St. Johns, Putnam, and Flagler counties, said all three counties have experienced a decline in overdose deaths so far this year.

A tragic tubing accident in Putnam County left one child dead and another injured on Tuesday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.

Summer starts Friday

Engineer Matt Kennedy is a 30-year veteran Jacksonville firefighter, and his wife, Cheryl Kennedy, has been a nurse for 26 years. Last weekend, the couple witnessed the aftermath of a horrific deadly crash, and their instincts kicked in.

Farm Share, Florida’s largest food bank, will host a free food distribution Friday in Putnam County.

Median prices for single-family homes fell in the majority of Northeast Florida counties in May, according to a new report from the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR).

The Putnam County community is mourning this week after a longtime Palatka Junior-Senior High School coach died over the weekend.

A crash occurred Saturday night on State Road 100 near the Clay County Line.

The Putnam County community is mourning this week after a longtime Palatka Junior-Senior High School coach died over the weekend.

According to data by the United States Postal Service, Florida ranked eighth nationally in dog bite incidents on mail carriers in 2024.

The Florida Highway Patrol urged drivers on Thursday to use caution when traveling in the area of State Road 19 in Putnam County as crews battle an 800-acre forest fire.

Families said they feel violated after a Putnam County woman was arrested for stealing items from gravesites.

A Putnam County woman was charged with criminal mischief after stealing items from graves at Etoniah Cemetery on Wednesday.

The Florida Highway Patrol said a 39-year-old man from Palatka died on Tuesday after he was ejected from his SUV while driving in Putnam County.

A Putnam County woman accused of killing her on-again, off-again boyfriend was denied bond during a court hearing on Tuesday.

Rain chances increase gradually after holiday

Parts of Putnam and Flagler Counties, heading towards beaches until 4:30 PM

A 24-year-old Gainesville man was killed early Saturday morning when his vehicle veered off the road and struck a tree, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The body of a missing kayaker was found Friday morning in the St. Johns River, southeast of the Memorial Bridge in Palatka, according the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

As the search resumes Thursday morning for a kayaker missing in Putnam County, the missing man’s father has identified him as a 43-year-old father of three.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said it is searching around the Memorial Bridge in the St. Johns River for a missing kayaker.

St. Johns River State kept right on rolling in the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series.

The "Pam Rock Act" is officially a Florida law that will protect against dog attacks.

A 34-year-old Putnam County man and convicted sex offender was indicted Friday on two new charges of capital sexual battery.

The Animal Welfare League (AWL) of Putnam County is encouraging residents to give input on how to ensure that animal welfare laws, regulations, and ordinances are fully enforced in the area.

According to a Putnam County fire marshal, burn patterns behind a refrigerator inside the mobile home that went up in flames on Monday show signs of an electrical fire that killed four people and injured two others.

The Florida State Fire Marshal is investigating a deadly mobile home fire on Monday in Putnam County.

One day after a residential fire in Putnam County killed three people and consumed their home, the sheriff’s office provided an update on the condition of the other people who were inside.

The fire broke out on North Maryland Avenue near Cynthia Street, and State Fire Marshal Clu Wright said he has investigated some pretty bad fires during his career, however, he added that this one ranked with some of the worst.

The Florida State Fire Marshal is investigating a deadly mobile home fire on Monday in Putnam County.

The Palatka Jr.-Sr. High School was put on a brief lockdown on Thursday after a man brought what was initially believed to be a firearm on campus.

A two-seater seaplane crashed in Crescent Lake on Tuesday morning, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

The family of a Putnam County mail carrier turned their grief into action after she was killed in a dog attack in 2022.

A task force has been established in Putnam County to tackle safety issues on State Road 100.

The House passed a new bill aimed at creating a dog registry and requiring owners of those dogs to have $100,000 in liability insurance on Wednesday.

A 71-year-old man from Putnam County died Monday afternoon after his pickup truck veered off the road and crashed into a tree, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

Farm Share, Florida’s leading food nonprofit and the state’s largest food bank, is distributing food at two locations in Putnam County on Friday.

Voters in parts of Northeast Florida have until 7 p.m. Tuesday to cast a ballot in a special election to replace Rep. Michael Waltz. Waltz resigned from Congress on Jan. 20 to join the Trump administration as national security advisor.

The nation is watching a special congressional election in our area on Tuesday, which features Republican State Senator Randy Fine and Democrat Josh Weil, with the winner filling the seat vacated by Mike Waltz, who left the seat to become President Trump’s National Security Advisor.

It is just days away from a special election in Northeast Florida and we will soon find out who will be the new Representative for Congressional District 6.

Agricultural resource deputies with Putnam, Flagler and St. John’s counties' sheriff’s offices expanded their jurisdiction across county lines to tackle crime.

Voters in parts of Northeast Florida have through Saturday to cast an early, in-person ballot in the special election to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by Michael Waltz.

A Putnam County day care director has been arrested after a months-long investigation into alleged abuse at a Crescent City day care.

Local governments and organizations partnered to organize the third annual Great St. Johns River Cleanup in Duval County on Saturday.

A chase across multiple Florida counties ended in the safe return of a kidnapped mother and her two small children. Michael Anthony McNeal, 36, was arrested in connection to the alleged kidnapping.

Be safe on your commute this morning

As daylight saving time begins on Sunday, March 9, the St. Johns River Water Management District is reminding residents and businesses across the St. Johns River Lower Basin—Nassau, Duval, Baker, Bradford, Clay, St. Johns, Flagler, and Putnam—about important changes to watering restrictions.

Polls opened Tuesday morning for municipal elections in Putnam and Flagler counties.

The Town of Welaka is expecting to receive a decision this week regarding its request for an extension on a past-due financial audit. The outcome of the request could significantly impact the town’s financial future, as state funds may be withheld if the extension is not granted.

An outraged Putnam County community sounded the alarm to the sheriff’s office about living next to a trailer park that was home to convicted sex offenders and child predators.

A head-on crash Tuesday morning left two people dead and a 12-year-old boy in critical condition on State Road 100, about 7 miles northwest of the Palatka Municipal Airport, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The Florida Highway Patrol said a 24-year-old motorcyclist from Raiford died on Tuesday evening following a crash in Bradford County.

A head-on crash Tuesday morning left two people dead and a 12-year-old boy in critical condition on State Road 100, about 7 miles northwest of the Palatka Municipal Airport, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

A 26-year-old woman died Friday in Putnam County when she crawled out of a pickup truck window while it was in motion, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

As the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office continues investigating the potential disturbance of historic gravesites in Crescent City, deputies have requested the help of the University of Florida.

A Haines City man was killed early Wednesday morning after colliding with a tractor-trailer on State Road 19 in Putnam County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

State Sen. Tom Wright filed Senate Bill 572 after an 8-year-old boy was mauled to death last month in Volusia County, which Wright represents.

To help food-insecure Floridians, Farm Share is hosting two food distributions in Putnam County on Friday.

Rain returns Thursday

News4JAX has learned that the state is no longer investigating the disturbance of a cemetery in Putnam County after discovering the cemetery is exempt. Now, a group of historians are pushing back against the state’s decision, arguing that dozens of bodies buried there remain in unmarked graves.

Last week, locals voiced concerns over missing headstones after a known cemetery from the 1800s was cleared. The land is also the site of the “The Battle of Braddocks Farm.”

Outrage is growing in Putnam County after reports surfaced that a historic cemetery dating back to the 1800s was cleared and headstones are now missing.

A mother wanted on a child neglect charge after the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office helped bring her unresponsive 1-year-old son back to life turned herself in to authorities on Wednesday, according to deputies.

The search is underway for a Putnam Couty couple accused of child neglect after deputies responded to reports of an unresponsive child.

Voters in parts of northeast Florida have until 7 p.m. to cast a ballot in a special primary election to replace Rep. Michael Waltz. Waltz resigned from Congress on Jan. 20, to join the Trump administration as national security advisor.

A severe winter storm brings cold temperatures to Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, with wind chills expected to drop into the teens and 20s. Residents without adequate heat or shelter are encouraged to seek out warming centers in their area.

Voters in parts of northeast Florida will be able to cast an early, in-person ballot this weekend in the special election to fill the seat of Congressman Michael Waltz. Waltz is resigning effective Monday, when he will join the incoming Trump administration as national security advisor.

The Florida Highway Patrol said a 75-year-old man from Palatka died Saturday evening after a crash involving two pickup trucks took place in Putnam County.

The Palatka Police Department provided an update on Wednesday regarding a Christmas Day shooting that left two people dead and one person hospitalized.

The Putnam County School Board voted unanimously to dub two new Palatka schools a K-2 and 3-6.

Possible Hard Freeze Thursday

The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is monitoring wildfire activity near 602 Hickory Nut Trail in Putnam County. The resulting smoke could affect visibility for drivers on U.S. Highway 17.

Two people were killed and a third was critically injured Wednesday night in a shooting near the Palatka Daily News, police said.

An investigation into the City of Palatka’s former interim city manager, Jonathan Griffith, has concluded that he concealed a significant business relationship while serving in his position.

Palatka is embracing the holiday season with its annual Jingle Jam at Riverfront Park.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 54-year-old former Interlachen teacher for possessing nude photos of a former student on Friday.

Residents in St. Johns County’s District 6 have just two weeks to register for the upcoming special election.

A family in Putnam County is meeting their brother/son for the first time after going 52 years without knowing they existed.

Detectives in North Carolina on Tuesday arrested former QI Roberts Junior-Senior High School teacher Robert Grady Bush Jr., 54, of Palatka and accused him of a second-degree felony of authority figure soliciting or engaging in lewd conduct with a student.

The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors October Market Statistics report revealed a trend of increased inventory and moderate price growth, signaling a stabilizing market.

The family of a man who was reported missing in September told News4JAX he was found buried in rural St. Johns County Tuesday, and investigators confirmed his on-again/off-again girlfriend is a person of interest in this case.