Jacksonville Bold for 4.1.26: Short and sweet

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is reassuring supporters about the ongoing imbroglio with Iran, saying that it’s “very different” than previous military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, predicting a “succinct” endgame and resolution from President Donald Trump.

Donalds, a Republican from Naples who is running for Governor, said that Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio “are not in it for long military campaigns that are going to last for years and put more of our men and women in harm’s way.”

“I don’t believe that to be Donald Trump’s foreign policy or worldview. His foreign policy and worldview is, ‘If you mess with me, I’m going to come over, I’m going to blow up all your stuff and then I’m going home.’ Actually, that’s the way you use the United States military. You don’t do 20-year engagements. You don’t do 10-year engagements. We don’t do six-year engagements. We go over with our men and women, the best military in the world. We blow up all your stuff. And then we go home,” Donalds said at a veterans’ event Monday in Jacksonville.”

Donalds also said Trump was smart to be “ambiguous with his language when he talks to the press” about the Iran conflict, and that he would be ceding leverage if he were more forthcoming.

“Like I tell the press all the time, why in the hell would I negotiate through you? Why would I tell you what I’m going to do? That’s called being dumb. Anybody in here know negotiating a contract or negotiating with another company? You don’t go tell everybody else what you’re going to do at the negotiating table. That’s how you lose the negotiations,” Donalds said.

Donalds was joined by Congressional colleague John Rutherford, state Reps. Dean Black, Wyman Duggan and Kim Kendall and eight members of the Jacksonville City Council, including President Kevin Carrico and VP Nick Howland. State Attorney Melissa Nelson was also on hand.

The support from elected officials was a timely demonstration. It comes after Renner’s campaign cited an activist straw poll as proof that his campaign was getting traction in Duval County, which scientific polls weren’t catching.

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Friendly skies

U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack continues to sound the alarm about TSA workers who didn’t receive pay until Monday, despite Trump’s executive order.

While it appears they are on their way back to solvency, the North Florida Republican noted during a Fox News interview at Jacksonville International Airport that they had to make many tough choices in recent weeks.

“I have heard stories, things like, ‘my mother is now having to live with us, and she needs real care. We had to pull her out of assisted living because we couldn’t afford it.’ People have been sleeping in their cars. They are getting paid. They’re going to food banks here in Jacksonville. The TSA agents have had food banks coming in to help with the daily bills and needs of our families that are on the line here. And so, it’s just a slap in the face, not just to the workers, but really to all Americans, especially in light of this heightened security threat that we’re experiencing,” Cammack told Harris Faulkner.

Cammack also described being given a pat-down by an agent who told her the pay freeze was “frustrating” but that they understood it was “all about politics.”

Early endorsement

House Speaker-designate Sam Garrison of Clay County is endorsing a man running again for the state House seat encompassing Mar-a-Lago.

“Jon Maples is a fighter for Palm Beach County,” said Speaker-Designate Garrison. “His support for a strong economy, safe streets, and quality schools is the exact kind of common sense, conservative leadership we need in the Florida House. The FHRCC is proud to support Jon’s campaign all the way through to victory in November.”

Maples lost a very narrow race last week to Democrat Emily Gregory, who flipped the seat vacated by Republican Mike Caruso, who took a local job.

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Arms with eyes

Daredevil drivers who pass stopped school buses will be paying the price soon.

Duval County Public Schools is rolling out its Bus Stop-Arm Camera Violation Program to get people to respect the law.

Penalties of $225 per infraction go into effect next month. April’s affronts to the law will result in written warnings.

BusPatrol was selected by the Board to administer the program last Fall.

Palm Coast pickings

Palm Coast has been shuffling its administrative leadership for yet another time in the turbulent past two years.

Deputy City Manager Lauren Johnston is preparing to leave her position for other professional opportunities. Meanwhile, City Manager Michael McGlothlin has moved Palm Coast Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill into the Interim Deputy City Manager position in the small city in Flagler County.

Johnston was crucial to bringing stability to Palm Coast’s administrative offices for about two years. She was appointed Acting City Manager after the City Council abruptly fired City Manager Denise Bevan in 2024, after she had held that post for barely a year.

Johnston held the Acting City Manager’s job before a permanent replacement could be found. That turned out to be McGlothlin, who was hired in December.

A Palm Coast press release didn’t specify where Johnston is moving to, but McGlothlin said her services have been invaluable.

“Lauren stepped up when our organization needed her most, and her leadership helped carry us forward during an important time for Palm Coast,” said McGlothlin. “We are grateful for her many contributions and wish her continued success in her next chapter.”

McGlothlin is working with the city’s Human Resources officials to develop a recruiting approach to replace Johnston.

McGlothlin added he’s confident that Berryhill’s management experience will provide a smooth transition for him from the Fire Department to City Hall.

“Kyle’s leadership, experience, and ability to perform under pressure make him exceptionally well-suited for this role,” McGlothlin said. “He has a proven track record of leading through critical situations and a deep understanding of our organization.”

Berryhill has been with the Palm Coast Fire Department for more than two decades and initially was a lieutenant and advanced to Chief in 2022. He’s also the city’s Incident Commander during major emergency events, such as hurricane or severe weather activations, and leads operational response and coordination among Palm Coast departments.

Deputy Fire Chief Bradd Clark will move into the Interim Fire Chief position while Berryhill shifts to City Hall.

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Shrimp shock

North Florida has long been proud of its shrimp offerings, and “Mayport” shrimp is served as a regional point of pride.

But a new study shows that many First Coast restaurants falsely advertise serving the popular Mayport shrimp, while, in fact, the crustaceans on their menus come from nowhere near the region.

The study was commissioned by the Southern Shrimp Alliance and was conducted by SeaD Consulting. The analysis used genetic testing results from shrimp collected at 44 restaurants in North Florida. It found 57% of the shrimp in those seafood sales were not from the First Coast, even though the catch was advertised as wild catches brought back to Mayport, a historic fishing village founded in 1562 near the mouth of the St. Johns River.

Some 25 orders of shrimp at 44 establishments “were explicitly inauthentic, meaning menus or staff verbally represented the shrimp as local, Mayport-American wild-caught when testing confirmed imports.”

In North Florida, shifty shrimp is a major faux pas, as any local fan can attest. Mayport shrimp is a source of pride, if not taste. Jacksonville’s AAA Minor League Baseball team is named the Jumbo Shrimp, and shrimp are endemic to the local culture, tourism promotion and culinary fare.

Culture aside, the study found that bogus Mayport shrimp claims are costing customers an average of $2 more per serving of the inauthentic shrimp than for Mayport wild-caught shrimp.

The Southern Shrimp Alliance is raising major concerns about the findings.

“False advertising and mislabeling of shrimp dishes negatively impact our American wild-caught shrimping industry, honest restaurants and seafood markets, and anyone coming to the coast looking for regional seafood,” said Blake Price, Director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance.

Price is calling for a serious review of the findings and demanding that state lawmakers consider action.

“Seafood tourism is real. They aren’t seeking imported farm-raised shrimp,” Price said. “Given the rampant bait-and-switch in the marketplace, Florida needs to join other states and pass a law requiring transparent seafood labeling in restaurants. Let consumers make an informed choice.”

Crossroads conference

St. Johns County officials, along with representatives from the Florida Department of Transportation, are holding public “hybrid” meetings to discuss major overhauls to the busy intersection of county roads 210 and 2209, also known as St. Johns Parkway.

While both entities encourage in-person attendance at the meetings, online input will also be accepted.

The in-person meetings will take place at 4:30 p.m. on April 9 at the Shearwater Kayak Clubroom, 100 Kayak Way in St. Augustine, followed by a formal presentation at 6 p.m.

The virtual meetings will take place online on April 7, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The online forum will require registration.

The intersection of County Road 210 and St. Johns Parkway is one of the busiest in St. Johns County. County officials say the planned improvements for the area in northern St. Johns County are involved.

Planned improvements include modifications to the intersection design intended to reduce delays, improve traffic operations, and accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists. The project will also include changes to how drivers enter and exit nearby businesses and side streets. These updates are designed to improve traffic flow and reduce points where vehicles may cross paths,” a St. Johns County press release said.

Archaeological addition

The University of North Florida (UNF) is expanding its archaeological offerings.

The Southside campus dedicated the Gail M. Cobb Archaeological Laboratory on Tuesday. The facility was built thanks to a donation by Bill Cobb in memory of his late wife, Gail, who was a teacher and an archaeology enthusiast.

UNF has had an archaeological program since 1998. The school also added an outdoor archaeological lab next to the Cobb facility.

“This gift ensures that students will continue to learn in a space that reflects excellence, curiosity and care, values that Gail embodied and that Bill has chosen to honor in such a meaningful way,” said Keith Ashley, Gail M. Cobb Archaeology Laboratory director. “On behalf of our department, our faculty and our students, thank you, Bill.”

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Heart help

Jacksonville has its share of citizens with cholesterol challenges, and a study has just been launched to help with some of them.

Encore Research Group of Jacksonville Center for Clinical Research will be launching what WJXT calls a “first-of-its-kind gene editing study aimed at helping people with severe cholesterol conditions,” which “could permanently change how the disease is treated.”

The 15-year study will examine familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetically rooted disorder that predisposes individuals to high cholesterol.

Jaguars to Orlando in 2027

It’s no surprise, but it’s official now.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will play their home games in Orlando in the 2027 season.

NFL owners voted unanimously to allow the temporary move while the Jaguars complete construction on the “Stadium of the Future” next year.

For 2026, the Jaguars will continue to play home games at EverBank Stadium, with capacity limited to around 43,500 during construction.

In 2027, Camping World Stadium will host the Jaguars, about a 140-mile drive from downtown Jacksonville.

“The Jaguars couldn’t ask for a better scenario than Orlando and Camping World Stadium as our temporary home in 2027,” said Jaguars owner Shad Khan. “This couldn’t have happened without the endorsement of the league and team owners who approved our plan two years ago for a renovated Stadium of the Future in Downtown Jacksonville, and we’re especially appreciative of the support of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the process. We’re also grateful to the team at Florida Citrus Sports that made this solution a reality that will benefit all, including Jaguars fans, just a few hours away in Jacksonville. This is a win that everyone can celebrate.”

It remains to be seen how Jaguars fans on the First Coast will respond to the move. If the Jaguars can continue playing as they did in the first year under head coach Liam Coen, then fans may be more willing to make the more than two-hour trek to central Florida for home games.

However, if the Jaguars’ season goes south, fans may not.

At this point, the number of games to be played in Orlando is still uncertain. In 2026, the Jaguars will play a pair of games in London, one at Wembley Stadium and one at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, to allow for more time for renovations to continue. The Jaguars have also requested a bye week immediately after the London games and could have a road game the week before to give a full month of uninterrupted construction time.

The Jaguars considered several options, including Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville and Daytona International Speedway. Orlando, the largest media market in the nation without an NFL team, won out.

The NFL schedule is expected to be announced on May 13.

The Jaguars and Washington Commanders have already been announced as the home teams for games in London. The Jaguars are scheduled to play a home game against the Commanders in 2026, making Washington an unlikely opponent for a London game. Other home games include meetings with the three other AFC South teams, the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans, plus the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots. The Jaguars are expected to have nine regular-season “home” games in 2027, which could include as many as eight played in Orlando, depending on the London plans.