Residents in Jacksonville's Oceanway community are organizing opposition to a proposed housing development, citing concerns about increased traffic, infrastructure strain, and neighborhood character impacts. The community resistance highlights ongoing tensions between Jacksonville's rapid growth and existing residents' quality of life concerns in developing areas.

A Jacksonville-based development firm has been selected as the master developer for the Kings Landing project in Fort Pierce, expanding the company's portfolio beyond Northeast Florida. The selection demonstrates Jacksonville developers' growing regional influence and expertise in large-scale master-planned community development.

Asado Life, a popular St. Augustine restaurant, will open a location at the Jacksonville Shipyards development anchored by the Four Seasons Hotel project. The restaurant addition represents continued progress on the massive downtown waterfront redevelopment that will transform the historic shipyards site into a mixed-use destination featuring luxury hospitality, dining, residential, and commercial space.

Developer Aventuur Inc. reports that the $100 million Jacksonville Surf Park project in eTown South Jacksonville is in jeopardy after construction costs increased by over 20% due to geotechnical studies revealing challenging site conditions. The city is seeking to provide a $4.6 million, 10-year Recaptured Enhanced Value Grant to keep the 5.5-acre wave park project on track.

The Jacksonville Electric Authority Board unanimously approved construction of a $1.57 billion natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant at the former St. Johns River Power Park site in North Jacksonville. The 675-megawatt facility will generate enough electricity to power 300,000 homes and replace the aging Northside Unit 3, with construction expected to bring the plant online by late 2031 or early 2032.

IBEW Local 1 members banner the new Hampton Inn in Festus, Missouri, protesting the hotel's use of Bates Electric, a non-union contractor paying substandard wages and benefits below Local 1's established rates. Members Rich Niehaus and Dominick Zimmerman take the union's message directly to the public at 1331 Shapiro Drive. Source: labortribune.com

The Jonesboro Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, in partnership with IBEW Local 1516 and the National Electrical Contractors Association, celebrates the opening of a new 10,200 square foot training facility in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The facility provides additional classrooms and hands-on learning labs, coinciding with the apprenticeship program's approval to reduce from a 5-year/900-hour program to a 4-year/720-hour program. Source: kait8.com

Melissa Reyes of Charlotte Local 379 shares her unconventional journey from running away at 15 to becoming a respected organizing leader in North Carolina. The daughter of immigrants, Reyes led a major organizing effort at a Westinghouse nuclear fuel plant and now serves as an organizer for Local 379, using her energy, persistence, and commitment to justice to advocate for working families in one of the least union-friendly states. Source: ibew.org