Mold Remediation in Jacksonville, OR

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The City of Jacksonville has agreed to terms with the University of Georgia and University of Florida regarding the annual NCAA football game between the two schools held in Jacksonville, Fla., since 1933.

With this agreement, the Georgia-Florida game will return to Jacksonville during the 2028-2031 college football seasons, once EverBank Stadium has been transformed into the "Stadium of the Future." In the meantime, the game will be played in Jacksonville in 2024 and 2025 and will move to the neutral sites of Atlanta in 2026 and Tampa in 2027, while EverBank Stadium is under renovation.

"We are honored to extend the time-honored tradition of the Georgia-Florida rivalry game in Jacksonville for four more years. It is the result of many months of close collaboration with our partners at the University of Florida and the University of Georgia," said Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan. "There is shared excitement by all parties for the game to return to Jacksonville in the Stadium of the Future, which will be a world-class stadium that meets NFL standards, starting in 2028. We are grateful that this matchup will continue bringing our communities together to celebrate college football and drive economic impact."

The new agreement will meet the financial and operational needs of the schools, bring tens of thousands of fans and millions in economic development to Jacksonville and provide the opportunity for the iconic matchup between the Bulldogs and Gators to be profitable for the City.

To that end, we extend our thanks and appreciation to the universities, as well as our key partners in this endeavor – ASM Global, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO), Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD), and Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) – for their support in producing a safe, fun, and exciting event for passionate fans.

"The annual Georgia-Florida game in Jacksonville is one of the greatest traditions in college sports, and we are excited the game will return to EverBank Stadium in 2028," said J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics for the University of Georgia Josh Brooks. "We are fortunate to have a pair of exceptional venues in Atlanta and Tampa that will host the game for the next two years as the Georgia-Florida matchup joins a long line of major events to take place in those two cities, which have hosted both the Super Bowl and the College Football Playoff National Championship. Our goal, as always, is to create a first-class experience for our student-athletes, staff and fans, and this temporary move, along with the stadium renovations in Jacksonville, will only enhance the storied Georgia-Florida rivalry."

"The Florida-Georgia Game has enjoyed a longstanding and special relationship with the City of Jacksonville, and we are pleased to continue one of college football's great traditions there in 2028 once the impressive renovations to EverBank Stadium are complete," said University of Florida Athletics Director Scott Stricklin. "For 2026 and 2027, the chance to continue the neutral site history of the series, while also maximizing revenue opportunities that are so critical during this transformative time in college athletics, make playing games in Atlanta and Tampa incredibly attractive. Both cities are special to Gator fans and offer venues that will provide wonderful experiences for both fans and players."

About Florida-Georgia The Georgia-Florida football game is a rivalry played annually by the University of Georgia Bulldogs and the University of Florida Gators. This match-up between Southeastern Conference opponents is one of the most prominent rivalry games in college football, and has been held in Jacksonville, Florida since 1933, with only two exceptions, making it one of the few remaining neutral-site rivalries in college football. For more information, visit GAFLjax.com.

About the University of Georgia Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of higher education in America – launching our nation's tradition of world-class education. The University offers more than 200 undergraduate majors and certificates, more than 130 study abroad programs and more than 40 domestic field study programs. Named a top 20 public university in the U.S. for nine straight years according to the U.S. News and World Report, Georgia boasts an athletic program that has won 48 team national championships and 179 Southeastern Conference titles. Georgia student-athletes hold a strong tradition of excellence that has helped the University of Georgia become an academic and athletic powerhouse. Bulldog student-athletes boasted a record-breaking academic campaign in 2023-24, setting a new school record with a cumulative 3.21 GPA, while a staggering 33 Bulldogs represented UGA at the Paris Olympic Games, winning six total medals.

About the University Florida Originally incorporated in 1929, the University Athletic Association of Florida's strategic purpose is to provide a championship experience with integrity on and off the field for student-athletes and the Gator Nation. The Gator athletic program supports 21 teams and more than 500 student-athletes, giving them the opportunity to compete at the highest levels of collegiate athletics, while receiving an education from a top-five public university. Florida is the only school in the nation to finish in the top-10 nationally in all-sports rankings in each of the last 40 years and has posted 15 consecutive top-five finishes. Florida has won a national championship in each of the last 15 seasons and boasts 48 championships overall. Florida leads all Southeastern Conference schools with 265 league championships and overall has 277 conference titles to its credit. The UAA commits nearly $17 million to fund scholarships for student-athletes, who posted a recent graduation success rate of 94 percent and a 3.33 GPA in the Spring of 2024.

About the City of Jacksonville Office of Sports and Entertainment The City of Jacksonville Office of Sports and Entertainment attracts, hosts, and creates opportunities that drive economic impact, accelerate the Jacksonville brand, and improve the quality of life and cultural engagement for visitors and residents. Jacksonville hosts hundreds of diverse events yearly, making Northeast Florida a premier destination with rich tradition and world-class hospitality. For more information, visit events.coj.net.

About the City of Jacksonville The City of Jacksonville is the largest city by land mass in the contiguous United States, serving nearly one million residents. City of Jacksonville leadership includes Mayor Donna Deegan and a 19-member City Council led by President Randy White. To learn more, visit jacksonville.gov.

LONDON – It's official, and it couldn't be better for Jacksonville and the Jaguars.

The Stadium of the Future will happen in downtown Jacksonville, with the project approved by NFL Owners on Tuesday by a unanimous 32-0 vote.

Jaguars Owner Shad Khan called the day "a vote for Jacksonville."

"The NFL believes in Jacksonville," Khan said. "I believe in Jacksonville, and I know our fans and the people throughout the community believe in Jacksonville.

"So now we're about to make magic happen in Jacksonville."

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, like Khan and Jaguars President Mark Lamping in London in advance of the team's game against the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium, called Tuesday a "momentous day for Jacksonville." Deegan also noted that Khan often has said, "Never bet against Jacksonville" and "never count Jacksonville out."

"The truth is this is a can-do city, and I think we showed it again tonight with a 32 to nothing vote from the NFL," Deegan said. "This is going to be an amazing ride for our city to be able to create the Stadium of the Future."

Lamping called Tuesday "an awesome day for our city, for our fans, for Jaguars employees."

"It would not have happened without the commitment and the belief that the Khan family has in Jacksonville," Lamping said. "It doesn't happen without that and the Mayor showed incredible leadership. The City Council was very strong. A lot of stakeholders throughout the community supported this.

"This development will touch all corners of Duval County."

Of the unanimous vote, Khan said: "I'm gratified but not surprised."

"We've been working at it for a long time," he said. "We've been talking to the owners one on one. [NFL Commissioner] Roger [Goodell] has been highly supportive and a big part of it. I think it's great to get to this point."

Tony Khan and Jaguars Executive Vice President/Chief Legal Officer Megha Parekh represented the Jaguars at the league meetings Tuesday. The Stadium of the Future was agreed upon by the City of Jacksonville and the Jaguars in June, with the stadium transformation beginning in early 2025 and scheduled to open in 2028.

"It's the end of one process, and the start of the other process," Khan said. "We've been working at this. There's been a huge amount of work done. It's a relief to get this behind us, 32-0, but a lot of work went into this to get us to where we are today."

Deegan also noted that the stadium deal included a "historic, largest-of-its-kind" community benefit agreement that is "incredibly generous from this organization that will transform our community on so many fronts for years to come."

"A great night for Jacksonville, and I couldn't be more grateful," Deegan said. "At the end of the day, it does mark a significant moment for us and a movement into the construction phase of this process, which is going to be exciting to watch.

"We are a city on the rise, and the Jaguars are a big part of that. I can't wait to take that big victory lap."

Khan recalled former Jaguars Owner Wayne Weaver telling him following the agreement with the City of Jacksonville in June that that day was the second-most important day in the history of Jacksonville – with the day the city was awarded the team in 1993 being the first.

"I really believe that because it removes the uncertainty," Khan said. "We can say what you want to say. People believe what they want to believe. This is more proof, and then as we have the development on the Eastside and really the growth.

"We want that to be the jewel in the Jacksonville crown and we're headed that way."

Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars across the pond on Sunday, with a dominant 35-16 win in the second game of the NFL’s London Series this season.

The Jaguars controlled the first quarter, but the final three were all Chicago as the Bears smacked Jacksonville in front of a full crowd at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Williams finished completing 23 of 29 passes for 226 yards and four touchdowns with another 56 yards on the ground, arguably his best game as a pro.

Jacksonville put points on the board first, kicking a field goal on the opening drive of an otherwise slow first quarter. But Chicago, which didn’t get a first down in the first quarter, started the second with a little more fire, with Williams finding tight end Cole Kmet, who scrambled into the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown.

On the Bears’ next drive, Jaguars safety Andre Cisco nabbed Jacksonville’s first interception of the season, picking off a long throw from Williams just in front of the end zone, but Jacksonville wasn't able to convert the opportunity into more points.

Williams moved the ball down the field on the final drive of the first half, throwing to a wide-open Kmet for another touchdown with seconds left and bringing the score to 14-3 at halftime.

Jacksonville’s struggles didn’t stop at the first half, with a fumble from Jaguars TE Evan Engram on the first drive of the third quarter. Williams and the Bears turned the turnover into another touchdown, with a tricky throw down the middle to Keenan Allen.

Jacksonville finally found the end zone in the third quarter, with Trevor Lawrence throwing to receiver Gabe Davis. But Chicago followed up with another passing touchdown, with Williams connecting with Allen again.

On the kickoff, Jaguars returner Tank Bigsby fumbled the ball, but it was recovered by Jacksonville. Then Lawrence was intercepted by defensive back Josh Blackwell, and the Bears quickly punched it in for through D'Andre Swift, who had 119 total yards from scrimmage.

The Jaguars closed the gap slightly with another Lawrence-Davis connection in the end zone, but the two-point conversion failed and left Jacksonville down 19. In the end, it was too little, too late for the Jaguars, and the Bears will leave the UK with the victory.

Chicago is now 4-2 behind Williams, with a bye in Week 7.

The Jaguars will be staying in London for a game in Wembley Stadium next week, where they will face the 1-4 New England Patriots. The question becomes whether Jaguars coach Doug Pederson will still be at the helm by then.

They're closing Waffle Houses.

Forget about the airports, schools, theme parks and bridges; you know a storm is serious when the yellow-and-black diners start to shut their doors out of concern for safety.

The company said it would close all of its locations in the Tampa, Fort Myers, Orlando, Ocala and Daytona Beach areas at 2 p.m. Wednesday in advance of Hurricane Milton. The company operates 125 diners in the Sunshine State. As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, Waffle House's 21 locations in the Jacksonville area remain open, but restaurants as close as Daytona Beach and Ocala had already closed as the storm nears.

Waffle House isn't only famous for its waffles and 24-hour service, its also known for its unofficial storm index.

The national restaurant chain rarely closes, often providing food and resources to first responders during natural disasters. However, "Waffle House Storm Index" is widely known to those in the Southeast as a way to indicate how severe a storm or hurricane will be based on if the restaurant is open or closed.

Here's what to know about the unofficial index used during severe weather as Hurricane Milton approaches.

But first, where is Hurricane Milton? What to know

Milton is estimated to make landfall just south of the mouth of Tampa Bay. The path will fluctuate and has a margin of error at 24 hours of about 40 miles, the National Hurricane Center said.

The time of the landfall is still unknown, with the NHC reporting between late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning. AccuWeather is predicting landfall around 2 a.m. Thursday.

The latest hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles. It is predicted to hit as a Category 3 or 4 depending on the forecast you're looking at.

What is the Waffle House Storm Index?

Restaurant locations have three code tiers:

How many Waffle Houses are closed in Florida right now?

According to the chain's social media, dozens of Waffle Houses were closed along the state's Gulf Coast as of Tuesday, Oct. 8.

Waffle House spokesperson Njeri Boss confirmed the Florida restaurant closures with USA TODAY on Tuesday evening.

"As we stated during Hurricane Helene, our mission remains to keep our Associates out of harm's way. Accordingly, in areas predicted to be hardest hit, we will preemptively close restaurants with a goal of reopening them as soon as it is safe to do so to serve the communities that have there for us over the years."

How did the Waffle House Storm Index begin?

The Waffle House Index is an unofficial term first used by Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate after the Joplin tornado in May 2011, according to Accuweather.

It was used to describe how Waffle House responds to disasters. The Waffle House Index can indicate how quickly a community is going to recover after a hurricane.

Waffle House will close locations if needed.

"We do have closures in mandatory evacuation zones and locations within low-lying areas that are subject to severe flooding," a Waffle House spokesman told USA TODAY in 2022.

How many Waffle Houses are in Florida?

Waffle House has 125 locations in Florida and over 1,900 nationwide. To find a Waffle House close to you, check out their store locator here.

Note: This story is no longer being updated. For the latest on Hurricane Milton’s impacts on the Jacksonville area, return to our homepage.

Although Hurricane Milton is growing, the storm could have a less disastrous effect on Jacksonville than earlier feared, the mayor says.

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Damaging wind and rain are still possible on the First Coast from Wednesday night into Thursday, but Mayor Donna Deegan said projections are less dire than it appeared earlier.

Winds should kick up from 30 to 50 mph at the Beaches and along the Intracoastal Waterway, with some gusts up to 60 mph, Deegan said during a news conference Wednesday.

Inland, winds could be 25 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 50. And rainfall could be lighter than anticipated — 1 to 4 inches with some locally heavier amounts, she said.

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“This is better news … but that’s really what we are looking at, which is much better than if you remember our projections a few days ago,” Deegan said. “So we are grateful for that because that is an area of big concerns for us when it came to flooding.”

Milton’s winds were declining Wednesday but the size of the hurricane was growing.

Maximum sustained winds had declined to 120 mph as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said. Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical storm winds up to 255 miles.

Milton was about 60 miles west-southwest of Sarasota at 5 p.m., moving at 17 mph.

Winds decreased as dry air seeped into the circulation, making Milton a Category 3 hurricane, the Hurricane Center said. Continued weakening is expected, and Milton is likely to be right near the threshold of a major hurricane when it makes landfall Wednesday night near Tampa Bay or just south.

The storm will likely remain at hurricane strength as it crosses the state to the East Coast on Thursday.

At 5 p.m., the potential track showed Milton passing into the Atlantic Ocean around the Space Coast. But forecasters warned that projections can be off by 20 or 30 miles with the storm’s arrival still hours away.

The latest National Weather Service forecast for Jacksonville predicts widespread downed trees and powerlines, with damage to structures and mobile homes.

The highest chance for flash flooding will be across St. Johns, Flagler and Putnam counties. Putnam County already reports that the underpass on Crill Avenue in Palatka was closed at noon Wednesday due to flooding.

As of 4 p.m., the National Weather Service in Jacksonville still predicted winds of 58 to 73 mph in Jacksonville and south into St. Johns County from Wednesday night through Thursday.

Milton was expected to bring 2 to 3 inches of rain to Jacksonville, 4 to 6 inches to St. Augustine, and 6 to 8 inches to Palm Coast, the Weather Service said.

A hurricane warning remained in effect Wednesday from St. Lucie County north to Ponte Vedra Beach. The rest of Northeast Florida remained under a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning.

See the latest forecast here.

Deegan advised people to expect river flooding during high tides throughout the weekend and next week in parts of San Marco, Ortega, Riverside, the Southampton and St. Nicholas area of the Southside, as well as the Ribault, Trout and Moncrief waterway area.

The city expects 2 to 4 feet of storm surge at the Beaches and along the Intracoastal Waterway near Butler Boulevard.

“There may be some isolated areas that got a little above that, but we are really feeling good about that 2 to 4 feet probably being as bad as it is going to get in most places,” Deegan said.

The city has not ordered evacuations, but residents in manufactured homes, older homes and low-lying areas, especially with a heavy tree canopy, are encouraged to find a safer location or shelter.

More than 380 people were already in six city shelters as of noon, Deegan said. If any shelter gets to 75% capacity, another of five extra shelters could open to help.

Deegan said shelters are open to anyone fleeing the hurricane elsewhere in the state.

The following shelters opened at 8 a.m. Wednesday:

Schools: Duval County Public Schools are closed from Wednesday through Friday.

Parking: The following city-owned garages are open Downtown from Wednesday through Friday at no charge:

JTA also will also open its Kings Avenue Garage, at 1201 Kings Ave., for free.

JTA: JTA will continue regular operations Wednesday and Thursday as long as it is safe. The last trip for the St. johns River Ferry will be at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday. As in the past, JTA will offer free rides to the city’s six shelters. It also will operate a shuttle from flood-prone Ken Knight Drive to the Legends Center starting Wednesday. Pickups will be every 15 to 30 minutes at the corner of Ken Knight Drive and Moncrief, Bus Stop No. 3991.

Garbage collection: Due to the volume of debris received from Hurricane Helene, some yard waste pickups are behind schedule. People are asked not to put any new storm debris on the curb at this time. Waste collection will remain on schedule as long as it’s safe on Wednesday. All collections will be suspended Thursday. Thursday collection for garbage and recycling will be rescheduled to Saturday. Friday collection is expected to occur as normal.

Power: JEA has lined up 300 contract lineworkers and tree trimmers to work with its utility crews on outages. They will work until wind conditions go above 30 mph, then resume work on Thursday morning as winds die down.

JEA announced that it is continuing its suspension of disconnections for non-payment, begun after Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago, in light of the new storm.

To report power outages during Milton:

Construction cranes: Deegan said she has heard concerns about the safety of tall construction cranes working on the Four Seasons Hotel and adjacent office building on Gator Bowl Boulevard. She said they have been tied down, and that the expected wind speeds would have to be “much higher for those to be an issue in terms of collapse.”

Police: The city will have more than 90 more officers on patrol Wednesday night and Thursday morning to block flooded roads and other storm duties. The city also has staged multiple emergency access road teams to clear obstructions so JEA crews can get to powerline issues.

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department has Swift Water and Urban Rescue teams standing by to help stranded drivers or homeowners in floodwaters. Some probably will be deployed to Southwest Florida to help there.

“It’s going to be a couple of very long days for them, and some even more because they will be headed out to help others that get more hard hit by these storms,,”Deegan said. “We are truly, truly grateful for these teams.”

Blood collection: LifeSouth Community Blood Centers and OneBlood are urging the community to give blood now to help prepare, as blood collections will be affected during and after the storm. Donating ensures blood will be available to help patients suffering from traumas, cancers and chronic illnesses. All blood types are needed, especially type O donors and platelet donors.

For additional information, keep an eye on jaxready.com for updates from Duval County emergency managers.

Clay County was preparing for flooding along Black Creek and the St. Johns River. No evacuations have been ordered, but people in low-lying areas and along Black Creek and the St. Johns were encouraged to relocate.

The eastern side of the county could see stronger tropical storm-force winds, according to Emergency Operations Center Director Timothy Devin. Flooding could continue into the weekend. Water levels will be updated at alert.claycountygov.com. B

Shelters: Four shelters opened at 6 a.m. Wednesday:

Schools: Clay County schools will be closed Wednesday and Thursday.

Garbage pickup: Crews will run pickups on Wednesday as long as it’s safe.

No evacuations have been ordered, but officials strongly recommend that people who have power-dependent special needs or live in low-lying or flood-prone areas leave.

Shelters: A shelter has been set up at Wildlight Elementary on Curiosity Avenue in Yulee.

St. Johns County ordered the evacuation of the entire city of St. Augustine as well as St. Augustine Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach and residents living on waterfront properties or in flood-prone areas.

The order applied to all residents and visitors in Evacuation Zones A and B, as well as Zone F (only south of State Road 206). It took effect at 8 a.m. Wednesday, the same time that emergency shelters opened:

Schools: St. Johns County schools are closed Wednesday through Friday.

Garbage collection: Recycling collection is suspended through Friday. County officials said resources will be redirected to collecting yard waste. Garbage collection will remain on its regular schedule.