Local

Fernandina Beach opened a Cold Night Shelter on Sunday at the Martin Luther King Jr Recreation Center, at 1200 Elm St. The city said the shelter will be open until Friday. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Fernandina Beach opened a Cold Night Shelter on Sunday at the Martin Luther King Jr Recreation Center, at 1200 Elm St. The city said the shelter will be open until Friday. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Local leaders prepare for winter weather

Ashley Chandler
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
LATEST UPDATE, 6:45 p.m. "I'll be straight with you, this winter weather is not messing around," Sheriff Bill Leeper said in a video update shared by Emergency Management on Tuesday evening before temperatures dropped below freezing.
The Amelia Open is an annual pétanque tournament played on the Amelia River waterfront that brings in hundreds of visitors from around the globe to Fernandina Beach and is a boost to the local economy.

The Amelia Open is an annual pétanque tournament played on the Amelia River waterfront that brings in hundreds of visitors from around the globe to Fernandina Beach and is a boost to the local economy.

Pétanque courts spark debate in marina park plan

Julia Roberts
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
While plans for what was to be the final design for a park on the Amelia River waterfront in Fernandina Beach have been approved by the city commission, the final shape of one section of the park is still in limbo: Proposed pétanque courts. At a workshop held Jan.
Nassau Educational Support Personnel Association (NESPA) President Marian Phillips addresses the school board about the essential role of support staff and defends their share of millage funding. Photo by Tracy McCormick-Dishman/News-Leader

Nassau Educational Support Personnel Association (NESPA) President Marian Phillips addresses the school board about the essential role of support staff and defends their share of millage funding. Photo by Tracy McCormick-Dishman/News-Leader

Nassau support staff defend their role, challenge misinformation at board meeting

Tracy Dishman
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
In response to what she called “false information” shared with the public, Nassau Educational Support Personnel Association (NESPA) President Marian Phillips presented a stark vision at the latest school board meeting.
Dining Down Centre was jam-packed Wednesday with guests who sat down together at the longest table ever on Centre Street. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Dining Down Centre was jam-packed Wednesday with guests who sat down together at the longest table ever on Centre Street. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Happy Birthday Fernandina!: Dining Down Centre celebrates city’s bicentennial

Ashley Chandler
Thursday, January 2, 2025
The table was set for hundreds Wednesday on Centre Street to celebrate Fernandina Beach’s 200th birthday. Dining Down Centre was jam-packed with guests who sat down together at the longest table ever on Centre Street.
A Nassau County Bicentennial Challenge Coin and a Vision 2050 sticker. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

A Nassau County Bicentennial Challenge Coin and a Vision 2050 sticker. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Year in review: Top 10 topics of 2024

News Staff
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
The News-Leader newsroom chose what we believe were the top 10 topics that shaped Nassau County in 2024. These topics generated ongoing coverage throughout the year, sparking important conversations and decisions in our community.
Rebekah Ross, a first-grade student at Southside Elementary School. Ross captured first place with her vibrant crayon drawing of a joyful angel. Submitted photo

Rebekah Ross, a first-grade student at Southside Elementary School. Ross captured first place with her vibrant crayon drawing of a joyful angel. Submitted photo

Young artists ‘Color the News’ with Christmas spirit

Tracy Dishman
Tuesday, December 24, 2024
The spirit of Christmas came alive on the front page of the News-Leader today, thanks to the artistic talent of our community's youngest artists.
From left, CNI Newspapers President Mark Major, outgoing News-Leader Publisher Foy Maloy and newly appointed interim Publisher Todd Wilson pause for a photo during Tuesday's leader-ship transition announcement at the News-Leader newspaper. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

From left, CNI Newspapers President Mark Major, outgoing News-Leader Publisher Foy Maloy and newly appointed interim Publisher Todd Wilson pause for a photo during Tuesday's leader-ship transition announcement at the News-Leader newspaper. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Wilson named Interim Publisher of News-Leader, promoted to Southeast Regional Publisher

News Staff
Saturday, December 21, 2024
Community Newspapers, Inc., has promoted Todd Wilson to Southeast Regional Publisher, a position that will oversee all of the company’s Florida newspaper holdings plus the newspaper in St. Marys, Ga., CNI President Mark W. Major announced Monday.
Alberto Vanegas and Kenneth Raby are pictured with the first-ever great white shark catch made from the beaches of Amelia Island and maybe the entire state of Florida. The historic shark catch was made Tuesday and measured 9.5 feet long. Submitted photo

Alberto Vanegas and Kenneth Raby are pictured with the first-ever great white shark catch made from the beaches of Amelia Island and maybe the entire state of Florida. The historic shark catch was made Tuesday and measured 9.5 feet long. Submitted photo

Amelia Island great white shark encounter

Guest Columnist
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Alberto Vanegas and his best friend, Kenneth Raby, drove onto American Beach Tuesday and backed his pickup truck down to the water’s edge. A fresh-caught blackfin tuna was soon barbed to a large 24/0 circle hook and carried some 400 yards offshore with a large drone.
Foy Maloy, left, with Community Newspapers, Inc. Chairman Alan NeSmith, who shared the news that Maloy is stepping down as publisher of the News-Leader. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Foy Maloy, left, with Community Newspapers, Inc. Chairman Alan NeSmith, who shared the news that Maloy is stepping down as publisher of the News-Leader. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

News-Leader publisher stepping down

News Staff
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
A man who has spent his career bringing local news to communities, Foy Maloy, has announced he is retiring. Maloy, publisher of the Fernandina Beach News-Leader and regional publisher for Community Newspapers, Inc. Coastal Region, is stepping down after half a century in the business of journalism.