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DROUGHT MONITOR MAP FROM WWW.WEATHER.GOV/TBW/DROUGHTINFO

DROUGHT MONITOR MAP FROM WWW.WEATHER.GOV/TBW/DROUGHTINFO

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‘You’re gonna smell smoke:'

Ashley Chandler
Friday, April 24, 2026
Over the weekend, flames engulfed hundreds of acres of woodlands in Nassau County and destroyed a residents pole barn. On Wednesday, the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners extended its county-wide burn ban until at least Wednesday, April 29.
Bosque Bello cemetery is one of the latest properties in Nassau County to achieve a Level 1 Arboretum Accreditation from ArbNet. Photo by Amy Mulligan/News-Leader

Bosque Bello cemetery is one of the latest properties in Nassau County to achieve a Level 1 Arboretum Accreditation from ArbNet. Photo by Amy Mulligan/News-Leader

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Amelia Island is tree haven all year long

Amy Mulligan
Friday, April 24, 2026
Amelia Island continues to lead the way in tree conservation with the addition of two more arboreta on the island. Simmons Road Park and the Bosque Bello Cemetery’s designation as Level 1 arboretums brings the total number on the island to 11.
A group of volunteers paddled Lofton Creek to clean up litter during the annual St. Marys River cleanup event.

A group of volunteers paddled Lofton Creek to clean up litter during the annual St. Marys River cleanup event.

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River cleanup a 'roaring success'

Amy Mulligan
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
More than 250 volunteers with Keep Nassau Beautiful, St. Marys Riverkeeper, and partners led the annual four-county, watershed-wide St. Marys River cleanup on Saturday at sites along  the 130-mile-long river to pull litter, tires, debris and junk from the water, shores and surrounding areas.
Artist Tina McDaniel shows off her art work "Scout" to education children on plastic pollution at the Sea Turtle Festival. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Artist Tina McDaniel shows off her art work "Scout" to education children on plastic pollution at the Sea Turtle Festival. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

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Celebrating Sea Turtles

Marisa DeMar
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Thousands of visitors and residents gathered at Main Beach Park for Beach Junki's third annual Sea Turtle Festival on Saturday. The event had over 40 different vendors with immersive activities to educate children on pollution and ways to help critically endangered aquatic species.
Residents were briefly evacuated when Nassau County Fire Rescue responded to a large brush fire active near Keel Court in Fernandina Beach. Photo by Marisa DeMar/News-Leader

Residents were briefly evacuated when Nassau County Fire Rescue responded to a large brush fire active near Keel Court in Fernandina Beach. Photo by Marisa DeMar/News-Leader

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Countywide burn ban in place

Ashley Chandler
Friday, April 17, 2026
Nassau County is officially in a Local State of Emergency with a countywide burn ban in place following Wednesday’s regularly scheduled Board of County Commissioners meeting.
Left: A manhole, put in as part of the American Beach Water and Sewer District Project, is shown in December 2024 in American Beach. Right: A fire-hydrant is pictured Monday in front of a U.S. Water Services Corporation pickup in American Beach. U.S. Water Service Corporation was contracted for the construction of the American Beach Water and Sewer Project. Photos by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Left: A manhole, put in as part of the American Beach Water and Sewer District Project, is shown in December 2024 in American Beach. Right: A fire-hydrant is pictured Monday in front of a U.S. Water Services Corporation pickup in American Beach. U.S. Water Service Corporation was contracted for the construction of the American Beach Water and Sewer Project. Photos by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

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Sewer project earns national awards

Ashley Chandler
Friday, April 17, 2026
A Nassau County project spearheaded by the citizens of American Beach and county staff has earned two national awards for the state of Florida. The awards were presented April 8 by the U.S.
The Board of County Commissioners at a meeting earlier this year. Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

The Board of County Commissioners at a meeting earlier this year. Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

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BOCC seeks moratorium on data centers

Ashley Chandler
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
A particular topic has been all over the feeds of locals’ social media: Data Centers. The conversations were sparked by a press release from a company called NextNRG in September 2025 which stated it solidified a longterm lease on a county property that would be ideal for such a center.