TheFloridaStar Podcast

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.  South Carolina State ran for 292 yards and beat Florida A&M 31-13 on Sunday in the 2026 Orange Blossom Classic at Hard Rock Stadium, though the afternoon's biggest draw never took a snap. Ticket packages for the game were built around sections closest to FAMU's Marching 100 and South Carolina State's Marching 101, and even with the outcome long decided, the stands stayed full through halftime. The No. 22 Bulldogs improved to 2-0 and outgained the Rattlers 479-161, holding FAMU to minus-1 rushing yard. FAMU, in Quinn Gray's first season, dropped to 1-1. The football turned early....

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As a young Black man, this topic is personal to me. When people discuss mental health, they usually don’t picture someone who looks like me. Instead, Black men are often seen as strong, tough, or able to handle anything life throws at us. Growing up, I was taught exactly that. My elders always told me to be strong. If I got hurt, I was told to get back up. If I was upset, I was told not to cry. Showing emotion wasn’t encouraged. It was seen as a weakness. Looking back now, I realize I wasn’t just being taught how...

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  James Weldon Johnson was an educator, journalist, diplomat, lyricist, poet, and human rights activist best known as the writer behind “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the timeless hymn celebrated as the Black national anthem. But he also used his writing to win the heart of the love of his life — Grace Nail Johnson. James Weldon Johnson was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on June 17, 1871, to James and Helen Louise Dillet Johnson. Raised in a comfortable middle-class setting, James was encouraged by his mother, a public school teacher, to pursue intellectual and artistic interests. He attended Atlanta University,...

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  Before some of us knew Dolly Parton as the Queen of Country Music, we knew her as the woman behind Whitney Houston’s song. We knew the blonde hair, the rhinestones, and that unmistakable Tennessee voice. But somewhere along the way, Black America came to understand something deeper about Dolly; when she said she loved people, she had the receipts to prove it.   The community is now left to mourn the icon who passed away at the age of 80, on Aug. 25, after dealing with an unknown medical condition. Known for her chart-topping country music hits, Dolly never...

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JACKSONVILLE, FL — Legendary Jacksonville rapper, independent hip-hop icon, entrepreneur, and Duval native Natalac (Sheldon Martinez Davis) has officially announced the definitive details for his 30th Annual Dual-City Birthday Tour, highlighted by a star-studded finale event titled "Natalac's Big Birthday Bash featuring Benzino." The highly anticipated celebration bridges his regional impact across two states, kicking off this weekend in South Carolina before heading south for a massive homecoming finale in Florida. The tour begins in Columbia, South Carolina at the premier event space Columbia Crush (3722 River Drive) on Saturday, August 22, 2026, hosted by prominent regional promoter Haze Karolina....

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By: Vanessa Davis-Frederick, Contributing Writer Photos by Will Brown, Jacksonville Today When people think about healthy communities, they often think about good schools, safe streets, affordable housing, and economic opportunities. But there's another important piece of the puzzle that doesn't always get enough attention: the health of our waterways. That's the idea behind the Resilient Ribault Initiative, a community-focused effort launched in 2023 by the St. Johns Riverkeeper in partnership with LISC Jacksonville. Centered on the Ribault River and Moncrief Creek on Jacksonville's Northside, the initiative is working to improve environmental conditions while helping strengthen the neighborhoods that have long...

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The 2nd Annual Business Expo Jacksonville is set to return on Saturday, June 6, 2026, bringing together local businesses, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and consumers for a day dedicated to networking, shopping, education, and economic growth. Hosted by Coastal Today Magazine, the event will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Aloft Hotel Tapestry – Southside Jacksonville. This year’s theme, “Together We Thrive,” highlights the importance of collaboration, community support, and collective success among local businesses and entrepreneurs. Organizers say the 2026 expo is expected to be larger than last year’s inaugural event, featuring an...

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JACKSONVILLE – Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland urges voters to update their voter registration when issued a new Florida driver license number or Florida ID card number by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Beginning on July 31, 2024, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles began implementing legislation that requires the distinguishing numbers assigned to a driver license or identification card to include at least four randomly generated numbers. This change was part of a new law designed to enhance security and prevent identity theft. With this change, voters who have obtained a...

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  Jacksonville, Fla. — City Rescue Mission’s 80th anniversary banquet was more than a milestone celebration; it was a deeply moving reminder of the lives changed through eight decades of quiet, faithful service to the community’s most vulnerable. Held before a packed room of civic leaders, donors, and supporters, the evening blended reflection, storytelling, and vision in a way that left a lasting impression. By the end of the night, many attendees were heard saying the same thing: “This is the best banquet I’ve ever attended.” Unlike many nonprofit events, the Mission chose not to bring in an outside keynote...

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  Today, across the United States of America, in some of the largest urban cities, Black Americans are having renewed nightmares about being taken for granted, ignored, and being erased in history and in the public square.   Ethnic cleansing is an insidious form of systematic racism. In response to the increasing “Browning of America,” concerns are raised about the unfulfillment of prior commitments intended to ensure racial equality in municipal politics, economics, and urban revitalization.   New York City is the nation’s largest city. The presence and contributions of African Americans to the city’s centuries-long development and evolution are...

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