The Tributary
@jaxtrib.org
The Tributary is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom investigating Jacksonville’s entrenched problems, one issue at a time. @thejaxtrib elsewhere
The police report of Michael Norris arrest accused him of not complying and alleged that Norris resisted police by “curling his arms underneath his body.”
The body-cam footage shows he was already being hurled to the ground before any instructions were given.
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/23/t...
The body-cam footage shows he was already being hurled to the ground before any instructions were given.
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/23/t...
'They just tackled me to the ground.' Man left severely injured during JSO arrest
After a struggle with several officers, Michael Norris, who was not armed, was hospitalized with multiple facial, elbow and rib fractures, along with a hemorrhage in his right eye, bruising up and dow...
jaxtrib.org
October 23, 2025 at 4:31 PM
The police report of Michael Norris arrest accused him of not complying and alleged that Norris resisted police by “curling his arms underneath his body.”
The body-cam footage shows he was already being hurled to the ground before any instructions were given.
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/23/t...
The body-cam footage shows he was already being hurled to the ground before any instructions were given.
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/23/t...
An examination by The Tributary of dozens of previously unpublicized cases of alleged Jacksonville Sheriff's Office brutality revealed striking patterns in the agency’s conduct.
Here's what we found.
Reporting by @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/23/f...
Here's what we found.
Reporting by @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/23/f...
‘Force is ugly, but’: JSO seldom punishes cops accused of abuse
Jacksonville Sheriff's officers inconsistently report when they've injured civilians, thanks in part to a vague use-of-force policy.
jaxtrib.org
October 23, 2025 at 12:19 PM
An examination by The Tributary of dozens of previously unpublicized cases of alleged Jacksonville Sheriff's Office brutality revealed striking patterns in the agency’s conduct.
Here's what we found.
Reporting by @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/23/f...
Here's what we found.
Reporting by @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/23/f...
Reposted by The Tributary
The latest dispatch from Michael Vasquez, @jaxtrib.org’s new reporter —
“In my language arts methods course, one of the topics is selecting a ‘diversity’ of texts to engage student leaders,” UNF Professor John White said. “That has nothing to do with DEI. That’s the word ‘diverse’ as in a myriad, or plethora.”
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/16/f...
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/16/f...
Florida wipes 'culture,' 'diversity' and other terms from UNF teacher-education courses
State officials cast a wide net in seeking to ban certain terms, ensnaring courses where words like “culture” and “diversity” appear in innocuous contexts.
jaxtrib.org
October 16, 2025 at 5:42 PM
The latest dispatch from Michael Vasquez, @jaxtrib.org’s new reporter —
“In my language arts methods course, one of the topics is selecting a ‘diversity’ of texts to engage student leaders,” UNF Professor John White said. “That has nothing to do with DEI. That’s the word ‘diverse’ as in a myriad, or plethora.”
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/16/f...
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/16/f...
Florida wipes 'culture,' 'diversity' and other terms from UNF teacher-education courses
State officials cast a wide net in seeking to ban certain terms, ensnaring courses where words like “culture” and “diversity” appear in innocuous contexts.
jaxtrib.org
October 16, 2025 at 4:10 PM
“In my language arts methods course, one of the topics is selecting a ‘diversity’ of texts to engage student leaders,” UNF Professor John White said. “That has nothing to do with DEI. That’s the word ‘diverse’ as in a myriad, or plethora.”
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/16/f...
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/16/f...
Reposted by The Tributary
New joint reporting from @jaxtrib.org *and* The Florida Times-Union:
Money, aerospace drive turbulence between City Councilman and aviation CEO
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/15/m...
Money, aerospace drive turbulence between City Councilman and aviation CEO
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/15/m...
Money, aerospace drive turbulence between City Councilman and aviation CEO
A Jacksonville City Council member and the CEO of the city's four airports have butted heads for years over the aviation authority's spending and governing powers
jaxtrib.org
October 15, 2025 at 6:37 PM
New joint reporting from @jaxtrib.org *and* The Florida Times-Union:
Money, aerospace drive turbulence between City Councilman and aviation CEO
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/15/m...
Money, aerospace drive turbulence between City Councilman and aviation CEO
jaxtrib.org/2025/10/15/m...
TONIGHT!
NEXT FRIDAY!
Join @jaxtrib.org journalists as we launch our new project, the Night of the Living Deadline pumpkin ale in collaboration with Bold City Brewery
$10 at the door = a spooky beer and commemorative koozie.
See you there 🤝
Join @jaxtrib.org journalists as we launch our new project, the Night of the Living Deadline pumpkin ale in collaboration with Bold City Brewery
$10 at the door = a spooky beer and commemorative koozie.
See you there 🤝
October 3, 2025 at 6:36 PM
TONIGHT!
Reposted by The Tributary
Exciting news! @jaxtrib.org was chosen as part of @propublica.org's Local Reporting Network. I'll be working on a pretty awesome project with them over the next year.
www.propublica.org/atpropublica...
www.propublica.org/atpropublica...
ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network Selects Five New Partners for Its 50 State Initiative
ProPublica is an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest.
www.propublica.org
October 1, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Exciting news! @jaxtrib.org was chosen as part of @propublica.org's Local Reporting Network. I'll be working on a pretty awesome project with them over the next year.
www.propublica.org/atpropublica...
www.propublica.org/atpropublica...
NEXT FRIDAY!
Join @jaxtrib.org journalists as we launch our new project, the Night of the Living Deadline pumpkin ale in collaboration with Bold City Brewery
$10 at the door = a spooky beer and commemorative koozie.
See you there 🤝
Join @jaxtrib.org journalists as we launch our new project, the Night of the Living Deadline pumpkin ale in collaboration with Bold City Brewery
$10 at the door = a spooky beer and commemorative koozie.
See you there 🤝
September 26, 2025 at 8:42 PM
NEXT FRIDAY!
Join @jaxtrib.org journalists as we launch our new project, the Night of the Living Deadline pumpkin ale in collaboration with Bold City Brewery
$10 at the door = a spooky beer and commemorative koozie.
See you there 🤝
Join @jaxtrib.org journalists as we launch our new project, the Night of the Living Deadline pumpkin ale in collaboration with Bold City Brewery
$10 at the door = a spooky beer and commemorative koozie.
See you there 🤝
NEW: 11 Jacksonville Fire and Rescue first responders were subpoenaed over the summer related to the April death of Charles Faggart in the Duval County jail, according to records obtained by @natemonroe.bsky.social + @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/09/25/f...
jaxtrib.org/2025/09/25/f...
Federal prosecutors subpoena first responders in controversial Duval jail death
Prosecutors began ordering witnesses to arrive at the federal courthouse downtown to give testimony in June and July.
jaxtrib.org
September 25, 2025 at 6:15 PM
NEW: 11 Jacksonville Fire and Rescue first responders were subpoenaed over the summer related to the April death of Charles Faggart in the Duval County jail, according to records obtained by @natemonroe.bsky.social + @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/09/25/f...
jaxtrib.org/2025/09/25/f...
NEW: The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office will take the lead investigating the death of a 31-year-old father in the Duval County Jail in April, according to State Attorney Melissa Nelson’s office.
via @natemonroe.bsky.social + @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/09/18/f...
via @natemonroe.bsky.social + @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/09/18/f...
Feds to take lead in controversial Duval jail death investigation
The scope of the federal investigation into the death of Charles Faggart is unclear, and State Attorney Melissa Nelson did not say what conclusions her office has drawn about the case.
jaxtrib.org
September 18, 2025 at 7:09 PM
NEW: The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office will take the lead investigating the death of a 31-year-old father in the Duval County Jail in April, according to State Attorney Melissa Nelson’s office.
via @natemonroe.bsky.social + @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/09/18/f...
via @natemonroe.bsky.social + @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/09/18/f...
Reposted by The Tributary
Big congrats to @jaxtrib.org ’s irreplaceable @nicholemanna.bsky.social for winning first prize for feature reporting in the national @journalists.org awards for her work on ‘Cold-Blooded,’ a project scrutinizing the decades-old Death Row case against a Jacksonville man.
August 28, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Big congrats to @jaxtrib.org ’s irreplaceable @nicholemanna.bsky.social for winning first prize for feature reporting in the national @journalists.org awards for her work on ‘Cold-Blooded,’ a project scrutinizing the decades-old Death Row case against a Jacksonville man.
Reposted by The Tributary
New from @jaxtrib.org | All eyes are on the state’s so-called ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ but ICE’s detention centers in Florida also have big problems:
Increased medical emergencies at Krome as immigrant detention swells
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/27/i...
Increased medical emergencies at Krome as immigrant detention swells
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/27/i...
Increased medical emergencies at Krome as immigrant detention swells
As Krome Processing Center burst at the seams with new detainees, emergency calls have risen faster than the detainee population.
jaxtrib.org
August 27, 2025 at 3:35 PM
New from @jaxtrib.org | All eyes are on the state’s so-called ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ but ICE’s detention centers in Florida also have big problems:
Increased medical emergencies at Krome as immigrant detention swells
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/27/i...
Increased medical emergencies at Krome as immigrant detention swells
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/27/i...
. @jaxtrib.org's @nicholemanna.bsky.social is a finalist in feature reporting for her "Cold-Blooded" series. You can read the first story here:
jaxtrib.org/2025/03/17/h...
jaxtrib.org/2025/03/17/h...
August 22, 2025 at 5:47 PM
. @jaxtrib.org's @nicholemanna.bsky.social is a finalist in feature reporting for her "Cold-Blooded" series. You can read the first story here:
jaxtrib.org/2025/03/17/h...
jaxtrib.org/2025/03/17/h...
Reposted by The Tributary
New from @jaxtrib.org | Jacksonville cop should have disclosed hit to driver’s face, experts say
The controversial stop stemmed in part from a vague force policy that gives officers discretion to use violence at the first sign of resistance.
📝 @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/20/j...
The controversial stop stemmed in part from a vague force policy that gives officers discretion to use violence at the first sign of resistance.
📝 @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/20/j...
Jacksonville cop should have disclosed hit to driver's face, experts say
Experts told The Tributary that Officer Donald Bowers should have reported his hit to the face of William McNeil Jr. after he smashed the car’s window to drag McNeil out of the car.
jaxtrib.org
August 20, 2025 at 7:23 PM
New from @jaxtrib.org | Jacksonville cop should have disclosed hit to driver’s face, experts say
The controversial stop stemmed in part from a vague force policy that gives officers discretion to use violence at the first sign of resistance.
📝 @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/20/j...
The controversial stop stemmed in part from a vague force policy that gives officers discretion to use violence at the first sign of resistance.
📝 @nicholemanna.bsky.social
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/20/j...
“The State Attorney’s Office goes through great lengths in their report to sort of justify the officer’s behavior,” one expert told @nicholemanna.bsky.social.
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/20/j...
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/20/j...
Jacksonville cop should have disclosed hit to driver's face, experts say
Experts told The Tributary that Officer Donald Bowers should have reported his hit to the face of William McNeil Jr. after he smashed the car’s window to drag McNeil out of the car.
jaxtrib.org
August 20, 2025 at 6:58 PM
“The State Attorney’s Office goes through great lengths in their report to sort of justify the officer’s behavior,” one expert told @nicholemanna.bsky.social.
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/20/j...
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/20/j...
Reposted by The Tributary
NEW: The controversial stop of a motorist that went viral in July stemmed in part from JSO's vague use-of-force policy, which gives officers broad discretion to use violence at the first sign of resistance, according to experts
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/20/j...
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/20/j...
Jacksonville cop should have disclosed hit to driver's face, experts say
Experts told The Tributary that Officer Donald Bowers should have reported his hit to the face of William McNeil Jr. after he smashed the car’s window to drag McNeil out of the car.
jaxtrib.org
August 20, 2025 at 6:57 PM
NEW: The controversial stop of a motorist that went viral in July stemmed in part from JSO's vague use-of-force policy, which gives officers broad discretion to use violence at the first sign of resistance, according to experts
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/20/j...
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/20/j...
For decades, seniors, children, outdoor workers & people affected by certain illnesses and disabilities were regarded as being among the most vulnerable to heat. Now, pregnant people are being added to the list.
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/14/e...
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/14/e...
Extreme Florida heat increasingly dangerous for maternal, infant health
Heat risks for mothers and their unborn babies are rising around the world — and particularly in Florida.
jaxtrib.org
August 20, 2025 at 3:28 PM
For decades, seniors, children, outdoor workers & people affected by certain illnesses and disabilities were regarded as being among the most vulnerable to heat. Now, pregnant people are being added to the list.
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/14/e...
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/14/e...
Reposted by The Tributary
New from a collaboration between @jaxtrib.org and @climatecentral.org | Extreme Florida heat increasingly dangerous for maternal, infant health
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/14/e...
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/14/e...
Extreme Florida heat increasingly dangerous for maternal, infant health
Heat risks for mothers and their unborn babies are rising around the world — and particularly in Florida.
jaxtrib.org
August 14, 2025 at 12:52 PM
New from a collaboration between @jaxtrib.org and @climatecentral.org | Extreme Florida heat increasingly dangerous for maternal, infant health
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/14/e...
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/14/e...
The new explanation, offered for the first time in State Attorney Melissa Nelson’s office's legal analysis of the stop, released today, raises questions about whether the officer was interested in searching the car regardless of McNeil’s compliance.
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/13/j...
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/13/j...
JSO officer in viral stop had third, unspoken reason why he pulled driver over
The officer later told integrity investigators that he saw the driver's SUV leave what JSO believes to be a drug house.
jaxtrib.org
August 13, 2025 at 5:35 PM
The new explanation, offered for the first time in State Attorney Melissa Nelson’s office's legal analysis of the stop, released today, raises questions about whether the officer was interested in searching the car regardless of McNeil’s compliance.
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/13/j...
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/13/j...
Reposted by The Tributary
JSO officer in viral stop had third, unspoken reason why he pulled driver over:
The stop carries the hallmarks of pretextual policing, a known tactic in which cops use minor traffic violations to fish for other crimes.
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/13/j...
The stop carries the hallmarks of pretextual policing, a known tactic in which cops use minor traffic violations to fish for other crimes.
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/13/j...
JSO officer in viral stop had third, unspoken reason why he pulled driver over
The officer later told integrity investigators that he saw the driver's SUV leave what JSO believes to be a drug house.
jaxtrib.org
August 13, 2025 at 5:35 PM
JSO officer in viral stop had third, unspoken reason why he pulled driver over:
The stop carries the hallmarks of pretextual policing, a known tactic in which cops use minor traffic violations to fish for other crimes.
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/13/j...
The stop carries the hallmarks of pretextual policing, a known tactic in which cops use minor traffic violations to fish for other crimes.
jaxtrib.org/2025/08/13/j...
Reposted by The Tributary
New from @jaxtrib.org *and* @tampabaytimes.bsky.social | Last year, anonymous complaints surged at one of Florida Power & Light’s nuclear power plants, prompting federal inspectors to come knocking. Here's what they found:
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/31/f...
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/31/f...
Florida nuclear plant workers were too afraid to report safety concerns, records show
These records cap years of issues surrounding the nuclear operations of the state’s largest utility, Florida Power & Light, most of which have been disclosed in highly technical reports that have esca...
jaxtrib.org
July 31, 2025 at 11:10 AM
New from @jaxtrib.org *and* @tampabaytimes.bsky.social | Last year, anonymous complaints surged at one of Florida Power & Light’s nuclear power plants, prompting federal inspectors to come knocking. Here's what they found:
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/31/f...
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/31/f...
NEW: The Bartow Police Department arrested a driver and passenger in July and charged them with violating a state immigration law that has been blocked by a federal judge, according to a bimonthly report from the Florida Attorney General’s Office.
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/30/t...
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/30/t...
Two more people wrongfully charged under Florida’s blocked immigration law, AG says
The two previously unreported arrests indicate some local police remain unclear on what they can enforce.
jaxtrib.org
July 30, 2025 at 7:47 PM
NEW: The Bartow Police Department arrested a driver and passenger in July and charged them with violating a state immigration law that has been blocked by a federal judge, according to a bimonthly report from the Florida Attorney General’s Office.
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/30/t...
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/30/t...
Reposted by The Tributary
New from @jaxtrib.org | After video of William McNeil's Jr.'s traffic stop went viral, we pulled more than three years of traffic-stop data. Getting ticketed for no headlights in the rain is exceedingly rare in Jacksonville - but less so if you're Black like McNeil.
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/28/b...
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/28/b...
Black drivers ticketed more for traffic violation that prompted viral Jacksonville stop
Driving in the rain without headlights, the reason William McNeil Jr. was pulled over before he was hit and then dragged from his car by Jacksonville sheriff’s deputies, is an exceedingly rare infract...
jaxtrib.org
July 28, 2025 at 5:26 PM
New from @jaxtrib.org | After video of William McNeil's Jr.'s traffic stop went viral, we pulled more than three years of traffic-stop data. Getting ticketed for no headlights in the rain is exceedingly rare in Jacksonville - but less so if you're Black like McNeil.
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/28/b...
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/28/b...
From 2021 through July of this year, Jacksonville deputies wrote tickets for “no headlamps” in rain, fog or smoke at least 78 times, according to records from the Duval Clerk of Courts, with the vast majority – about 63% – going to Black drivers.
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/28/b...
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/28/b...
Black drivers ticketed more for traffic violation that prompted viral Jacksonville stop
Driving in the rain without headlights, the reason William McNeil Jr. was pulled over before he was hit and then dragged from his car by Jacksonville sheriff’s deputies, is an exceedingly rare infract...
jaxtrib.org
July 28, 2025 at 5:14 PM
From 2021 through July of this year, Jacksonville deputies wrote tickets for “no headlamps” in rain, fog or smoke at least 78 times, according to records from the Duval Clerk of Courts, with the vast majority – about 63% – going to Black drivers.
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/28/b...
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/28/b...
Reposted by The Tributary
New from the @jaxtrib.org | As immigration arrests surge and oversight ebbs, 911 calls at Florida detention center double
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/25/a...
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/25/a...
As immigration arrests surge and oversight ebbs, 911 calls at Florida detention center double
Emergency call data at the Broward immigration detention center align with allegations by attorneys and advocates that the system is overwhelmed.
jaxtrib.org
July 25, 2025 at 12:01 PM
New from the @jaxtrib.org | As immigration arrests surge and oversight ebbs, 911 calls at Florida detention center double
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/25/a...
jaxtrib.org/2025/07/25/a...