As speculation heated up in the summer of 2025 about potential mergers involving Jacksonville-based CSX Corp. and the three other major U.S. railroads, CSX Chief Executive Joe Hinrichs indicated he was against industry consolidation.
But Hinrichs found himself out of a job in September, just three years after joining CSX, and was replaced by former Linde plc CEO Steve Angel.
CSX has not stated a reason for the change, but analysts speculated it was made in anticipation of a potential merger.
Angel was CEO of Praxair when it merged with Linde in 2018, and he became chief executive of the merged industrial gas and engineering company.
Angel was credited with a strong performance integrating the two companies, and his experience with that large merger prompted the speculation that he would be an ideal candidate to handle a major railroad combination.
Hinrichs, a former executive with Ford Motor Co., came to CSX with a reputation of maintaining good relations with autoworker unions. He was able to reach agreements with many of CSX’s unions during his tenure at the railroad.
As merger speculation intensified, Hinrichs said better cooperation between major North American railroads would improve freight service and financial performance, but some investors were disappointed he didn’t pursue merger opportunities.
In his only public comments since joining CSX, during the company’s October quarterly conference call, Angel said “we will, of course, pursue anything we believe can create compelling value for our shareholders.”
Vickie Cavey, JEA’s CEO, began 2025 with a pay raise and continued to make headlines after that.
In February, JEA’s board approved a 25% raise in Cavey’s compensation, bringing her salary to $700,000 from the $560,000 she made prior. Former JEA CEO Jay Stowe was set to receive $690,000 in compensation in 2025 before he left JEA in 2024.
In May, JEA’s board approved a rate increase. For residential customers, the change was expected to increase their rates by 3.7%.
For businesses, rate changes depend on use and the size of the business. Small businesses were expected to pay around 6% to 7% more for electricity in 2025, and around 2% to 3.5% more in 2026. For large businesses, electricity rates were expected to remain relatively stable. For industrial businesses, rates were expected to increase 4.5% to 6.5% in 2025, and then remain stable in 2026.
JEA’s rates were increased to pay for expected costs of capital projects, including a $1.7 billion natural gas power plant approved by the board in August. The project, which will sit on the site of the St. Johns River Power Park, is expected to power 300,000 homes.
Board members, who voted unanimously for the project, said the plant offered a solution to deal with a growing population, increasing demand for electricity and a growing need to retire a 48-year-old gas-fired unit at JEA’s Northside Generating Station.
JEA also approved the sale of its former Downtown headquarters in September. The utility accepted a $1 million bid from Live Oak Contracting to transform the site at 21 W. Church St., 421 Laura St. and 21 E. Church St. into a mixed-use residential space.
The Jacksonville Jaguars were 4-14 in 2024. Head coach Doug Pederson was out the door.
Team owner Shad Khan turned to Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen – who rejected Khan for a raise to stay with Tampa.
Khan then fired general manager Trent Baalke, and Coen changed his mind.
“I took swift and decisive action this week to hire Liam Coen as the new head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars,” Khan said in January 2025. “I am pumped that Liam is accepting the challenge and opportunity to build the winner that Jaguars fans and partners fully deserve. I know our players feel the same.”
Coen then delivered his first rendition of the “Duuuuuval” chant. It came out “Duvalllll” and became a meme.
Now it’s immaterial. The Jaguars won their first game against the Carolina Panthers. They beat QB Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football. Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence threw a career-high five touchdown passes to beat the Jets. They went on the road and beat the favored Denver Broncos.
They kept winning, despite injuries including the loss of top draft pick Travis Hunter, and are in first place and headed to the playoffs.
“Becoming the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars is an opportunity of a lifetime, and one that I am going to run with to instill a championship culture and winning tradition here in Duval,” Coen said.
In his first season as an NFL coach, it is already within his grasp. The Super Bowl is Feb. 8.