WJCT News Now

First Coast Connect: 'Addictive, unsafe and ineffective'

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:17:17 +0000

The Mayo Clinic calls it addictive, unsafe and ineffective. Opponents call it “gas station heroin.” But for Patti Wheeler, it’s the tragic cause of death for her 27-year-old son Robert “Wyatt” Wheeler, who suffered a fatal seizure just six weeks after he began taking Kratom. With the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announcing July 1 that it is implementing a temporary, emergency ban on synthetic, concentrated forms of the drug — a compound called 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) — we talk to Wheeler about her years of advocacy work and why she believes the ban needs to be broader and permanent. We also speak to a local recovery expert about the unique threats and challenges posed by ever-evolving formulas of synthetic drugs.

Guests:

Patti Wheeler, author, film producer, founder of A Beautiful Life Stolen
Nick Padlo, founder and CEO of Sophros Recovery

Lived experience

The Jacksonville Housing Authority is poised to implement new work requirements and eviction guidelines that would be among the strictest public housing rules in the nation. The story broke in a series of reports by Jacksonville Today’s newest reporter, who found that JHA has crafted a local version of federal Housing and Urban Development guidelines, even though the rules are optional and still face a variety of legal challenges. Among the changes: JHA tenants would be required to work at least 30 hours a week and have just three months to find employment if they lose their job. We discuss the story, as well as her earlier work on an investigation that led to the release of a 72-year-old woman imprisoned for life after a shooting in self-defense.

Guest: Elizabeth Caldwell, investigative reporter, Jacksonville Today

Deck the halls

The Lufrano Gallery at the University of North Florida is the backdrop for an artistic recycling project that shreds traditional expectations. Artist Zakriya Rabini uses hundreds of damaged and destroyed skateboard decks to create surprisingly haunting artistic installations that he’s dubbed “Divine Decks.” The artist drops in for a freewheeling discussion about his rise from grom to gallery director, and why the board provides a perfect launching pad for larger discussions about society and the scars that come with human experience. The exhibit opens July 13 and runs through late September.

Guest: Zakriya Rabani, artist, director of fine arts operations and gallery director at Jacksonville University

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The Morning Report: NE FL Heat Advisory and New Fernandina Beach E-Bike Rules

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 10:53:55 +0000

A Heat Advisory is in effect across Northeast Florida as forecasters warn that feels-like temperatures could reach up to 110 degrees. Also, Fernandina Beach approves new regulations for e-bikes and other personal mobility devices, setting speed limits and penalties aimed at improving safety.

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First Coast Connect: Squatters' rights

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:17:36 +0000

A Jacksonville landlord’s real-life squatters nightmare drew local and national attention for dramatically highlighting the maddening legal hurdles some homeowners face when trying to evict these unwanted and illegal tenants. Now, her story is just one of several featured in a new Hulu docuseries — and isn’t even close to being the worst. We ask her about the path from crime victim to legislative advocate and how she continues to hear from the vandals who occupied her Springfield rental for more than a month. We also get a local real estate lawyer’s advice on how to squat-proof your home and how tactics for fighting illegal occupation are evolving in step with the strange practice.

Guests:

Patti Peeples, Jacksonville homeowner featured on Hulu docuseries Squatters: Get The F*** Out of My House
Zach Roth, real estate attorney, Ansbacher Law

House call from Dr. Joe

A study showing seismically better success rates with morning cancer treatments proved too good to be true. We discuss why the much-publicized study in the journal Nature Medicine has now been retracted after its Chinese authors acknowledged it did not meet the rigorous standards of a “high-impact journal.” We also discuss the role that inflammation may play in the treatment of depression and the explosive resurgence of a stomach ailment that should persuade everyone to wash your damn hands.

Guest: Dr. Joe Sirven, Mayo Clinic neurologist and host of WJCT’s What’s Health Got To Do With It?

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The Morning Report: Fake St. Johns Voter Guide Charges and New Riverfront Plaza Restaurant

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 11:12:02 +0000

Charges have been filed against five people, including two sitting St. Johns County commissioners and a St. Augustine Beach city commissioner, in connection with an alleged fake Republican voter guide distributed during the 2024 primary election. We'll also look at the future of Jacksonville's Riverfront Plaza, where European Street Cafe has been selected to operate the park's café as the downtown destination continues to expand.

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First Coast Connect: Representing Florida

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 17:33:41 +0000

With the passing of July 4th, election season gets underway in earnest, along with our candidate interviews. Firebrand First Coast lawmaker Angie Nixon joins us to discuss her bid for U.S. Senate, in which she faces Republican incumbent Ashley Moody and fellow Democrat Alex Vindman. Nixon comes to the race with a funding disadvantage but with a reputation as a fighter (albeit one with few legislative victories), as well as a vocal foe of the governor. We ask her why she chose to leave a “safe” seat — and what would have been her fourth and final term in the state House — in order to run for a seat in the upper chamber. First Coast Connect will be covering a range of local races and election-related topics between now and Nov. 3. You can find detailed information about upcoming elections, including information about candidates and ballot initiatives in your specific district, at the nonpartisan League of Women Voters website Vote411.org. The deadline to register to vote in the August primaries is July 20.

Guest: State Rep. Angie Nixon, candidate for U.S. Senate

Paper trail

The world’s largest private collection of historic documents returns to Northeast Florida. Although the Jacksonville Karpeles Manuscript Museum in Springfield closed in 2023 as part of a reorganization by its parent company, a new St. Augustine location will serve as the internationally known museum’s flagship. The Karpeles Manuscript Library features an array of rare manuscripts and artifacts spanning centuries of history from Civil War records to writings by Albert Einstein to Disney animation sketches. We talk to the museum’s director about the history of the collection, their mission to make historic documents accessible to future generations and what visitors can expect during their soft opening as America celebrates its 250th birthday.

Guest: Wayne Jackson, director, Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum

Collective memory

Jacksonville’s newest community theater stages its inaugural show with a nod to the musical version of the 1982 classic film Victor/Victoria. The Arts Collective Theatre is a joint project of longtime First Coast performers Lee Hamby and Julie Harrington and aims to broaden local theater offerings while serving as “a sanctuary for artists of all backgrounds.” We discuss how the first show of what the team is calling “Season Zero” fits the creators’ vision and what challenges have come with the maiden production. Victor/Victoria opens July 10 and runs through July 26.

Guests:

Lee Hamby, artistic director, Arts Collective Theatre
Josh Waller, actor playing Toddy in Victor/Victoria
Joshua Bond, actor playing King in Victor/Victoria

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The Morning Report: Duval Libertarian Candidate Remains on Ballot and JTA CEO retiring

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:46:10 +0000

A judge has ruled that a Libertarian candidate can remain on the ballot in Jacksonville’s upcoming City Council special election, setting up a three-way race for the open seat. Plus, Jacksonville Transportation Authority CEO Nat Ford announces his retirement after leading major transit projects, including the launch of the nation’s first autonomous vehicle public transit system.

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First Coast Connect: Flooded with pollution

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:04:47 +0000

The dividing lines created or reinforced by segregation and redlining sustain a toxic tide, according to a new report in The Florida Trib. Intensive flooding from recent hurricanes, and increasingly, during ordinary rainstorms, carry a range of pollutants. But in historically Black communities in Jacksonville, those floodwaters carry an additional hazard. Trib investigative journalism fellow Trinity Webster-Bass writes, “More than half of Jacksonville’s vulnerable industrial sites are situated in neighborhoods near or in the heart of downtown Jacksonville, known as the Urban Core, home to some of the oldest majority-Black parts of the city.” The story explores why the legacy of the region’s most polluted places disproportionately affect communities of color in ways that residents, health experts and scientists are just beginning to grapple with. We talk to Webster-Bass about why these threats are increasing as the planet warms and what the city is doing to address the issue.

Guest: Trinity Webster-Bass, investigative journalism fellow, Florida Trib

Hard at work

A Murray Hill hardcore club reopened last weekend after it was forced to shut down over permitting issues. A new report by Jacksonville Today reporter Noah Hertz examines how the club’s operating ethos — and even its temporary closure — fit into the historic continuum of Jacksonville's enduring punk music scene. We also preview the grand reopening of Hard Love, including which bands will take the stage to break the loud fast rules.

Guest: Noah Hertz, St. Johns County reporter, Jacksonville Today

Order up

Getting plant-based offerings on the menu is the focus of the annual Vegan Chef Challenge, which asks restaurants to either temporarily or permanently expand their meat, dairy and cruelty-free offerings. The fourth annual event will be held throughout the month of August, but organizers are currently seeking restaurants and chefs of any stripe to participate. The only requirement is adding one to three items to menus during the event. We talk to a co-organizer about making gradual progress to a diet that is healthier both for individuals and the planet. Chefs have until Friday, July 10 to apply.

Guest: Raquel Little, co-organizer, Jacksonville Vegan Chef Challenge

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The Morning Report: Jacksonville Housing Rules Update and FreedomFest Preview

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 10:25:14 +0000

The Jacksonville Housing Authority is proposing a new policy that would give many housing assistance recipients three months to find a job under a pending federal housing rule, though some residents say that timeline is unrealistic. Plus, Jacksonville is preparing for its two-day FreedomFest celebration, with officials urging attendees to arrive early, expect traffic and bridge closures, and take precautions against the summer heat.

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First Coast Connect: The 'Fee State' of Florida

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:05:20 +0000

After the Legislature hastily approved a ballot initiative to slash property taxes, Florida is just beginning to reckon with the costs. If approved by 60% of the voters in November, the measure would almost instantly slash the budgets of cities and small towns by more than $8 billion, according to a new nonpartisan analysis by the state’s Revenue Estimating Conference. That loss would compound over time, as additional property tax cuts — including for business and out-of-state homeowners — are phased in. Though the Revenue Estimating Conference is supposed to evaluate the cost of state proposals before they’re approved, the after-the-fact analysis is the first detailed examination of local impacts. Investigative reporter Jason Garcia breaks down the story behind the numbers, including the service cuts and fee hikes that would likely result.

Guest: Jason Garcia, investigative reporter, publisher of the Seeking Rents website and podcast

Miracle workers

A nascent partnership between First Coast Crime Stoppers and Jacksonville’s animal welfare agency, Animal Care and Protective Services, led to the arrest of a dog owner on animal cruelty charges earlier this year. In part inspired by that success, Crime Stoppers is expanding its animal cruelty tip line to include Nassau County. Though the great dane “Miracle” didn’t survive after it was discovered injured, emaciated and abandoned by a Jacksonville roadside, the case helped raise awareness of the anonymous animal cruelty tip line and the cash rewards offered for information leading to an arrest. We discuss how the partners hope the expanded effort helps stem animal abuse and neglect across the region.

Guests:

Chase Robinson, executive director, First Coast Crime Stoppers
Steve MacKinnon, director, Nassau County Animal Services

250 plus 4th

Two days of celebrations mark Independence Day in Jacksonville this year in recognition of the nation’s semiquincentennial. On July 3, from 5:30-10 p.m., Friendship Fountain on the city’s Southbank will be home to Freedom Fest, an event featuring live music, food trucks and free apple pies to the first 1,000 guests. On July 4th, the city’s Riverfront Plaza will feature local art, live bands and the largest fireworks display in Jacksonville's history. The event runs from 4 to 9:30 p.m., with fireworks getting underway at 9 p.m. We talk to organizers to get tips on viewing, parking and celebrating safely.

Guests:

Alex Alston, executive director of sports and entertainment, city of Jacksonville
Garrett Callis, parks community programs manager, city of Jacksonville

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The Morning Report: Affordable Housing Push in JAX and New State Laws

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:00:42 +0000

A new pilot program in Jacksonville between the city and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development aims to expand affordable housing through modern manufactured homes, with the first site planned for the city’s Northside. Also, a wide range of new Florida laws take effect as the state begins its new fiscal year.

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First Coast Connect: Wild ideas on Cumberland Island

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:34:28 +0000

A series of secretive proposed land swaps involving private property owners and the National Park Service have raised alarms that Georgia's largest barrier island could be facing more, and more intensive development. The swaps involve trading publicly held land for environmentally strategic, privately held parcels — something the Park Service says will allow the agency to conserve more vulnerable lands, but which advocates fear will permit private landholders to build larger projects on bigger properties. We discuss the often fraught relationship between land advocates and its federal and state stewards, as well as what a new administration’s priorities mean for an island required to be preserved in a “primitive” state.

Guest: Kelly Cox, senior policy specialist, National Wildlife Refuges and Parks Program, Defenders of Wildlife

Not My City

Stopping domestic violence by putting the onus on men. We discuss a new prevention initiative that aims to instill in boys and men both the skills and the sense of obligation needed to effectively combat domestic violence. The program is an outgrowth of Hubbard House’s volunteer program Men Against Violence Against Women. Titled “Not My City,” the effort focuses on ways men can effectively support girls and women, while fostering empathy and engagement among their peers. An organizational meeting will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Cox Media Group Jacksonville’s Farah & Farah Performance Studio (11700 Central Parkway). Registration is requested.

Guests:

Stephanie Brown, director of community education, Hubbard House
Stephen Dackiewicz, board president, Hubbard House

In the Limelight

For the past 35 years, St. Augustine’s only year-round community theater has provided a stage for amateur and rising professional artists alike. Whether staging broad, campy productions like the musical “Hairspray,” or thoughtful absurdist pieces like last year’s “Rhinoceros,” Limelight has proven itself a key fixture on St. Johns County’s cultural landscape. The theater also hosts a monthly open mic night for local performers, comics and artistic upstarts to test drive material in a welcoming, experimental atmosphere. We discuss the theater’s evolution on its path to the the 35-year mark and what its upcoming season will bring.

Guest: Missy Schmotzer, interim executive director and director of education, Limelight Theatre

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The Morning Report: Duval School Principal Arrested and State Budget Vetoes

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 10:54:12 +0000

The Baldwin Middle-Senior High School principal is facing a felony charge after an allegation that he failed to report child abuse. Also, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed the state’s new budget while using his veto power to cut more than $800 million in proposed spending.

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First Coast Connect: In the blood

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:24:00 +0000

Decades of industrial manufacturing has polluted both ground and water in Brunswick, Georgia, and surrounding Glynn County, which is home to four federally designated Superfund sites and 12 state-regulated hazardous waste sites. That pollution is showing up in the bloodstreams of residents. Research into the health effects of chemical exposure dates back to 1997, when a local health department said the toxic legacy was due to “dirty industry … cheap labor … [and a] lack of enforcement of regulations.” A 2023 Emory University study found the presence of one chemical, produced exclusively in Brunswick, present in the bloodstream of 40% of study participants at levels higher than 95% of the U.S. population. That research prompted a new, long-term study and the creation of the inaugural Coast Superfund Research Center, funded by a $15 million grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health. We talk to a study participant and a social justice advocate about what the project means for residents’ health and efforts to clean up the lingering contamination.

Guests:

Anita Collins, Healthy Coastal Neighborhoods community consultant, chairperson, Urbana Perry Park NPA
Josiah "Jazz" Watts, community consultant, Healthy Coastal Neighborhoods

Building Downtown

For the past 10 years the Jessie Ball duPont Fund has opened its doors to other nonprofits, community groups, arts organizations and ordinary folk — part of its mission to provide “social purpose real estate” in the heart of Downtown. The national charitable foundation occupies the most striking instance of mid-century modern architecture in the core city, the old Hayden Burns Library, designed by the late, visionary architect Taylor Hardwick. We talk to two fund principals about their decade Downtown, the importance of promoting art and architecture and how they balance nonprofits needing affordable workspaces with the costs of maintaining a desirable Downtown address.

Guests:

Mari Kuraishi, president of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund

Art Cart Mart

After the closure of Jacksonville’s oldest art supply store, Reddi Arts, in 2025, two longtime crafters wanted a new space where creatives could shop and swap sustainably. The result is Art Cart Jax, a free, secondhand art and craft pop-up, designed with the goal of reducing the environmental impact of new supplies and providing a community-supported craft store. With 100% of the inventory composed of donated materials and contributions growing, the group moved into a new studio space at Margaret Street Studios and dubbed it “The Mart.” The space opened June 21 and is open from noon to 5 p.m. every Sunday. We ask the group’s founders about taking the leap of faith to open the new space and how the community is responding.

Guests:

Jessica Grist, co-founder, Art Cart Jax
Blake Riley, co-founder, Art Cart Jax

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The Morning Report: Upcoming JEA Rate Hike Vote and New Segment Opens on First Coast Expressway

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:48:57 +0000

JEA’s Board of Directors is set to consider proposed rate increases for electricity, water, and sewer service as the utility addresses projected revenue gaps. Also ahead, a new section of the First Coast Expressway opens in Clay County, expanding the toll road network and bringing new traffic changes as the larger project moves toward completion.

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First Coast Connect: Week in Review

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 15:38:28 +0000

Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among this week’s topics:

Text messages the city refused to release are now public. What do the once-secret documents tell us about a criminal investigation sparked by City Council President Kevin Carrico?
The governor formally brings an end to the Alligator Alcatraz era.
JEA’s current CEO testifies before the City Council, while its former CEO takes his fraud conviction back to court.
The city misses out on a $1 million grant after an untrained staffer fumbles the application.
Nascent trillionaire Elon Musk buys the assets of a Jacksonville energy company in what could be a billion-dollar deal.
A prominent personal injury lawyer creates a new political party in Florida, the Common Ground Party.

Guests:

Laura Pellicer, fellow, Florida Trib
Mike Mendenhall, City Hall reporter and associate editor at Jacksonville Today
Robin Lumb, former Jacksonville City Council member
Obi Umunna, attorney and political consultant

Hot dad walk

As temperatures rise and the kids are out of school, a new walking club invites dads and their children to connect with their counterparts in Jacksonville. After becoming a parent, Augie Watson said he realized how difficult it can be to connect with fellow dads. Inspired by other walking groups in Jacksonville, he founded Dads Walk Jax, where dads are invited to BYOB (bring your own baby), chat and stroll through the Avondale neighborhood and nearby parks. The walks are a family affair. Watson’s wife, Marissa, owns The Bunny Hive Jacksonville, a space for parents and kids to play and socialize, and the monthly dads’ walk stops there along the way. The next meetup is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sunday at the Southern Grounds in Avondale.

Guest: Augie Watson, founder, Dads Walk Jax

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The Morning Report: Unredacted Kevin Carrico Texts Released and St. Johns School Discrimination Complaint

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 10:59:10 +0000

Newly released text messages shed more light on discussions involving Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico, a nonprofit executive, and a proposed JEA land deal and board appointment. Plus, a former St. Johns County teacher has filed a federal discrimination complaint, alleging he was removed from his position because of his gender identity and intersex condition.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First Coast Connect: Resegregating neighborhoods

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:07:05 +0000

Commemorating the Confederacy through streets or community names like “Dixie,” “Rebel” and “Plantation” carries clear connotations for some. As noted in a social media post referenced in a new research study, “The developer might as well [put] a sign at the entrance saying, ‘Whites Only.’” Titled Confederates in the Cul de Sac, the scholarly paper explores how racial demographics are affected by Confederate tributes or signage in both urban and suburban communities. According to the report’s first-ever inventory of such neighborhoods, Florida has more than any other state. We talk to the study’s authors about their sometimes surprising findings and what it says about what they call “America’s identity crisis over white supremacy.”

Guests:

Pamela L. Morris, associate professor of communication studies, Indiana University
George Towers, professor of geography, Indiana University Columbus

Good on paper

Bucking the national publishing trend, two local print newspapers are launching at the Beach. The weekly Beach Gazette launches online Thursday with plans to begin a print edition within a year and features a lead story focused on the history of local news at the Beaches. The paper’s backers are also launching Beach Buzz, a free monthly arts and culture publication in the model of Folio and Void, targeting visitors and residents alike, but with a specific Beaches focus. We sit down with the founders at a time when the overall newspaper industry is in a period of retraction to ask who, what, when, where and why?

Guests:

Jennifer Ashley, editor and co-founder, Beach Gazette
Georgette Dumont, publisher and co-founder, Beach Gazette

Pitch perfect

The U.S. men’s national team takes to the pitch against Türkiye on Thursday night as the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues. After a historic performance for the team — winning consecutive World Cup matches for the first time since 1930 — the men head to the knockout round of 32 next week. Though Türkiye has already been eliminated, the game will be another test of team fitness after solid performances against Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0). The match may also feature some play time by star attacker Christian Pulisic, who has been sidelined with a calf injury. We sit down with longtime sports reporter Will Brown to discuss what the USMNT can expect in the coming round, how the games are going so far and whether record-breaking Lionel Messi could lead Argentina to a second World Cup victory. The game Thursday gets underway at 10 p.m.

Guest: Will Brown, reporter for Jacksonville Today, publisher of Official Florida FC

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The Morning Report: Septic Tank Phaseouts in Jacksonville

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:58:06 +0000

A Jacksonville neighborhood transforms via a long-awaited transition from septic tanks to city sewer service, with the Christobel Septic Tank Phase Out Project expected to bring improvements to nearly 500 homes.

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First Coast Connect: The price ain’t right

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:24:50 +0000

The once sleepy, quaint and borderline podunk vibe of 1980s and ‘90s St. Augustine is now ancient history in the Ancient City. In its place: a buzzy tourist favorite that ranks high on influencer feeds and glossy magazines’ Top 10 lists. T-shirt and seashell shops have given way to upscale Airbnbs, sleek coffee vendors and, now, four Michelin recognized restaurants. Some who’ve watched the change worry the small town is now giving Hilton Head vibes and pricing out locals. We discuss the promise and perils of progress in America’s Oldest City and how the affordability crisis is playing out on the streets of St. Augustine.

Guest: St. Augustine City Commissioner Jim Springfield

Foundational art

Interpreting the Declaration of Independence through an artistic lens. A new exhibit at the St. Augustine Art Association asks artists to share their perspective on the historic document and how its principles have evolved or influenced the American experience over time. The exhibit, When in the Course of Human Events, is part of America's 250th celebration. Participating artists employ a range of materials to explore the exhibit’s theme, and curators hope the works spark thoughtful conversation about the country’s past, present and future. We sit down with two featured artists, including the artist awarded Best in Show, to hear what inspired the winning piece, I Am. The exhibit is free and open to the public through Aug. 2.

Guests:

Jennifer Flynt, executive director, St. Augustine Art Association
Richlin Burnett-Ryan, portrait artist, painter, curator
Weldon Ryan, multimedia artist, former NYPD police sketch artist

Stellar strongman

A constellation named after a demigod with superhuman strength. We dig into the science behind the “celestial snow globe” known as the Hercules cluster with resident spaceman Eddie Whisler. The grouping of stars officially known as M13 orbits the Milky Way. It’s an estimated 145,000 light-years wide, 25,000 light-years from Earth and contains more than 100,000 stars. Discovered in 1714 by Edmond Halley (of comet fame), it was initially thought to contain zero stars; famed French astronomer Charles Messier officially cataloged it on his list of "non-comets" because his telescope wasn’t strong enough to detect individual stars. We talk about the stunning globular cluster and why peak viewing season is about to begin.

Guest: Eddie Whisler, director of planetarium and outreach, Museum of Science & History

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The Morning Report: JEA's CEO Testifies and Florida’s Budget Decisions

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:59:27 +0000

JEA CEO Vickie Cavey faces questions from a Jacksonville City Council investigation into workplace concerns, leadership changes, and the utility’s decision-making process. Plus, Florida’s more than $114 billion state budget heads to Governor Ron DeSantis as lawmakers await his decisions ahead of the new fiscal year.

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First Coast Connect: Power move

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:32:40 +0000

As multiple investigations into JEA continue, local climate activists are calling on the Jacksonville utility to lower rates and commit to phasing out the use of fossil fuels. The demands are outlined in a new petition calling on JEA to reduce emissions, improve air quality and find more sustainable plans to reduce energy costs long term. The move comes as solar power use grows and coal usage declines, with solar remaining the leading source of new power in the United States. In May, for the first time, solar supplied more electricity than coal nationwide. The petition is the most recent effort by local organizations to put pressure on JEA to stop using fossil fuels, even as the utility looks to move forward with plans to build an estimated $1.57 billion natural gas-fired power plant. In December, multiple advocacy groups including the Sierra Club, NAACP, St. Johns Riverkeeper and Solar United Neighbors delivered sacks of coal to JEA’s headquarters, protesting the utility’s rising rates and coal use. We sit down with members of the groups leading the petition to ask why advancing solar is a main priority and how it could potentially lower utility costs.

Guests:

Jalicia Lewis, community outreach lead, Jacksonville Climate Coalition
Leah Ferrell, solar access and affordability associate, Solar United Neighbors

In the same vein

Jacksonville sickle cell advocates are working to raise awareness and expand support to community members living with the hereditary blood disorder that affects roughly 100,000 people in the U.S. A college student reveals the challenges she faces living with the disease and the inspiration behind her nonprofit, Project Little Veins, which provides care packages to hospitalized sickle cell patients. We also speak with a healthy equity leader whose own son died from sickle cell disease ahead of his second birthday about how his passing transformed her advocacy work.

Guests:

Fredrianna Copeland Webster, sickle cell disease advocate and founder of Project Little Veins
Selena Webster-Bass, founder, Richard Webster-Bass Health Institute

Daddy daughter dance

Girls Inc. of Jacksonville hosts its annual Daddy Daughter Dance fundraiser at WJCT Studios. Fathers and daughters are asked to wear their best dress and suit for the event themed “An Enchanted Night in Paris.” The event features a DJ, dancing, dinner, raffle, silent auction and a space to celebrate the bond between daughters and their fathers, or any male role model in their lives. All proceeds from the event go to support Girls Inc. of Jacksonville, one of 74 affiliates nationwide with the mission to equip girls with skills and knowledge to create impactful change in the future. The 2026 Daddy Daughter Dance is from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at WJCT Soundstage. Tickets are required.

Guest: Diedra Simon, CEO of Girls Inc. of Jacksonville

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The Morning Report: Proposed Public Safety Spending in Jax and State Drug Rules Tighten

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 10:58:23 +0000

Jacksonville’s proposed city budget is expected to include another year of increased spending on police and fire services, with department leaders requesting additional funding for staffing and salaries. Also, Florida officials are tightening restrictions on 7-OH, a compound derived from the kratom plant, as the state says some manufacturers are finding ways around previous limits.

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First Coast Connect: History of land conservation

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:56:04 +0000

Florida is considered a leader in land preservation nationwide, with roughly 31% of the state’s land designated for conservation efforts. But the fight to get there was no easy feat. Rather, it took years of pushing by advocates, politicians and artists to establish the environmental protections we see today. Environmental attorney and author Clay Henderson details the “small victories” over time that helped create Florida’s national park system and national wildlife refuges in his 2022 book Forces of Nature: A History of Florida Land Conservation. Henderson will be a featured guest as part of the Jacksonville Public Library’s 2026 Conservation Series on June 27. The event includes a group walk with Henderson at Blue Cypress Park, where he will talk about conservation work happening locally and the flora and fauna along the St. Johns River. Then, Henderson will host a Q&A and book signing at the University Park Branch Library. We ask about the current challenges facing conservation lands today and whether the growth in data center development risks undoing more than a century of environmental protection.

Guest: Clay Henderson, environmental attorney and author of Forces of Nature: A History of Florida Land Conservation

Real-time rapture

An evangelical preacher and radio host literally and spiritually “left behind.” It’s the subject of a new one-man show as the rapture happens live on air. The Phil Mitchell Radio Hour, created and starring actor and experimental artist Noah Bennett, is a 70-minute performance merging satirical comedy and psychological horror. The show follows Bennett’s character, described as a mix between Joel Osteen, Jim Bakker and Kenneth Copeland with a “sweet pair of sideburns,” as he hosts his final broadcast. The show debuted in Columbus, Ohio, but has graced stages in Georgia, North Carolina and New York City. A Jacksonville native, Bennett is bringing the show to the historic San Marco Church, his first-ever site-specific performance. The Phil Mitchell Radio Hour will be hosted at 7:30 p.m. June 25-27.

Guest: Noah Bennett, actor and creator of The Phil Mitchell Radio Hour

Neighborhood rivalry

A Springfield tradition makes its return on July 4th as the Eastside Reds and Westside Giants battle for bragging rights on the baseball field. Returning for its 19th year, the Fourth of July Throwback Baseball Game features Springfield residents in “turn-of-the century” throwback uniforms, equipment, umpires and more. Food trucks and drinks will be available, and folks are encouraged to bring extra seating as bleacher spots are limited. The family-friendly event takes place at Klutho Park Heritage Field on July 4. First pitch is at 11 a.m.

Guests:

Michael Haskins, executive director, Springfield Preservation and Revitalization
Jose Acevedo, Westside Giants player

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The Morning Report: Gun law changes and a surprise for a St. Augustine boy in recovery

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 10:49:31 +0000

The National Rifle Association is among groups challenging Florida’s three-day waiting period to buy firearms, and State Attorney James Uthmeier says he agrees with the people suing over the policy. And in St. Augustine, a boy recovering from an e-bike wreck gets a surprise from an NFL star.

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First Coast Connect: Government expert Chris Hand

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:05:26 +0000

Each month, we sit down with attorney and government expert Chris Hand to break down local and national political headlines.

Among our topics:

Proposed property tax cuts draw legal challenges and criticism from economists, with projections estimating a $5 billion loss in the first year.
Voters in Duval County will decide whether to extend a property tax first approved in 2022 to supplement teacher salaries.
City officials must decide if there’s space in the budget for public incentives to bring a Publix and Culinary Institute of America campus to Downtown.

Guest: Chris Hand, local government expert, attorney and co-author with the late Sen. Bob Graham of America, the Owner's Manual

A bloody campaign

A documentary and rare photo exhibit highlight St. Augustine’s critical role as a civil rights battleground where a series of wade-ins and demonstrations turned violent. Passage at St. Augustine examines how local activists and a Black Air Force veteran sparked a confrontation over segregation that drew the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to the nation’s oldest city and helped pave the way for the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. We talk to the film’s director about the historical significance of these events, why it took 13 years to complete the project and his upcoming exhibition. The free showing and discussion will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at St. Paul A.M.E. Church in St. Augustine.

Guest: Clennon L. King, award-winning journalist, documentary filmmaker and director of Passage at St. Augustine: The 1964 Black Lives Matter Movement That Transformed America

Artists wanted

Do you have an idea for a sculpture? Riverside Avondale Preservation is calling for artists to submit ideas for a new public sculpture at the newly named Fishweir Crossing roundabout. Located on the edge of the Riverside Avondale Historic District and Fishweir Creek, the sculpture will serve as a landmark connecting the Fairfax Manor and Lakeside Park neighborhoods. Officials say the sculpture’s design should reflect the character, culture and natural environment of the communities that meet there. Up to three artists can be selected to develop conceptual designs for the project. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. June 30. Find more information here.

Guest: Nancy Powell, co-chair, Fishweir Crossing Roundabouts Planning Committee

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The Morning Report: JEA Workplace Survey and Juneteenth Celebrations

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 10:52:26 +0000

A new employee survey offers the first look at morale inside JEA since a Jacksonville City Council investigation into workplace concerns started. We also preview Juneteenth events across Jacksonville and St. Augustine marking the end of slavery in the United States.

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First Coast Connect: Celebrating Emancipation Day

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:26:46 +0000

As Juneteenth celebrations kick off across the city, we take a closer look at the long road from emancipation to equality. Becoming a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth marks the anniversary of June 19, 1865, the date when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, declaring all enslaved people be freed. The troops came more than 2½ years after President Abrahamn Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. We sit down with prominent Jacksonville civil rights activist, historian and author Rodney L. Hurst Sr. as he reflects on the meaning of the holiday, his role in the 1960 Woolworth sit-ins and the events that led to Ax Handle Saturday. We also preview Juneteenth celebrations happening on the historic Eastside.

Guests:

Nigelle Kohn, executive director, Florida Avenue Main Street Inc.
Rodney L. Hurst Sr., civil rights activist, historian and author of It Was Never About a Hotdog and a Coke!

Teach ‘em young

Teaching Black History in Florida has changed in recent years, but Juneteenth can serve as a time to educate about the harsh realities in American history, like slavery and discrimination. A Jacksonville educator wrote a book to share how families, schools and community organizations can help young learners understand the history and significance of Juneteenth. All About Juneteenth Dictionary for Kids offers practical strategies for teaching children about freedom, resilience and cultural heritage through literacy, vocabulary and storytelling. The book also details the backgrounds of key figures, activists and important locations in the Civil Rights Movement and shares a how-to guide on creating a Juneteenth sidewalk parade. We ask the book’s author what inspired the project and ask her about the importance of teaching Black history at a young age.

Guest: Celeste Payne, founder of Arts Empowered Inc. and author of All About Juneteenth Dictionary for Kids

Secret sauce

A beloved Jacksonville pizza restaurant serving up famous New York-style pies turns 50. Renna’s has served the community since 1976 and is the second oldest pizzeria in Jacksonville (Joseph’s Pizza opened its doors in 1956). We speak to a local owner and operator about how the company has managed to stay relevant for five decades and how he works to preserve Renna’s tradition as the brand evolves.

Guest: Matt Wymer, owner and operator, Renna’s Pizza Mandarin & Argyle Forest

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The Morning Report: Preventing Abuse and Data Center Concerns in St. Johns

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 10:57:49 +0000

A Jacksonville nonprofit is launching a new effort focused on engaging men and boys in preventing domestic abuse and promoting healthy relationships. Plus, St. Johns County leaders are considering a temporary pause on new data center developments as officials weigh potential impacts on the region’s power and water systems.

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First Coast Connect: Life-saving lung study

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:14:57 +0000

A Jacksonville-based lung study could help reshape lung disease screening guidelines for people considered low risk. The $24.8 million national study is led locally by UF Health and Nemours Children’s Health and is tracking the lung health of 4,000 young adults to better understand how lung disease develops over time. One participant, a 35-year-old nonsmoker, credits the study with saving her life after a scan revealed a cancerous nodule in her right lung. We speak with the lung cohort member and the study’s research director about what participants can expect and how early detection can save lives.

Guests:

Dr. Kathryn Blake, director, Center for Pharmacogenomics and Translational Research, Nemours Children’s Health
Cindy Springer, Lung Health Cohort Study participant and development director for the American Lung Association in Jacksonville

Moving music

A new book explores the adventure one aging musician goes on after learning she may soon forget how to sing or play guitar. Lost in the Summer of ‘69 is USA Today bestselling author Eliza Knight’s latest historical fiction following Eleanor Bell just before her 69th birthday after she learns she is showing early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. She’s determined to make the most of her time left and sets out on a cross-country road trip to California to rediscover her love for music. But Eleanor forgets to tell her family where she’s going, prompting her daughter and granddaughter to go on a journey to find her. We ask the book’s creator about the inspiration for the novel and the importance of the historical setting ahead of two local book events happening this week.

Guest: Eliza Knight, USA Today bestselling author of Lost in the Summer of '69

Band together

Big band music and ballroom dancing return to Amelia Island this summer. The Amelia Island Dance Festival features a 12-piece live band, professional vocalists and, of course, dancing. The series includes songs spanning nearly a century from the Jazz Age to modern hits. Dancers of all skill levels are welcome, whether they’re seasoned ballroom enthusiasts or first-timers. Musicians from Crescendo Amelia join us to discuss how the series is helping keep the legacy of big band and jazz alive while creating a vibrant cultural gathering for residents and visitors alike.

Guests:

Dennis Negrin, bandleader, Crescendo Amelia
Kim Reteguiz, vocalist, Crescendo Amelia

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The Morning Report: A Major Investment in Jacksonville and Civil Rights History in St. Augustine

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 10:49:24 +0000

A major investment is coming to Jacksonville as Johnson & Johnson announces more than $1 billion in funding for new manufacturing, packaging, and distribution operations tied to its contact lens business. Also, a rabbi who was arrested during the Civil Rights Movement returns to St. Augustine to take part in events remembering the role of Jewish faith leaders in the fight against segregation.

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First Coast Connect: Foodie funding

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:45:52 +0000

A city program to incentivize and ignite the Downtown bar and restaurant scene has been picking up steam, with 11 project grants awarded since 2024 — nearly four times as many as in the program’s first three years. Food writer Hanna Raskin says the often significant grants paved the way for several new additions to the urban core landscape, including a vinyl listening room over Keane’s Tavern, Dorothy’s Downtown restaurant and the Pour Taproom. We talk about what the tax incentives have bought and whether that could be changing in an uncertain budget landscape.

Guest: Hanna Raskin, food writer for Jacksonville Today

Coffee talk

The fight to unionize the world’s largest coffee chain is the subject of a new documentary. In 2021, workers at a Starbucks in Buffalo, New York, became the first store in the country to form a union. The film traces the evolution of the movement, which has now spread to 700 stores nationwide, even though workers are still fighting for their first contract. The film, which is narrated by Susan Sarandon, screens at the Museum of Contemporary Art at noon June 20, followed by a Q&A with director Mark Mori, moderated by the city’s film commissioner, Todd Roobin.

Guest: Mark Mori, director, Baristas vs Billionaires

Classical history

Since its inception in 2007, the St. Augustine Music Festival has focused on uplifting music in an exceptional space. The annual event, held at the Cathedral Basilica on the Plaza de la Constitución, is the brainchild of acclaimed musicians Jorge Peña (viola) and Jin Kim-Peña (cello), who both played with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra before creating the region’s largest free classical chamber music concert series. In honor of its 20th anniversary and the nation’s 250th, this year’s festival is shaped around themes highlighting the spirit of America, as well as the classical sounds that inspire the human spirit.

Guests:

Jorge Peña, St. Augustine Music Festival co-founder and artistic director
Jin Kim-Peña, St. Augustine Music Festival co-founder and artistic director

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The Morning Report: New Duval Schools HQ Bids and Historical Markers in LaVilla

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:13:45 +0000

The Duval County School Board receives new bids for its Prudential Drive headquarters. Plus, Jacksonville unveils the LaVilla Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Heritage Trail, highlighting the history and culture of one of the city’s predominantly Black communities through new markers and artwork.

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The Morning Report: New Pediatric Hospice Care In Jax and Property Tax Amendment Lawsuit

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:54:32 +0000

A new pediatric hospice and critical care center has opened on Jacksonville’s Southside, offering a dedicated space for children with serious illnesses and their families. Also ahead, a legal challenge is questioning the wording of Florida’s proposed property tax exemption amendment that voters will consider in November.

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First Coast Connect: AG candidate José Javier Rodríguez

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:17:28 +0000

With qualifying in all Florida races set to wrap this Friday, we catch up with Democratic candidate for state attorney general José Javier Rodríguez. Some recent internal and external polls suggest his challenge of appointed Republican incumbent James Uthmeier is within a handful of percentage points. We ask the candidate if his campaign is being affected by state and national news, how politicians are coping in a field already flooded with AI slop, and get his take on the current AG’s frequent forays into Jacksonville city business.

Guest: José Javier Rodríguez, Democratic candidate for Florida attorney general

Juneteenth at St. John's Cathedral

A “shared call to justice” and a celebration of African American sacred choral music is at the core of a planned Juneteenth observance at St. John’s Cathedral in Downtown Jacksonville. The program’s theme is built around a piece by singer/songwriter Beth Neilsen Chapman, titled How We Love, performed by the Jacksonville Gospel Chorale with assistance from visiting composer, conductor and African American gospel music scholar Dr. Raymond Wise. Wise was the conductor and choir leader in the Emmy and Award Winning PBS documentary Amen: Music of the Black Church. The annual event, which features the Very Rev. Kate Moorehead Carroll as keynote speaker, will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday at the cathedral on East Church Street, followed by a reception.

Guests:

Dr. Raymond Wise, executive director of the African American Arts Institute and professor of African American and African Diaspora Studies at Indiana University
Dr. Barbara Bouie, Sandalwood High School choral director, former choral activities director at Edward Waters University

Shopping under the stars

Live music and local art under the oaks at the AMP are de rigueur at the quarterly Night Market in St. Augustine. Since its creation nearly a decade ago, the event has blossomed into a packed attraction: part farmers market, part street festival. In addition to crafts, gifts, a food truck court and cocktail concessionaires, the June event features performances by local artists Claire Vandiver and Bad Dog Mama on the Front Porch stage. The next Night Market will be 5-9 p.m. Tuesday at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. The event is free, and overflow parking is available at the Elk’s Lodge next door.

Guest: Dianya Markovits, director of public relations and partnerships at SJC Cultural Events, Inc.

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The Morning Report: Water Restoration in the Trout River and Local Facial Recognition Lawsuit

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 10:55:14 +0000

Efforts to improve water quality along Jacksonville’s Trout River are expanding, as volunteers add new oyster habitats designed to filter pollution. Also, a Fort Myers man is suing the Jacksonville Beach Police Department and other law enforcement agencies after he was arrested following a facial recognition match that was later challenged.

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First Coast Connect: View to a blockade

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:25:05 +0000

A 6.1 earthquake is just the latest jolt to the lives of ordinary Cubans, who are dealing with political uncertainty, frequent blackouts and an oil shortage so severe people have taken to burning garbage for fuel. We speak to four Jacksonville organizers of a youth and labor delegation that recently traveled to Cuba. They discuss the challenges, as well as how supply and power shortages are affecting the nation’s much-lauded healthcare system.

Guests:

Hakim Jihad, organizer, U.S. Hands off Cuba Committee of Jacksonville
Kaya Cuny, organizer, U.S. Hands off Cuba Committee of Jacksonville
Mike Todd, organizer, U.S. Hands off Cuba Committee of Jacksonville
Wells Todd, organizer, U.S. Hands off Cuba Committee of Jacksonville

Personal injury

Growing up in rural Iowa, Bryson Hendricks faced an early, determinative injury: losing part of his hand. That injury impacted but did not deter him, as he recounts in his new book, Don’t Miss: A Small-Town Boy’s Victory Over Adversity. Now a St. Augustine resident, Hendricks is both an accomplished musician and a (now retired) homebuilder, who continued working construction throughout his life. We ask the author why he wanted to tell his story now and what message he hopes it has for others facing a personal calamity.

Guest: Bryson Hendricks, musician, author of Don’t Miss: A Small-Town Boy’s Victory Over Adversity

Shelling out

A group of local environmental nonprofits are employing oysters to help improve water quality in the St. Johns and Trout rivers. Organizations are creating the largest artificial oyster reef in the St. Johns River watershed, continuing similar work last year along the shoreline at Riverview Park. Oysters are natural filter feeders, with just one adult oyster able to filter up to 50 gallons of water a day. The groups are installing 30-pound structures, called Pervious Oyster Shell Habitat — or POSH — modules made up of recycled oyster shells and concrete to create a plastic-free habitat for oysters to thrive. We ask two organizers how the project is part of a bigger push to bring more environmental education and restoration efforts to North Jacksonville.

Guests:

Hunter Mathews, founder, Jax Oyster Conservation
Marshiray Wellington, chair, Riverview Collective Community Organization

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The Morning Report: School Tax Vote Headed to November Ballot and Data Center Pause in Nassau

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 11:13:38 +0000

Duval County voters will decide this November whether to renew a school property tax that district leaders say supports teacher salaries, arts programs, and athletics. We’ll explain why the Jacksonville City Council moved the measure forward and what’s at stake for local schools. Also, Nassau County commissioners have approved a one-year moratorium on new data center applications as officials study potential impacts on water resources and electrical infrastructure.

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First Coast Connect: Ask the Mayor

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:57:20 +0000

After the Legislature’s decision to put the future of property tax cuts before voters in November, we look at the potential blast radius of the revenue loss. In our monthly Ask the Mayor segment, we also ask Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan about her new blight abatement efforts, community blowback after a traffic-plagued Ironman event and her working relationship with incoming City Council president Nick Howland.

Guest: Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan

Classically new

From Rachmaninoff's 1st to Beethoven's 9th, the Jacksonville Symphony announces its upcoming season in a newly renovated performance hall. The orchestra’s 2026/27 concert season includes classical stalwarts like Mozart, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Mahler, but includes a pops series featuring songs from stage and screen, as well as by artists like Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Buffet and Paul McCartney. Of particular local interest is a one-night-only performance of an original musical score written to accompany the 1926 silent film, The Flying Ace, which features an all-Black cast and is the only full-length surviving "race film" produced by Norman Studios in Arlington. The performance marks the film’s 100th anniversary. We ask the orchestra’s director how the performances were chosen and what he’s looking forward to after this summer’s extensive acoustic renovations to Jacoby Symphony Hall.

Guest: Courtney Lewis, music director, Jacksonville Symphony

Philippines Independence Day

As the city with the largest Filipino population in Florida, Jacksonville undertakes a celebration of Pinoy pride at the weekly Riverside Arts Market under the Fuller Warren Bridge this weekend. The event features multiple food vendors selling Filipino favorites like lumpia, pancit, halo-halo, adobo, sisig and much more. The event also features a Manila streetwear fashion show, a performance of the traditional Tinikling dance, a kids zone and more than 50 Filipino retailers and entertainers. The event commemorates the 128-year anniversary of the Pacific island nation’s independence from Spanish rule. The Philippines Independence Day Celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 13. RAM is free and open to the public.

Guests:

Nique Dayrit Davis, board member, Jax Filipinos
SJ Osborne, market manager, Riverside Arts Market

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The Morning Report: Budget Uncertainty in Jax and Florida Earthquake Tremors

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 10:55:13 +0000

Jacksonville city leaders are preparing for difficult budget decisions as uncertainty grows over a proposed property tax referendum that could significantly reduce city revenue. We’ll hear why funding for a planned downtown Publix and other projects may face increased scrutiny. Also, a powerful earthquake off the coast of Cuba was felt across much of Florida, including Jacksonville. Officials say the tremors caused concern but posed little threat of damage or a tsunami.

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First Coast Connect: Council President-elect Nick Howland

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:04:18 +0000

The city’s commitment to nonprofit spending — from healthcare for the poor to programs for at-risk youth and families — will be thrown into stark relief as the city crafts a budget in the shadow of potentially massive tax cuts. It’s a difficult posture for any lawmaker, but one that incoming City Council President Nick Howland will inherit ahead of a statewide vote on property taxes this November. We ask Howland how that fiscal reality might distill local priorities, and how it could affect projects likely to be decided on his watch, like a new Duval County jail and future Downtown incentives. We also ask how a series of investigations, including a State Attorney’s Office probe of current council President Kevin Carrico, may be affecting public perceptions of the office.

Guest: Nick Howland, Jacksonville City Council president-elect

Legend has it ...

After a 46-year career in law enforcement, including three decades with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and 15 years as a school resource officer at Parkwood Heights Elementary, Officer Willie Perry got his flowers — and then some. A recent schoolwide sendoff included a children's book, The Legend on the Sidewalk: A Story for Officer Willie Perry, written by the school’s reading coach about Perry's lasting effect on the students. A copy of the book was also provided to every student at the school. We talk to the author and “The Legend” himself about the impact and rewards of his years of service to the Arlington school.

Guests:

Amy Clark, author of The Legend on the Sidewalk, reading interventionist at Parkwood Heights Elementary
Officer Willie Perry, recently retired school resource officer, Duval County School Police

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The Morning Report: School Bus Camera Tickets and New Grocery Openings in Jacksonville

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:54:04 +0000

During today’s episode, we look at the first month of Duval County’s new school bus camera enforcement program, which resulted in nearly 3,200 citations for drivers accused of illegally passing stopped school buses. We’ll also preview Aldi’s continued expansion in Jacksonville, with several former Winn-Dixie and Harveys locations set to reopen as Aldi stores in the coming weeks.

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First Coast Connect: Week in Review

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:20:09 +0000

Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week:

Famed environmental attorney Erin Brockovich enters the data center controversy even as Nassau County hits pause on their construction.
A St. Johns County teacher is fired over a yearbook rap lyric she says she didn’t quote.
Local governments start to grapple with the possibility of losing as much as half their funding to property tax cuts.
A zoning proposal that some say would have limited public participation is withdrawn from City Council.

Guests:

Obi Umunna, attorney and political consultant
Jack Webb, attorney and former Jacksonville City Council president
Jake Stofan, city and state government reporter at Action News Jax
Noah Hertz, St. Johns County reporter, Jacksonville Today

Love fest

A St. Marys community theater presents a darker but still comedic spin-off of one of the most popular sitcoms in TV history. Trouble at the Tropicabana parodies the iconic characters of I Love Lucy, featuring Lucy, Ricky, Ethel and Fred as they get involved with mobsters and movie moguls in an interactive murder mystery. Hosted for one day at Cottle and Gunn, a locally owned vintage shop in downtown St. Marys, the performance also includes a three course, Cuban-inspired meal.

Guests:

David Wyttenbach, director, Trouble at Tropicabana
Vicki Wyttenbach, actor playing Lucy
Deborah Cottle, actor playing as Ethel
Carlos Semidei, actor playing Ricky

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The Morning Report: School Security Expansion in Duval County Elementary Schools

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 10:55:05 +0000

Duval County Public Schools is expanding weapons detection systems at some elementary schools starting this school year and we look at some of the events happening in Jacksonville to get you ready for the weekend.

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First Coast Connect: Murder case shake-up

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:47:17 +0000

A high profile murder case saw some high stakes legal developments with the recent disclosure of a statement allegedly made by the defendant to an informant in the Duval County jail. According to a document released by prosecutors last week, the inmate claims accused killer Mario Fernandez Saldana revealed that his wife, Shanna Gardner, was the mastermind of the fatal 2022 ambush that claimed the life of St. Augustine father of four Jared Bridegan (Shanna Gardner’s estranged ex-husband). The document says Fernandez Saldana also asked the inmate to help frame Bridegan’s widow (his second wife) after the inmate bonded out. With jury selection in Fernandez Saldana’s murder trial set to begin Aug. 10, we get legal perspective on how consequential the new disclosure could be, both for him and his co-defendant, Shanna Gardner.

Guest: Belkis Plata, criminal defense attorney

School of thought

It’s been burned to the ground, rebuilt, destroyed, relocated, repurposed and ultimately operated under at least eight different names, but the Stanton moniker and what it signifies remains an indelible piece of local history, one deeply embedded in Jacksonville’s African American community. We talk to the authors of Stanton, a new book exploring the 140-plus year history of an institution that began as the first school for Black students in post-Emancipation Florida and was for a time led by civil rights activist and writer (then-Principal) James Weldon Johnson. Stanton later became Duval County’s first magnet school and remains the oldest continually operating high school in the state. The book tells the story through hundreds of photographs, memories of famed alumni, sports records, cultural endeavors and decades of academic achievements.

Guests:

Ronald Galvin, co-author, Stanton
Tiffany Galvin Green, co-author, Stanton

Power Ranger

Amid our seemingly inescapable technological landscape, it’s increasingly rare to find kids engaging in simple things like going outside to play, searching for critters and getting their hands dirty. But one Jacksonville 8-year-old is bucking that trend and getting recognized for doing so. Raza Syed’s interest in nature and wildlife led him to the Junior Ranger program and later the Jr. Ranger Competition, a National Wildlife Federation event that asks young explorers to share their outdoor adventures in a bid for the national title. Raza placed second in the competition semifinals, ranking in the top 1% out of more than 100,00 kids participating nationwide. We ask Raza about his favorite animal facts and hear how the competition allowed him to gain a deeper appreciation for the great outdoors.

Guests:

Raza Syed, Jr. Ranger quarterfinalist
Asghar Syed, Raza’s father

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The Morning Report: Property Tax Cut Proposal Fallout

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:48:08 +0000

Florida voters will decide the future of property taxes this November, and local leaders are warning the proposed cuts could have major consequences for county budgets and public services. Also, policy experts are raising concerns that property tax changes could shift costs to renters and businesses, potentially leading to higher rents and new fees if the amendment wins voter approval.

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First Coast Connect: On Wednesday’s show: A House Call from Dr. Joe

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:09:50 +0000

The spiraling Ebola epidemic in central Africa and the recent hantavirus outbreak are sobering reminders of the globally interdependent realities of healthcare. We discuss how the current political landscape and changes in spending on international medicine could be contributing to the spread of disease. Also, RFK wants you off your antidepressants and has no problem calling you fat: Why some say his approach to addiction, obesity and mental health is a retread of decades-old “shame-based” messaging. We discuss those recent medical headlines with Dr. Joe Sirven, who also answers your healthcare questions on any topic.

Guest: Dr. Joe Sirven, Mayo Clinic neurologist and host of WJCT’s What’s Health Got To Do With It?

’Zine fest

A celebration of experimental publishing is headed to the heart of Jacksonville’s art scene. The 5th annual Duval Comic & Zine Fest sets up shop — including demos, displays and DIY inspiration — in the CoRK Arts District. It’s a chance to check out the evolution of the ‘zine from the early fanzines of the punk and indie music scenes to the social justice and protest era to its modern iteration as an anything-goes artist chapbook. More than 70 artists will be on hand showing/selling/swapping their wares, and activities include live risograph or RISO printing, button making and hands-on workshops. We talk to two participant organizers about how the event has grown to meet the moment.

Guests:

Kiana Blaylock, poet, teacher, independent journalist and zinester
Thony Aiuppy, art educator, cartoonist, zinester and storyteller

Something’s Coming

The legendary lyricist and composer Stephen Sondheim died five years ago as a nonagenarian, but he remains freshly fascinating for generations of fans. A new book by Pulitzer finalist Daniel Okrent about his life and troubled relationship with his mother, Stephen Sondheim: Art Isn't Easy, has reignited conversations about the demanding and influential artist. Considered a “difficult genius,” Sondheim is the creator behind such seminal Broadway musicals as Gypsy, West Side Story, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Sweeney Todd, and Sunday In The Park With George, among many others. A local production of the musical revue Sondheim on Sondheim marries the best of his personal songbook with video interview segments with the master himself. The show runs at Theatre Jacksonville from June 5 to June 21.

Guests:

Curtis J. Williams, director, Sondheim on Sondheim at Theatre Jacksonville
Josh Waller, actor
Leanne Gullo, actor

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The Morning Report: School Tax Vote Delayed & Expanded Capacity for Jax Beach Bars

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:18:01 +0000

The Jacksonville City Council’s Finance Committee delays a vote on a measure that would place the Duval County school district’s teacher pay tax referendum on the November ballot, putting pressure on council members to act before election deadlines. Plus, Jacksonville Beach launches a pilot program allowing some bars and restaurants to temporarily expand outdoor capacity during Jaguars home games as the team prepares for seasons impacted by stadium construction and relocation.

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First Coast Connect: Killing medical research

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:28:16 +0000

In late April, the White House abruptly fired the entire board of the National Science Foundation, the agency that provides the largest support and funding for nonmedical research and education. It was just the latest in a series of unprecedented decisions that has upended the scientific world. Along with funding freezes, spending caps and deep cuts to ongoing research, the effects are being felt not just in hospitals and university settings, but in the lives of ordinary individuals, including some who are deeply invested in research outcomes. We talk to a participant of one recently canceled Alzheimer’s study about the answers she’d hoped to gain into a devastating family history of dementia, and a local HIV/AIDS researcher who has seen critical funding end for a longitudinal study dating back to 2007.

Guests:

Jennifer Mansfield, research study participant, partner at Holland & Knight
Dr. Mobeen Rathore, pediatric infectious diseases physician and founding director of the University of Florida Center for HIV/AIDS Research, Education and Service

Urban arboretum tour

A first of its kind approach to preserving, appreciating and educating around Duval County's urban tree canopy, the quarterly Historic Springfield TreeWalks are designed to transform the neighborhood into a “living classroom.” The upcoming Integrated Urban Ecology tour focuses on how the natural elements of the historic district combine with manmade ones in ways that affect walkability, flood control and the overall feel of the community. Led by an experienced urban planner and landscape architect, the event highlights the nascent Springfield Arboretum, a project showcasing tree species around the historic district, which includes 35 identification tags and an opportunity for self-guided tours. We talk to the June 6 tour’s guide about how the Springfield of today is a legacy of decisions made generations ago.

Guest: Daniel Ashworth Jr., senior landscape architect and urban designer, member of Springfield Preservation and Revitalization board of directors

Main drag

Jacksonville community theater The 5 & Dime presents The Legend of Georgia McBride, a special show to honor Pride month and the art of drag. Set in a Florida dive bar, the show tells the story of a young Elvis impersonator who suddenly finds himself making a career change to lip-syncing drag queen. The play explores the poignant ups and downs of self-acceptance and identity, while never losing its sense of humor. JaxPlays gave particular praise to performer Brandon Hines, “whose years as a professional drag queen are on glittering display,” calling the performance “astonishingly assured.” We talk to the show's directors and stage manager about why this story resonates with local audiences and how it fits into the theater’s overall mission.

Guests:

Madelene Skinner, co-director, The Legend of Georgia McBride
Ashli Simmons, stage manager, The Legend of Georgia McBride
Greg Hewitt, actor playing Eddie in “The Legend of Georgia McBride”

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The Morning Report: Potential Revenue Losses in JAX and Late Day Storm Threats

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 10:53:36 +0000

As state lawmakers are in Tallahassee this week for a special session focused on property tax reform, we’ll look at concerns from Jacksonville leaders who warn the changes could have major impacts on local budgets and city services. Plus, there's a threat of heavy storms and localized flash flooding this evening in Northeast Florida.

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First Coast Connect: Breaking down the budget

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 15:41:33 +0000

After much bitterness, delay and a two-week extended special session, the state House and Senate finally coalesced around a $114.5 billion budget, including $30 billion for K-12 education, more than $500 million for Everglades restoration and $425 million for the Rural and Family Lands program. But what lies beneath? Investigative reporter Jason Garcia breaks down what he calls “the more interesting line items, tax breaks and policy changes embedded” in the 501-page document, including money for a Mike Huckabee-aligned anti-Communist school curriculum, tax cuts for casinos and a program to test wastewater for explosives and narcotics that some believe could be used to track the use of abortion medications as well. If you have a budget question, you can call us on air at 904-549-2937 or email firstcoastconnect@wjct.org.

Guest: Jason Garcia, investigative reporter, creator of Seeking Rents newsletter and podcast

Change in sight

A Jacksonville ophthalmologist who surgically restores sight for patients who can’t afford the procedure shares his vision for changing healthcare. Dr. Jeffrey Levenson founded the Gift of Sight more than three decades ago, a program providing free cataract surgeries to the uninsured or medically indigent. His work has become part of an ongoing partnership with Vision Is Priceless and, in 2023, a viral collaboration with YouTube megastar MrBeast, which restored vision to 1,000 people around the world. Levenson, who’s given two Ted Talks advocating for greater access to cataract treatments, notes, “Half of all blindness in the world is people who need a 10-minute surgery.” We talk about the eye opening nature of his work in indigent healthcare.

Guest: Dr. Jeffrey Levenson, ophthalmologist, board member/partner physician, Vision Is Priceless

Peace and poetry

A local event honoring the legacy of one of Jacksonville’s most preeminent writers offers a chance for young, budding poets to amplify their voices and stories. The 2026 James Weldon Johnson Young Writers Festival invites students in grades 3-12 to attend three days of workshops and activities centered around poetry, creative writing, book design and more. This year’s theme is “Our Voices Matter — What Peace Looks Like To Me,” with students asked to submit a poem or monologue to perform for a chance to qualify for scholarships and prizes. The festival also showcases local luminaries, including Action News Jax anchor Tenikka Hughes and award-winning filmmaker and author Nola D. Oracle. The festival will be held from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. June 10-13 at the Jacksonville Main Library. The deadline for students to register is Tuesday.

Guests:

Sharon Coon, founder, Friends of Brentwood Public Library Inc. and James Weldon Johnson Young Writers Festival
Nehemiah Cooper, elementary winner, JWJ Young Writers Festival

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The Morning Report: Michelin Recognition for NE FL Restaurants and Special Session on Property Taxes

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:57:37 +0000

Northeast Florida's restaurant scene earns new recognition as eight local establishments are added to the Michelin Guide, including restaurants in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Amelia Island. Also, Florida lawmakers return to Tallahassee for a special session focused on property taxes today.

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First Coast Connect: Week in Review

Fri, 29 May 2026 15:55:22 +0000

Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week:

Members of the Jacksonville Aviation Authority Board accuse City Council President-elect Nick Howland of harassment and threats.
Gov. Ron DeSantis pushes to eliminate property taxes on most primary homes.
A busy end to the Duval County school year, with the ouster of the school chief, and new records linking a controversial teacher suspension to a School Board member’s complaint.
The family of four Black men tortured or murdered by police are slated to receive compensation for the 1949 Groveland, Florida, incident.
The City Council declines to prohibit a new jail from being located in historically disadvantaged, or “redlined,” communities.

Guests:

Christina Burgess, reporter at First Coast News
David Bauerlein, metro reporter at the Florida Times-Union
Megan Mallicoat, education reporter at Jacksonville Today
Robert Brown, news director, WJXT News4Jax

Time traveler

A man who spent his adult life working for the U.S. Postal Service delivers an entirely new chapter of his career. In his debut young adult novel, M. Nathan King creates a time-shifting landscape to teach kids about history. Ezra Whetstone and the Masters of Time — The Mark of Aion takes readers on a journey following the 13-year-old protagonist as he explores historical settings from the Library of Alexandria in ancient Egypt to the Inca Empire. We talk to King ahead of the book’s release about why he believes age-appropriate storytelling is the key to engaging kids in history.

Guest: M. Nathan King, author of Ezra Whetstone and the Masters of Time — The Mark of Aion

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The Morning Report: Rainy Weekend Ahead For The First Coast

Fri, 29 May 2026 11:00:52 +0000

A rainy weekend is ahead for Northeast Florida as forecasters warn of widespread storms, possible flooding, and several inches of rain through Sunday. Plus, despite the wet forecast, communities across the region are kicking off summer with events ranging from line dancing at the beach to a family-friendly music celebration in Jacksonville’s historic LaVilla neighborhood.

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First Coast Connect: It takes a village

Thu, 28 May 2026 16:08:03 +0000

In the beginning, World Golf Village promised a lifestyle as smooth and manicured as a putting green. Originally, the golf course community was home to PGA Tour Productions, the World Golf Hall of Fame, the PGA Tour Stop — Florida’s largest golf store — and an IMAX theater, all arrayed around a 190-foot-tall steeple-topped tower. But in the intervening years, the village has lost all of those amenities and become increasingly hemmed in by big box stores, including a Buc-ee’s, a Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, a Costco, a Home Depot and, soon, a Walmart Supercenter. We talk with St. Johns County beat reporter Noah Hertz about his recent reporting on how the development has evolved.

Guest: Noah Hertz, St. Johns County reporter, Jacksonville Today

Building bridges

A Jacksonville sheriff’s officer literally talks a man off the ledge. On April 12, an officer who just happened to be on scene directing traffic found himself deeply involved in efforts to save a suicidal man on the Dames Point Bridge. Officer Antonio Richardson, also a pastor for more than three decades, pleaded with, prayed over and cajoled the man to step back from the edge, before he finally took Richardson’s hand and was pulled into his embrace. The event was captured in a brief viral video, but the actual incident took most of an hour and involved several other officers as well. We talk to Richardson about how the remarkable moment fits into his career in law enforcement. If you or someone you know is going through a mental health crisis, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Guest: Officer Antonio Richardson, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office

Asian Night Market

A free community event anchored in celebrating Asian culture, cuisine and local vendors kicks off with two events next month. Asian Night Market Jax offers live entertainment, including karaoke and cultural dances, along with authentic dishes from Thailand, Korea, Cambodia, Philippines and Vietnam. The event is held the second weekend of every month outside the RD International Supermarket on Beach Boulevard, with the next market night slated from 4 to 10 p.m. June 12 and 13. Organizers added additional nights along the Riverwalk at Central Park at RiversEdge from 4 to 10 p.m. June 26 and 27. We sit down with event organizers to discuss how it has evolved and why the community keeps showing up — plus, we get a sneak peek of what’s on the menu.

Guest:

Madeline Nguyen, host, Asian Night Market
Vu Nguyen, co-host, Asian Night Market

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The Morning Report: Culinary Campus in Jax Endorsement and Special Session on Property Taxes

Thu, 28 May 2026 10:48:57 +0000

Jacksonville leaders are backing a proposal to bring a Culinary Institute of America campus to downtown as part of a Northbank development plan. Plus, Florida lawmakers prepare for a special session on property taxes as Governor Ron DeSantis pushes a plan that could eliminate property taxes for most homeowners while raising concerns about funding for local services.

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First Coast Connect: The triumph of the word nerds

Wed, 27 May 2026 16:03:55 +0000

Mark Maron, Kevin Smith and Sarah Koenig are just some of the voices that redefined audio journalism. A new documentary traces the evolution and triumph of podcasting, a medium that resurrected audio storytelling through the technology of RSS feeds and (initially) the iPod platform. We meet the director of the film Age of Audio ahead of the screening at WJCT Studios. The film features interviews with such podcast luminaries as Jad Abumrad (Radiolab, Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, Dolly Parton’s America), Ira Glass (This American Life), Matt Gourley (Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend), Sean Rameswaram (Today, Explained), Phoebe Judge (Criminal) and Fred Armisen (podcast omniguest). Following the film, director Shaun Michael Colón will join local podcasters and experts for a discussion and Q&A. The event is free, but an RSVP is requested.

Guests:

Shaun Michael Colón, filmmaker, Age of Audio
Badr Milligan, co-founder of Jax Podcasters United
Letisha Bereola, director of podcasting at WJCT Public Media

Life sentence

If you’ve ever wondered what gives certain sentences their undeniable punch — from Sam Jackson’s iconic “I’ve had it ...” diatribe from Snakes On A Plane to memorable Yoda-isms from the Star Wars franchise — there’s a book for that. This Is a Book of Sentence Diagrams: A Journey Through the Sharpest, Strangest, and Most Stirring Lines Ever Constructed offers a curated, illustrated journey through the land of the unabashed word nerd, breaking down our introduction to Mellville’s whale, Kafka’s cockroach and Mom’s go-to demurral (“Because I said so”). We meet the author and learn how he discovered the power of symbolic language.

Guest: Man Martin, author, This is a Book of Sentence Diagrams

Into the light

It’s the background of everywhere you look, fills the entire universe and makes up the static hiss on the in-between channels of old TV sets. While you can’t see it with the naked eye, the afterglow left behind thousands of years after the Big Bang is considered the oldest light in the universe. We discuss how scientists have accurately mapped out the Cosmic Microwave Background and how it helps experts timeline the history of the universe.

Guest: Eddie Whisler, director of planetarium and outreach, Museum of Science & History

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The Morning Report: Duval Jail Relocation Debate and New Florida Congressional Map Ruling

Wed, 27 May 2026 10:56:08 +0000

Jacksonville City Council members reject a resolution aimed at keeping a proposed new Duval County jail out of urban and historically Black neighborhoods. Meanwhile, a Florida judge declines to block the state’s newly approved congressional maps ahead of this year’s midterm elections, while voting rights groups vow to continue their legal challenge.

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First Coast Connect: Sunshine on ICE

Tue, 26 May 2026 15:41:25 +0000

A new directive from ICE has echoes of Fight Club rules: Not only does it instruct local law enforcement to keep immigration enforcement actions secret, the secrecy applies to the directive itself. A recent report by Florida investigative journalist Monique Madan was sparked when she obtained a copy of the confidential ICE directive, a federal order that directly contradicts Florida’s vaunted public records laws. Critics call it a “gag order” on police, noting the broad order effectively prevents local agencies from releasing any information about their compliance with or arrests made under 287(g), which deputizes law enforcement officers to act as immigration agents in identifying, arresting and detaining noncitizens.

Guest: Monique O. Madan, senior investigative journalist and founder of the “Two Can Be True” newsletter

Women's Giving Alliance

A collective giving initiative celebrates 25 years of philanthropy to support the needs of women and girls in Northeast Florida. Since 2001, the Women’s Giving Alliance has awarded $10 million in grants to more than 80 nonprofit organizations in the area. To commemorate this milestone, Delores Barr Weaver, an alliance co-founder, has offered a $150,000 match for donations through September. This is part of a larger strategic effort to address violence against women and girls by supporting organizations that share in this mission through mental health, safety, education and empowerment efforts. Duval County alone sees almost 5,000 cases of domestic violence per year, though research indicates many incidents don’t get reported.

Guests:

Sabeen Perwaiz, president, Women's Giving Alliance
Isaiah M. Oliver, president, The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida

Amplifying Avondale

A celebration of one of Jacksonville's most historic neighborhoods set to a soundtrack of Jill Scott and Mary J. Blige. The local band Groove Coalition performs classic soul and R&B at the upcoming Amplified Avondale event. Held the last Friday of every month, the event was created in 2022 to foster community and generate foot traffic for merchants on St. Johns Avenue. Stores and restaurants keep their doors open late for visitors, as multiple local bands perform along a community art walk that includes vendors from nearby neighborhood Murray Hill Farmer’s Market. We sit down with the event’s founder, aka the “Mayor of Avondale,” as well as a featured musician to discuss what’s planned, how the event has grown and how it might evolve in the future. Amplified Avondale is held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. May 29 on St. Johns Avenue.

Guests:

Ron Rothberg, founder, Amplified Avondale
Tommy Bridgewater, musician, Groove Coalition

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The Morning Report: Downtown JAX Growth and Florida Budget Agreement

Tue, 26 May 2026 10:57:27 +0000

Downtown Jacksonville’s Pearl Square development is moving forward, with the first apartment complex expected to open by the end of the year as part of a larger plan to reshape the city’s downtown area. Also, Florida legislative leaders have reached a budget agreement that includes funding for school choice programs, Everglades restoration, and targeted pay raises for law enforcement and correctional officers.

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First Coast Connect: Week in Review

Fri, 22 May 2026 15:58:27 +0000

Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week:

Congestion, confusion and contusions complicate Jacksonville’s inaugural Ironman.
The NAACP calls on college athletes to boycott eight Southern states, including Florida, for voting rights rollbacks.
Yet another subpoena expands the JEA investigation sparked by City Council President Kevin Carrico’s errant email.
A sworn statement contradicts a Deegan administration official’s claim that he was unaware of a city illegal gun registry.

Guests:

Nate Monroe, executive editor at the Florida Trib
Anthony Austin, anchor at First Coast News
Will Brown, race and poverty reporter at Jacksonville Today
David Bauerlein, metro reporter at the Florida Times-Union

The Merci seat

An open mic poetry collective with hip-hop roots promises a night of rhythm and creativity from local poets and artists. Described by organizers as one of Jacksonville’s few events devoted to incubating and fostering dynamic, performance-based poetry, Poetically Mic’d welcomes writers of all levels to share their work on stage in a welcoming atmosphere. Poetically Mic’d is founded by local rapper and community organizer Merci, hosting events ranging from poetry battles, artist showcases and other live performances. He says the movement “is dedicated to blending the power of poetry with hip-hop and dynamic lyricism to elevate Northeast Florida’s cultural scene.” A Poetry Open Mic is 7 to 11 p.m. May 31 at 9570 Regency Square Blvd.

Guest: Merci, rapper, founder and director of Poetically Mic’d

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The Morning Report: Marineland’s New Chapter and Memorial Day Weekend Events

Fri, 22 May 2026 10:59:17 +0000

On today’s episode, we hear how new ownership is reshaping the future of Marineland Dolphin Adventure after months of uncertainty for the historic aquarium and its dolphins. Plus, a look at Memorial Day weekend events across Northeast Florida, including the Blue Crab Festival in Palatka, JAX Anchor Fest in Jacksonville and Riverfest in Green Cove Springs.

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First Coast Connect: Flood control

Thu, 21 May 2026 15:42:12 +0000

Making sure new homes aren’t built in flood zones sounds like a no-brainer, but a surprising number of developments are in at-risk areas, made more vulnerable by rising seas. A proposed amendment to the city’s master plan for development focuses on steering new development out of harm’s way. Nearly three years after the mayor rolled out the 50-year resilience plan, the city is considering a comprehensive plan change that would incentivize rather than force developers to build with an eye to sustainable housing. The proposal creates “target growth areas” in which developers can build more densely in exchange for including affordable housing units and building properties resilient to the risks of climate change. We discuss how the city arrived at this approach and what the timetable is for adopting the change.

Guest: Helena Atalla Parola, director of the city’s Planning Department

Jacksonville Jazz Fest

With a lineup that ranges from P-Funk and esperanza spalding to Nile Rodgers and CHIC, the Jacksonville Jazz Fest showcases a vast expanse of musical styles, including some not traditionally thought of as jazz. We talk to acclaimed saxophonist and host of the WJCT 89.9 FM jazz program Bop City Daniel Stark about past Jazz Fest greats like Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Marcus Roberts, as well as what he’s most looking forward to this year (hint: Ghost-Note and John Lumpkin & The Covenant are on the shortlist). We also discuss what the annual event contributes to the local jazz scene, and whether more can be done to integrate the moment into a larger musical movement.

Guest: Daniel Stark, host of Bop City on WJCT 89.9 FM, executive director of Friday Musicale

Charismatic megafauna pics

Right whales are on the move north after a successful calving season, and an exhibit celebrating the endangered mammals is also on a journey. The Right Whales of Amelia Island exhibit is on display at the Beaches Museum through Aug. 23, part of a tour that began in Fernandina Beach and ends up at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium later this year. We talk to a local whale ambassador about why this was a bumper year for baby whales and what this season means for the creature’s long-term health and survival.

Guest: Krissi Barr, Amelia Island Whale Ambassadors

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The Morning Report: Culinary Incentives Moves Forward and Historic Preservation in Duval County

Thu, 21 May 2026 10:55:53 +0000

Jacksonville city leaders move closer to approving $35 million in public incentives aimed at bringing the Culinary Institute of America to a proposed downtown riverfront development. Plus, the Jacksonville History Center adds four new sites to its annual list of endangered historic structures in Duval County.

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First Coast Connect: Gram Parsons’ Florida legacy

Wed, 20 May 2026 15:50:25 +0000

From his role in the birth of alt-country to his tragic death at age 26, we explore the life and legacy of Florida’s own Gram Parsons on the eve of his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Known for his work playing with The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, in addition to launching the career of Emmylou Harris, Parsons is considered the founding father of country rock and alt-country. His preferred label was "Cosmic American Music," a genre-jumping style that blended R&B, folk and rock with traditional country. As one of 18 inductees this November, Parsons joins a class that includes Phil Collins, Fela Kuti, Iron Maiden and Queen Latifah. We talk to the Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist and author Bob Kealing about his definitive biography of the groundbreaking musician.

Guest: Bob Kealing, journalist and author of Calling Me Home: Gram Parsons and the Roots of Country Rock

Paw-Paw potion

He’s been called one of “Florida’s earliest and more successful snake-oil salesmen” and “America’s most colorful medical huckster,” but his signature elixir continues to captivate customers. Munyon’s Paw-Paw liqueur has been reanimated by two entrepreneurs and beverage industry veterans, who dug into the checkered but colorful history of Dr. James M. Munyon, a turn of the (last) century wellness guru and self-made millionaire (though never a doctor). Their new aperitif kindles the taste and ambiance of earlier times, without the original product’s secret ingredient: THC. We talk to the reporter who recently profiled the product and its creators in Flamingo Magazine.

Guest: Steve Dollar, freelance journalist, artistic director of the Tallahassee Film Festival

8th wonder

A storied after-school and summer program receives the largest grant in its 35-year history. The $250,000 gift from the Ponte Vedra Beach-based philanthropy the Warren and Augusta Hume Foundation will allow Sanctuary on 8th Street to upgrade its facilities and expand its offerings. Established in 1992, the 8th St. program has grown from a dozen participants in after-school and summer camp programs to hundreds of kids over the years. The facility, which caters to children ages 5 to 17 in the Eastside/Springfield area, plans to use the funds to create a "sensory, development and play" space and launch a new summer nourishment program. We talk to its executive director about what else the nonprofit needs and how the community can help.

Guests:

Rick Cartlidge Jr., executive director, Sanctuary on 8th Street
Emani Walker, program coach, Sanctuary on 8th Street

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The Morning Report: JEA Subpoenas Approved and Hastings Alcohol Debate

Wed, 20 May 2026 10:57:32 +0000

Jacksonville City Council moves forward with subpoenas for top JEA officials as an investigative committee examines allegations involving workplace culture, unpaid water fees from large customers, and a natural gas-fired power plant. Meanwhile, St. Johns County commissioners reject a Hastings restaurant’s request to serve beer and wine after objections from a nearby church.

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First Coast Connect: Your best, wrong choice

Tue, 19 May 2026 16:03:37 +0000

The typical office worker checks email 77 times a day. You may have already figured out: That’s not the most efficient use of your time. New York Times bestselling author David Epstein breaks down why setting boundaries helps us make better life decisions in his new book, Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better. He also explores why more choices, whether it’s swiping on a dating app or trying to choose something to watch on Netflix, aren’t necessarily a good thing and can, in fact, paralyze our ability to make satisfying decisions. He suggests adopting a practice of “satisficing,” which he says is a term “coined by Nobel laureate Herbert Simon, who famously said, ‘The best is the enemy of the good.’”

Guest: David Epstein, journalist, author of Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better

Body heat

A new research lab at the University of North Florida will test the long and short term health effects of extreme weather on athletes, laborers and members of the military. The new Perry Weather Heat Lab held its grand opening Monday at The Korey Stringer Institute’s UNF satellite location. The Connecticut-based institute is named for the Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle, who collapsed and died 25 years ago of exertional heatstroke during the team's training camp. Established in 2010, the institute focuses on “research, education, advocacy, and consultation to maximize performance, optimize safety, and prevent sudden death.” We discuss how the work of the lab could translate into specific remedies in an ever-warming planet.

Guests:

Michael Szymanski, director, Perry Weather Heat Lab and assistant professor of kinesiology at the University of North Florida
Gabrielle Brewer, associate director, Perry Weather Heat Lab and post-doctoral associate the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of North Florida

DIY jellyfish terrarium

As more people search for ways to unplug, a Jacksonville entrepreneur is blending creativity and connection. What began as a personal mental health outlet has evolved into a creative series centered on wellness and community for LaRoLé Studio owner Amber Lettsome. Her Sip & Grow botanical workshops offer immersive hands-on experiences designed to help adults create and unwind. Lettsome shares the inspiration behind the events and the upcoming jellyfish terrarium class May 20 at Juice Wine Bar.

Guest: Amber Lettsome, founder and creative director, LaRoLé Studio

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The Morning Report: Heat Research Lab Opens at UNF and Grocery Changes in Brentwood

Tue, 19 May 2026 10:46:08 +0000

A new heat safety research lab has opened at the University of North Florida, where scientists will study the health effects of extreme weather on athletes, workers and military personnel. Also in Jacksonville, a Harveys Supermarket in Brentwood remaining open after a deal between the city and Winn-Dixie will transition into a Winn-Dixie location.

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First Coast Connect: The Murdaugh murders

Mon, 18 May 2026 15:41:36 +0000

A murder conviction in one of the most high-profile crimes of the past decade was overturned by the South Carolina Supreme Court last week based on the meddling of a small-county court clerk. The decision was both evidence of a robust system designed to protect the rights of the accused and a glaring example of how our nation's jury system is vulnerable to the interference of even bit players. We ask two local trial attorneys, including one raised and schooled in South Carolina, whether the verdict reversal in the notorious Alex Murdaugh murder case suggests the need for changes in the criminal justice system.

Guests:

Teri Sopp, assistant public defender, criminal defense attorney
Lisa Varon, reference law librarian, adjunct professor of law, Jacksonville University College of Law

Trauma informed response

From the moment trauma strikes, be it a gunshot, a car crash or a stroke, a system of first responders clicks into motion, which, if successful, shuttles a patient from the precipice of death to physical stability and, eventually , recovery. The path from wreckage to rehab can involve dozens of EMTs, ER nurses and trauma surgeons, all of whom experience the stress and reward of working the space between life and death. We talk to two veteran trauma first responders about how they manage their daily exposure to things most would hope to never see, and how they pass that experience to others entering the field.

Guests:

Dr. Shilpa Amin, chair of emergency medicine at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital
Dr. Bradley Elias, medical director of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department

Batter up

A new baseball league aims to get talented players off the bench and back in the game. The Jacksonville Competitive Baseball League was established to hone player skills and spotlight athletes who may have been overlooked due to injury, finances or lack of exposure. The 2026 season is underway and runs through July 12.

Guests:

Jonathan Vazquez, founder, Jacksonville Competitive Baseball League
John Peters, manager, The Muffin Freaks

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The Morning Report: Duval School Repair Timeline and MOSH Demolition Happening Soon

Mon, 18 May 2026 10:47:51 +0000

Duval County Public Schools is considering accelerating repairs and construction projects at several aging campuses, including a full rebuild of Raines High School that could begin next year. Also, demolition is expected to begin soon on Jacksonville’s former Museum of Science and History building on the Southbank.

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First Coast Connect: Week in Review

Fri, 15 May 2026 15:23:51 +0000

Each Friday, our panel of media experts dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week:

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump picks up two new clients over concerns about law enforcement response in Duval and Clay counties.
The city gives Winn-Dixie $12 million to keep it in Jacksonville, even as residents of Brentwood and Green Cove Springs fight to keep the grocer in their communities.
Florida’s attorney general targets the city, the NFL and AI chatbots as his first election looms.

Guests:

Obi Umunna, attorney and political consultant
Mike Mendenhall, associate editor and City Hall reporter at Jacksonville Today
Sylvia Perry, editor of the Jacksonville Free Press
Frank Powers, former assignment manager at WJXT News4Jax

Musical minds

Music and mental health come together in Stronger Than Stigma’s fourth Concert + Conversation. The event is a fundraiser for the advocacy organization, but also a rare fusion of entertainment and candid explorations of mental health challenges. Staged at Blue Jay Listening Room in Jacksonville Beach, the event features live music by Rambler Kane and Three Leg Cat, followed by a moderated panel discussion on the musicians’ own experiences, and the interplay between artistry and psychological well-being. Tickets for the “concert-meets-couch” event benefit the local organization.

Guests:

Gabrielle Magid, founder and CEO of Stronger Than Stigma
Rambler Kane, singer/songwriter

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The Morning Report: Riverfront Plaza Expansion and Ironman Weekend in Jacksonville

Fri, 15 May 2026 10:54:20 +0000

Jacksonville residents got a first look at plans for the second phase of Riverfront Plaza, with new renderings showcasing a beer garden café, riverfront swings, winding walkways, and expanded pedestrian and bicycle access near the Main Street Bridge. Also ahead this weekend, the first-ever Ironman Jacksonville is set to bring nearly 2,000 athletes from around the world to compete in a full-distance triathlon spanning Downtown, Riverside, San Marco, the Southside, Nocatee, and Ponte Vedra Beach.

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First Coast Connect: Political analysis with Chris Hand

Thu, 14 May 2026 16:04:34 +0000

As the federal government positions artificial intelligence as a national priority while ramping up AI data centers' construction, local governments are increasingly pushing back. Last week, Florida passed legislation regulating data centers, allowing local communities to pause or deny the construction of new ones. The new law signifies an uncommon break between Florida and the priorities of President Trump, who signed an executive order in July 2025 calling for an accelerated buildout of AI infrastructure while easing federal regulations. We discuss how local communities are responding to AI infrastructure, what to expect from Florida’s special session to pass a budget and why Jacksonville is being named the best city for first-time homebuyers, even as access to affordable housing remains a major issue.

Guest: Chris Hand, local government expert, attorney and co-author with the late Sen. Bob Graham of America, the Owner's Manual

IVF access

Individuals and couples trying to conceive face a slew of challenges, from the sheer cost of in vitro fertilization to the physical and emotional toll of hormone treatments and the anxiety of repeated treatments and uncertain outcomes. But living through the experience has birthed a new kind of process-midwife known as an infertility doula. We meet a local practitioner who says sharing the knowledge she gleaned in her own fertility experience gives clients comfort and confidence in what can be both a life-changing and a life-giving process.

Guests:

Alexandra Hamrick, founder, The Infertility Doula
Marisa Coloñ, full-spectrum doula, student midwife

Tri hard

From the streets of Downtown Jacksonville to the waters of the St. Johns River, the toughest triathletes brace for this weekend's competition. We meet a competitor, a coach and the organizer of the inaugural Jacksonville Ironman. The ultimate endurance race features a 2.4-mile river swim, a 112-mile bike loop that runs from the city center to the Beaches, and 26.2-mile run through Downtown. Among those competing in the contest is first-time Ironman contender and Jacksonville City Council member Raul Arias. The swim, which runs from Metro Park to just west of the Cummer Museum, is viewable by spectators along the Northbank Riverwalk. The running course wends through Lavilla and Riverside before ending in Riverfront Park. The race is expected to affect traffic in both Duval and St. Johns counties, but the only road that will be closed entirely is the Nocatee Parkway Flyover between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Guests:

Skye Johnson, 5x Ironman participant, coach and owner of Tri with Skye
Emily Rogers, first time Ironman participant
Ryan Lobato, communications manager, The IRONMAN Group

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The Morning Report: New Riverfront Park Opening and Historic Stanton School Restoration

Thu, 14 May 2026 10:54:55 +0000

Jacksonville’s downtown riverfront continues to evolve with the official opening of the new Riverfront Music Garden and a redesigned section of the Northbank Riverwalk. The new public space celebrates local music history with interactive features and a Walk of Fame honoring artists with Jacksonville ties. Also, the Jacksonville City Council is advancing efforts to preserve local history by approving funding to restore the historic Stanton school building in LaVilla.

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First Coast Connect: Concerns of the 'anxious generation'

Wed, 13 May 2026 15:17:08 +0000

A recent NBC News poll found that only 38% of Generation Z is looking forward to the future. Nearly half said if they had a choice, they’d travel into the past — a time before social media, cellphones and the sense that both political and planetary environments are increasingly uninhabitable. This vicarious nostalgia for a time they never experienced, known as anemoia, has become common among those under 30, as they face perilous economic and increasingly challenging social realities. We talk about how a generation that has earned the nickname “the anxious generation” sets a path when every step is uncertain.

Guests:

Taylor White, junior, Fleming Island High School
Jalicia Lewis, community outreach and engagement lead, Jacksonville Climate Coalition
Gabriel James, founder of Pathway America charter at Flagler College

Free dental care

Two weeks ago we told you about Florida’s emergency dentistry crisis. On Wednesday, we preview a two-day event designed to help as many as 1,800 locals in need of free dental care. Sponsored by the Florida Dental Association Foundation, the 11th Florida Mission of Mercy event will be Friday and Saturday at the Prime Osborn Convention Center, along with a special Veterans’ First initiative on Thursday. (Veterans can pre-register by visiting www.flamom.org and clicking the red “Veterans’ Dental Event” button.) The event offers free cleanings, fillings, tooth extractions, pediatric dentistry and root canals. The event is ticketed: After checking in on-site, patients are given a specific appointment time and asked to return for care. Appointments are given on a first-come, first-served basis, so early arrival is encouraged. Doors open at 7 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Guest: Dr. Tom Brown, dentist and co-chair of the 2026 Florida Mission of Mercy

Emancipation Celebration

When President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, it applied to Florida as well as nine other states that seceded from the Union. The policy was known to those living in Union-controlled areas, including St. Augustine and Jacksonville. But for parts of the state still governed by the Confederacy, the formal proclamation wasn’t announced until more than two years later, on May 20, 1865. And it would be another month before word reached the final formally enslaved areas of the nation in Texas — a day now celebrated as the federal holiday of Juneteenth. A local celebration of Emancipation Day was started in 1913 by humanitarian and philanthropist Eartha M.M. White and revived in 2021 by Jacksonville City Council member and Clara White Mission CEO Ju’Coby Pittman. This year’s event will be from 5-9 p.m. Sunday at Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park, and features live performances by STR8UP Band, Mal Jones, DJ Cook, Alisha Merine and Kiyurah Davis, as well as presentations by local historians, food vendors and a celebratory setting.

Guests:

Carla Mechele Jones, Vibrant Places Collective facilitator
Yollie Copeland, founder and tour guide, Explore Jax Core

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The Morning Report: Jacksonville Gun Log Lawsuit

Wed, 13 May 2026 10:53:47 +0000

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is seeking millions in fines from the city of Jacksonville over security logs that tracked people carrying firearms into City Hall and the Yates Building. Also, Jacksonville officials are asking for public input on a proposed new special district on Jacksonville's Westside, which could fund local improvements through assessments on commercial properties.

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First Coast Connect: Ask the Mayor

Tue, 12 May 2026 15:13:36 +0000

Two months out from the official start of budget season, planning for the mayor’s proposal is well underway, along with hints of potential sticking points. Some members of the Jacksonville City Council are (again) gearing up to fight city health initiatives, and state restrictions on DEI spending threaten support of a range of projects, including funding for the Black, Hispanic and Asian chambers of commerce. In our monthly Ask the Mayor segment, we ask Mayor Donna Deegan about her spending priorities, the multiple ongoing investigations into JEA and a backlog on affordable housing spending. Deegan also answers your calls and questions. Submit a question or comment to the mayor at firstcoastconnect.org, email firstcoastconnect@wjct.org or reach us on air at 904-549-2937.

Guest: Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan

Musical chairs

More comfortable seats and improved acoustics are two of the biggest changes promised in a summertime overhaul of Jacoby Symphony Hall. The orchestra’s home is slated for a makeover beginning June 8, with completion set to conclude ahead of the 2026/27 season in September. The project will also include new carpeting and an updated speaker system for non-classical programming like the Pops Series and Symphonic Night at the Movies performances. We talk to the Symphony’s chief executive about how the project is being funded and how the changes will affect guests and performers alike.

Guest: Steven B. Libman, president and CEO of the Jacksonville Symphony

'Gathering Turquoise'

An acclaimed Americana performer who’s graced stages from Florida to his home state of Illinois for decades celebrates the release of his debut studio album this month. A mix of country, blues, folk and rock 'n’ roll, Gathering Turquoise was recorded at Retrophonics Recording Studio in St. Augustine and was produced in part by Cara Murphy, owner of Blue Jay Listening Room in Jacksonville Beach. Fittingly, that’s also where Patrick Hagerman’s album release show will be held May 23. With a sound that’s been compared to Guy Clark and John Prine, Hagerman is known for both emotionally evocative and sagely comic lyrics, as in his songs Hell on Purpose and Walmart Melatonin. In a recent social media post, Hagerman said, “After 30 years of songs, miles, late nights, heartbreak, hope, new love and chasing something real … it’s finally here.”

Guest: Patrick Hagerman, singer-songwriter

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The Morning Report: City Council JEA Investigation Latest and Push To Keep Brentwood Grocery Store Open

Tue, 12 May 2026 10:55:07 +0000

Jacksonville leaders are pushing forward with a high-profile investigation into city-owned utility JEA, as a special City Council committee votes to pursue subpoenas for executives and key documents tied to allegations involving workplace culture, underpaid utility fees, and a billion-dollar power plant. Plus, a proposed incentive package for Winn-Dixie is expected to move to a full council vote after a deal was reached to keep a grocery store in Jacksonville’s Brentwood neighborhood open, easing concerns about a potential food desert.

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First Coast Connect: 100 years of Blind Blake

Mon, 11 May 2026 15:59:22 +0000

Known as “the King of Ragtime Guitar,” Arthur “Blind” Blake claimed Jacksonville as home, but his blues songs traced a path across the country, from West Coast Blues to Georgia Bound. By the time of his death at age 38, he’d recorded an estimated 80 tracks for Paramount Records, starting in 1926. On the 100th anniversary of that musical milestone, his legacy continues as one of the most revered and distinctive guitarists of the era. Blake was known for a rhythmic guitar style defined by a “thumb roll” striking out bass notes while he picked alternate, complicated melodies with his index and middle fingers. His first solo record, Early Morning Blues, planted the flag for what would become known as Piedmont blues, with an uptempo guitar sound that mimicked a piano. We discuss how his local influence is remembered and listen to some of the songs Blake wrote about Jacksonville with two local historians.

Guests:

Adonnica Toler, museum director, Eartha M. M. White Historical Museum and Gardens
Tim Gilmore, author, educator and historian at JaxPsychoGeo

Truth vs. trolls

Fighting misinformation online takes if not a village, then at least a small digital army. That’s the idea behind Climate Truth Tellers, an initiative of the Sierra Club that works to combat deceptive, alarmist or simply mistaken claims about climate change on social media. The strategy aims to both flood the zone with helpful, fact-based posts and to offer counter programming to the often dystopian drumbeat of online exchanges. We talk to the program’s regional manager about tactics to take on the trolls, and her recent appearance on the Climate Connections shortcast.

Guest: Jennifer McCharen, regional digital manager, Sierra Club

Encores and Evolution

An upcoming production by Bold City Opera offers a chance to both reminisce about past performances and fund future ones. The nonprofit resident chamber opera company holds its inaugural fundraiser cabaret, showcasing signature performances from its first three years of immersive opera experiences. Founded in late 2022 by locally based soprano Christine Alfano and conductor Brandon Smith, BCO has hosted free outreach performances and is known for pushing traditional operatic boundaries. Encores and Evolution includes a two-act concert, as well as popular arias, duets and ensemble pieces featuring a mix of regional and local performers. The cabaret show begins at 7 p.m. May 16 in Taliaferro Hall at St. John’s Cathedral in Downtown Jacksonville.

Guests:

Brandon Smith, Bold City Opera executive artistic director, co-founder and pianist
Christine Alfano, co-founder of Bold City Opera and featured cabaret vocalist

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The Morning Report: Budget Talks Return in Tallassee and Palatka Block Party Investigation

Mon, 11 May 2026 11:13:45 +0000

A weekend block party in Palatka turned chaotic after police say a driver plowed a truck into a crowd, injuring multiple people and damaging vehicles. Also, Tallahassee prepares for a special legislative session as Florida lawmakers return to work on the state budget after failing to pass one during the regular session for the second straight year.

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First Coast Connect: Week in Review

Fri, 08 May 2026 15:47:37 +0000

Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week:

An influential group of business executives asks the City Council to lay off on its JEA investigation — and the council rejects the request.
The surprising results of a community poll show support for a vision of the Skyway that doesn’t involve mass transit.
A local woman plans to file suit over her court-ordered C-section.
The city’s DOGE committee finds no evidence of fraud or conflicts of interest after a $40,000, six-month probe.

Guests:

David Bauerlein, metro reporter at the Florida Times-Union
Riley Phillips, reporter at First Coast News
Jack Webb, attorney and former Jacksonville City Council president

Justice Jam

For nearly 50 years, a nonprofit law firm has provided free civil legal aid to North and Central Florida residents, focusing specifically on those who are low-income, disabled, elderly or military service veterans. The group provides services in 17 counties ranging from housing and family law to pursuing disability and VA payments. But the group’s mission hinges on community support. An upcoming fundraiser featuring live music and cocktails aims to help the group raise $30,000 to fund its services. The 3rd Annual Justice Jam will take place at 6 p.m. May 14 at Brick and Beam in Springfield.

Guests:

LaTonya Lipscomb Smith, heirs property project manager, Three Rivers Legal Services Inc.
Kevin Rabin, litigation director, Three Rivers Legal Services Inc.

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The Morning Report: Telehealth Funding Continues in Jax and Mother’s Day Events

Fri, 08 May 2026 10:53:03 +0000

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan will keep funding in her upcoming budget for Healthlink Jax, a telehealth program for uninsured residents, after a city review found no evidence supporting fraud allegations tied to provider Telescope Health. Plus, with Mother’s Day weekend here, we highlight a few local events happening around Jacksonville that you can take your mom to.

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First Coast Connect: Rental housing crisis

Thu, 07 May 2026 15:37:06 +0000

A phrase that once signaled housing as a basic Maslow need has taken on a more sinister cast: The rent eats first. For an increasing number of households on the First Coast, the choice between groceries and soaring housing costs is all too real. A new book explores what happens when housing is viewed as an investment asset rather than a social necessity. An outgrowth of the University of North Florida’s Jax Rental Housing Project, the book drills down on how the local market became dominated by large institutional investors, private equity firms and corporate landlords, some holding thousands of units and creating a social crisis that goes beyond just financial concerns. We talk to the authors about how they built the research project and what they hope their work will accomplish.

Guests:

David Jaffee, professor of sociology at the University of North Florida, director of the UNF Jax Rental Housing Project
Katie Renzi, project manager, Jax Rental Housing Project

Ride of a lifetime

A journey of a thousand miles begins … in Jacksonville. Later this month, veterans embark on an adaptive cycling ride in honor of the nation’s 250th birthday. Some 80 athletes begin a two-week journey to the 9/11 memorial in New York City, with patriotic pitstops along the way, including Gettysburg, the Liberty Bell, Arlington National Cemetery and the White House. The peloton will be divided into four groups of 20 for the relay ride, some on traditional bikes, others using hand cycles or recumbent bikes. We talk to the ride’s sponsor, Wounded Warrior Project, as well as a paralympic triathlete and participant, about the value of physical activity and group endeavors when it comes to overcoming service-related trauma.

Guests:

Meghan Wagner, director of physical health and wellness, Wounded Warrior Project
Kelly Elmlinger, Army veteran and paralympic triathlete

Learning with dyslexia

After participating in a national roundtable discussion on students with dyslexia hosted by doctor and U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, Jacksonville pediatrician and advocate Dr. Chanley Dudley joins us to discuss how the city is meeting the challenge of educating children equally and appropriately. Dudley also serves on the board for the city’s primary school for dyslexic kids, the DePaul School of Northeast Florida, which is undergoing a major expansion. We ask her about goals for the new campus and the launch of the Florida Dyslexia Literacy Center.

Guest:

Dr. Chanley Dudley, parent, pediatrician and board chair at the DePaul School of Northeast Florida & Florida Dyslexia Literacy Center
Amber Oliveira, head of school, DePaul School of Northeast Florida

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The Morning Report: Duval High School Schedule Changes and Dollar General Shooting Memorial Rebuilt

Thu, 07 May 2026 10:55:55 +0000

Most Jacksonville high school students will see longer school days and new class schedules when the academic year begins in August, following approval from the Duval County School Board. Plus, after a memorial honoring the victims of the 2023 racist attack at a Jacksonville Dollar General was destroyed, a local corrections officer and her family stepped in to rebuild it. Hear how the community is continuing to honor the lives lost and support plans for a more permanent tribute.

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First Coast Connect: St. Johns County jail death

Wed, 06 May 2026 15:26:57 +0000

Three years after an investigation by the Florida Trib led the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to fire its longtime jail medical provider, the company’s quality of care is still a matter of concern. In a new report, award-winning investigative reporter Nichole Manna digs into the 2023 death of Brian Tracey, which occurred on the day he was scheduled to be released from the St. Johns County jail, as his girlfriend waited for him outside. As part of a joint report with ProPublica, the story includes the perspective of four experts, including former jail commanders and physicians, who determined Tracey should have been hospitalized after symptoms that included fainting and difficulty breathing. We discuss the state of contracted, for-profit medical care in jails, and what it means for people who may arrive there in marginal health.

Guest: Nichole Manna, investigative reporter at the Florida Trib

Bonsai of relief

If all you know about bonsai trees is what you learned from Mr. Miyagi, there is much to learn, grasshopper. We talk to a bonsai expert and a master gardener ahead of Riverside Avondale Preservation's annual home garden tour. We also get expert advice about how to manage your existing plants during the ongoing drought and related water restrictions. RAP's 6th Annual Garden Tour is a major community fundraiser, offering a peek into some of the region’s most painstakingly landscaped places, from the “Bromelia Boutique” on Oak Street to the chemical-free, Florida-friendly environs of “Nature’s Friend” on Pine Street. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and has become a pre-Mother’s Day tradition for many.

Guests:

Stephanie Means, Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program coordinator at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
Mike Groeschel, owner, SkyDog Family Bonsai

Leaving a scar

Florida State College at Jacksonville’s literary magazine, The Experience, will host a poetry night at Happy Medium Books Café on Wednesday to celebrate the release of Vol 58: Tales of a Scarred Land! The book showcases some of the work in the school’s 39th Art and Design Student Show and runs the gamut from photography to poetry, short stories and experimental work. The event includes a free copy of the compendium, along with student performances. Organizers encourage participants to indulge their creative side by wearing “fantasy-like” attire to complement the wide-ranging work of FSCJ students.

Guest: Jenn Chase, humanities and English professor, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Wild Amelia Nature Festival

A 10-day festival across Amelia Island and Nassau County celebrates the region’s unique ecosystem with music, environmental displays, live animal exhibits, a kids market and a sand sculpture contest to help the community appreciate and learn how to better protect the area’s natural spaces. Scheduled to coincide with the annual opening of the beaches celebration, the 17th annual Wild Amelia Nature Eco/Expo Festival will be held from May 8–17 at Main Beach Park. The event is also a tribute to local environmentalists Jodi and Ray Hetchka, founders of the festival, owners of Kayak Amelia and longtime champions of the natural world.

Guest: Lynda Bell, executive director, Keep Nassau Beautiful

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The Morning Report: JEA Investigation Latest and Data Center Debate Heats Up in St. Johns

Wed, 06 May 2026 10:54:52 +0000

Jacksonville City Council is moving forward with its investigation into JEA, despite calls from the Jacksonville Civic Council to end the probe while separate state and local investigations continue. Also, St. Johns County leaders are weighing how to approach potential artificial intelligence data center development.

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First Coast Connect: Dry season

Tue, 05 May 2026 14:49:32 +0000

Wildfires and burn bans are very much in the news now, as North Florida and South Georgia face “exceptional” droughts and a rainfall deficit of as much as 2 feet this year alone — the most extreme in 15 years. But while the state grapples with the effects of the current crisis, Florida's longer term challenges are often overlooked. The water scarcity crisis is not just a function of a warming planet or periodic drought. It’s driven by rapid population growth, overdevelopment and rising demands on the Floridan Aquifer, the region’s principal source of freshwater. We get the lay of the land from the statewide expert who leads the University of Florida’s H2OSAV (Water Savings, Analytics, and Verification) extension program, designed to measurably reduce water use across the state.

Guest: Dr. Nick Taylor, state specialized extension agent, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and Center for Land Use Efficiency

Pepper pot

A new cookbook celebrates “the pepper of St. Augustine,” framed by the Minorcan cuisine that holds the fiery capsicum dear. Illustrated by visual artist Gayle Prevatt, the “Datil Taste Good” cookbook is itself peppered with familiar local names of the original Minorcan immigrants (Pacetti, Masters, Manucy) and features no fewer than five recipes for Minorcan clam chowder and two kinds of “Bottled Hell” datil sauce. We discuss how the pepper became synonymous with St. Augustine, its mysterious origin story and why it remains largely confined to its Northeast Florida home turf.

Guests:

Magen Altice, executive director, St. Augustine Historical Society
Nicole Diehm, head librarian and curator, St. Augustine Historical Society

Carry on

For more than 30 years The National Association of Letter Carriers has hosted an annual food drive collecting nearly 2 billion pounds of goods for food banks across the United States. The Stamp Out Hunger campaign is the largest food drive in the nation, with postal workers in 10,000 cities participating. We talk to the branch leader of the local letter carriers union about the event and why the need becomes especially keen as school winds down for the summer. Residents who wish to donate can leave nonperishable food items in a bag by their mailbox on Saturday.

Guest: Jim Thigpenn, president, North Florida Letter Carriers, Branch 53

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The Morning Report: Shooting Investigation in Jax and Florida Redistricting Lawsuit

Tue, 05 May 2026 10:47:45 +0000

A man is dead following an officer-involved shooting in Jacksonville’s Holiday Hill neighborhood after police say he approached officers while armed after allegedly kicking in doors to several apartments. Also, Florida’s new congressional map is now law after Governor Ron DeSantis signed the redistricting plan Monday. Hours later, voting rights groups filed a lawsuit challenging the map, arguing it violates the state constitution.

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First Coast Connect: Seeing red

Mon, 04 May 2026 15:19:34 +0000

It was a good week for the state GOP. Shortly after a U.S. Supreme Court decision opened the door to widespread redistricting and gutted the legal basis for minority access districts, Florida legislators adopted a new congressional map that all but eliminates Democratic power, cutting blue-leaning districts in half, to just four of the state’s 28 House seats. We talk to state Republican Party Chair Evan Power and State Rep. Christine Hunschofsky about how the Supreme Court and state lawmakers have reshaped the political landscape and what it means for party power going forward. We also get political analysis from attorney and public policy expert Rick Mullaney about how both developments fit into Florida history and how they may shape its future.

Guests:

Florida Rep. Christine Hunschofsky (D-Parkland), incoming House Democratic leader-designate
State Republican Party Chair Evan Power
Rick Mullaney, executive director of the Haskell Public Policy Institute at Jacksonville University

Psychedelics, tick season and longevity science

In our monthly House Call with Dr. Joe Sirven, we discuss how political pressure is putting psychedelics on the fast track, a surging tick season (and attendant conspiracy theories) and a suspected outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship that has left three passengers dead.

Guest: Dr. Joe Sirven, Mayo Clinic neurologist and host of WJCT’s What’s Health Got To Do With It?

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The Morning Report: St. Johns Growth and Northeast Florida Job Shifts

Mon, 04 May 2026 10:55:38 +0000

St. Johns County is launching a new effort to attract more businesses as local leaders look to grow industries like health care, aviation, and aerospace. Meanwhile, new state data shows Jacksonville-area businesses cut thousands of jobs over the past year, even as the regional unemployment rate dipped slightly in March.

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First Coast Connect: Week in Review

Fri, 01 May 2026 16:03:47 +0000

Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week:

Two major decisions, from the U.S. Supreme Court and the Florida State Capitol, are reshaping minority political representation for years to come.
Florida’s attorney general initiates yet another Jacksonville investigation — this time into JEA.
A memorial to the victims of the Dollar General mass shooting is destroyed by vandals.

Guests:

Sylvia Perry, editor of the Jacksonville Free Press
Brenda Priestly Jackson, former Jacksonville City Council member, former Duval County School Board member
John Daigle, political consultant, former City Hall reporter
A.G. Gancarski, reporter at Florida Politics, columnist for Jacksonville Today

This Week in Music History

Public media is well known for providing context for news developments, but the work doesn’t end with the headlines. Context matters for music, too, as it shapes and is shaped by the culture, politics and society from which it emanates. Music guru and Electro Lounge host David Luckin turns his focus and editing skills to creating a sonic landscape that showcases iconic songs inside a temporal milieu. The project, This Week in Music History, is an hourlong spinoff of his popular daily segment, Today in Music History. It launches at 7 p.m. Sunday and airs weekly in that time slot going forward. We talk to Luckin about the inspiration for the project and why he wanted to explore, as he says, “history you can feel.”

Guest: David Luckin, host, Electro Lounge, WJCT Public Media station manager

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The Morning Report: Duval School Bus Camera Fines and Much Needed Rain This Weekend

Fri, 01 May 2026 10:56:52 +0000

New fines begin today in Duval County as school bus stop-arm cameras move from warnings to enforcement, with drivers facing $225 penalties for illegally passing stopped buses. Plus, much-needed rain is expected to move into Northeast Florida this weekend, bringing some relief from dry conditions but also the possibility of strong wind gusts and a low-end tornado threat as storms move through the region.

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First Coast Connect: Playoff bound

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:40:40 +0000

Sporting Club Jacksonville women's team has one final home game after a remarkably successful inaugural season. The team clinched a spot at the playoffs in early April after dominating in their first year as an expansion team in the Gainsbridge Super League. And although they’ve suffered a couple losses in April, before that they held a seven-game winning streak and hadn’t allowed more than one goal in any game since Oct. 25. We talk to the team’s star defender, Georgia Brown, and the defender-turned-striker Paige Kenton, as well as the women’s head coach about their first season in the sun and how they’re preparing for the playoff challenge.

Guests:

Stacey Balaam, Sporting Club Jacksonville women's soccer head coach
Georgia Brown, Sporting JAX defender
Paige Kenton, Sporting JAX forward

Outsider art

A Jacksonville-based artist with a global, even universal vision, is the focus of a new exhibition at MOCA Jacksonville. Outside Looking In: The Paintings of Amer Kobaslija features works showcasing his life and travels, from his childhood in war-torn Bosnia to his series Florida Diaries to his portrayal of the devastation from the 2011 tsunami in Japan, One Hundred Views of Kesennuma. Throughout his work, Kobaslija offers colorful, even whimsical views of damaged and denuded landscapes, whether by natural forces or man-made devastation, including rampant development and climate change. The exhibit opens Thursday and runs through Sept. 20.

Guests:

Amer Kobaslija, visual artist, associate professor of studio art at the University of Central Florida
Amber Sesnick, director of marketing, arts University of North Florida and MOCA Jacksonville

Arts awards

Celebrating the people and organizations pushing Jacksonville’s cultural and creative ecosystem forward is the focus of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville’s annual art awards. The 49th Annual awards ceremony is also the group’s largest fundraiser, with 92 cents of every dollar raised returned to local arts and culture. The event promises a “multilevel experience” with a theme of “Neon Noir” to celebrate those who light the way for the rest of the community. The event will be at 6:30 p.m. May 9 at Decca Live. Tickets are required.

Guest:

Diana Donovan, executive director, Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville
Darren Dailey, president and artistic director, Jacksonville Children's Chorus

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The Morning Report: Congressional Redistricting Approved in FL. and Downtown Jax Growth

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:42:30 +0000

Florida lawmakers approved a major overhaul of the state’s congressional map during a special session, advancing a controversial redistricting plan backed by Governor Ron DeSantis that is expected to face legal challenges. Also, Jacksonville’s downtown continues its transformation, with major projects moving ahead. A new report highlights both the momentum downtown and the issues people still want addressed.

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First Coast Connect: Like pulling teeth

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:59:19 +0000

Florida has the highest rate of emergency room visits for kids seeking nontraumatic dental care, and the crisis is getting worse. As more families lose or scale back insurance coverage, and as state Medicaid officials “disenroll” families, preventative dental care gets out of reach for more children. It’s a problem that leaves medical staff frustrated and kids in pain, since emergency rooms are ill equipped to treat dental emergencies and often send patients home with little more than an ice pack and painkillers. We discuss what options are on the table and how the state’s new fluoride policies could affect the problem.

Guest: Dr. Frank Catalanotto, founder of Floridians for Dental Access, former dean at the University of Florida College of Dentistry

Stepping up

After enduring what she describes as an early life defined by abuse, Desiree Jones turned her experience into a path forward for others. The founder of Step-by-Step 4 Help Foundation is now a licensed therapist and offers mental health counseling, mentorship, skills training and housing stability assistance to disadvantaged individuals in the city’s urban core. The group was recently recognized in LISC Jacksonville’s Community Development Awards. We discuss what the award means for the foundation and how its work epitomizes the grassroots strategies promoted by LISC.

Guests:

Desiree Jones, founder and president, Step-by-Step 4 Help Foundation
Dr. Irvin DePedro Cohen, executive director of LISC Jacksonville

To the moon and back

April was a busy month for space exploration, as NASA’s Artemis II completed a successful 10-day voyage around the moon, becoming the first crewed flight of the space agency’s Orion spacecraft. It’s also a busy time for stargazers. Currently, the Leo Triplet, a constellation made up of three interacting galaxies, is overhead. We break down the science of how these galaxies produce so-called “rogue stars” and discuss what we’ve learned from the first crewed space flight beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17.

Guest: Eddie Whisler, director of planetarium and outreach, Museum of Science & History

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The Morning Report: FL. Redistricting Moves Ahead and Last Call Extended in Brooklyn

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:38:20 +0000

Florida lawmakers are preparing to debate Governor Ron DeSantis’ proposed congressional maps, which could reshape the state’s political landscape and potentially give Republicans four additional seats in Congress. Also, Jacksonville is extending bar hours in the Brooklyn neighborhood, allowing some businesses to serve alcohol until 3 A.M.

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First Coast Connect: Oreos and the Okefenokee

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:41:15 +0000

An Earth Day petition with more than 26,000 signatures was delivered to Chemours chemical company on the same day as its annual meeting of shareholders. It’s just one part of a multi-pronged effort by conservationists and students to protect the Okefenokee Swamp from the effects of nearby titanium mining. A similar plea was delivered to the maker of Oreo cookies and Sour Patch kids, treats that have used titanium dioxide as a product whitener. That letter urged Mondelez International to pledge not to ever use white pigment sourced from Okefenokee-area mines in its snack foods. We talk to two people behind the current campaign about progress to protect the country’s largest blackwater swamp and the challenges that remain.

Guest:

Josh Marks, environmental attorney, president of Georgians for the Okefenokee
Mackenzi Hallmark, chair, Georgia Student Swamp Coalition

Maximizing meadows

Make your own meadow. A new step-by-step guide explores the environmental effects of transforming turfgrass lawnscapes into biodiverse habitats. The Florida Meadow Manual recognizes a growing desire by homeowners and landscapers for an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional, monoculture lawns. From plant selection and site preparation to long-term maintenance tips and design principals, the book provides instructions for, and the ecological rationale behind, creating even small, yard-sized meadows. We sit down with the book’s authors to discuss why Florida climate works for these particular landscapes and why meadows are a growing strategy for those seeking low-maintenance and affordable solutions.

Guests:

Gage Daniel J. LaPierre, post-doctoral research associate at University of Florida and co-author, The Florida Meadow Manual
Isabella Guttuso Browne, landscape designer and coordinator at UF Center for Landscape Conservation and co-author, The Florida Meadow Manual

Artistic APtitude

An exhibit of student artwork showcases “risk-taking, problem-solving and deep reflection,” according to organizers of Global Leadership Academy High School’s annual AP Art Portfolio Exhibition. Presented at Downtown Vision Inc., the show features 2- and 3D art and design pieces by the Advanced Placement students, demonstrating both technical ability and creative thinking. The exhibition’s opening reception is from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at DVI’s headquarters, 29 W. Duval St. Admission is free.

Guests:

Amanda Holloway, AP art instructor at Global Leadership Academy High School
Tikabaya Thornton and Victoria “Vika” Kurochkin, featured student artists

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Fist Coast Connect: The Shantyboat Muse

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:38:17 +0000

The poet and educator who coached, encouraged and chastised — but never coddled — First Coast writers as varied as Donna Deegan, Alan Justiss and Jim Draper has become a defining feature of the local literary landscape. Though she lost her beloved Trout River houseboat, once home to the Shantyboat Writers Workshop, during Hurricane Irma, she continues to write, goad and inspire. Now 81, she brings some poems and her inimitable story to Studio 2 Monday morning.

Guest: Lynn Skapyak Harlin, educator, editor and poet

Change of scenery

Nearly 40 years after its founding, the legacy of Scenic Jacksonville is visible both in what we see and what we don’t. The organization founded by attorney and civic champion Bill Brinton worked to pass two key citizen amendments to the city’s governing charter. The Billboard Charter Amendment prohibited new billboards countywide and led to the removal of more than 1,600 signs to date. The Tree Protection Amendment required replanting or replacing trees removed for development and established guidelines for protecting the area’s most significant “specimen” trees. We sit down with the new leader of the longstanding group to find out how they’re planning for the future in a changing political and environmental landscape.

Guest: Litsa Dawkins, executive director, Scenic Jax

Out of silence

A four-generation journey through systemic abuse ends on stage 150 years later, when a playwright finds her voice and tells her story. Silence Unraveled tells the history of Bobbie O’Connor’s great-grandmother Emma Jane, grandmother Trudie and mother Willie Audrey, before working its way down to the author. Along the way, it touches on difficult topics often muted by silence, including physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence and loss. We talk to O’Connor about what it means to confront familial misogyny and, hopefully, destroy the template.

Guest: Bobbie O'Connor, playwright, performer and social justice advocate

Fare thee well

An annual grassroots event created to connect the public with free health and wellness resources kicks off next weekend. Wellfest, founded in 2019, serves as a space for the community to learn about healthier lifestyles through mental, nutritional and physical education and outreach. This year’s event features local businesses, a coffee crawl, collaborative yoga, a clothing swap, live music and more. Partnering with Here Tomorrow, a local mental health provider, the event also offers suicide prevention information and resources. The 8th Annual Beaches Wellfest will be May 2 at Johansen Park in Atlantic Beach. The event is free and open to the public.

Guests:

Tracy Marko, president of Meraki Wellness and director of WellFest
Mary Mullahey, health educator and coffee crawl director

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Morning Report: Redistricting Debate Heats Up and St. Johns School Voucher Debate

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:55:13 +0000

Florida lawmakers begin a special session to consider a new congressional map proposed by Governor Ron DeSantis, a plan that could reshape several districts in Central and South Florida and influence the balance of power in the U.S. House. Also, St. Johns schools superintendent responds to criticism from state officials after speaking out against school vouchers.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Morning Report: Special Legislative Session This Week and School Funding Disputes

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:55:28 +0000

Florida lawmakers are set to convene a special legislative session to revisit congressional redistricting, along with proposals on artificial intelligence regulations and expanded vaccine exemptions for schoolchildren. Meanwhile, the state’s education commissioner is raising concerns about comments made by St. Johns County schools superintendent criticizing Florida’s voucher program.

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First Coast Connect: Week in Review

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:36:15 +0000

Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week:

Extended drought, with a rainfall deficit of 25 inches, kindles conditions for widespread and dangerous wildfires.
The timing of a campaign video release creates political headaches for Mayor Donna Deegan.
City officials put a nearly $4,000 price tag on a request for public records related to the JEA investigation.
Attorney General James Uthmeier investigates an AI chatbot’s role in last year’s mass shooting at FSU.

Guests:

Robert Brown, news director, WJXT News4Jax
Frank Powers, former assignment manager at News4Jax
Randy DeFoor, attorney and former Jacksonville City Council member
Jake Stofan, state and local government reporter at Action News Jax

Band aid

A local high school is headed to Washington, D.C., after being invited to perform in the National Memorial Day Parade. The Sandalwood High School Band is still working to raise funds for the trip and is asking the community for help to make the opportunity a reality. The event is expected to feature 5,000 participants from all 50 states, including dozens of high school bands. We ask the band’s director what it means for students and the First Coast to be recognized on a national stage.

Guests:

Samantha Maltagliati, band director, Sandalwood High School
Adelina Millian, saxophone, Sandalwood High School Band
Sophia Peugnet, Sandalwood band president and drum major
Jeremiah Gadson, Sandalwood band percussion captain

Great fire gathering

Ongoing wildfires across the First Coast and Southern Georgia are a stark reminder of the very real devastation caused by giant infernos — like the one that destroyed almost the entire city of Jacksonville in 1901. This year marks the 125th anniversary of that dark time, but the first of what’s anticipated to be annual events recalls not just the widespread destruction, but the citywide rebirth that followed. We talk to the head of the Jacksonville History Center about the inaugural Great Fire Gathering and how the fundraiser aims to help the group prepare for the future as it commemorates the past.

Guest: Alan Bliss, CEO, Jacksonville History Center

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