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.