First Coast Connect

A new poll is out Wednesday in the Jacksonville mayor’s race, and it shows incumbent Lenny Curry in the lead at just over 50%, with Anna Brosche a distant second. And not surprisingly, it also shows that crime is the issue at the top of voters’ minds. Mike Binder, who runs UNF’s Public Opinion Research Lab (which conducted the poll), joined us to discuss the results in more detail. Related See the complete poll results New UNF poll shows Curry with strong lead in mayor's race Voters' guide

After six homicides in four days, some community leaders and lawmakers are saying it’s time to declare a state of emergency in the city of Jacksonville. Senator Audrey Gibson and Representative Tracie Davis held a press conference Monday at a park in Northwest Jacksonville, where two people were killed in a quadruple shooting last Thursday. This evening at the WJCT Studios, OneJax will host Civil Discourse: Lifting Up Young Voices Against Violence , during which young people will have their

All over Florida, there are examples of underpaid, overworked teachers quitting the classroom. And fewer college graduates are deciding to become teachers.

For this week’s First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross Media Roundtable, our panel of journalists looked at some of the biggest stories of the week, including: An accidental weapons discharge at a local school, as Florida marks the Parkland anniversary. The ad wars continue in the Jacksonville mayor’s race as the city sees another fatal shooting . The introduction of a bill to ban seismic testing off Florida’s coast. Our panelists were: Shelton Hull of Folio Weekly Radio Host Angela Spears of

It was one year ago today that a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School sparked a national youth protest movement to stop gun violence in America. Nearly 1,200 American children and teenagers have been killed with guns in the past 12 months, a number that does not take into account the additional 900 to 1,000 youth gun suicides . Jamie Rich , editor in chief of Flamingo Magazine and Marjory Stoneman Douglas alumni, and Dr. Marie Crandall , a trauma surgeon and professor of surgery

A major overhaul of the tax code that took effect last year promised relief, but now that returns are being filed, some people are baffled. They’re getting smaller refunds — or sometimes having to write a check to Uncle Sam — even though nothing in their situation seems to have changed.

Mayoral candidate Anna Brosche has hired a top Democratic strategist in the Jacksonville mayor’s race as she seeks to build a bipartisan coalition to unseat incumbent Lenny Curry .

The one-year anniversary of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. is coming up this Thursday, and keeping students safe is still a top priority for educators.

For this week’s First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross Media Roundtable, our panel of journalists looked at some of the biggest stories of the week, including: Dueling attack ads in the Jacksonville mayor’s race. A new study that shows just how dangerous Jacksonville is for pedestrians. The new VyStar name that could soon be added to the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Our panelists were: Mark Woods with The Florida Times-Union John Bachma n with Action News JAX Shelton Hull of Folio Weekly

A new effort dedicated to enriching the city’s young people and reducing high crime rates is underway.