First Coast Connect

As a new legislative session gets underway — one that could conceivably lead to a gutting of the city’s budget through property tax cuts — we ask Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan what she’s watching in Tallahassee, and what influence a Democratic city leader has in effecting change. We also ask how she’s preparing for the possibility of AI data centers in the region and the certainty of a bruising jail site search in 2026.

Guest: Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan

Then, from his days performing in city street cyphers to, now, touring and recording, Kale James has made his name in the world of legit local hip-hop. We catch up with the rapper ahead of the release of his new EP, Green Haus. He speaks candidly about Jacksonville's hip-hop community, his influences and what he hopes the future holds for his career.

Guest: Kale James, Jacksonville hip-hop artist

And, Eastside residents and volunteers are celebrating the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with a beautification project along a street named for one of King’s allies and the progenitor of the 1963 March on Washington. A Philip Randolph Boulevard (a.k.a. Florida Avenue) is the focus of an MLK Week of Service makeover, set to include facade makeovers, a community cleanup and the addition of several new bike racks.

Guest: Avery McKnight, board chair, Florida Avenue Main Street

Is Downtown on the edge of transformation? Boosters say: Just wait! We ask: How long? In its annual report on the state of Downtown, the city’s economic improvement district, Downtown Vision, says things are looking up. It’s a message we’ve heard many times before. We ask the group’s CEO what’s different this time and whether the confluence of several major development projects will finally change the story of Downtown.

Guest: Jake Gordon, CEO of Downtown Vision Inc.

Then, a different kind of School of Hope. We get an update from artist and educator Hope McMath, who was removed from her classroom over social media posts and is suing the school district alleging First Amendment violations. McMath, a longtime and often vocal activist, was removed as a teacher of AP art history at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts shortly after the murder of Charlie Kirk. The school district has since ended its investigation with a slap on the wrist for McMath's use of "profanity" in a post, but is still refusing to return her to the classroom.

Guests:

• Hope McMath, artist, activist, AP art history teacher at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
• John Phillips, attorney

And, the Jacksonville Jaguars competed in their first playoff game since 2022 Sunday afternoon. It was an emotional rollercoaster for fans and ended in disappointment as the Jaguars couldn't pull through in the fourth quarter, losing 27-24. We recap Sunday’s matchup and the reasons Jags fans should keep their heads held high after an unexpectedly successful season.

Guest: Alessandra Pontbriand, sportscaster at News4Jax

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

• Redistricting gets real as Gov. Ron DeSantis calls for a special legislative session.
• Duval Schools officials give rare pushback to charter expansion, adding Schools of Hope to its list of priority topics to discuss with lawmakers.
• A killing in Minneapolis sparks local protest over ICE raids.
• Clay County school officials react to a fellow board member’s racial social media post.
• The state attorney declines to charge anyone over the city’s illegal gun registry.

Guests:

• Megan Mallicoat, education reporter at Jacksonville Today
• Obi Umunna, attorney and political consultant
• Frank Powers, former assignment manager at WJXT News4Jax
• Sean Freeder, assistant professor of political science at the University of North Florida 

And, a lot has changed since the classic musical about The Change became an Off-Broadway hit in 2002. Somehow, menopause has moved from the medical margins to the mainstream, becoming the focus of memes, wellness influencers, pharmaceutical ads, HR manuals — even Congress. We talk to two cast members dialing it back to the early aughts, when Menopause the Musical first broke big at the Orlando International Fringe Festival and introduced audiences to the humor behind a hot flash. The new show runs through mid-February at Alhambra Theatre and Dining.

Guests:

• Cathy Merkel-Roddy, actor playing Soap Star
• Lisa Valdini Booth, actor playing Earth Mother

More reviled than middle managers or meter maids, homeowners associations are a common target for community ire. Whether levying lawn fines for excessive dollar weed or prescribing a home’s precise shade of greige, HOAs often seem like the analog version of NextDoor: nosy, officious and inclined to provoke. Yet they are the default fiefdoms for 30% of all homes, according to the National Association of Realtors. A new bill in the Florida Legislature would allow communities to dissolve their HOAs by a majority vote. We ask a real estate lawyer about the motivations behind the measure and the potential implications for developers and homeowners if it’s approved.

Guest: Real estate attorney Barry Ansbacher 

Then, a tragic accident inspires a son’s voyage into the unknown. After losing his father in a plane crash, a Jacksonville filmmaker embarks on his own solo flight halfway across the planet. We talk to his team ahead of the documentary’s premiere at the University of North Florida’s Robinson Theatre on Jan. 24.

Guests:

• Santiago Triana, director of photography, Wright of Passage
• Sydney Strimer, executive producer, Flying Ostrich Media
• Jacey Darrah Downing, director of alumni engagement, University of North Florida Alumni Association

And, a new arts collective unveils its inaugural lineup. The first slate of shows, titled Season Zero, includes a range of musical stagings, from the classic (Victor/Victoria) to the brand new (Once Upon A One More Time — a fan-focused imagining of Britney Spears hits told through the stories of fairy tale characters). We talk to the creator behind Arts Collective Theatre about his vision for both mainstage productions and events that will provide a platform for established and emerging artists alike.

Guest: Lee Hamby, co-artistic director, Arts Collective Theatre

With the 2026 regular legislative session getting underway Monday, we get a preview of what to expect and what to watch for, from legislative pet projects to the potential impact of world events on Florida — including the Trump administration’s recent actions in Venezuela, which has a large expatriate population in the state. We check in with attorney and government expert Chris Hand about what he’s watching in a legislative session that could well outlast its scheduled 60-day time frame.

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

Then, helping kids unlock their inner strength through mindfulness disguised as magic. A new book tells the story of a 12-year-old girl dealing with social isolation and a chronic medical condition that keeps her feeling alienated in the already alien space of middle school. We speak to the author about the inspiration to explore new ways for kids and their parents to think and talk about difference, courage and discovering their own sources of power.

Guests:

• Susan Chappelear, author of Skyler and the Moonstone Medallions
• John Chappelear, author of The Daily Six

And, the artist behind a new 90-foot mural under the Fuller Warren Bridge. Five months after Riverside Avondale Preservation issued a call for artists to submit concepts to transform a JEA pump station, the work was publicly unveiled Dec. 12. We ask the muralist about his inspiration, the process and what it means to have his work become the visual centerpiece for the weekly Riverside Arts Market.

Guest: Patrick Maxcy, muralist

A holiday visit to Jacksonville’s water and electric utility conveyed a not-so-jolly message: Small bags of coal were delivered to JEA’s Downtown headquarters shortly before Christmas to protest JEA’s continued use of coal and pet coke, and to urge the utility to invest more in solar energy. JEA has reduced its reliance on dirty fuel sources in recent years but continues to earn poor grades in the annual environmental report card ranking. JEA received a grade of “F” in the Sierra Club’s Dirty Truth Report in 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025. It received a “D” grade in 2022. We discuss what advocates hope to see in a cleaner future.

Guests:

• John Burr, editor of the Jacksonville Climate Coalition newsletter
• Larry Zwain, Northeast Florida Sierra Club chair

Then, uncovering the history of Black service members at Camp Blanding. The lives of the African American soldiers who served at the Clay County military installation during WWII are intertwined with the realities of the Jim Crow South — and the history of their presence, as a result, is less documented and harder to track. For the past several years, the Camp Blanding Museum has worked to piece together a complete narrative of the 800,000 men and women who trained at the post during the war, including Black service members. They’ve had some success discovering the history of African American units that trained at the post, but less so when it comes to the lives and stories of those who maintained the post and worked to support training operations. We talk to the museum’s staff historian about their public outreach efforts to locate stories, photos and documents from that era.

Guest: George E. Cressman Jr., staff historian, Camp Blanding Museum

And, a First Coast film festival brings together international, independent and local talent for a chance to unveil their stories for audiences on the big screen. The 16th Annual St. Augustine Film Festival, happening from Jan. 5-11, features showings for 40 films and documentaries across city venues, meet and greets and Q&A’s with special guests and filmmakers. We ask one filmmaker about the inspiration for her latest work and the films she’s most excited to watch.

Guests:

• Renee Unsworth, advertising director, St. Augustine Film Festival
• Lorraine Portman, filmmaker and director of My Best Friend Bonnethead

We kick off our first show of the new year with a look ahead. Veteran metro reporter David Bauerlein shares his reporter's notebook, offering a glimpse at the local stories he’ll be tracking in 2026. The year will bring big choices about where to build a new city jail and where the Jags will play when they're forced out by stadium construction -- a bit of irony for the finally-winning team that Bauerlein calls "almost peak Jaguars." We also discuss growing activity on the political pitch, as Republicans begin to determine who will challenge Mayor Donna Deegan in the 2027 city elections.

Guest: David Bauerlein, metro reporter at the Florida Times-Union

Then, an art exhibit inspired by the visionary Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí and a near-death experience. Cuban-American artist and physician Edel Alvarez Galban, also known as AGalban, suffered a heart attack while visiting Gaudí’s inspired temple in Barcelona, Spain — the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia. While recuperating, he created a visual homage to Gaudí, widely considered one of the most creative and fanciful architects of the late 19th and early 20st centuries. The result, Sacred Pilgrimage, Gaudí and Galban, is on display at the St. Augustine Art Association through Feb. 1.

Guests:

• Jennifer Flynt, executive director of the St. Augustine Art Association
• Tarin Mohajeri, curator of Sacred Pilgrimage: Gaudi and Galban

And, the now 13-4 Jacksonville Jaguars are on an eight-game winning streak, securing the AFC South division title. We recap Sunday’s blowout win against the Titans and preview the challenges ahead as they face off against the Buffalo Bills in the wild card round of the playoffs Jan. 11 at Everbank Stadium.

Guest: Alessandra Pontbriand, sportscaster at News4Jax

From digital evidence to a series of First Amendment showdowns, Florida’s criminal justice system is changing dramatically. We talk to a statewide expert about how it's affecting both those working in the system and ordinary residents. Michelle Suskauer became the 70th president of The Florida Bar in 2018 — the first time the job went to a former public defender. She says that vantage point and her work in private practice since then have exposed serious challenges to the criminal justice system, including concerns about due process for immigrants, free speech pressures in schools, Florida’s record-setting pace of executions and the growing use of artificial intelligence in criminal cases without clear safeguards in place.

Guest: Michelle Suskauer, criminal defense attorney and former president of The Florida Bar

Then, a father transforms his personal loss into a sky-high mission, raising funds to help other grieving parents. On Feb. 9, five years after the death of his infant son, Evan Pucillo will embark on a 42-mile hike up Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest peak. The climb is not only symbolic of his own journey to overcome tragedy but a campaign to raise money for RTZ HOPE, a nonprofit that provides support to those who have endured the loss of an infant or toddler.

Guest: Evan Pucillo, father, advocate/fundraiser for Return to Zero: HOPE

And, a local New Year’s Eve event puts a coastal twist on a Times Square tradition. Now in its 10th year, the Amelia Island Shrimp Drop pays homage to the area’s shrimping history and features vendors, music and a fireworks display. The 7-foot LED shrimp drops at 7 p.m. along the Fernandina Beach waterfront at the foot of Centre Street.

Guest: Ramiro “R.J.” Sicre, president of Light Up Amelia

It’s an event designed to lure tourists and boost businesses' bottom lines, but the seasonal holiday light extravaganza has become more nightmare for some residents than cause for celebration. After last year’s crowds led to street-closing traffic jams, illegal parking on the lawn of the historic fort and copious public urination, the city implemented a series of “fixes.” We check in with two St. Johns County reporters about how it started — and how it’s going. We also discuss other St. Augustine/St. Johns County headlines and take your calls and questions.

Guests:

• Noah Hertz, St. Johns County reporter at Jacksonville Today
• Jessica Clark, anchor and reporter at First Coast News

Then, from art to music to improv comedy, we explore the ways a local advocate is encouraging conversations around mental health. For more than a decade, Gabrielle Magid has been working not just to improve mental health outcomes, but to change how we engage in conversations about it. But that work has also met institutional resistance and risk-aversion, particularly on the First Coast. We talk to her about the search for partnerships and concerns she’s heard from some that the work is "too avant-garde" for Jacksonville.

Guest: Gabrielle Magid, founder and CEO, Stronger Than Stigma

And, celebrating the “Noon Year” with the ultimate party animals. We talk to the zoo’s inimitable “Wildlife Wanderer” about making the event family friendly and what’s on tap at the daytime celebration. In addition to the midday ball drop, the event features a DJ, games and a toast to the New Year with sparkling apple juice.

Guest: Curtis Dvorak, “Wildlife Wanderer” at the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Fleming Island Republican Sam Garrison will take the helm of the Florida House of Representatives following the November 2026 elections, after being selected for the role by his peers in October. He will replace House Speaker Danny Perez, who had a tumultuous tenure embroiled in public conflict with Gov. Ron DeSantis. The conflict marked an apparent shift in the alliance between the Republican governor and the state’s Republican legislative majority, which for years had an agreeable relationship. After Garrison was unanimously elected, he pointed to what he believes to be the biggest threat to the conservative movement in Florida: complacency. “This is not an external danger; it is internal,” Garrison said. “Our challenge isn’t the Democrats. It’s us.” We ask Garrison about his plans as House speaker, where he stands with the term-limited governor and what to expect from the upcoming House legislative session in January, from AI regulation to property tax reform.

Guest: State Rep. Sam Garrison, R-Fleming Island, Florida House speaker-designate

And, we recap two weeks of Jacksonville Jaguars matchups, including wins against the Denver Broncos and division rivals the Indianapolis Colts. The Jags are headed to the playoffs and stand to clinch their first AFC South division title since 2022.

Guest: Alessandra Pontbriand, sportscaster at News4Jax