First Coast Connect

Tuesday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Agriculture Commissioner candidate Democrat Nikki Fried about her campaign and the issues she is focusing on, which include the environment, medical marijuana and gun background checks (01:17). The National Diversity Council ’s Communications Chair Kristen Williams joined us about the organization’s work to promote diversity in the workplace (27:43). Pippa Mann is an inspiration to people around the world as one of the few women ever to race in the

Monday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Chris King , one of the five major Democratic candidates running for governor. (01:08) We also spoke with we spoke with Baptist Medical Center South President Nicole Thomas and Kelly Youngs of She Is Fierce! ahead of the WJCT and Baptist Health A Day4her Wellness Retreat on August 18 at the downtown Hyatt (46:00) . Kevin Meerschaert can be reached at [email protected] , 904-358-6334 or on Twitter at @ KMeerschaertJax .

Our weekly Friday Media Roundtable on First Coast Connect featured guest host A.G. Gancarski from F loridaPolitics.com . Our panelist were: Florida Times-Union reporter Tessa Duvall WJCT contributor Fred Matthews Jacksonville Daily Record reporter David Cawton WJCT reporter Ryan Benk (01:11). Issues discussed included: One of Mayor Lenny Curry’s political committees was scammed out of $120,000. The controversy surrounding Governor Rick Scott’s appointment of conservative Republican Terrance

Thursday’s First Coast Connect featured guest host Charlene Shirk . We discussed the power of Political Action Committees and local and state political committees in the wake of Mayor Curry’s committee’s being scammed out of $120,000 with Florida Times-Union reporter Nate Monroe (1:15). Our July Woman with Heart highlighting Volunteers in Medicine featured Dr. Elana Schrader , Chief Medical Officer for Guidewell/Florida Blue (29:42). We heard about several events coming up at the Beaches Museum

Wednesday’s First Coast Connect featured guest host Charlene Shirk . We discussed the latest news regarding using civil citations instead of arresting children in Jacksonville with Juvenile Director of the 4th Judicial District State Attorney’s Office Laura Lambert and Youth Crisis Center President and CEO Kim Sirdevan (01:01). An Israeli-based medical cannabis company is now coming to Florida to participate in the state growing medical marijuana industry. We spoke with Tikun Olan’s COO Jeffrey

Tuesday’s First Coast Connect featured guest host Charlene Shirk . A recently completed Jacksonville Task Force on Open Government report states the city’s government needs to be more transparent. We spoke with task force co-chairs Hank Coxe and Sherry McGill (01:06). Our latest edition of Moveable Feast with Leigh Cort commemorated the fifth anniversary of the Women’s Food Alliance with several of the organization’s leaders (32:23). Our First Coast Connect Book Club blogger Stacey Goldring

Monday’s First Coast Connect featured guest host Charlene Shirk . St. Johns Riverkeeper Lisa Rinemen joined us to talk about the recent algal blooms that are threatening the health of the river and its wildlife (00:57). With hurricane season well underway we talked about some of the things you should to do prepare your home for the season with Servpro Director of Marketing and Business Development Pauline Gerry and Project Manager Chris Ryan (27:48). After four years at the helm of the Cultural

Our weekly Media Roundtable Friday on First Coast Connect featured guest host A.G. Gancarski, a Florida Politics reporter. Our panelists were Florida Times-Union reporter Dan Scanlan , Folio Weekly editor Claire Goforth and Jacksonville Business Journal editor Timothy Gibbons (01:09). Our topics included As Mayor Lenny Curry looks to demolish the Jacksonville Landing other communities have invested in similar marketplaces that are thriving. The race to be Florida’s next governor is resulting in

Charles Griggs was our guest host Thursday on First Coast Connect . On the heels of two area law enforcement officers charged with falsifying evidence we spoke with Public Defender Charlie Cofer (01:00). Our latest edition of Art Attack featured Shawna Brooks with Jacksonville Makerspace, Lemoncurd local TV show producer Drew Brown , and filmmaker Ramona Ramdeen. They discussed filmmaking and the lack of incentives on the First Coast (30:40). The study of butterflies on the First Coast and how

Tuesday on First Coast Connect we spoke with attorney Wayne Hogan about Georgia’s new law that makes it illegal to use hand-held phones while driving and whether he thinks Florida should pass a ban of its own (01:11). The latest edition of #Realtalk with host Charles Griggs discussed whether the two-party political system is good for African-Americans. Guests were attorney Obi Umunna , former co-host of The Chat Henny Stewart and meteorologist Steve Smith (26:58). Ahead of Independence Day we