First Coast Connect

Tuesday on First Coast Connect we discussed the controversy over the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” border policy with Stephanie Mickle and Katie Ross with Mickle Public Affairs (01:16). We heard bout a new study from the Union of Concerned Scientists that states many homes in Florida are at risk due to rising sea levels with Andrea Dutton, assistant professor at the University of Florida’s Department of Geological Sciences (28:52). Ahead of his 100th birthday on Wednesday we spoke with

Monday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Democratic Attorney General candidate Sean Shaw, who is currently a state representative (01:20). We heard about a Circuit Court ruling Friday in Leon County requiring the state to acquire and restore conservation lands as voters intended when they approved Amendment 1 in 2014 with North Florida Land Trust President Jim McCarthy and Florida Conservation Voters Executive Director Aliki Moncrief (27:09). Reed Beaubouef , President of the Bolts and Bytes

Our weekly Friday Media Roundtable on First Coast Connect with guest host Ryan Benk featured Florida Times-Union columnist Mark Woods , Jacksonville Daily Record reporter David Cawton and Folio Weekly editor Claire Goforth . Topics discussed included: Mayor Lenny Curry’s plan to tear down the Jacksonville Landing and replace it with a public park. The latest appearance in Federal Court of suspended Jacksonville City Council members Katrina Brown and Reggie Brown regarding their fraud charges The

Thursday on First Coast Connect with guest host Jessica Palombo we talked about the shooting of three transgender woman in Jacksonville and problems with police misgendering the victims with Jacksonville Coalition for Equality Dan Merkan , WJCT reporter Lindsey Kilbride and transgender activist Savannah Bowens (01:00). We heard about the latest stories coming this week in Void Magazine with editor Matt Shaw (30:35). The Jacksonville Zoo’s Toni Piccolotti and Tirzah Nichols told us about a

Wednesday on First Coast Connect with guest host Ryan Benk we heard about a controversial preservation land swap proposal by Bartram Park Developer Tom Dodson in which the state would give him back about two thousand acres at theJulington-Durbin Peninsula in return for the state receiving about 400 acres on Black Hammock Island. We discussed the issue with Florida Times-Union reporter Steve Patterson, St. Johns Riverkeeper Lisa Rinaman and former Mayor John Delaney, who has been hired by the

Tuesday on First Coast Connect with guest host Ryan Benk we heard about the move by the Florida Department of Corrections to change the ways visitors can visit inmates with Florida Times-Union reporter Ben Conrack (01:27). Our latest edition of Movable Feast with Leigh Cort from the Women’s Food Alliance featured Kimberly Francoeur from Brides on the Bus (35:16). First Coast Connect Book Club blogger Stacey Goldring told us about her experience recently at the 2018 Book Expo America in New York

Monday on First Coast Connect with guest host Ryan Benk we heard about the Jacksonville City Council Civil Rights Task Force with Council President Anna Lopez Brosche and civil rights icon Rodney Hurst (01:19). 5 and Dime Managing Director Lee Hamby and actor Brian Niece talked about the upcoming production of The Laramie Project which debuts Friday (31:26). Ahead of her lecture this week at the Women’s Wednesdays Speaker Series in St. Augustine for She is Fierce! we spoke with Yoga 4 Change

Our weekly Media Roundtable Friday on First Coast Connect featured Florida Times-Union Reporter Tessa Duvall , radio host Angela Spears , Jacksonville Daily Record Reporter Dave Cawton and WJCT Reporter Ryan Benk . The topics discussed included A list of replacements for suspended Jacksonville City Council members Katrina Brown and Reggie Brown is on Governor Rick Scott’s desk. Controversy over outgoing Interim Duval County School Superintendent Patricia Willis promoting two relatives . More

In the wake of the apparent suicide Tuesday of fashion designer Kate Spade we spoke with Mental Health America of Northeast Florida CEO Wendy Hughes on First Coast Connect about the rise of suicides in the country , particularly a sharp increase by white, middle-aged women (01:06). Ahead of The Florida Chamber Music Project’s Masquerade Tango Gala Saturday night at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall we spoke with Artistic Director Susan Pardue and heard an in-studio performance (22:03). Local

Tuesday on First Coast Connect we spoke with local attorney John Phillips about the case of Gregory Hill Jr. Hill was shot and killed by police in St. Lucie County through his closed garage door. A jury awarded the family a four dollar settlement that was reduced to four cents. The case has sparked national outrage and an online fundraising campaign for his children (01:08). This month’s edition of RealTalk with Charles Griggs featured former Duval County school board member Brenda Priestly