First Coast Connect

Thursday on First Coast Connect, we spoke with Rethreaded founder Kristin Keen regarding International Women’s Day (01:06). Director of the UNF International Business Program Andres Gallo and Janice Donaldson from UNF’s Small Business Center told us about next week’s Value Creation in the Global Economy conference on Jacksonville’s logistics market (24:19). Melissa spoke with local MasterChef Junior finalist Camson Alvey and ahead of next week’s Root Ball to raise funds for Greenscape of

Wednesday on First Coast Connect, we spoke with UF Health Jacksonville CEO Dr. Leon Haley on the troubles in Tallahassee of getting the legislature to agree on Medicaid funding and approving a budget UPDATE - a budget was agreed upon Wednesday afternoon. There will now be a three-day “cooling off” period before the vote by the legislature (01:12). Ahead of the City Rescue Mission’s Annual Difference Makers Banquet we spoke with Executive Director Penny Kievet and FCS Ministries Founder and Toxic

Tuesday on First Coast Connect, we spoke with Reverend Gregg Kaufman who is a member of the National Issues Forum Institute on a recent study looking at how to reduce crime (01:15). We heard about a new Nonpartisan Political Campaign Seminar with Leadership Jacksonville CEO Jill Langford Dame (30:57). Mayo Clinic doctors Pashtoon Kasi and Douglas Riegert-Johnson talked about March being Colon Cancer Awareness Month (37:08). Relevnt founder and CEO Winder Hughes told us about his new app, which

Monday on First Coast Connect, we spoke with local attorney Mike Freed about the city of Jacksonville filing a lawsuit against major drug manufacturers over the opioid crisis (01:06). We were joined by Board President Chris Schwing to discuss this year’s Jacksonville Women’s Leadership Forum (29:21). Players by the Sea creative Marketing Manager Bradley Akers and Director Kris Jackson talked about their New Voices program (46:00).

Friday on First Coast Connect, our weekly Media Roundtable featured Florida Times-Union reporter Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Business Journal editor Timothy Gibbons, WJCT business analyst John Burr and WJCT reporter Lindsey Kilbride (01:15). We spoke with Julie Watkins, Executive Director of The Girls Gone Green about Saturday’s annual Northeast Florida Veg Fest (38:57). Trading Spaces star Brett Taylor joined us to talk about the return of the show and his appearance this weekend at the

Thursday on First Coast Connect, we spoke with Dr. Madeline Joseph, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics at UF College of Medicine Jacksonville, who is looking at bullying as a public health issue (01:15). This month’s edition of First Coast Success featured Jacksonville University President Tim Cost (26:54). Our latest Art Attack roundtable featured (32:26): Lee Hamby of the 5 and Dime Theatre Shawana Brooks with the Jacksonville Public Library Robert Arleigh White, Vice President for

Wednesday on First Coast Connect, we spoke with Mario Decunto, who is chairman of Mayor Lenny Curry’s Hispanic American Advisory Board, about the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on DACA students and this week’s Hispanic American Leadership Awards (01:06). Our premiere edition of #realtalk hosted by WJCT contributor and board member Charles Griggs featured public safety analyst Ken Jefferson, attorney Rhonda Peoples-Waters and meteorologist Steve Smith (25:20). WJCT News Director Jessica

Tuesday on First Coast Connect, ahead of his talk Tuesday evening at the University of North Florida, we spoke with General Michael Hayden, who is a former director of the NSA and CIA (01:24). The latest edition of Moveable Feast featured Chriss Brown from 927 Events (25:05). We heard about Friday’s Environmental Summit at the Florida Coastal School of Law with FCSL professor Eric Hull, Quinton White, Director of the Marine Science Research Institute at Jacksonville University and Kinsley Vassey

Monday on First Coast Connect we spoke with former Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office spokesman Ken Jefferson on law enforcement’s role in the Parkland school shooting (01:14). We discussed America Saves Week with Jax Federal Credit Union Chief Operating Officer Mary Svoboda (30:56). We learned about the upcoming Jacksonville Science Festival with organizers Tia Unthank and Nadia Hionides and Eddie Whisler with the Museum of Science and History (38:54). Cole Pepper talked about the latest sports news

Friday on First Coast Connect our weekly Media Roundtable featured Florida Times-Union reporter Andrew Pantazi, Folio Weekly editor Claire Goforth, Jacksonville Daily Record reporter David Cawton and WJCT contributor and board member Charles Griggs (01:51). Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Principal Melanie Hammer, Executive Director of the Douglas Anderson Foundation Jackie Cornelius and former student Tanner Lane talked Saturday’s annual Extravaganza (38:49). Author Amy Chua told us about