First Coast Connect

Thursday on First Coast Connect, we spoke with Ramon Day and Dr. Shyam Payani with Floridians Advocating for Insurance Reform, or FAIR. They want a Constitutional Amendment placed on the November 2020 ballot to implement a single-payer health system in Florida (01:08). We were told the results of a poll asking local residents their thoughts on the future of the St. Johns River with Dr. Quint White and Dr. Ray Oldakowski from Jacksonville University (29:22). We heard about a move in the Duval

Wednesday on First Coast Connect, in the wake of the federal indictments against Paul Manafort and Rick Gates - who were former aides to Donald Trump - and the guilty plea of former aide George Papadopoulos, we spoke with local attorney and former secret service agent Michael Stanski (01:12). Ahead of her appearance at the WJCT studios Wednesday evening, we talked to Turkish human rights activists reporter Sevgi Akarcesme (23:36). We heard about the struggles of taking care of a loved one with

Tuesday on First Coast Connect, in response to President Donald Trump declaring opioids a national health emergency, we looked at what is being done locally with Dr. Marcus De Carvalho from the Center for a Healthy Mind and Wellbeing (01:12). Melissa spoke with former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson about her fight against sexual harassment in the workplace. Her Ted Talk in New Orleans this week will be simulcast in Jacksonville at the TedXFSCJ Women talk. Women’s Center of Jacksonville Board

Monday on First Coast Connect, we spoke with Jacksonville’s Downtown Investment Authority CEO Aundra Wallace about some of the development projects downtown (01:13). This month’s edition of First Coast Success with Karen Brune Mathis featured local developer Ed Burr (23:14). As part of the Real Men Wear Pink fundraising month for the National Cancer Society we spoke with participant Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails owner/executive chef Tom Gray (28:12). Timucuan Park Superintendent Chris Hughes and

Friday on First Coast Connect, our weekly Media Roundtable featured WJCT contributor Charles Griggs, Florida Politics reporter A.G. Gancarski and WJCT business analyst John Burr (01:14). Author Zack Clark joined the show to talk about the new book he co-authored, “The Adventurers Guild” (31:05). We were told about a Saturday screening of ”The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the Florida Theater with emcee Karissa Wade (46:00).

Thursday on First Coast Connect, we spoke with Gerard Hammink from FEMA and Adrienne Laneave about what help is still available to those who suffered damage from Hurricane Irma (01:06). We heard about the highly acclaimed movie “The Florida Project” with co-producer and Jacksonville native Kevin Chinoy (25:10). Jewish Family and Community Services Executive Director Colleen Rodriguez told us about a new Holocaust memorial to commemorate the organization’s 100th anniversary in Jacksonville (35:56

Wednesday on First Coast Connect, we spoke with Tracy Collins, also known to many around town as Tracy Dot Com. She previewed excerpts from her upcoming book detailing her struggle against alcoholism (01:24). Author Tim Gilmore and illustrator Shep Shepard talked about Gilmore’s latest book regarding Jacksonville founder Isaiah Hart, “The Book of Isaiah” (34:57). Art (Re)Public founder Jessica Santiago told us about this year’s edition of the event (46:00).

Tuesday on First Coast Connect, ahead of next week’s She Is Fierce! conference at Everbank Field, we spoke with Jacksonville Jaguars Vice President and chief Legal Officer Megha Parekh (01:21). Dr. Douglas Green, specialist with the Jacksonville Hearing and Balance Center spoke about an upcoming seminar at WJCT (24:46). Upon hearing Justin Timberlake has been invited to perform at halftime during Super Bowl LII we spoke with entertainment critic Joey O’Hern (30:02). Generation W founder Donna

Monday on First Coast Connect, we spoke with local activist Nick Thompson about his My Neighbors Project (01:02). Ahead of a STEM field trip Wednesday we spoke with Karen Smittle, CH2M Florida Communications Manager, Jaynelle Pemberton, CH2M Engineer and Project Manager and Alex Blahakis, Career and Technical Education Director for Duval Public Schools. (29:45) Cole Pepper brought us the weekend’s sports news, including the Jaguars’ 27-0 win over the Colts. He also previewed Saturday’s Florida

Friday on First Coast Connect, our weekly Media Roundtable featured Dan Scanlan from The Florida Times-Union, Folio Weekly editor Claire Goforth, Jacksonville Business Journal editor Timothy Gibbons and WJCT contributor Charles Griggs (01:18). Reveal host and Jacksonville native Al Letson and Jacksonville Bar Association President Tad Delegal spoke about Al’s talk with the association regarding race relations and Letson’s appearance Saturday in the CoRK Arts District (33:30). We heard a live in