First Coast Connect

Thursday on First Coast Connect we discussed the international refugee crisis. Jacksonville University is hosting a panel discussion on the topic this week. We heard from University of North Florida professor Leslie Kaplan; Travis Trice from World Relief, which assists local refugees; and Amy Stalker, the president of the Jacksonville Chapter of the United Nations Association. Host Melissa Ross also spoke with Dr. Sarah McLaughlin from the Mayo Clinic about Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and

On Wednesday’s First Coast Connect we discussed the See the Girl Summit being held Thursday and Friday at the Jessie Ball duPont Center with Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center CEO Lawanda Ravoira and Roy Miller, president of the Tallahassee-based Children’s Campaign. We were also joined by attorneys Kelly Mathis and Mitch Stone. Host Melissa Ross also welcomed Steffani Fletcher, the executive director of Hope at Hand about their mission that provides art and poetry therapy to at-risk youth. Then

A lively discussion about the medical marijuana amendment, Amendment 2, was featured on First Coast Connect. We were joined by Susan Pitman of Drug Free Duval. Host Melissa Ross also spoke by phone with author Sady Doyle about her book “Trainwreck,” which takes a look at the sometimes unusual behavior of female celebrities and what it says about our society’s views on women. We also spoke to National MS Society North Florida Chapter President Corrina Madrid and cyclist and multiple sclerosis

On Monday’s First Coast Connect we discussed the problem of sewage overflows in Jacksonville after Hurricane Matthew. More than 11 million gallons of sewage have been discharged around Duval County, and after Hurricane Hermine, 20 million gallons flowed into Tampa Bay. Host Melissa Ross spoke by phone with Alyson Kenward of Climate Central, an independent organization researching climate change. We also spoke with Bill Mefford, the faith outreach specialist for Americans United for the

Our weekly Media Roundtable featured Tonyaa Weathersbee of the Florida Times-Union; blogger Fred Mathews, formerly of the Examiner; A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics; and WJCT business analyst John Burr. The panel discussed with host Melissa Ross the fallout over JEA’s response to restoring electric service and sewage problems. Brian Pope from the Lubee Bat Conservancy in Gainesville joined us on the phone to talk about next weekend’s Florida Bat Festival and Jacksonville Civic Orchestra

After a federal judge ordered Florida to extend its voter registration deadline to Oct. 18, we spoke with League of Women Voters- Florida President Pamela Goodman. The LWV was one of the groups that filed a complaint against Governor Rick Scott, who refused to extend the deadline after Hurricane Matthew. Melissa Ross was also joined by Tony Allegretti from the Jacksonville Cultural Council, and Cressman Bronson and Kim Reckley from PNC Bank to discuss Thursday’s local State of the Arts luncheon

Florida 3rd Congressional district candidate Democrat Ken McGurn joined host Melissa Ross to discuss his race against incumbent Republican Ted Yoho. As part of our regular Going Green segment, we spoke with Hastings farmer Danny Johns of Blue Sky Famers, as well as Dr. Shahriar Nabizadeh about organic and traditional farming in honor Wednesday of National Farmers Day. With October being World Blindness Awareness Month, we spoke with WJCT Morning Edition host and Radio Reading Service manager

University of South Florida political science professor Susan MacManus joined host Melissa Ross Tuesday to talk about the latest Sunshine State Survey asking Floridians what their greatest concerns as the presidential election looms. With the cleanup from Hurricane Matthew continuing on the First Coast, we spoke with Vicky Zelen, president of Zelen Risk Solutions insurance agency, about what you need to do to make a flood insurance claim. First Coast Connect Book Club blogger Stacey Goldring

Duval School Superintendent Nikolai Vitti joined the show Monday with an update on schools being closed due to Hurricane Matthew and how the district handled the cleanup effort. We also spoke with Girls Inc. executive director Robin Rose about Tuesday’s International Day of the Girl. Jax Community of Entrepreneurs Executive Director Kate Stewart; Jennifer Giltrop with the Jacksonville Public Library; and Coretta Hill with United Way of Northeast Florida joined host Melissa Ross to speak about

Amendment 1 on Florida’s November ballot has garnered emotional debate on both sides. To discuss the issue by phone Wednesday, Screven Watson, board member of Consumers for Smart Solar, supports the amendment and Stephen Smith from the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy opposes it. We also spoke with Richard Naylor, external relations manager; Robin Tanya Watson, executive director; and recent graduate Asia Howard about the Year Up Jacksonville program. Host Melissa Ross also spoke with physical