First Coast Connect

Hans Tanzler III appeared on First Coast Connect on Thursday to talk with Melissa Ross about the Florida 4th District Congressional race. WJCT’s own Cat Davis talked about her new social media campaign to celebrate poetry and public personalities.

Thursday on First Coast Connect, host Melissa Ross spoke with a prominent Republican working on the independent presidential campaign of Evan McMullin. Local attorney Wayne Hogan talked about a new law aimed at protecting Florida rental car users and we heard about an upcoming blues concert highlighting female performers.

Former Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford, a candidate in Florida's District 4 congressional race, appeared on First Coast Connect on Tuesday. Also on the program, Steve Smith, the executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, talked about solar energy Amendment 4, which is on the Aug. 30 ballot. We also heard about a prestigious honor awarded to University of Florida Health Jacksonville.

Tuesday on First Coast Connect, we discuss: Could recent severe weather be a sign of things to come? We also talk about how you can help the blind read printed books and a new art exhibit at the University of North Florida shows off fans' love for the band U2 in a unique way.

Tuesday on First Coast Connect, we discuss: Could recent severe weather be a sign of things to come? We also talk about how you can help the blind read printed books and a new art exhibit at the University of North Florida shows off fans' love for the band U2 in a unique way.

Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump both presented their economic plans last week, outlining very different ideas for what they'd do to grow jobs if they get elected. On Monday's First Coast Connect, we talked with two University of North Florida economists about how Trump and Clinton's policies will affect the First Coast.

Beaches Residents React to Pension Proposal Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry says "we're all in this together" regarding the city's pension obligations, but some residents of the Beaches are skeptical. Curry has been traveling around Duval County drumming up support for his proposed solution to Jacksonville’s massive unfunded pension liability. But he’s facing a tough sell in Jacksonville, Atlantic and Neptune Beaches, where some residents are pushing back against the idea of extending a half-cent

Childhood Obesity It’s a new way to fight a serious public health problem in this country and on the First Coast: childhood obesity. About 13 million kids and adults in this country are considered obese. In Florida, there’s been a decrease in obesity among preschoolers. But as kids prepare to head back to school this month many of them are, ironically, overweight but at the same time not getting access to enough healthy food like fresh produce. Student leaders in Jacksonville’s I’m A Star

Hemming Park Friends of Hemming Park, the organization in charge of running downtown Jacksonville's central park, recently stopped live music in during the park's weekday lunch hours due to budget constraints and feedback from City Council that city dollars should not be spent on programming or events. That announcement came on the heels of city government concerns over a recent audit and a general reduction of funding for the group. Former Friends of Hemming Park executive director Vince Cavin

Media Roundtable We discuss the week's biggest news stories with our roundtable of local journalists: Andrew Pantazi, Florida Times-Union reporter; Julie Delegal, Folio Weekly writer; Tim Gibbons, Jacksonville Business Journal editor;and Jacksonville blogger Fred Matthews.Topics include Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign stop in Jacksonville this week, confirmed cases of the Zika virus being transmitted through mosquito bites in Florida, and more. TEDxJacksonville