First Coast Connect

The shocking murders of Harold and Thelma Swain at a 1985 Bible study in Camden County, Georgia, remained unsolved for years. The crime was then incorrectly “solved” in 2003, sending an innocent man to prison for more than two decades. It wasn’t until investigative reporter Joshua Sharpe got involved that investigators found the current suspect, a discovery that led to exoneration of Dennis Perry and the arrest last December of alleged white supremacist Erik Sparre. We talk to Sharpe about his work on wrongful convictions and the ongoing search for justice in the Swain case.

Guest:

• Joshua Sharpe, investigative journalist and author of The Man No One Believed: The Untold Story of the Georgia Church Murders.

Then, after repeated reports about Jacksonville City Council members communicating with each other outside of public forums, a local attorney is asking the state attorney to investigate alleged Sunshine Law violations. We ask her why she’s concerned about the council’s communication patterns and what if anything she’s heard from officials in response to her request.

Guest:

• Leslie Jean-Bart, government relations attorney, president of the Duval County Democratic Black Caucus.

Floridians could see health insurance premiums increase by double digits — and in at least one case, by more than 40%. Those forecasts come in response to the largest rollback of federal health programs in history — the Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed earlier this year. In addition to significant changes to Medicaid and SNAP benefits, the number of people covered by Affordable Care Act insurance is expected to plummet as enhanced premium tax credits expire, leaving millions with higher monthly costs. We talk about what the health care industry is forecasting and what you can expect to pay if Congress doesn’t act before the end of the year.

Guest:

• Scott Darius, executive director, Florida Voices for Health. 

• Dr. Leonardo Alonso, emergency medicine physician.

  Then, the archaeologist who literally helped unearth the history of the first free Black settlement in the United States celebrates the opening of the reconstructed Fort Mose with a 30th anniversary edition of her book, Fort Mose: Colonial America’s Black Fortress of Freedom, which she co-authored with Darcie MacMahon and Jane Landers. We ask the author about an archaeological career spanning 50 years and the revelations and rewards of digging into Northeast Florida’s Black history.

Guest:

• Kathleen Deagan, archaeologist and author of Fort Mose: Colonial America's Black Fortress of Freedom.

And, fighting hunger on the First Coast. We talk to the head of the region’s lead agency in the national Hunger Action month campaign, which is held each September to encourage food bank donations, advocate for nutrition program funding and invite volunteers to become more involved in local efforts to nourish children and families. The local head of Feeding Northeast Florida explains the local need and how you can help.

Guest:

• Susan King, president and CEO of Feeding Northeast Florida.

Each Friday, our media roundtable breaks down the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week:

• Health officials oppose proposed cuts to Meals on Wheels and other health care spending in the mayor’s budget.
• Concerns about Sunshine Law violations grow after new comments hint at off-record conversations among council members.
• The City Council’s finance chair pays $70K in back taxes after a news reporter raises questions.
• Former city attorneys may face off against their current counterparts after lawmakers seek independent legal representation.

To talk about all that and more, we welcome:

• Jake Stofan, political reporter at Action News Jax.
• Mike Mendenhall, City Hall reporter and associate editor at Jacksonville Today.
• Tricia Booker, author and journalism professor at the University of North Florida.

Then, fostering the next generation of cultivators, artists and entrepreneurs. From agriculture to artistic development to business basics, The Bloom Lab announces free after-school courses for middle and high school students. Friends of PHX JAX, the nonprofit arm of the Phoenix Arts & Innovation District, recently received a $350,000 state appropriation to launch the program, which kicks off in late 2025. Students will participate in eight-week sessions and then lead a community market showcasing their work.

Guests:

• Emily Moody, executive director, Friends of PHX JAX.

The implications of a potential redistricting battle in Florida and the growing City Council pushback on some of Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan’s key spending priorities are among the topics we discuss in our monthly conversation with attorney and political expert Chris Hand.

Guest:

• Chris Hand,  local government expert, attorney and co-author with the late Sen. Bob Graham of America, the Owner's Manual.

Then, from urban farming to nature clubs to ecological stewardship, a local initiative focuses on increasing time kids spend outdoors and decreasing screen time and isolation. Four local nonprofits — Groundwork Jacksonville, LIFT JAX, LISC Jacksonville and the Partnership for Child Health — are launching programs in the Brentwood, Eastside, New Town and Springfield neighborhoods. Funded by a $6 million grant from Project One Health, the initiative aims to activate parks, schoolyards and the Emerald Trail as spaces where young people can learn and play.

Guests:

• Sylia Obaji, executive director of Project: One Health.
• Laureen Husband, director of the Partnership for Child Health.

Back to school began with three accidents involving Duval County students hit by cars, including one that killed a middle school student. The school district superintendent has urged parents to talk to their kids about safety and urged motorists to take extra caution when driving in or near school zones. But after seeing 42 reported incidents last year involving students as pedestrians, bicyclists or passengers in cars, some say more needs to be done. We talk to two pedestrian safety advocates about what is happening and what options remain.

Guests:

• Cindy Pearson, District 3 Duval County School Board member.
• Heather Albritton, director of health and physical education, Duval County Public Schools. 

Then, from mortuary to motel, a historic funeral home is transformed into a short-term rental. The 110-year-old property in LaVilla that once housed L.L. Pratt Undertaking Co. is being transformed into a 13-unit “apart-hotel” featuring amenities like a rooftop lounge, in-ground pool and plans for a speakeasy in what was once the embalming room. We talk to the project’s developer about his bold plans for the building’s afterlife.

Guest:

• Eric Adler, founder and CEO, Silver Street Management. 

And, a theatrical reenactment commemorates the 65th anniversary of a Jacksonville civil rights protest that erupted into racist violence. The Sit-In Experience: Ax-Handle Saturday is an immersive production honoring Black students who sat at Woolworth Department Store's whites-only lunch counter and blends scripted scenes, improvisation, step and a cappella spirituals. A post-show town hall invites audience members to join a conversation with original civil rights participants, city officials and historians. The performance will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday at WJCT Studios.

Guest:

• Darryl Reuben Hall, executive director of Stage Aurora Theatrical Co.

Congenital syphilis is a severe, disabling and often fatal infection found in babies whose mothers have untreated (or undertreated) syphilis. The infection can lead to an enlarged liver, severe anemia, malformed teeth and bones, even autism, and it puts many babies at risk of neonatal death. Though preventable with early detection and treatment, infection rates in Duval County remain far higher than most of the state. With the City Council poised to cut the mayor’s proposed budget allocation for congenital syphilis screening, we ask two local experts why the problem persists on the First Coast.

Guests:

• Dr. Chandra A. Adams, obstetrician/gynecologist and women's health economist at Full Circle Women’s Health.
• Dr. Mobeen H. Rathore, professor and associate chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville, and chief of infectious diseases and immunology at Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

Then, two local theater powerhouses team up for an "in concert" production of the classic Stephen Sondheim musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. The staging includes a 26-piece symphony orchestra and a 30-member chorus in the Broadway classic about a Roman slave trying to win his freedom by playing matchmaker for his lovestruck owner.

Guests:

• Numa Saisselin, president of The Florida Theatre.
• Sarah Boone, executive director of Theatre Jacksonville.
• Cady Huffman, Tony Award winner, starring as Pseudolus.
• Jean Tait, director.

And, a classically trained cellist and multi-instrumentalist with a passion for funk, soul and R&B created her own distinctive sound with Nikayla and The phuNk! The project blends her genre-bending style with classical instrumentation and a desire to break musical boundaries. We ask her about the release of her first album and the influence of her Jacksonville roots.

Guest:

• Nikayla Byirt, creator of Nikayla and The phuNk! (Byirt will perform Aug. 27 at The Walrus.)

The St. Johns County Black Heritage Trail chronicles the lesser known narratives of Black residents who helped shape the region. The self-guided tour features stories of resilience, leadership and cultural influence throughout five centuries of history from Spanish colonization to the Civil Rights Movement. We speak to the project’s collaborators about the importance of bringing these stories to light and the community’s aim to strengthen heritage tourism and education.

Guests:

• Dr. Tameka Bradley Hobbs, author, historian and lead researcher for the St. Johns County Black Heritage Trail.
• Brenda Swann, director of programs and development, St. Johns Cultural Council.
• Regina Gayle Phillips, executive director, Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center.
• Thomas Jackson, community advocate and local historian.

Then, local teens join Duval’s literacy efforts and hone their job skills in the process. READ USA’s tutoring program trains and employs teenagers to deliver one-on-one reading support to elementary students throughout 14 schools in Duval. Youth literacy tutors develop workforce skills while helping struggling readers achieve grade-level proficiency.

Guests:

• Rob Kelly, READ USA president & CEO.
• Moya Allen, READ USA tutor.

And, connecting creators to their community. Riverside Avondale Preservation reveals its placemaking initiative with the launch of the Little Local Box, an accessible platform to give and receive handmade treasures from locals. RAP also has issued an all-call for mural artists through Aug. 20 with the goal of creating a public mural on the JEA pump station under the Fuller Warren Bridge.

Guest:

• Shannon Blankinship, executive director of Riverside Avondale Preservation.

Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week.

Among our topics this week:

• The State Attorney's Office says an officer seen striking a driver in a viral traffic stop video acted lawfully.
• The community rallies around a business owner who was taken into ICE custody after experiencing a mental health crisis. 
• Two City Council members and the council president say a text exchange was procedural and did not violate Sunshine Laws. 
• A new law takes effect that targets "super speeders."
• The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office cautions riders and drivers amid an uptick in deadly motorcycle accidents.

Guests:

• Jack Webb, attorney and former City Council president.
• David Bauerlein, metro reporter at the Florida Times-Union.
• Dan Scanlan, reporter at WJCT News 89.9.
• Sylvia Perry, editor of the Jacksonville Free Press.

Then, Jacksonville’s annual honey bee festival returns Saturday at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds. Bee Friends Farm and Local Fare Jax are bringing together beekeepers, makers and foodies to celebrate National Honey Bee Day. The BeeFare festival will feature honey tastings, cooking demos, live presentations and a bustling marketplace of more than 60 local vendors.

Guests:

• Michael and Christie Leach, beekeepers and owners of Bee Friends Farm.

Caregiving is one of the fastest-growing health care needs in the United States, with over 53 million adults providing unpaid care to a loved one — many while managing full-time jobs and other domestic responsibilities. We talk about the demands and rewards of caregiving with experts, caregivers and you ahead of the The Caregiver Journey Workshop at WJCT Studios at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Guests:

• Dr. Joe Sirven, Mayo Clinic neurologist and host of the WJCT program and podcast What’s Health Got To Do With It?
• Susan Ponder-Stansel, president & CEO of Alivia Care Inc.
• Linda Levin, CEO of ElderSource.
• Alexandra Mackey, caregiver and nurse supervisor at Her Heart Assisted Living Facilities.

Then, the EMMA Concert Association launches its 47th season in the nation’s oldest city with an eclectic lineup of music and dance. From the intricate harmonies of a capella group Voctave, to the South Carolina Ballet’s take on Shakespeare, to a 1970s rock and roll tribute, the Lewis Auditorium stage in St. Augustine will feature a diverse array of performances starting in October.

Guest:

• Renee Unsworth, EMMA Concert Association board member and founder of totallystaugustine.com. 

With some state officials claiming that Jacksonville's property tax collections have skyrocketed, we’re putting the question to the county's property appraiser. We discuss the formula for determining valuations, what it means to tax property owners in a booming market and what home and business owners can expect when their proposed tax bills arrive this month.

Guest:

• Joyce Morgan, Duval County property appraiser.

Then, the Women’s Center of Jacksonville celebrates 30 years as the region’s certified rape crisis center. We discuss how the group’s mission has evolved as conversations — and realities — around sexual assault have changed. In addition to providing a 24-hour rape crisis hotline, forensic exams and trauma counseling to victims, regardless of gender, the center has anchored community advocacy and education efforts for three decades. The anniversary event, Women, Words & Wisdom 2025, includes a keynote address by activist, author and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Amanda Nguyen. We discuss the center’s history of accomplishments and the challenges that still remain.

Guests:

• Teresa Miles, executive director, the Women’s Center of Jacksonville. 
• Maria Johnson, director of development, the Women’s Center of Jacksonville.