First Coast Connect

(Stacey Bennett)

Budget season began in earnest last week, as the Jacksonville City Council began carving away at the mayor’s proposed budget. In addition to taking aim at some of her policy priorities, including spending on public health programs, the council Finance Committee also approved a ⅛-mill property tax rollback, a move the mayor dubbed “performative,” as it coincided with a contentious DOGE visit from the state’s chief financial officer. We ask the mayor about it all and take your calls and questions, in our monthly Ask the Mayor segment.

Guest:

• Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan.

Then, as arts organizations and nonprofits alike struggle in the face of new economic and funding realities, we talk to Northeast Florida's largest arts nonprofit organization about how the organization is adapting and evolving. This year, the Jacksonville Symphony is celebrating a $15 million anonymous donation that will help steer the 60-member orchestra through the coming season of nearly 100 concerts.

Guest:

• Steven B. Libman, president & CEO of the Jacksonville Symphony.

And, a community arts and farmers market kicks off the new school year with curiosity and creativity. The Riverside Arts Market's back-to-school celebration blends hands-on learning, youth entrepreneurship and interactive workshops from rug-making to science exploration. The event, held under the Fuller Warren Bridge, will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Guests:

• SJ Osborne, Riverside Arts Market manager.
• Melanie Maylon, Southern Style Bread Pudding owner. 
• MacKenzie Maylon, 6-year-old entrepreneur.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks as President Donald Trump listens at an event to promote his proposal to improve Americans' access to their medical records in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)(Mark Schiefelbein/AP / NPR)

A recent decision by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to claw back $500 million worth of federal mRNA vaccine research funding is already having effects on local clinical trials. It’s a move local health researchers have called unethical, saying it will derail existing drug trials and possibly put clinical researchers out of work.

Guest:

• Dr. Michael Koren, cardiologist and CEO at the Jacksonville Center for Clinical Research.

Then, the growing controversy surrounding raw milk. Though illegal to sell for human consumption in Florida, wellness influencers (and HHS Secretary RFK) have touted the purported immune-boosting and digestive benefits of drinking unpasteurized milk. A recent E. coli and Campylobacter outbreak linked to a Florida raw milk farm left more than 20 people ill and six hospitalized. We ask an infectious diseases expert what the science says about the claimed benefits and why certain pathogens can make raw dairy products dangerous.

Guest:

• Chad Neilsen, director of infection prevention and control at Nemours Children’s Health.

And, as students head back to school across the First Coast, an in-school tutoring assistance program is coping with cutbacks. Officials with City Year AmeriCorps have had to cut the number of schools they work in due to federal funding cuts and are looking to raise $300,000 to offset the loss. We talk to two senior leaders about the work City Year does and the effect it’s already had.

Guests:

• Allishia Bauman, senior vice president and executive director of City Year Jacksonville.
• Quintin Griffin, interim managing director of impact at City Year Jacksonville.
  

(Stacey Bennett)

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

• The city balances budget hearings with the demands of a sudden state DOGE audit.
• Back to school begins with controversy over books removed from Duval shelves — despite nobody requesting it. Plus: There’s no more free lunch at some schools, after a district rollback.
• A judge orders more transparency in Alligator Alcatraz contacts even as a new detention center takes shape at Camp Blanding.
• And, St. Johns County residents grapple with an ongoing airport scandal, the demolition of a beloved motel and an e-scooter accident involving a teen.

To discuss all that and more, we’re joined this week by:

• David Bauerlein, metro reporter at the Florida Times-Union.
• Randy DeFoor, attorney and former Jacksonville City Council member.
• Jim Piggott, longtime City Hall reporter at News4Jax.
• Jake Stofan, reporter at Action News Jax.

Then, as MOSH prepared to vacate its Southbank digs, employees uncovered a trove of ancient (or at least antique) treasures. Rather than let them go to waste, museum employees created a farewell exhibit from the items — everything from an original Star Wars lunchbox to a midcentury bug collection to an actual phone booth. We talk to the museum’s CEO about sifting through the remains while planning for the future.

Guest:

• Alistair Dove, CEO of the Museum of Science & History.

Parvez Ahmed, chief of analytics for the city of Jacksonville.(Stacey Bennett)

A new city-run data analysis portal examines community discrepancies in areas like education, health care and home ownership. The initiative compares Jacksonville to other similarly governed and economically situated cities, and city officials say it will help identify root causes of the disparities and track progress on several metrics of well-being. We talk to the city’s chief of analytics about why measuring matters and what they hope to gain by marshaling the facts.

Guest:

• Parvez Ahmed, chief of analytics for the city of Jacksonville.

Then, amid rapidly changing immigration policies, a new book offers corporate employers an important toolkit to maintain and expand their international hiring efforts. We talk to a Jacksonville immigration attorney and author about how her decades in the business of immigration compliance have given her a unique perspective at a particularly fraught time.

Guest:

• Giselle Carson, immigration compliance attorney and author of The Corporate Immigration Advantage: How to Hire, Retain and Thrive with Global Talent in a Competitive World.

And, the China Cat Sunflower Festival celebrates its 30th year commemorating the anniversary of Jerry Garcia’s 1995 death. The annual event honors the The Grateful Dead co-founder and the legacy of the trailblazing psychedelic bluegrass band. We talk to the organizing force behind the annual festival about what keeps her going and what to expect this year.

Guests:

• Brenda Star Walker, founder of the China Cat Sunflower Festival.
• Rick Buda, musician.

(Bee Harris for NPR)

After weeks of controversy surrounding the release of a video showing a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer punching a Black motorist, the racial equity group 904WARD has scheduled a series of community conversations tackling everything from JSO’s ranking on the Police Scorecard Project to an exploration of what it calls “the coded language often used when discussing policing and justice.” The series runs through September at The Jessie Downtown.

Guests:

• Audrieanna Burgin, chief executive officer, 904WARD.
• ReGina Newkirk Rucci, director of equity, 904WARD.
• Melinda Patterson, criminal defense attorney.

Then, a celebration marking the 105th anniversary of women’s suffrage. We talk to League of Women Voters members about how the rights conferred by the 19th Amendment continue to affect the lives of all Americans. We also preview the organization’s anniversary event, and settle once and for all the “suffragist” vs. “suffragette” conundrum.

Guests:

• Jessica Lowe-Minor, president, League of Women Voters of Florida.
• Lanelle Phillmon, president, League of Women Voters Jacksonville First Coast.
• Rhona DiCamillo, vice president, League of Women Voters Jacksonville First Coast.

And, an unlikely hideaway in a most public place, Secret Mall Apartment tells the true story of eight friends who constructed a covert “condo” inside a Rhode Island mall and lived there, undetected, for four years. The acclaimed 2004 documentary is built around footage recorded by the friends during their time in the mall. It screens Wednesday at WJCT Studios as part of the Film at WJCT movie series.

Guest:

• WJCT Station Manager David Luckin.
  

Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico.(Stacey Bennett)

As a new City Council president takes the helm, we look at what it means to lead the 19-member body at a time of increased partisanship and rising costs for city services. Kevin Carrico comes to the job after five years on Jacksonville City Council and more than 15 years in the city’s nonprofit sector, including serving as vice president of operations at the Clara White Mission and vice president of strategic initiatives for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida. His one-year presidential term begins at a time of growing rancor between local lawmakers and the Mayor’s Office, when political priorities are frequently influenced by national ones. We ask Carrico how he plans to lead and how he hopes to make his mark.

Guest:

• Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico.

Then, supporting murder victims and their families after investigations go cold. Project: Cold Case celebrates 10 years of victim advocacy in North Florida and beyond. Since its inception, the nonprofit has highlighted more than 1,800 cases from 48 countries, 70 of which have reached some form of resolution. The group’s upcoming gala, scheduled Thursday at Casa Marina Hotel & Restaurant, is free to attend, but also a fundraiser for the organization. The group’s founder joins us to reflect on the progress of the last decade, how his personal loss continues to animate his work and why raising awareness for unsolved cases — and victims’ families — remains a priority.

Guest:

• Ryan Backmann, founder and executive director, Project: Cold Case Inc.

(Stacey Bennett)

What separates ordinary pet owners from animal activists? We’re joined by four people who’ve devoted their adult lives to the care and protection of animals, whether that involves species rescue, shelter work, adoption, fostering or animal control. They explain the rewards and challenges of animal advocacy, including persistent challenges in shelter capacity, staffing, funding and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guests:

• Mike Bricker, chief of Animal Care and Protective Services.
• Lindsay Layendecker, community cat expert and fosterer; former Friends of Jacksonville Animals volunteer; Jacksonville Humane Society senior director of development.
• Lawrence Nicolas, CEO, Jacksonville Humane Society.
• Jessie Miller, founder and director of EPIC Outreach.

Then, what we are learning about Parkinson’s after the “Prince of Darkness” Ozzy Osbourne dies. Plus: Do ordinary folks need glucose monitors? We discuss it all on our upcoming House Call with Dr. Joe. Mayo Clinic neurologist Dr. Joe Sirven joins us each month to discuss the latest medical headlines and to answer your health care calls and questions.

Guests:

• Dr. Joe Sirven, Mayo neurologist and host of the WJCT program and podcast What’s Health Got To Do With It?

Nikesha Williams, author and producer of the “Black & Published” podcast; Megan Mallicoat, education reporter at Jacksonville Today; Sylvia Perry, editor of the Jacksonville Free Press; Nate Monroe, executive editor at The Tributary.(Stacey Bennett)

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

• A deep dive into the Douglas Anderson sexual misconduct scandal unearths a long-promised accountability report — a year after it was finished and 3x over budget. 
• A viral traffic stop video continues to generate controversy after a police body cam shows an officer aiming a gun, and a local investigation examines the racial breakdown of the citation issued.
• A Florida Power & Light inspection report shows employees were fearful of reporting safety concerns. 

Guests:

• Nate Monroe, executive editor at The Tributary.
• Megan Mallicoat, education reporter at Jacksonville Today.
• Sylvia Perry, editor of the Jacksonville Free Press. 
• Nikesha Williams, author and producer of the Black & Published podcast.

Then, you could almost call it a Golden Girls prequel. Written by the same author, The Sweet Delilah Swim Club follows five southern women and lifelong pals across three decades of annual meetups along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Amelia Community Theatre wraps its 44th season with the bittersweet comedy exploring the unbreakable bonds of deeply rooted friendships. The show runs through August, but opening night includes a pre-party, appropriately featuring peach ice cream and lemon drop martinis.

Guests:

• Joseph Stearman, director.
• Jayme Taylor, actor playing Jeri Neal.
• Starr Duval, actor playing Dinah Grayson.

(Stacey Bennett)

Artificial intelligence-induced disruption is transforming learning on college campuses and redefining the work prospects of graduates. It’s also affecting creativity, governance and even relationships. We ask the University of North Florida's first faculty fellow for artificial intelligence what we need to watch, anticipate and possibly even fear. We also discuss how the school is preparing and responding to the rapidly changing technology.

Guest:

• Joshua Gellers, director of the Digital Humanities Institute at the University of North Florida and faculty fellow for artificial intelligence.

Then, a new storytelling event focuses on uncovering the mysterious and hidden tales from Jacksonville’s history. So it’s fitting that the series is held at a business built on repurposing the flotsam and treasures of past lives. The Eco After Dark event kicks off with a presentation by author and educator Tim Gilmore, whose signature blog JaxPsychoGeo mines the border between our physical and psychological experience of a place. Gilmore is the author of 24 books and more than 800 blog posts about Northeast Florida architecture, crime and history.

Guest:

• Tim Gilmore, author, educator and historian at Jax Psycho Geo.
• Annie Murphy, owner of Eco Relics.

And, an acclaimed spoken word poet tries her hand at stagecraft. Writer Niveah Glover’s play, Callas, tells the story of the Brown sisters, who begin a reckoning with their past after the death of their mother. Glover was selected as the 2024 National Poetry Out Loud Champion and named Jacksonville’s Youth Poet Laureate in 2018.

Guests:

• Niveah Glover, poet, Callas playwright.
• Milan Falls, actor playing June Ann Brown.

Still from "No Sleep Till."( Courtesy of Alexandra Simpson)

A small beach town, an impending storm and an acclaimed cinematic vision. No Sleep Till, which is both shot and set in Atlantic Beach, has received rave reviews for its eerie, elegiac tone and elegant cinematography. The Paris-based director explains the beach community’s central role in both the film and her childhood, and why she chose to frame the central narrative around an impending ecological disaster. The movie will screen at WJCT Studios at 7 p.m. Sept. 30, followed by a director Q&A.

Guest:

• Alexandra Simpson, director of No Sleep Till.

Then, from its early days as a Baptist church to its reincarnation as a musical destination, the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall is no stranger to transformation. On Thursday, the newly renovated sound sanctuary reopens its doors to the public, followed by the venue’s inaugural concert Friday with a performance by the Dan Tyminski Band. SJC Cultural Events, the public/private partnership that manages the venue, says the goal of the $12 million overhaul was not just to transform the physical space, but to reshape the audience experience.

Guest:

• Dianya Markovits, director of public relations and partnerships, SJC Cultural Events.

And, one of the final shows at the Museum of Science & History’s Bryan-Gooding Planetarium on Aug. 8 is both a tribute to the facility itself and a celebration of dramatic advancements in space exploration, starting with the marvel of humans taking our first steps into the cosmos.

Guests:

• Eddie Whisler, planetarium director at MOSH.