First Coast Connect

After the Legislature hastily approved a ballot initiative to slash property taxes, Florida is just beginning to reckon with the costs. If approved by 60% of the voters in November, the measure would almost instantly slash the budgets of cities and small towns by more than $8 billion, according to a new nonpartisan analysis by the state’s Revenue Estimating Conference. That loss would compound over time, as additional property tax cuts — including for business and out-of-state homeowners — are phased in. Though the Revenue Estimating Conference is supposed to evaluate the cost of state proposals before they’re approved, the after-the-fact analysis is the first detailed examination of local impacts. Investigative reporter Jason Garcia breaks down the story behind the numbers, including the service cuts and fee hikes that would likely result.

Guest: Jason Garcia, investigative reporter, publisher of the Seeking Rents website and podcast

A nascent partnership between First Coast Crime Stoppers and Jacksonville’s animal welfare agency, Animal Care and Protective Services, led to the arrest of a dog owner on animal cruelty charges earlier this year. In part inspired by that success, Crime Stoppers is expanding its animal cruelty tip line to include Nassau County. Though the great dane “Miracle” didn’t survive after it was discovered injured, emaciated and abandoned by a Jacksonville roadside, the case helped raise awareness of the anonymous animal cruelty tip line and the cash rewards offered for information leading to an arrest. We discuss how the partners hope the expanded effort helps stem animal abuse and neglect across the region.

Guests:

• Chase Robinson, executive director, First Coast Crime Stoppers
• Steve MacKinnon, director, Nassau County Animal Services

Two days of celebrations mark Independence Day in Jacksonville this year in recognition of the nation’s semiquincentennial. On July 3, from 5:30-10 p.m., Friendship Fountain on the city’s Southbank will be home to Freedom Fest, an event featuring live music, food trucks and free apple pies to the first 1,000 guests. On July 4th, the city’s Riverfront Plaza will feature local art, live bands and the largest fireworks display in Jacksonville's history. The event runs from 4 to 9:30 p.m., with fireworks getting underway at 9 p.m. We talk to organizers to get tips on viewing, parking and celebrating safely.

Guests:

• Alex Alston, executive director of sports and entertainment, city of Jacksonville
• Garrett Callis, parks community programs manager, city of Jacksonville

A series of secretive proposed land swaps involving private property owners and the National Park Service have raised alarms that Georgia's largest barrier island could be facing more, and more intensive development. The swaps involve trading publicly held land for environmentally strategic, privately held parcels — something the Park Service says will allow the agency to conserve more vulnerable lands, but which advocates fear will permit private landholders to build larger projects on bigger properties. We discuss the often fraught relationship between land advocates and its federal and state stewards, as well as what a new administration’s priorities mean for an island required to be preserved in a “primitive” state.

Guest: Kelly Cox, senior policy specialist, National Wildlife Refuges and Parks Program, Defenders of Wildlife

Stopping domestic violence by putting the onus on men. We discuss a new prevention initiative that aims to instill in boys and men both the skills and the sense of obligation needed to effectively combat domestic violence. The program is an outgrowth of Hubbard House’s volunteer program Men Against Violence Against Women. Titled “Not My City,” the effort focuses on ways men can effectively support girls and women, while fostering empathy and engagement among their peers. An organizational meeting will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Cox Media Group Jacksonville’s Farah & Farah Performance Studio (11700 Central Parkway). Registration is requested.

Guests:

• Stephanie Brown, director of community education, Hubbard House
• Stephen Dackiewicz, board president, Hubbard House

For the past 35 years, St. Augustine’s only year-round community theater has provided a stage for amateur and rising professional artists alike. Whether staging broad, campy productions like the musical “Hairspray,” or thoughtful absurdist pieces like last year’s “Rhinoceros,” Limelight has proven itself a key fixture on St. Johns County’s cultural landscape. The theater also hosts a monthly open mic night for local performers, comics and artistic upstarts to test drive material in a welcoming, experimental atmosphere. We discuss the theater’s evolution on its path to the the 35-year mark and what its upcoming season will bring.

Guest: Missy Schmotzer, interim executive director and director of education, Limelight Theatre

Decades of industrial manufacturing has polluted both ground and water in Brunswick, Georgia, and surrounding Glynn County, which is home to four federally designated Superfund sites and 12 state-regulated hazardous waste sites. That pollution is showing up in the bloodstreams of residents. Research into the health effects of chemical exposure dates back to 1997, when a local health department said the toxic legacy was due to “dirty industry … cheap labor … [and a] lack of enforcement of regulations.” A 2023 Emory University study found the presence of one chemical, produced exclusively in Brunswick, present in the bloodstream of 40% of study participants at levels higher than 95% of the U.S. population. That research prompted a new, long-term study and the creation of the inaugural Coast Superfund Research Center, funded by a $15 million grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health. We talk to a study participant and a social justice advocate about what the project means for residents’ health and efforts to clean up the lingering contamination.

Guests:

• Anita Collins, Healthy Coastal Neighborhoods community consultant, chairperson, Urbana Perry Park NPA
• Josiah "Jazz" Watts, community consultant, Healthy Coastal Neighborhoods

For the past 10 years the Jessie Ball duPont Fund has opened its doors to other nonprofits, community groups, arts organizations and ordinary folk — part of its mission to provide “social purpose real estate” in the heart of Downtown. The national charitable foundation occupies the most striking instance of mid-century modern architecture in the core city, the old Hayden Burns Library, designed by the late, visionary architect Taylor Hardwick. We talk to two fund principals about their decade Downtown, the importance of promoting art and architecture and how they balance nonprofits needing affordable workspaces with the costs of maintaining a desirable Downtown address.

Guests:

• Mari Kuraishi, president of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund

After the closure of Jacksonville’s oldest art supply store, Reddi Arts, in 2025, two longtime crafters wanted a new space where creatives could shop and swap sustainably. The result is Art Cart Jax, a free, secondhand art and craft pop-up, designed with the goal of reducing the environmental impact of new supplies and providing a community-supported craft store. With 100% of the inventory composed of donated materials and contributions growing, the group moved into a new studio space at Margaret Street Studios and dubbed it “The Mart.” The space opened June 21 and is open from noon to 5 p.m. every Sunday. We ask the group’s founders about taking the leap of faith to open the new space and how the community is responding.

Guests:

• Jessica Grist, co-founder, Art Cart Jax
• Blake Riley, co-founder, Art Cart Jax

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

• Text messages the city refused to release are now public. What do the once-secret documents tell us about a criminal investigation sparked by City Council President Kevin Carrico?
• The governor formally brings an end to the Alligator Alcatraz era.
• JEA’s current CEO testifies before the City Council, while its former CEO takes his fraud conviction back to court.
• The city misses out on a $1 million grant after an untrained staffer fumbles the application. 
• Nascent trillionaire Elon Musk buys the assets of a Jacksonville energy company in what could be a billion-dollar deal.
• A prominent personal injury lawyer creates a new political party in Florida, the Common Ground Party.

Guests:

• Laura Pellicer, fellow, Florida Trib
• Mike Mendenhall, City Hall reporter and associate editor at Jacksonville Today
• Robin Lumb, former Jacksonville City Council member
• Obi Umunna, attorney and political consultant

As temperatures rise and the kids are out of school, a new walking club invites dads and their children to connect with their counterparts in Jacksonville. After becoming a parent, Augie Watson said he realized how difficult it can be to connect with fellow dads. Inspired by other walking groups in Jacksonville, he founded Dads Walk Jax, where dads are invited to BYOB (bring your own baby), chat and stroll through the Avondale neighborhood and nearby parks. The walks are a family affair. Watson’s wife, Marissa, owns The Bunny Hive Jacksonville, a space for parents and kids to play and socialize, and the monthly dads’ walk stops there along the way. The next meetup is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sunday at the Southern Grounds in Avondale.

Guest: Augie Watson, founder, Dads Walk Jax

Commemorating the Confederacy through streets or community names like “Dixie,” “Rebel” and “Plantation” carries clear connotations for some. As noted in a social media post referenced in a new research study, “The developer might as well [put] a sign at the entrance saying, ‘Whites Only.’” Titled Confederates in the Cul de Sac, the scholarly paper explores how racial demographics are affected by Confederate tributes or signage in both urban and suburban communities. According to the report’s first-ever inventory of such neighborhoods, Florida has more than any other state. We talk to the study’s authors about their sometimes surprising findings and what it says about what they call “America’s identity crisis over white supremacy.”

Guests:

• Pamela L. Morris, associate professor of communication studies, Indiana University
• George Towers, professor of geography, Indiana University Columbus

Bucking the national publishing trend, two local print newspapers are launching at the Beach. The weekly Beach Gazette launches online Thursday with plans to begin a print edition within a year and features a lead story focused on the history of local news at the Beaches. The paper’s backers are also launching Beach Buzz, a free monthly arts and culture publication in the model of Folio and Void, targeting visitors and residents alike, but with a specific Beaches focus. We sit down with the founders at a time when the overall newspaper industry is in a period of retraction to ask who, what, when, where and why?

Guests:

• Jennifer Ashley, editor and co-founder, Beach Gazette
• Georgette Dumont, publisher and co-founder, Beach Gazette

The U.S. men’s national team takes to the pitch against Türkiye on Thursday night as the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues. After a historic performance for the team — winning consecutive World Cup matches for the first time since 1930 — the men head to the knockout round of 32 next week. Though Türkiye has already been eliminated, the game will be another test of team fitness after solid performances against Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0). The match may also feature some play time by star attacker Christian Pulisic, who has been sidelined with a calf injury. We sit down with longtime sports reporter Will Brown to discuss what the USMNT can expect in the coming round, how the games are going so far and whether record-breaking Lionel Messi could lead Argentina to a second World Cup victory. The game Thursday gets underway at 10 p.m.

Guest: Will Brown, reporter for Jacksonville Today, publisher of Official Florida FC

The once sleepy, quaint and borderline podunk vibe of 1980s and ‘90s St. Augustine is now ancient history in the Ancient City. In its place: a buzzy tourist favorite that ranks high on influencer feeds and glossy magazines’ Top 10 lists. T-shirt and seashell shops have given way to upscale Airbnbs, sleek coffee vendors and, now, four Michelin recognized restaurants. Some who’ve watched the change worry the small town is now giving Hilton Head vibes and pricing out locals. We discuss the promise and perils of progress in America’s Oldest City and how the affordability crisis is playing out on the streets of St. Augustine.

Guest: St. Augustine City Commissioner Jim Springfield 

Interpreting the Declaration of Independence through an artistic lens. A new exhibit at the St. Augustine Art Association asks artists to share their perspective on the historic document and how its principles have evolved or influenced the American experience over time. The exhibit, When in the Course of Human Events, is part of America's 250th celebration. Participating artists employ a range of materials to explore the exhibit’s theme, and curators hope the works spark thoughtful conversation about the country’s past, present and future. We sit down with two featured artists, including the artist awarded Best in Show, to hear what inspired the winning piece, I Am. The exhibit is free and open to the public through Aug. 2.

Guests:

• Jennifer Flynt, executive director, St. Augustine Art Association
• Richlin Burnett-Ryan, portrait artist, painter, curator
• Weldon Ryan, multimedia artist, former NYPD police sketch artist

A constellation named after a demigod with superhuman strength. We dig into the science behind the “celestial snow globe” known as the Hercules cluster with resident spaceman Eddie Whisler. The grouping of stars officially known as M13 orbits the Milky Way. It’s an estimated 145,000 light-years wide, 25,000 light-years from Earth and contains more than 100,000 stars. Discovered in 1714 by Edmond Halley (of comet fame), it was initially thought to contain zero stars; famed French astronomer Charles Messier officially cataloged it on his list of "non-comets" because his telescope wasn’t strong enough to detect individual stars. We talk about the stunning globular cluster and why peak viewing season is about to begin.

Guest: Eddie Whisler, director of planetarium and outreach, Museum of Science & History

As multiple investigations into JEA continue, local climate activists are calling on the Jacksonville utility to lower rates and commit to phasing out the use of fossil fuels. The demands are outlined in a new petition calling on JEA to reduce emissions, improve air quality and find more sustainable plans to reduce energy costs long term. The move comes as solar power use grows and coal usage declines, with solar remaining the leading source of new power in the United States. In May, for the first time, solar supplied more electricity than coal nationwide. The petition is the most recent effort by local organizations to put pressure on JEA to stop using fossil fuels, even as the utility looks to move forward with plans to build an estimated $1.57 billion natural gas-fired power plant. In December, multiple advocacy groups including the Sierra Club, NAACP, St. Johns Riverkeeper and Solar United Neighbors delivered sacks of coal to JEA’s headquarters, protesting the utility’s rising rates and coal use. We sit down with members of the groups leading the petition to ask why advancing solar is a main priority and how it could potentially lower utility costs.

Guests:  

• Jalicia Lewis, community outreach lead, Jacksonville Climate Coalition
• Leah Ferrell, solar access and affordability associate, Solar United Neighbors

Jacksonville sickle cell advocates are working to raise awareness and expand support to community members living with the hereditary blood disorder that affects roughly 100,000 people in the U.S. A college student reveals the challenges she faces living with the disease and the inspiration behind her nonprofit, Project Little Veins, which provides care packages to hospitalized sickle cell patients. We also speak with a healthy equity leader whose own son died from sickle cell disease ahead of his second birthday about how his passing transformed her advocacy work.

Guests:

• Fredrianna Copeland Webster, sickle cell disease advocate and founder of Project Little Veins
• Selena Webster-Bass, founder, Richard Webster-Bass Health Institute

Girls Inc. of Jacksonville hosts its annual Daddy Daughter Dance fundraiser at WJCT Studios. Fathers and daughters are asked to wear their best dress and suit for the event themed “An Enchanted Night in Paris.” The event features a DJ, dancing, dinner, raffle, silent auction and a space to celebrate the bond between daughters and their fathers, or any male role model in their lives. All proceeds from the event go to support Girls Inc. of Jacksonville, one of 74 affiliates nationwide with the mission to equip girls with skills and knowledge to create impactful change in the future. The 2026 Daddy Daughter Dance is from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at WJCT Soundstage. Tickets are required.

Guest: Diedra Simon, CEO of Girls Inc. of Jacksonville

Florida is considered a leader in land preservation nationwide, with roughly 31% of the state’s land designated for conservation efforts. But the fight to get there was no easy feat. Rather, it took years of pushing by advocates, politicians and artists to establish the environmental protections we see today. Environmental attorney and author Clay Henderson details the “small victories” over time that helped create Florida’s national park system and national wildlife refuges in his 2022 book Forces of Nature: A History of Florida Land Conservation. Henderson will be a featured guest as part of the Jacksonville Public Library’s 2026 Conservation Series on June 27. The event includes a group walk with Henderson at Blue Cypress Park, where he will talk about conservation work happening locally and the flora and fauna along the St. Johns River. Then, Henderson will host a Q&A and book signing at the University Park Branch Library. We ask about the current challenges facing conservation lands today and whether the growth in data center development risks undoing more than a century of environmental protection.

Guest: Clay Henderson, environmental attorney and author of Forces of Nature: A History of Florida Land Conservation

An evangelical preacher and radio host literally and spiritually “left behind.” It’s the subject of a new one-man show as the rapture happens live on air. The Phil Mitchell Radio Hour, created and starring actor and experimental artist Noah Bennett, is a 70-minute performance merging satirical comedy and psychological horror. The show follows Bennett’s character, described as a mix between Joel Osteen, Jim Bakker and Kenneth Copeland with a “sweet pair of sideburns,” as he hosts his final broadcast. The show debuted in Columbus, Ohio, but has graced stages in Georgia, North Carolina and New York City. A Jacksonville native, Bennett is bringing the show to the historic San Marco Church, his first-ever site-specific performance. The Phil Mitchell Radio Hour will be hosted at 7:30 p.m. June 25-27.

Guest: Noah Bennett, actor and creator of The Phil Mitchell Radio Hour

A Springfield tradition makes its return on July 4th as the Eastside Reds and Westside Giants battle for bragging rights on the baseball field. Returning for its 19th year, the Fourth of July Throwback Baseball Game features Springfield residents in “turn-of-the century” throwback uniforms, equipment, umpires and more. Food trucks and drinks will be available, and folks are encouraged to bring extra seating as bleacher spots are limited. The family-friendly event takes place at Klutho Park Heritage Field on July 4. First pitch is at 11 a.m.

Guests:

• Michael Haskins, executive director, Springfield Preservation and Revitalization
• Jose Acevedo, Westside Giants player

Each month, we sit down with attorney and government expert Chris Hand to break down local and national political headlines.

Among our topics:

• Proposed property tax cuts draw legal challenges and criticism from economists, with projections estimating a $5 billion loss in the first year.
• Voters in Duval County will decide whether to extend a property tax first approved in 2022 to supplement teacher salaries.
• City officials must decide if there’s space in the budget for public incentives to bring a Publix and Culinary Institute of America campus to Downtown.

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

A documentary and rare photo exhibit highlight St. Augustine’s critical role as a civil rights battleground where a series of wade-ins and demonstrations turned violent. Passage at St. Augustine examines how local activists and a Black Air Force veteran sparked a confrontation over segregation that drew the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to the nation’s oldest city and helped pave the way for the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. We talk to the film’s director about the historical significance of these events, why it took 13 years to complete the project and his upcoming exhibition. The free showing and discussion will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at St. Paul A.M.E. Church in St. Augustine.

Guest: Clennon L. King, award-winning journalist, documentary filmmaker and director of Passage at St. Augustine: The 1964 Black Lives Matter Movement That Transformed America

Do you have an idea for a sculpture? Riverside Avondale Preservation is calling for artists to submit ideas for a new public sculpture at the newly named Fishweir Crossing roundabout. Located on the edge of the Riverside Avondale Historic District and Fishweir Creek, the sculpture will serve as a landmark connecting the Fairfax Manor and Lakeside Park neighborhoods. Officials say the sculpture’s design should reflect the character, culture and natural environment of the communities that meet there. Up to three artists can be selected to develop conceptual designs for the project. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. June 30. Find more information here.

Guest: Nancy Powell, co-chair, Fishweir Crossing Roundabouts Planning Committee

As Juneteenth celebrations kick off across the city, we take a closer look at the long road from emancipation to equality. Becoming a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth marks the anniversary of June 19, 1865, the date when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, declaring all enslaved people be freed. The troops came more than 2½ years after President Abrahamn Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. We sit down with prominent Jacksonville civil rights activist, historian and author Rodney L. Hurst Sr. as he reflects on the meaning of the holiday, his role in the 1960 Woolworth sit-ins and the events that led to Ax Handle Saturday. We also preview Juneteenth celebrations happening on the historic Eastside.

Guests:

• Nigelle Kohn, executive director, Florida Avenue Main Street Inc.
• Rodney L. Hurst Sr., civil rights activist, historian and author of It Was Never About a Hotdog and a Coke!

Teaching Black History in Florida has changed in recent years, but Juneteenth can serve as a time to educate about the harsh realities in American history, like slavery and discrimination. A Jacksonville educator wrote a book to share how families, schools and community organizations can help young learners understand the history and significance of Juneteenth. All About Juneteenth Dictionary for Kids offers practical strategies for teaching children about freedom, resilience and cultural heritage through literacy, vocabulary and storytelling. The book also details the backgrounds of key figures, activists and important locations in the Civil Rights Movement and shares a how-to guide on creating a Juneteenth sidewalk parade. We ask the book’s author what inspired the project and ask her about the importance of teaching Black history at a young age.

Guest: Celeste Payne, founder of Arts Empowered Inc. and author of All About Juneteenth Dictionary for Kids

A beloved Jacksonville pizza restaurant serving up famous New York-style pies turns 50. Renna’s has served the community since 1976 and is the second oldest pizzeria in Jacksonville (Joseph’s Pizza opened its doors in 1956). We speak to a local owner and operator about how the company has managed to stay relevant for five decades and how he works to preserve Renna’s tradition as the brand evolves.

Guest: Matt Wymer, owner and operator, Renna’s Pizza Mandarin & Argyle Forest