Jacksonville Today associate editor Mike Mendenhall sits down with St. Johns County reporter Noah Hertz to unpack Florida lawmakers’ most dramatic proposal yet: eliminating nearly all homestead property taxes. Noah explains what he heard at a rare public workshop in St. Augustine, where city staff walked commissioners through an estimated 8 million dollar hole in the budget and residents pressed for tax relief even as officials warned that service cuts aren’t simple. He also talks about the challenge of covering legislation that keeps shifting, with Governor Ron DeSantis now signaling the issue will likely be punted to a special session. Read Noah’s full coverage at jaxtoday.org.

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Our Friday news roundup focuses on the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics:

• JEA’s board shuts down critics calling for the CEO’s job.

• St. Augustine cracks down on horse drawn carriages.

• The Jacksonville Transportation Authority explores all options for the Skyway’s future.

• A woman is beaten to death in jail after being denied transfer to a state mental hospital.

• Federal reimbursement now seems unlikely for Alligator Alcatraz construction.

Guests:

• Nate Monroe, executive editor at the Florida Trib

• Frank Powers, former assignment manager at WJXT News4Jax

• Tricia Booker, author and journalism instructor at the University of North Florida

• Noah Hertz, St. Johns County reporter at Jacksonville Today

Sierra Club symposium

The Northeast Florida Sierra Club is offering an introductory handshake this weekend, along with an old-fashioned hoedown. The theme of the annual event is “Get to know your Sierra Club,” a presentation framed around traditional music and dance by the bluegrass-influenced string band Skin and Bonz. The Third annual Sierra Symposium will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Tree Hill Nature Center and concludes with a guided nature walk. Registration is requested.

Guest: Susannah Randolph, director of the statewide chapter of the Sierra Club

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Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico faces a call to temporarily step aside after a State Attorney’s Office subpoena related to a JEA board appointment and text messages about a nomination. Also, Jacksonville police officer is charged with grand theft and organized fraud for allegedly claiming thousands of dollars in overtime for work not performed.

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The history of Jacksonville is curated and celebrated through the works of 100 seminal Black leaders in a Jacksonville Today feature, the Blacksonville 100, compiled for the centennial of Negro History Week. Whether they spent their entire lives on the First Coast or touched it before they moved on, the list ranges from Civil Rights heroes like A. Philip Randolph to lions of literature like Zora Neale Hurston and educators like Johnnetta Betch Cole. We talk to the reporter behind the story as well as three local historians about the legacy and impact of these community leaders.

Guests:

• Will Brown, reporter for Jacksonville Today

• Jerry Urso, historian, writer and archival researcher

• Adonnica Toler, museum director, Eartha M. M. White Historical Museum and Gardens

• Carol Alexander, executive director, A.L. Lewis Museum at American Beach

World of Nations Celebration

From the food of Haiti to the dances of South Sudan and India, the World of Nations Celebration brings the diversity of the world within reach of the First Coast. The event offers a glimpse at the culture and customs of countries represented at the two-day event, which this year include Argentina, Bahamas, Cambodia, Cameroon, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, France, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Republic of Panama, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, U.S. Virgin Islands and Venezuela. But for fans of the annual festival, food is the undeniable centerpiece, and you can get a taste of what's going to be on the menu by perusing the actual event menu. The 2026 World of Nations Celebration runs from 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday.

Guests:

• Randa Abdelhameed, president and CEO, Sudanese Finest

• Anubhav Dahiya, advisory board chair, Indian Cultural Society of Jacksonville

• Michelove Jules, vice president, Haitian Alliance of Jacksonville

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The Jacksonville Transportation Authority rolls out five possible paths for the future of its Ultimate Urban Commuter system, from replacing aging Skyway trains to shifting entirely to autonomous vehicles or transforming the elevated structure into public space. And the Jacksonville Jaguars prepare for a season of change, with two home games headed to London and reduced capacity at EverBank Stadium during renovations. What fans can expect on game day this year.

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This week, Dr. Joe looks at three stories that delve into women’s health, brain aging, and the booming world of weight‑loss drugs.

• New data show heart disease causes one in five deaths among U.S. women, yet barely half know it’s their leading killer. Dr. Joe talks about the symptoms women most often brush off and the “heart numbers” he wants every listener to learn.
• A 20‑year follow‑up study suggests a specific kind of speed‑based brain training may cut dementia risk later in life. Dr. Joe explains what makes these quick‑decision games different from generic brain apps—and how everyday activities can tap the same benefits.
• GLP‑1 drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound are now being used by some people who are already at a normal weight to hold the line after major loss. Dr. Joe weighs in on where these meds truly help, when they can backfire, and why “maintenance” use isn’t as simple as it sounds.

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If you’ve ever watched late night TV, you’re familiar with the concept of a mass tort — a large civil lawsuit, often predicated on medical malpractice. The solicitation generally begins, “If you or a loved one suffers from X …” and urges viewers to seek their “just compensation.” In her new book, The Pain Brokers, University of Georgia law professor Elizabeth Chamblee Burch investigates a case gone horribly awry, in which women were lured into unnecessary surgeries to remove pelvic mesh, then left with enormous debt and lifelong injuries. We ask Burch how vulnerabilities in the legal system allowed the scam to occur, and her recommendations to prevent similar exploitation in the future.

Guest: Elizabeth Chamblee Burch, law professor and author of The Pain Brokers: How Con Men, Call Centers, and Rogue Doctors Fuel America's Lawsuit Factory

Pink Martini party

They’ve been called the “house band for the United Nations,” were such to exist, and over three decades, the multilingual, multicultural mini-orchestra has only expanded its musical horizons. We talk to the band’s featured vocalist, Storm Large, about her own musical evolution, exploring everything from punk anthems to torch songs, with memorable stops along the way on America’s Got Talent and Rock Star: Supernova. Pink Martini performs at the Florida Theatre at 8 p.m. Friday.

Guest: Storm Large, featured vocalist, Pink Martini

Spaced out

The constellation Auriga, “The Charioteer,” was observed as far back as the Bronze age and cataloged by astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century, but its secrets continue to reveal themselves to modern cosmologists. The prominent Northern Hemisphere winter constellation can be recognized by its pentagon shape as well as its brightest star, Capella (aka “the little goat”). We ask our resident spaceman what’s new with the cosmically ancient six-star cluster.

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

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JEA’s board reaffirms its support for CEO Vickie Cavey despite allegations of a toxic workplace and escalating political finger-pointing involving Mayor Donna Deegan and former Mayor Lenny Curry. We’ll hear from critics inside the utility and from Cavey herself. And as Florida lawmakers debate property tax relief, St. Augustine officials warn that cutting homestead taxes could mean millions in lost revenue and difficult choices for core city services.

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Florida has had plenty of competition when it comes to removing books from school shelves and students’ hands, but in sheer numbers, the Sunshine State has no peer. According to PEN America, the state has held the No. 1 title for three years running, with more than 9,000 titles removed and restricted just since 2021. A new documentary explores the trend and its effects, particularly for those working on the front lines — media specialists. No longer tasked with shushing visitors, school librarians are instead fighting efforts to silence the voices of authors, particularly those with diverse experiences or those exploring difficult topics. The PBS documentary The Librarians explores the role of libraries and the people tasked with running them in an increasingly fraught and even dangerous environment. The film focuses primarily on Texas but features local book fights, including in Clay County, the most restrictive school district in the state. We discuss the film with two local participants ahead of a screening of the film at WJCT Studios on Thursday.

Guests:

• The Rev. Jeffrey Dove, freedom-to-read advocate and pastor of Saint James AME Church in Orange Park

• Julie Miller, freedom-to-read advocate and librarian

Virtual career fair

Connecting to a new job can be difficult, but it’s far more challenging when you don’t know the job exists. As part of a nationwide initiative by public broadcasting stations, WJCT Public Media embarked on a social media effort to inform young people about potential careers on the First Coast. Led by social video specialist Jordan Luckin, Jobs Explained showcases both specific job opportunities — including train engineer, air traffic controller and “penetration tester” — as well as more general challenges for young employees, like finding work/life balance, dealing with imposter syndrome and how to dress for work. We talk about meeting young workers where they live and the job of making work fun.

Guests:

• Dr. Stephanie Murray, director of education, WJCT Public Media

• Jordan Luckin, social video specialist, WJCT Public Media

904 Walk Club

If you’ve started to notice a few hundred people out walking on a random Wednesday night, you may well be catching sight of the First Coast’s burgeoning weekly walk show. Since it began last summer, the 904 Walk Club has emerged as both a healthy and social exploration of the city on foot. Though the Wednesday walk often starts at the Riverside Arts Market location under the Fuller Warren Bridge, meetup locations range from the beach to Friendship Fountain. All “paces” are welcome, and walks are family, pet and wheelchair friendly. We talk to the club’s founders about walking the walk when it comes to building fitness and friendship.

Guests:

• Troy Busscher, founder, 904 Walk Club

• Hakim Danner, founder, 904 Walk Club

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Jacksonville’s Black history is in focus as the Blacksonville 100 honors community members who helped shape the city, including civil rights participant Rometa Graham Porter, who reflects on the 1960 demonstrations that led to Ax Handle Saturday. Also, as dry conditions persist across Northeast Florida, the St. Johns River Water Management District has expanded its moderate water shortage to several counties, urging conservation and warning that mandatory restrictions could follow if drought conditions worsen.

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