WJCT News Now

More than 6,500 acres of agricultural land in St. Johns County could be developed for housing under a new state law, with six proposals now under review. Also, drivers headed from Mandarin into Orange Park should expect weekend lane closures on the Buckman Bridge as crews replace steel joints.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gateway Jax announces new retail tenants for The Vandeveer, the first project in its $750 million Pearl Square District in downtown Jacksonville. Also, the Upshot League will hold its inaugural championship game at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on Aug. 29.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Democrat in a heavily Republican district takes on a well-financed incumbent. If it sounds familiar, it’s because she’s lived this before. Democratic candidate Rachel Grage, now challenging District 5 Republican congressman John Rutherford, previously mounted a campaign for the Beaches-area House district seat held by Republican state Rep. Kiyan Michael. In both cases, Grage has expressed determination not to let incumbency amount to a free pass to reelection. We ask Grage about taking on uphill battles and what change she believes is needed in the Jacksonville-to-St. Augustine district.

First Coast Connect will be covering a range of local races and election-related topics between now and Nov. 3. You can find detailed information about upcoming elections, including information about candidates and ballot initiatives in your specific district, at the nonpartisan League of Women Voters website Vote411.org. The deadline to register to vote in or change your party affiliation ahead of the August primaries is July 20.

Guest: Rachel Grage, Democratic candidate for Florida's 5th Congressional District

New Northside murals

A recent bike tour of the city’s Northside showcased a handful of new murals adorning everything from community centers to beloved barbecues. The event was an effort to promote the area’s cultural infrastructure, which advocates note has traditionally gotten less focus and funding than similar projects elsewhere. We sit down with the founder and CEO of Northside Pride of Jacksonville, which organized the ride, as well as two local muralists whose works in Sherwood and Moncrief celebrate the area’s colorful and culturally impactful past and present.

Guest:

• David Nickashi, artist and muralist behind The Cookout mural at Charles Boobie Clark Center

• Vic Alexander, visual artist and creator of the Jack Holley Legend Mural at Holly’s Bar-B-Q on Moncrief Road

• Dana Maule, founder, Northside Pride of Jacksonville

Rethreaded @ 15

Rethreaded, the Jacksonville program for survivors of sex trafficking, began as a startup, founded and funded at the OneSpark crowdfunding festival held for several years in Downtown Jacksonville. The nonprofit hits a significant milestone this year, celebrating 15 years of existence. In honor of its quinceañera, Rethreaded is hosting a community party from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday. The event is at the Delores Barr Weaver Campus of Hope in Springfield and is free, though donations and purchases are doubled during the party up to $30,000. We talk to the group’s founder about the group’s evolution and the lives it has changed in that time.

Guest: Kristen Keen, founder and CEO, Rethreaded

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jacksonville’s proposed capital improvement plan includes hundreds of millions of dollars for projects including EverBank Stadium renovations and the Museum of Science and History’s new downtown facility. Also, two St. Johns County commissioners facing criminal charges tied to an alleged fake voter guide scheme say they have no plans to resign, despite a vote of no confidence from fellow commissioners.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan presented her $2.03 billion budget Monday, choosing not to presage the fiscal impacts of a proposed property tax cut, which goes before voters in November. Deegan’s 1.1% ($22.6 million) increase over last year’s budget is modest by most measures, but diametrically opposed to the austerity budget that the Jacksonville City Council leadership has said it wants in anticipation of potentially massive ad valorem revenue reductions starting in the 2027/28 fiscal year. We break down the messaging and the meat of the budget proposal, as well as the kind of reception it can expect from lawmakers as it moves into August and September committee and public hearings.

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

Congressional candidate Mark Kaye

Former WAPE Big Ape morning show host-turned-conservative podcaster Mark Kaye is challenging incumbent congressman John Rutherford. We ask the first-time candidate why he’s targeting the four-term incumbent lawmaker, what he’s learned about politics in his almost 20 years in media, and why he thinks he’s equipped to take on D.C. politics. We also ask him about courting controversy for retweeting a photo of President Trump surrounded by AI-generated Black supporters and what leadership style he plans to bring to the Jacksonville-to-St. Augustine 5th Congressional District.

Guest: Mark Kaye, candidate for Florida's 5th Congressional District and host of Mark Kaye Saves the Republic

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan is proposing a more than $2 billion budget that includes increased funding for public safety, road projects and septic tank removal, as the City Council begins its review. Plus, a new University of North Florida poll finds support for a proposed constitutional amendment to phase out property taxes drops sharply when voters are told about the potential impact on local government budgets.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, former Republican lawmaker Jeff Brandes discusses what he calls “the blast radius nobody is talking about” if a property tax cut is approved by Florida voters. Amendment 3, which appears on the November ballot, would dramatically curtail state property tax revenues, which fund most local government services, including police, fire, libraries, maintenance and community events. Brandes, who now runs a nonpartisan research institute and think tank, the Florida Policy Project, says by stripping municipal and county governments of revenue, the tax cut proposal effectively neuters local control and shifts power to the state. Earlier this month, Brandes joined former Northeast Florida Democratic congressman Al Lawson in a bipartisan lawsuit challenging the legality of the ballot language.

Guest: Former Republican state Sen. Jeff Brandes, founder and president of the Florida Policy Project

New UNF poll

A new poll takes the pulse of voters ahead of the midterm elections, including their views on candidates seeking office in Florida, AI and President Trump, as well as their biggest affordability concerns. The poll also gets an early look at how state residents might decide the all-important property tax cut amendment, which goes before voters in November. We break down the results with the head of the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab and discuss how pollsters are battling the realities of spam filters, the death of landlines, declining participation and growing voter mistrust.

Guest: Sean Freeder, faculty director, UNF Public Opinion Research Lab

European destination

The choice of a storied local business to fill the role as one of two Riverfront Plaza restaurants wasn’t a given — European Street Cafe won the slot in a competitive bid process — but it has proved gratifying for longtime residents and city officials alike, who say the recognizable, longstanding business will reinforce the plaza’s First Coast identity. We sit down with the owner of the five-decade-old sandwich shop to discuss what customers can expect from the fourth Jacksonville location and what the mini-chain hopes to gain from a partnership with the city and its first Downtown location.

Guest: Andy Zarka, owner, European Street Cafe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan is set to present her proposed city budget, outlining spending priorities for the coming fiscal year and kicking off the annual budget process. Meanwhile, St. Augustine begins implementing new rules for vehicles for hire, including limits on pedicabs and updated welfare standards for horse-drawn carriage operations.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

• ICE agents are involved in three deaths in just one week — including one in St. Augustine.

• The governor steps up his already record-setting pace of executions, scheduling two on the same day.

• The courts stop STOP WOKE — again — on college campuses.

• Duval County School Board candidate Clarence James just can’t quit AI.

• The “Harvard of the culinary world” agrees to make Jacksonville its Southeast home

Guests:

• Christina Burgess, reporter, First Coast News

• Jack Webb, attorney and former Jacksonville City Council president

• Obi Umunna, attorney and political consultant

Heat wave

The Art Center Cooperative Inc. has hosted more than 100 exhibits since its inception in 2005, but its newest exhibit is a look-ahead at the future. Titled “Temperature Rising,” the exhibit inside the Jacksonville Main Library explores the central question as temperatures rise: “Is it just hot outside, or is it climate change?” Featuring pieces from 22 artists, the show is open through Aug. 17, with a free reception Aug. 5 during Art Walk. Local artists have a chance to participate in the group’s next show, called “It’s In The Books,” which asks artists to create a piece inspired by their favorite book. The deadline to submit a piece is Tuesday, and the exhibit will be on display from Aug. 17 to Oct. 5. Both exhibits are supported by a Cultural Services grant, which could see impacts in the forthcoming city budget. We ask the group’s grant coordinator about the possibility of funding cuts and the value of financing community culture.

Guest: Ed Malesky, wood artist, secretary and grant coordinator, Art Center Cooperative Inc.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Jacksonville Aviation Authority votes on a decision to delay legal action against the city for 30 days while pursuing mediation over a dispute about airport governance. Also today, we report on the arrest of a Jacksonville congressional candidate facing federal charges after allegedly making threats against President Donald Trump.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.