On this episode of This Week in Health, Letisha and Dr. Joe explore how to stay well in the darkest months—and what one fertility scandal reveals about modern medicine.​

• What the Happiest (and Darkest) Countries Know that We Don’t
  Despite weeks of near‑darkness, Nordic countries like Denmark and Finland consistently top global happiness rankings. Researchers and clinicians there—and in Pittsburgh’s SAD studies—point to three pillars: get as much light as you can, keep moving, and don’t isolate yourself. Dr. Joe says you don’t need to move to Scandinavia to borrow their playbook: seek morning light, plan cozy social time, and treat winter mental health like something to manage proactively, not just endure.​
• Love Candles and Fireplaces? Your Lungs Might Not.
  That cozy vibe from scented candles, gas stoves, and fireplaces can come with a cost: more indoor pollution that irritates airways and can be especially rough for kids and people with asthma or heart disease. Dr. Joe shares that if your eyes burn or you start coughing, your body is giving you a clear message—cut back, crack a window, check what the candle is made of, and remember that sometimes the safest fireplace is the one on your TV or tablet.​
• The Donor with a Cancer Gene and Nearly 200 Children
  Investigative reporters uncovered a sperm donor with a TP53 mutation tied to Li‑Fraumeni syndrome—a gene change that almost guarantees a serious cancer at some point—who fathered at least 197 children, with dozens inheriting the mutation and many already diagnosed with cancer. Dr. Joe calls it a heartbreaking example of what happens when fertility systems don’t build in strong genetic guardrails, and says this case will likely reshape global rules on donor screening and how many families one donor can help.

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No criminal charges will be filed in the case of a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office lieutenant who fired into a semi-truck after a crash on I-95, according to the State Attorney’s Office. Plus, communities around the U.S. prepare to ring in the new year with unconventional drops in the South — from shrimp and possums to thousands of beach balls — and a look at Jacksonville’s midnight fireworks along the St. Johns River.

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An investigation is underway after a fatal police shooting in Jacksonville's Oceanway community. We also look at a newly filed bill in the Florida House that would bar doctors and hospitals from discriminating against unvaccinated patients, as the 2026 legislative session approaches in Tallahassee.

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Northeast Florida ends 2025 under a cold snap. We’ll look at what the cold, dry conditions mean for the region, including ongoing drought concerns and safety reminders ahead of New Year’s celebrations. Also, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority has announced a series of public meetings in January to update residents on current projects and gather feedback on long-term mobility planning across Northeast Florida.

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A charter school operator has scaled back plans to open schools inside more than two dozen public schools in Duval County. Plus, as the holiday season unfolds on Earth, we hear how astronauts aboard the International Space Station mark the occasion—sharing meals, gifts, and moments with family from hundreds of miles above the planet.

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A Clay County School Board member faces scrutiny after social media comments draw condemnation from colleagues and prompt action from Florida’s education commissioner, who is calling for an explanation before the State Board of Education. Plus, in St. Johns County, a couple is urging local leaders to preserve the history of the little-known Picolata community, proposing a museum that highlights its role in Native American travel, colonial defenses, and early Florida transportation.

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With $115 million in Community Benefits Agreement funding headed to Jacksonville’s historic Eastside as part of the Jaguars stadium deal, a fierce debate has erupted over who should control the money and how it should be spent. The dispute is intensified by two similarly named groups, criticism of certain renovation efforts—including an affordable apartment complex—and even questions about who truly counts as an “Eastsider.” Host Anne Schindler talks with LIFT JAX president and CEO Travis Williams and attorney Leslie Jean-Bart, who represents Together Eastside Coalition Inc., about their competing visions, concerns over accountability, and what a fair path forward could look like for the neighborhood.

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Work is set to begin on a new drag strip in Northeast Florida Tuesday. We’ll look at the project’s timeline, cost, and how it fits into a growing wave of proposed racing facilities in the area. Also, Florida’s Supreme Court upholds a state law allowing non unanimous juries to recommend death sentences.

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Jacksonville Today associate editor Mike Mendenhall welcomes WJCT News reporter Dan Scanlan back to talk about his coverage of this year’s Fallen Firefighters Memorial ceremony in downtown Jacksonville. Dan explains why the addition of engineers Ian Church and Jason Woodruff—both lost to job‑related cancer rather than fireground injuries—marks a sobering first for the memorial, and how evolving decontamination protocols reflect growing awareness of chemical exposure risks. Hear how Dan uses scene‑setting details, from flags between engines to the sound of bagpipes playing taps, to help readers feel the weight of sacrifice behind the names on the wall. Find more of Dan’s reporting on jaxtoday.org.

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The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens receives one of the largest gifts in its history, a $3.5 million posthumous donation from longtime supporter Betsy Lovett. Also, questions are raised in a Jacksonville road rage shooting as the family of a well-known local musician asks why no arrest has been made while police continue to investigate the case under Florida’s “stand your ground” law.

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