First Coast Connect With Melissa Ross
Summary: Hosted by Melissa Ross, First Coast Connect is an hour-long call-in program that features local newsmakers, civic and community leaders, arts, activities across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, along with spot news features and a weekly roundtable of local journalists.
Podcasts:
Monday on First Coast Connect we spoke with former Jacksonville Mayor and Democratic 5th Congressional District candidate Alvin Brown . Incumbent Congressman Al Lawson was to appear with Brown but cancelled citing a scheduling conflict (01:27). Author Tim Gilmore joined us to talk about his latest book Goat Island Hermit: The State of Florida vs. Rollians Christopher. He has a book signing and reading event at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Jacksonville Historical Society (36:07). Cole Pepper told us
Our Friday Media Roundtable on First Coast Connect featured Mark Woods from the Florida Times-Union, WJCT contributor Fred Matthews , Folio Weekly reporter Madeleine Peck Wagner and Jacksonville Business Journal Editor Timothy Gibbons . Issues discussed included Amidst a wave of violent crime, Mayor Lenny Curry appears to place most of the blame on the previous administration . Controversy erupts after Florida Times-Union Editorial editor Mike Clark was interviewed this week on PBS Newshour
Thursday on First Coast Connect Melissa read an editorial from Thursday’s Florida Times-Union , which was one of many published by over 300 newspapers across the country promoting the freedom of the press and the need to end the war between President Donald Trump and the media. We asked the audience to respond (01:15). We discussed the trend of people’s leaving the suburbs and moving back to main cities with urban development consultant and lecturer with the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at
Wednesday on First Coast Connect we heard about the upcoming Florida Refugee Cup soccer match, held to highlight the importance of refugees and immigrants to the Jacksonville community, with ANSL League Director Josh Kimball , Coach of the Jax Eagles and Florida Eagles soccer teams Henry Howard, and Florida Immigrant Coalition refugee organizer Basma Alawee (01:05). The Land and Water Conservation Fund , created by Congress in 1964, is scheduled to sunset on Sept. 30. We spoke with Florida
Tuesday on First Coast Connect we talked about the fate of the Blekic family, who, despite following all the rules while living on the First Coast for 10 years, were denied asylum status and deported back to Bosnia . We spoke with Florida Times-Union columnist Mark Woods, who has been following the family, and Professor Ericka Curran, who runs the immigration clinic at Florida Coastal School of Law. A GoFundMe account has been opened for the family to raise enough money that would allow them to
Monday on First Coast Connect we talked about the politics of medical marijuana with the owner of Compassionate Alternative Care, Daniel Locke, and Dr. Joseph Sirven of the Mayo Clinic (01:08). We spoke with ProPublica reporter Ken Schwenke about his investigation into the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office’s misidentifying transgender homicide victims (30:48). Cole Pepper brought us the latest sports news including the Jaguars’ suspending Dante Fowler and Jalen Ramsey for conduct unbecoming a
Our Friday Media Roundtable on First Coast Connect featured Florida Times-Union reporter Dan Scanlan , local talk show host Angela Spears , Jacksonville Daily Record reporter David Cawton and Florida Politics reporter A.G. Gancarski . Topics included Four major Jaguars players stayed in the tunnel while the national anthem was played prior to taking the field Thursday night. Other players did the same and one, Miami’s Albert Wilson, was the only one to take a knee. President Donald Trump blasted
Thursday on First Coast Connect we heard a review of Wednesday night’s GOP governor’s race debate with Director of Jacksonville University’s Public Policy Institute Rick Mullaney and FSCJ Political Science professor Daniel Cronrath (01:28). Our latest edition of #realtalk with host Charles Griggs discussed African-American owned businesses in Jacksonville with Suzanne Pickett , Executive Director of the Jacksonville Cultural Development Corporation; Ronnie King , CEO of software development
Wednesday on First Coast Connect we spoke with former First Coast High School student Seth Owen. He’s the gay student who had to move out of his house for refusing to attend his family’s very strict baptist church. Owen’s story inspired a GoFundMe account that raised over $140,000. He’s attending Georgetown University this fall (01:19). We heard about the dangers of land-based shark fishing and an upcoming Florida Wildlife Commission meeting to consider drafting new rules to address the problem
Tuesday on First Coast Connect we spoke with online travel magazine Thrillist’s Miami editor Matt Meltzer who published a glowing review of Jacksonville last week, calling it a hidden gem and the most misunderstood city in America (01:11). Portfolio Manager with Legacy Trust Family Wealth Services Chord McLaughlin spoke with us about how President Donald Trump’s tariffs are impacting the economy (26:55). Organizers Josh Gellers and Eddie Whistler told us about Wednesday’s inaugural Science on
Monday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Florida Politics reporter A.G. Gancarski regarding the future of dog racing in Florida. Last week a circuit judge blocked a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban greyhound racing in Florida (01:13). We spoke with local TV producer and author Nikesha Williams about her new book, The Appeal of Ebony Jones (30:14). Cole Pepper joined the show to talk about what’s going on in the world of sports including the Jaguars ’ preseason opener Thursday
Our Friday First Coast Connect Media Roundtable featured WJCT contributor Fred Matthews , Jacksonville Business Journa l editor Tim Gibbons , Folio Weekly editor Claire Goforth and WJCT reporter Ryan Benk . Issues discussed included: Jaguars owner Shad Khan has released renderings of a proposed $425 to $450 million project to build a hotel and convention center on the Shipyards property and an entertainment center on Lot J. Crowdfunding rescues a local teen’s college dream after he was shunned
Thursday on First Coast Connect we spoke with local attorney John Phillips about the dropping of charges against former JSO officer Timothy James in the beating of handcuffed teen Elias Campos . Phillips represents Campos (01:12). Our latest segment of Art Attack featured: - Duval County Public Schools Director of Arts Jeff Smith - Former Principal of the LaVilla School of the Arts and Douglas Anderson Jane Condon - Any Given Child Director Allison Galloway-Gonzalez - Jacksonville Public Library
Wednesday on First Coast Connect we spoke new Duval County Schools Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene about her goals to improve education results in the district (01:23). Author teZa Lord talked about her latest book In the I: Easing Through Life Storms on how to deal with hurricane season and the storms of everyday life (33:18). Phase 8 Theatre Company founder JaMario Stills told us about their upcoming production of the Pulitzer Prize winning play Ruined opening this weekend at WJCT’s studios.
Tuesday on First Coast Connect we spoke with former Jacksonville Mayor and Democratic Congressional candidate Alvin Brown who is challenging incumbent Al Lawson in the August Florida Primary (01:00). We were told about the upcoming St. Augustine March Against Fracking at 11 a.m. Saturday at the east side of the Bridge of Lions with Chair of the Northeast Florida Sierra Student Coalition and Education Ambassador for Care About Climate Nick Famularo (33:27). Author, public speaker and President of
