Tuesday on “First Coast Connect,” we spoke with Ambassador Nancy Soderberg (1:10) about President Donald Trump sharing classified information with the Russian ambassador and foreign minister.
We heard new health news with Dr. Dean Hartley from the Alzheimer’s Association national headquarters in Chicago, and heart health care with Mayo Clinic cardiolorist Dr. Amy Pollak and Dr. Peter Pollak (28:01). We interviewed longtime environmental activist Bill Brinton (38:44) and we learned about an upcoming science, technology, engineering and math field trip for middle school students from CH2M Vice-President Maria del Pilar Doren (47:23)
Nancy Soderberg Trump Russia
President Trump appeared to acknowledge via Twitter Tuesday morning he revealed highly classified information to Russia. A confirmation of a Washington Post story that has roiled the nation’s capital and America’s national security apparatus. Trump's tweets seem to try to explain news Monday that he had shared sensitive, “code-word” information with the Russian foreign minister and ambassador during meeting at the White House last week. The disclosure is one that intelligence officials warned could jeopardize a crucial intelligence source on the Islamic State.
Health News
Is promising new research about Alzheimer’s Disease on the horizon? Hartley, one of the nation's leading experts on Alzheimer's, is hosting Jacksonville’s Reason to Hope Alzheimer's Luncheon on Tuesday.
Also, heart disease is the number one killer of women, but too many don’t pay attention to critical warning signs of a heart attack or stroke. On Friday, heart health for women will be the focus of a luncheon at Florida Blue.
Bill Brinton
Thirty years ago, local attorney Bill Brinton founded Scenic Florida. Little did Brinton know at the time that he’d eventually come to be known as a national authority on how to prevent what activists call “visual pollution,” billboards on Jacksonville roads. Four states have banned billboards all together. Brinton is being honored this week for his long legacy of activism here in Jacksonville. Wednesday has officially been named “Bill Brinton Day” by the Jacksonville City Council.
STEM Field Trip
It’s the ultimate field trip for kids. Virtual reality goggles and a tour of a local plant to help teach children about STEM. It involves JEA, the Duval County Public Schools, and the corporation CH2M. The event is Wednesday at the CH2M office in Jacksonville at the JEA water treatment plant on Main Street. It will involve students from Northwestern and Kirby-Smith Middle Schools and Computer Science Academy.
Producer Kevin Meerschaert can be reached at kmeerschaert@wjct.org, 904-358-6334 or on Twitter at @KMeerschaertJax
