Amanda Brannon

On Friday’s Roundup we discussed school safety in Florida. Reporting by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel this week found that a disturbing number of violent threats against students and teachers come from mentally impaired children who are fixated on violence, and have easy access to guns.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s new report on the practice of solitary confinement, the Florida Department of Corrections holds approximately 10,000 people – more than 10 percent of its population – in solitary confinement on any given day. To put that number in perspective, the nationwide average was 4.5 percent in 2018.

Tuesday morning was the second in a series of candidate profiles  in the Jacksonville City Council At-Large runoff races this spring. 

Greg Rachal, the Republican Candidate for Jacksonville City Council At Large Group 3 joined us in Studio 5.

His opponent, Democrat Tommy Hazouri, is scheduled to appear on Thursday.

Several local races are headed to a runoff election in May.

We are profiling the Jacksonville City Council At-Large races this spring as we host the candidates asking for your vote in that runoff.

Wednesday we spoke with City Council At-Large Group1 candidate and former local Democratic leader Lisa King. We have also invited her opponent, Republican incumbent Councilman Terrance Freeman to join us on a future episode.

April 2 is Equal Pay Day. Discrepancies in salaries can be difficult to detect. If people aren’t aware of who’s making what, it’s hard to know when someone—a woman, for example—is being shortchanged.

David Lawrence Junior, the former publisher of the Miami Herald, started the Children’s Movement here in Florida.

He has recently released an inspirational memoir about service and the importance of journalism as a bastion of democracy. It’s called A Dedicated Life.

National Geographic Magazine has dedicated the entire April 2019 issue to exploring the future of Cities.

Activists from around the country are coming to town this Saturday for the TakeEmDownJax rally. 

For the first time since regaining the right to vote after Amendment 4 was passed last November, Jacksonville’s returning citizens have the opportunity to make their voices heard in Tuesday’s mayoral election, the race for sheriff, City Council races, and more.

Mayoral candidate Omega Allen, who is running with no party affiliation, spoke about her plans for Jacksonville and answered listener's questions before the March 19 election.

Related: WJCT Voter’s Guide

Dentist Shortage

The Floridians for Access Coalition states that five million Floridians live in areas with a dentist shortage crisis.

Mayoral Candidate Jimmy Hill joined us to discuss his plans for Jacksonville and what he plans to do in the days leading up to the March 19 election to earn voters' support.

The four candidates running for Jacksonville mayor appeared together on television Wednesday night in a debate. The debate featured Anna Brosche and Lenny Curry, Jimmy Hill and NPA candidate Omega Allen who debated everything from crime to public safety and the plans to sell JEA.

The state Legislature kicks off its session today in Tallahassee, with everything from spending on education and the environment to smoking medical marijuana on the table for debate. 

The city’s grim parade of gun violence and homicides has become an election issue this season, with both challengers to Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and Sheriff Mike Williams calling for change.

After six homicides in four days, some community leaders and lawmakers are saying it’s time to declare a state of emergency in the city of Jacksonville.

Senator Audrey Gibson and Representative Tracie Davis held a press conference Monday at a park in Northwest Jacksonville, where two people were killed in a quadruple shooting last Thursday.