Avery Latta-Raines

Friday on the First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross Media Roundtable, our panel of journalists looked at some of the biggest stories of the week including:

JEA may have to lay off more than 500 workers to avoid a big spike in customer’s electric bills.  The public utility has been in downsizing mode for more than a decade. JEA decreased from 2600 employees in 2006 down to 2,191 in 2018. 

June is Pride Month and to celebrate it, a pride prom was going to be held at the Willowbranch location of the Jacksonville Public Library on Friday, June 28. But the event has now been canceled by the library due to security concerns. 

Friday on the First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross Media Roundtable, our panel of journalists looked at some of the biggest stories of the week including:

Duval County's Half Cent Sales Tax

The push for a November referendum on a proposed a half-cent sales tax for better school buildings in Jacksonville has suffered a setback. On Tuesday night, the finance committee of the City Council voted to recommend delaying a referendum on a half-cent sales tax for schools to the fall of 2020.

Some of President Donald Trump's former Homeland Security staff have expressed concern about the risk of public outrage from images surfacing of migrant children being taken into custody and being separated from their families.

Covering the White House and politics in general has been challenging for journalists. So how can you do the news well and profitably in today’s world?

Later this month, the Supreme Court is expected to decide a brewing fight over the 2020 Census. It has to do with a proposed citizenship question the Trump administration wants to place on the Census.

We spent the full hour taking a closer look at what this might mean for Florida. Our guests for the discussion were:

Friday on the First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross Media Roundtable, our panel of journalists looked at some of the biggest stories of the week:

Cure Violence

Cure Violence launches this Saturday in Jacksonville. Mayor Lenny Curry says his administration hopes this program can bring down the rate of violent crime. Cure Violence treats the problem of crime as a public health issue. On Thursday’s First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross, technical assistance trainer Jarmain Merritt and outreach worker supervisor with Noah’s Ark Project Kim Varner joined us with more information.

JEA is looking at everything from potential future rate hikes, to figuring out how to incorporate more renewable energy into its portfolio, to planning a move into a new corporate headquarters.

For Friday's First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross Media Roundtable, our panel of journalists looked at some of the biggest stories of the week.