First Coast Connect With Melissa Ross

The fight over abortion rights is heating up around the country. And, as several states around the country are making it harder for women to obtain an abortion, more women are getting involved in the issue and being recruited to run for office.

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

Purdue Pharma and its owners, members of the Sackler family, have tentatively reached the first comprehensive settlement with thousands of different parties, for the devastation caused by the opioid epidemic.  Under the tentative deal, the Sackler family would pay $3 billion in cash over seven years.

A new study found race and ethnicity aren’t a big factor in cases handled by State Attorney Melissa Nelson’s office.

The Duval County Public Schoosl Board has hired lawyers in its fight to get a sales tax referendum before local voters.

September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. 

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

We took a closer look at some of the ways Hurricane Dorian impacted the First Coast with Kerri Stewart, Senior VP and Chief Customer Officer at JEA.

Wednesday's program was devoted to coverage of Hurricane Dorian.

We devoted the full program to the latest on Hurricane Dorian, and how Northeast Florida is preparing for it. 

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

As Hurricane Dorian bears down on Florida's east coast, it’s one more element of stress on the state that all of us could do without. That especially includes our kids.

An extraordinary scene last night at a meeting of the Jacksonville City Council.

Florida Senate Democratic Leader Audrey Gibson is pushing for gun reform legislation when state lawmakers meet in session next year. She joined us for a discussion on the subject.

The Jacksonville City Council is set to vote Tuesday evening on whether to approve a half-cent sales tax referendum to shore up aging local school buildings.