Today’s Media Roundtable discussed some of the top stories in the First Coast, including:
- Activists in favor of removing a Confederate monument in a public park in Jacksonville are hoping economic pressure will persuade City Council members to change their votes.
- The jury in the trial of the men accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia is set. Eleven of the 12 jurors are white, a controversial setup to begin the trial. Arbery, a Black man, was killed while out jogging. Three white men face trial for his murder.
- The Duval County Department of Health and Agape Health are teaming up with the city of Jacksonville to provide COVID-19 booster shots, along with vaccines and COVID tests, at four community centers.
- Caregivers of children as young as 5 can now schedule appointments for the Pfizer COVID vaccine.
- Duval County Public Schools softened their mask mandate, allowing parents to opt out without a doctor’s note.
- Workplace vaccine mandates are set to begin on Jan. 4 nationwide. The state filed a lawsuit against President Biden calling the mandate unconstitutional.
- The University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab released a media poll showing respondents trust local news sources over national media, as well as highly partisan divides on several issues including who won the last presidential election.
Guests:
- A.G. Gancarski, Florida Politics, Jacksonville Today contributor
- David Bauerlein, The Florida Times-Union
- Nikesha Williams, Jacksonville Today contributor
- Ben Becker, Action News Jax
PorchFest
PorchFest is back this Saturday at noon. Come visit WJCT’s Jacksonville Music Experience booth as you're enjoying the tunes from local musicians and food trucks.
Guest: Kelly Rich, director of Springfield Preservation and Revitalization
First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross Associate Producer Katherine Hobbs can be reached at khobbs@wjct.org or on Twitter at @KatherineGHobbs.
