Today’s Media Roundtable discussed some of the top stories on the First Coast, including:
- The Jacksonville City Council has hired an attorney after U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard ruled that officials drew City Council and School Board districts that are likely racially gerrymandered, effectively diluting Black voting power in the city. The council is appealing the ruling, but members are under a deadline to get new maps drawn by Nov. 8. The council now says that it doesn't have enough time to draw new maps.
- Jacksonville’s first couple are endorsing different candidates in the upcoming November election for sheriff. Mayor Lenny Curry is supporting Republican TK Waters. His wife, Molly Curry, has endorsed Democrat Lakesha Burton. Burton has received some support from other prominent Republicans around town like former Jags owner Wayne Weaver and donor Gary Chartrand. Meanwhile, as early voting begins, Waters is expected to announce another major endorsement Monday.
- The debate between Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Gov. Charlie Crist, the Democratic gubernatorial challenger, is set for 7 p.m. Monday. It will be hosted by WPEC-CBS12 at the Sunrise Theater in Fort Pierce. It will be aired live on 10 stations across the state. The debate was originally set for Oct. 12 but was postponed because of Hurricane Ian.
- TheFlorida State Board of Education says Duval Schools is one of 11 districts that is not complying with new state laws, including the Parental Rights in Education law that critics call "Don’t Say Gay." That conclusion comes even though the district has already taken down its LGBTQ+ Support guide, directed teachers to remove All-In-for-Safe-Schools signs from their classrooms, rebranded certain student-support resources so they are no longer tailored for queer and transgender students and temporarily discontinued supplemental sex ed materials in all grade levels.
Guests:
- Nate Monroe of the Florida Times-Union.
- Andrew Pantaziof The Tributary.
- Claire Heddles of Jacksonville Today.
VyStar Emerald Trail 5K and 10K Run/Walk and Ride
The Third Annual VyStar Emerald Trail 5K and 10K Run/Walk & Ride will take place tomorrow, Oct. 22. Groundwork Jacksonville CEO Kay Ehas and VyStar Credit Union Chief Marketing Officer Dana Karzan joined us in the studio to discuss the event’s details. The 5K/10K Bike ride begins at 4 p.m.; the Run/Walk begins at 5 p.m. Participants can register at 1stplacesports.com. Participants will be the first to run/walk and ride On the LaVilla Link, the first segment of the Emerald Trail. The route also will allow them to see features along the existing S-Line Rail Trail like the Sugar Hill Mosaic and the Biodiversity Corridor. This is the first year where a 10K feature is added and the first time for an afternoon race. The event will have festivities before and after the race, including exhibitors, music, a food truck, kids art activities and sampling of Manifest Distilling’s new RTD (Ready to Drink) Canned Cocktails.
