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First Coast Connect

Fallen NFL player; redistricting; right whales; sports; author Michael Wiley

Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin is examined during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in Cincinnati.
Jeff Dean
/
AP
Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin is examined during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in Cincinnati.

NFL fans are shaken this morning, after a dramatic scene last night on the field in Cincinnati, leaving a Bills player in critical condition.

24 year old Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field during the first quarter of Monday night’s game between the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, his team said. It’s not clear what caused his cardiac arrest.

Dr. Brian Yorkgitis, a trauma surgeon with UF Health Jacksonville, joined us with some insight

Redistricting

The city of Jacksonville is holding elections in a few months — but who’s running where is anybody’s guess right now. That’s because the City Council has asked a federal court to waive a requirement that City Council candidates actually live in their districts.

This is the latest twist in a long-running fight over the local lines of power in the city. Andrew Pantazi has been covering the story for The Tributary and joined us with the latest.

Right whales

North Atlantic right whales were recently spotted off the Georgia coast. The sightings are good news for this endangered species, but the right whales face many threats. Gib Brogan, fisheries campaign manager atOceana, joined us to explain why.

Sports

Despite a poor start to the season, the Jaguars are one win away from a playoff berth

At the same time, NFL fans are shaken after a dramatic scene last night on the field in Cincinnati, leaving a Bills player in critical condition.

WJCT News’ Josh Torres joined us with a preview of the final regular game of the season and thoughts on the crisis roiling pro football.

Author Michael Wiley

After three books set in Chicago, Jacksonville author Michael Wiley returns to Northeast Florida. He also brings back one of his popular characters. Franky Dast, who last appeared in Wiley’s 2017 novel "Monument Road."

His latest mystery is called "The Long Way Out," and he joined us with a preview.

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Heather is the senior producer of WJCT 89.9 FM talk shows including First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross, the Florida Roundup and What's Health Got to Do with It?