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First Coast Connect

Maternity homes

Rachel Hunt’s room in Hannah’s Home.
Rachel Hunt
Rachel Hunt’s room in Hannah’s Home.

Amid soaring housing costs and increased abortion restrictions, the prevalence of maternity homes has grown by almost 40% nationwide in the past two years. But conditions in the homes vary, oversight is lax and a new investigation found rules so coercive and constraining that some believe they border on abuse. In Jacksonville, residents of one maternity home said they were required to get written approval to leave the premises for more than 30 minutes and were required to give up their cellphones overnight.

Guest:

  • Laura Morel, investigative reporter for Reveal, covering reproductive health.

Then, after his opponent, Ellen Glasser, had to leave the race for health reasons, Atlantic Beach Mayor Curtis Ford faces reelection unopposed. We ask him what to expect in a second term, and take your calls and questions.

And, an upcoming Art Walk begins at St. John's Cathedral with Hope McMath’s latest exhibition, Legacy Interrupted, and ends at Yellow House Gallery in Riverside. The event poses the question, “What’s Going On?”

Guests:

Stay Connected
Anne Schindler joined WJCT News 89.9 as host of First Coast Connect in October 2023, after nearly three decades in Jacksonville print and television. Anne has worked in the Jacksonville media market since 1995, first as a reporter for the original Folio Weekly, then as the publication’s editor-in-chief from 2002 until her departure. In 2012, Anne transitioned to television as executive producer of special projects for First Coast News, Northeast Florida’s NBC and ABC affiliates. You can reach Anne at aschindler@wjct.org.
Stacey Bennett is the producer of "First Coast Connect" and "What's Health Got to Do With It?" She is a Jacksonville-based singer-songwriter who performs under the nom de plume Folk is People. Stacey holds bachelor's degrees in both political science and psychology from the University of North Florida and a master's in business administration from Saint Leo University.