Jacksonville is one of four cities recently selected for an expansive law enforcement partnership with the Department of Justice focused on reducing violent crime. The $300 million Model Cities Initiative comes at a time of historic declines in violent crime on the First Coast, including a precipitous drop in homicides. The recent violent Halloween weekend notwithstanding, crime trends here mirror those of many large cities. According to the local FBI, “violent crime across the country fell 9.3% in 2025 [and] Florida is part of that broader success,” noting it is “the largest year-to-year decline since the FBI began tracking national crime trends in 1936.” According to the DOJ, the Model Cities funding initiative will help in “hiring sworn and non-sworn law enforcement officers … adopting new and improved technology; purchasing or leasing equipment; enhancing forensic capabilities and capacity; and providing services to address mental health and substance use issues and reduce recidivism.” We talk to law enforcement administrators from both the FBI and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office as well as a local university criminologist about what strategies are working, the policies of surveillance and what changes the additional funding could bring.
Guests:
- Jason Carley, special agent in charge, FBI Jacksonville
- Edwin Cayenne Jr., director of investigations and homeland security, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
- Michael Cherbonneau, associate professor of criminology and criminal Justice at the University of North Florida
The long run
Since he began running a decade ago, attorney Mike Freed has pushed himself to the limits of endurance. He ran his first marathon after just four weeks of training, then ran his first “ultra marathon” of 34 miles the following month. Since then, he’s pushed through ultras ranging from 50 kilometers to 100 miles, participated in multiple 24-hour races and earned a reputation for stacking miles beyond even what most endurance athletes can imagine. His annual “Freed to Run” fundraiser for Jacksonville Area Legal Aid has ranged from six marathons in six days to (this year) a challenge to run a 5K every hour for 10 consecutive hours. Now, he’s setting his sights on a global challenge, the Great World Race, which entails running seven marathons in seven days across all seven continents. Freed’s run, which begins Nov. 15 in Antarctica and ends Nov. 21 in Miami, benefits Ronald McDonald House Jacksonville. We ask him about running for a cause and preparing for his intercontinental jaunt.
Guests:
- Mike Freed, attorney and participant in The Great World Race
- Megan Weinstein, chief development officer, Ronald McDonald House Jacksonville
Operatic romance
Love, betrayal and the kiss of death are all featured in the tangled “lyric fairy tale” of Rusalka on stage this weekend. A classic that has become Antonín Dvořák's best known opera, Rusalka tells the story of an enchanted water nymph who longs to become human to pursue a beloved Prince, only to be betrayed by the realities of the alien world. The opera premiered at Prague’s National Theatre in 1901 but remains a modern-day classic. We talk to the acclaimed soprano who performs the title role as well as the production’s director about the upcoming staging at Bold City Opera from Nov. 6 to 8 at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd.
Guests:
- Christine Alfano, actor portraying Rusalka, Bold City Opera
- Kylie Humber, director, Rusalka, Bold City Opera
Topics and guests subject to change.