Our Friday Media Roundtable on First Coast Connect featured Mark Woods from the Florida Times-Union, WJCT contributor Fred Matthews, Folio Weekly reporter Madeleine Peck Wagner and Jacksonville Business Journal Editor Timothy Gibbons.

Issues discussed included

• Amidst a wave of violent crime, Mayor Lenny Curry appears to place most of the blame on the previous administration.
• Controversy erupts after Florida Times-Union Editorial editor Mike Clark was interviewed this week on PBS Newshour regarding Thursday’s simultaneous nationwide newspaper editorials defending freedom of the press in the Trump era. Clark is taking heat for placing some of the blame on reporters.
• There is a strong local connection in the feud between President Trump and Omarosa.
• A new development proposal is revealed for the old County Courthouse and City Hall Annex sites (01:12).         

We heard about Saturday’s Northeast Florida AIDS Network’s annual Youth Block Party, which is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at A. Philip Randolph Park. Northeast Florida AIDS Network case manager Katrina Odell and manager with Community Rehabilitation Center Stephanie Reese joined the show (46:00).

Kevin Meerschaert can be reached at kmeerschaert@wjct.org, 904-358-6334 or on Twitter at @KMeerschaertJax.

Ousted FBI Director James Comey will testify Thursday before the Senate intelligence committee as part of its ongoing investigation into Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 elections.  

Comey’s testimony is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

• READ | Comey's opening statement for when he testifies about Trump and Russia

Comey, who was fired May 9 by President Donald Trump, is expected to speak about how his agency assessed Russia’s role in November’s election. Trump drew criticism for removing Comey from his position while Comey was leading an active investigation into Russia’s role in the elections as well as possible ties to members of Trump’s campaign.

• WATCH | Comey’s testimony is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Thursday. Watch live in the player below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yry9PV3DNfw

• MORE | For the full story from PBS NewsHour

Photo: "James Comey" by Rich Girard used under Creative Commons license.

Vince Kong can be reached at vkong@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter @teamvincek