first coast connect

Today’s Media Roundtable was all about COVID-19 on the First Coast. We discussed masks in schools, business’ rights, hospitals' reaching capacity, and the politicization of the virus.

Thursday the Biden Administration is expected to announce new vaccination requirements for federal employees and contractors.

Across the First Coast, ICUs are overwhelmed with patients admitting with COVID-19, a large number of them unvaccinated. This week, the Jacksonville Civic Council (JCC) launched a new campaign called Get the Facts Jax aimed at increasing the city’s vaccination rate.

Across the First Coast there is a high demand for COVID tests, as people try to find out if they are positive with the rapidly spreading Delta variant of the virus.  

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are continuing to rise in our area, as students are preparing to return to school in a few weeks - without a mask mandate.

We devoted today’s Media Roundtable to the surge in COVID cases in Northeast Florida and around the state and how local officials and Gov. Ron DeSantis are handling it.

The panelists were: 

On Wednesday, Mayor Lenny Curry and Jacksonville's top health officials urged the public to get vaccinated as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in our area again. 

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry has presented his proposed budget for the city, which has re-ignited a debate about how the city's money should be spent.

COVID is on the rise yet again. The Jacksonville area has recently become a hotspot for the virus, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition has released its annual outreach report, which found that affordable housing is out of reach for many Americans. 

The Friday Media Roundtable covered these top stories from the First Coast: 

People across Florida have been demonstrating in solidarity with Cubans protesting their country's communist dictatorship over the past few days.

Florida's COVID-19 numbers have been facing a sharp rise, and the surge in infections is linked to the arrival of the new Delta variant. 

Thousands of Cubans have protesting food shortages and high prices amid the coronavirus crisis, in one of biggest anti-government moments in memory.  

First Coast News anchor, and marathon founder Donna Deegan, one of Duval County's most prominent Democrats, is strongly considering running for Jacksonville mayor. 

This week’s Friday Media Roundtable covered these top stories on the First Coast:

The First Coast is recovering from Tropical Storm Elsa. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry joined us to share an update on how the city is doing post-storm, and discuss his pick for the city’s first Chief Resiliency Officer.

A partnership between the Kids Hope Alliance and the State Attorney's Office for the Fourth Judicial Court has resulted in the transfer of Juvenile Diversion Programming to the Kids Hope Alliance, which is a child welfare agency. 

Friends and family of Jacksonville City Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman are asking for prayers as she battles COVID-19.

The Friday media roundtable covered these stories affecting the First Coast:

Earlier this week, the House of Representatives voted to remove all Confederate statues from display in the U.S. Capitol.  

As the pandemic enters its 16th month amid increased vaccination rates and the spread of the Delta variant, people are confused as to whether they need to continue to wear masks.

New state and federal legislation could be proposed to address construction or engineering issues after the deadly condominium-building collapse in Surfside, where crews are continuing their search for survivors.

After the demolition of The Jacksonville Landing, at least some public park space at Riverfront Plaza looks to be in Downtown Jacksonville's future.

On today’s Friday Media Roundtable we discussed these topics affecting the First Coast: 

A cargo ship carrying 12 thousand tons of residual coal ash ran aground near the mouth of the St. Johns River nearly three months ago.

Earlier this week, Jaguars owner Shad Khan made a fresh pitch for his plan to redevelop the Shipyards.

State Representative Angie Nixon joined us to discuss her thoughts about how the Orange Crush Festival was handled other issues related to recent policy changes in Florida from the 2021 Legislative Session.

The arrival of the Delta COVID-19 variant may pose a threat to the slow reintroduction to normal life that we have gotten used to, as it is expected to become the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the United States.