first coast connect

Jacksonville’s Charter Revision Commission will hold a public town hall at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, October 17, to ask what changes residents want in their city’s governance.

Plans are in the works to bring a new spaceport to Camden County, Georgia.

City Councilman Matt Carlucci joined us to discuss new legislation to replenish a trust fund for historic preservation, as well as several other local issues, including the possible JEA sale.

There is a lot of attention focused on Downtown Jacksonville these days. Between the new Ford on Bay, First Baptist Church’s decision to put about 90% of their properties on the market, plans for a mixed-use development at the old Independent Life Tower, and JEA’s plans for a new headquarters the urban core is changing. 

Jacksonville area Congressman Al Lawson (D-FL 5th District) joined us to talk about the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.

Governor Ron DeSantis is proposing a pay raise for Florida teachers. He is urging Florida lawmakers to raise the minimum starting salary for teachers to $47,500.

JEA, Jacksonville's publicly-owned utility, announced Monday it has received bids from 16 private companies. Next it will evaluate the bids as the utility continues on a path of potentially recommending a sale of all or part of the operation to a private vendor.

A push is underway in Duval County that organizers claim would improve the election process  and voter turnout for Jacksonville's municipal elections.

Friday on First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross, our panel of journalists on the media roundtable looked at the top stories of the week, including:

Charleen Shirk filled in as guest host for Melissa Ross.  She talked with Brenda Priestly Jackson, City Council woman for District 10, which covers parts of northwest Jacksonville.

Mapping Jax, a new local movement sparked by a rush of downtown demolitions, is asking the city to think more creatively about how we build the urban core.

A Jacksonville man is sounding the alarm about how he was seduced by online extremism and how he eventually reversed course.  

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is investigating a gruesome crime that happened early Friday morning on Jacksonville’s Northwest side.

Friday on First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross, our panel of journalists on the media roundtable looked at the top stories of the week, including: