first coast connect

A report in The Florida Times-Union shows Duval County Public Schools paid more than $9 million in air conditioning-related maintenance and repairs in just one year.

A new report says affordable housing is out of reach for millions of Americans.

Some of President Donald Trump's former Homeland Security staff have expressed concern about the risk of public outrage from images surfacing of migrant children being taken into custody and being separated from their families.

The City of Jacksonville is marking Public Art Week with a number of events to celebrate the importance of public art in the city this week.

Friday on the First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross Media Roundtable, our panel of journalists looked at some of the biggest stories of the week: 

Covering the White House and politics in general has been challenging for journalists. So how can you do the news well and profitably in today’s world?

Pulse Anniversary And World Blood Donor Day

June marks the third anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting, as a movement aims to make the Pulse nightclub in Orlando a national memorial. President of Jacksonville’s LGBT Community Fund Michael Meyers also joined the show to discuss the effects Pulse had on the city of Jacksonville.

FEMA

FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program are urging property owners and renters to take steps now to protect their homes before a major storm hits. That includes buying or renewing flood insurance policies. We spoke with David Maurstad, chief executive of the National Flood Insurance Program at FEMA.

Florida has more than 3.5 million no party affiliated voters, or NPAs, which make up some 27 percent of the electorate.

Friday on the First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross Media Roundtable, our panel of journalists looked at some of the biggest stories of the week:

Cure Violence

Cure Violence launches this Saturday in Jacksonville. Mayor Lenny Curry says his administration hopes this program can bring down the rate of violent crime. Cure Violence treats the problem of crime as a public health issue. On Thursday’s First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross, technical assistance trainer Jarmain Merritt and outreach worker supervisor with Noah’s Ark Project Kim Varner joined us with more information.

For thousands of local children, school lunch is their only meal of the day. 

Twelve branches of the Jacksonville Public Library kicked off their Free Summer Lunch Program this week.  Free lunch is offered to all kids up to the age of 18 until August 2.

JEA is looking at everything from potential future rate hikes, to figuring out how to incorporate more renewable energy into its portfolio, to planning a move into a new corporate headquarters.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and dozens of business and political leaders around Florida are back from a four-day trade mission to Israel.

For Friday's First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross Media Roundtable, our panel of journalists looked at some of the biggest stories of the week.