First Coast Connect: The 'Fee State' of Florida

First Coast Connect: Making history

A lawsuit challenging the limits of city power is taking shape. The Jacksonville Aviation Authority is preparing to take the city to court for allegedly "pickpocketing" the authority's cash reserves and quashing its state-granted autonomy. Animosity between JAA and the city, which has been brewing for years, recently accelerated with the ascension of Council President Nick Howland, who has pushed for greater influence over airport budgets, particularly development of Cecil Field. We speak to the executive editor of the Florida Trib whose reporting [https://floridatrib.org/2026/07/10/jacksonville-aviation-officials-prep-lawsuit-accusing-city-of-trying-to-pickpocket/] details why this is happening now and what’s at stake. Guest: Nate Monroe, executive editor, the Florida Trib St. Augustine's mayor-elect In the 460 years since it was established, the city of St. Augustine has had just a handful of Black lawmakers. Before Commissioner Cynthia Garris [https://jaxtoday.org/2026/07/02/cynthia-garris-mayor/] took office in 2022, there were just five: Commissioner and Vice Mayor Errol Jones (who served from 2002-’12), Commissioner and Vice Mayor Henry Twine (who served from 1983-’92), Commissioner Richard White (served from 1990-1994), Commissioner Arnett Chase who was was elected in 1973 and Alderman John Papino (who served during Reconstruction before being shot in the face by a white marshal in 1902). Coupled with the city’s tortured civil rights protest era, during which the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. called the city the “most lawless” he’d encountered, the historic paucity of Black leadership makes the recent election of a Black woman mayor a momentous occasion in the Ancient City. We sit down with the mayor-elect to discuss its significance, as well as what mark she hopes to leave during her term in office. Guest: Cynthia Garris, mayor-elect, city of St. Augustine River City Chorus For more than a decade, the River City Chorus has performed uplifting, spiritual and patriotic tunes at churches around the First Coast. During their summer performance series, they typically donate ticket proceeds [https://www.facebook.com/RiverCityMensChorus/] to a local charity. We ask the chorus director about the charity selection process and what’s included in their summer songbook. River City Chorus has three upcoming performances: July 17 at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church, July 18 at Arlington Presbyterian Church and July 19 at Riverside Park Methodist Church. Guests: * Dale Choate, director, River City Chorus * Chelsea Weise, Young Lives director, River City Chorus * Mark Scott, member, River City Chorus See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The Morning Report: Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Moving Soon and St. Johns Fake Voter Guide Update

Jacksonville’s sheriff says the department will complete its move from its longtime downtown headquarters to a Riverside office tower by the end of the year, while planning continues for a future replacement jail. Also in this episode, a state lawmaker outlines recommendations for replacing St. Johns County commissioners if Governor Ron DeSantis suspends two officials facing misdemeanor election-related charges. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

First Coast Connect: Week in Review

Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week: * Election season starts with a bang as three St. Johns County lawmakers are charged with an unauthorized voter guide. * A new law increases penalties for mandatory reporters who don’t report suspected child abuse.  * A grand jury is digging into Douglas Anderson’s history of teacher sexual misconduct, even as the school district finds leaders “knowingly failed” to report abuse allegations. Guests: * Frank Powers, former assignment manager at News4Jax * Megan Mallicoat, education reporter at Jacksonville Today * John Daigle, political consultant, former reporter * Noah Hertz, St. Johns County reporter, Jacksonville Today Irregular folk Bridging the gaps between jazz, folk and comedy is no easy feat, but singer songwriter Vance Gilbert has stitched it up across a 30+ year career. After being tapped to open Shawn Colvin’s tour the year she broke into the Top 10 and won two Grammys for her song Sunny Came Home, he’s opened for such varied musical artists as Anita Baker and Arlo Guthrie. But he also suits a lighter style, warming up crowds for legendary comic George Carlin at more than 150 performances. Gilbert takes the stage at Amelia Island’s Story & Song Center for Arts & Culture [https://storyandsongarts.org/event/an-evening-of-story-song-4/] on Friday, and at The Back Room at Ronan School Of Music [https://vancegilbert.com/calendar/event/4462] in Jacksonville on Saturday. We ask the artist about his many hats, his musical roots and the inspiration animating his current tour. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The Morning Report: EverBank Staying Downtown & Daily's Gas Station Proposal Rejected

Jacksonville-based EverBank will keep its headquarters downtown after questions about its future location, and the St. Johns County Planning and Zoning Board rejects a proposal for a Daily’s gas station in Fruit Cove following opposition from nearby residents. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

First Coast Connect: Congressional candidate Brit Robinson

Our election season coverage continues with 4th Congressional District candidate Brit Robinson. The self-described Democratic Socialist is positioning herself as the voice for young, working class voters, calling the current administration “fascist and authoritarian” and accusing her incumbent opponent of being “complicit” in an anti-democratic agenda. Robinson faces fellow Democrats Michael Kirwan [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlDRXy9FKO4] and LaShonda Holloway in the Aug. 18 primary. If successful, she would face Republican incumbent Aaron Bean. First Coast Connect will be covering a range of local races and election-related topics between now and Nov. 3. You can find detailed information about upcoming elections, including information about candidates and ballot initiatives in your specific district, at the nonpartisan League of Women Voters website Vote411.org. The deadline to register to vote in or change your party affiliation ahead of the August primaries is July 20. Guest: Brit Robinson, Democratic candidate for Florida’s 4th Congressional District Supper club The unifying power of food is the organizing conceit of a new undertaking by Jacksonville Today. The nonprofit newsroom recently held the inaugural meeting of its Dinner Club, a group created to celebrate food and friendship by helping strangers connect over meals. The club hosts monthly meetings at restaurants, matching like-minded diners with menus that appeal to their palate and pocketbook. We talk to the WJCT minds behind the concept about what they’re hoping to achieve, and ask a Dinner Club [https://jaxtoday.dnnr.io/] participant about how the first iteration of the experiment went down. Guests: * Katie Sims, nutritionist and Jax Today Dinner Club participant * Jessica Palombo, editor, Jacksonville Today * Pete Havens, director of revenue and business management for Jacksonville Today and WJCT Public Media Talent show The former producer of Harlem’s legendary Amateur Night at the Apollo brings the competitive vibe to the “Harlem of the South” — Jacksonville’s historic LaVilla neighborhood — and the stage of the Ritz Theatre. Once graced by performers like Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and Duke Ellington, the restored Ritz now plays host to aspiring First Coast performers of every stripe. The upcoming Puttin' on the Ritz [https://theritz.jaxevents.com/event/puttin-on-the-ritz-talent-competition/tm_1axzk3kgkdkv0h7/] talent competition will be held Friday at the theatre at 829 North Davis St. We talk to the organizers about cultivating the next generation of artists through healthy competition. Guests: * Deborah McDuffie, artistic director, Ritz Theatre & Museum and creator and producer of Puttin’ On The Ritz * Dr. Shaun Powell, community development and outreach, Ritz Theatre & Museum See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.