First Coast Connect: The triumph of the word nerds

First Coast Connect: Breaking down the budget

After much bitterness, delay and a two-week extended special session, the state House and Senate finally coalesced around a $114.5 billion budget, including $30 billion for K-12 education, more than $500 million for Everglades restoration and $425 million for the Rural and Family Lands program. But what lies beneath? Investigative reporter Jason Garcia breaks down what he calls “the more interesting line items, tax breaks and policy changes embedded” in the 501-page document [https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=HB%205001E%20Conference%20Report.pdf&DocumentType=Amendments&BillNumber=5001&Session=2026E&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email], including money for a Mike Huckabee-aligned anti-Communist school curriculum, tax cuts for casinos and a program to test wastewater for explosives and narcotics that some believe could be used to track the use of abortion medications as well [https://jasongarcia.substack.com/p/amid-a-growing-national-witch-hunt]. If you have a budget question, you can call us on air at 904-549-2937 or email firstcoastconnect@wjct.org [firstcoastconnect@wjct.org]. Guest: Jason Garcia, investigative reporter, creator of Seeking Rents [https://jasongarcia.substack.com/] newsletter and podcast Change in sight A Jacksonville ophthalmologist who surgically restores sight for patients who can’t afford the procedure shares his vision for changing healthcare. Dr. Jeffrey Levenson founded the Gift of Sight more than three decades ago, a program providing free cataract surgeries to the uninsured or medically indigent. His work has become part of an ongoing partnership with Vision Is Priceless and, in 2023, a viral collaboration [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ2ifmkGGus] with YouTube megastar MrBeast, which restored vision to 1,000 people around the world. Levenson, who’s given two Ted Talks advocating for greater access to cataract treatments, notes, “Half of all blindness in the world is people who need a 10-minute surgery.” We talk about the eye opening nature of his work in indigent healthcare. Guest: Dr. Jeffrey Levenson, ophthalmologist, board member/partner physician, Vision Is Priceless Peace and poetry A local event honoring the legacy of one of Jacksonville’s most preeminent writers offers a chance for young, budding poets to amplify their voices and stories. The 2026 James Weldon Johnson Young Writers Festival invites students in grades 3-12 to attend three days of workshops and activities centered around poetry, creative writing, book design and more. This year’s theme is “Our Voices Matter — What Peace Looks Like To Me,” with students asked to submit a poem or monologue to perform for a chance to qualify for scholarships and prizes. The festival also showcases local luminaries, including Action News Jax anchor Tenikka Hughes and award-winning filmmaker and author Nola D. Oracle. The festival will be held from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. June 10-13 at the Jacksonville Main Library. The deadline for students to register [https://friendsofbrentwoodlibrary.com/] is Tuesday. Guests: * Sharon Coon, founder, Friends of Brentwood Public Library Inc. and James Weldon Johnson Young Writers Festival * Nehemiah Cooper, elementary winner, JWJ Young Writers Festival See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The Morning Report: Michelin Recognition for NE FL Restaurants and Special Session on Property Taxes

Northeast Florida's restaurant scene earns new recognition as eight local establishments are added to the Michelin Guide, including restaurants in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Amelia Island. Also, Florida lawmakers return to Tallahassee for a special session focused on property taxes today. 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: * Members of the Jacksonville Aviation Authority Board accuse City Council President-elect Nick Howland of harassment and threats. * Gov. Ron DeSantis pushes to eliminate property taxes on most primary homes. * A busy end to the Duval County school year, with the ouster of the school chief, and new records linking a controversial teacher suspension to a School Board member’s complaint. * The family of four Black men tortured or murdered by police are slated to receive compensation for the 1949 Groveland, Florida, incident. * The City Council declines to prohibit a new jail from being located in historically disadvantaged, or “redlined,” communities. Guests: * Christina Burgess, reporter at First Coast News * David Bauerlein, metro reporter at the Florida Times-Union * Megan Mallicoat, education reporter at Jacksonville Today * Robert Brown, news director, WJXT News4Jax Time traveler A man who spent his adult life working for the U.S. Postal Service delivers an entirely new chapter of his career. In his debut young adult novel, M. Nathan King creates a time-shifting landscape to teach kids about history. Ezra Whetstone and the Masters of Time — The Mark of Aion [https://us.amazon.com/Ezra-Whetstone-Masters-Time-Adventure-ebook/dp/B0H2CRPCDT?ref_=ast_author_mpb] takes readers on a journey following the 13-year-old protagonist as he explores historical settings from the Library of Alexandria in ancient Egypt to the Inca Empire. We talk to King ahead of the book’s release about why he believes age-appropriate storytelling is the key to engaging kids in history. Guest: M. Nathan King, author of Ezra Whetstone and the Masters of Time — The Mark of Aion See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The Morning Report: Rainy Weekend Ahead For The First Coast

A rainy weekend is ahead for Northeast Florida as forecasters warn of widespread storms, possible flooding, and several inches of rain through Sunday. Plus, despite the wet forecast, communities across the region are kicking off summer with events ranging from line dancing at the beach to a family-friendly music celebration in Jacksonville’s historic LaVilla neighborhood. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

First Coast Connect: It takes a village

In the beginning, World Golf Village promised a lifestyle as smooth and manicured as a putting green. Originally, the golf course community was home to PGA Tour Productions, the World Golf Hall of Fame, the PGA Tour Stop — Florida’s largest golf store — and an IMAX theater, all arrayed around a 190-foot-tall steeple-topped tower. But in the intervening years, the village has lost all of those amenities and become increasingly hemmed in by big box stores, including a Buc-ee’s, a Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, a Costco, a Home Depot and, soon, a Walmart Supercenter. We talk with St. Johns County beat reporter Noah Hertz about his recent reporting [https://jaxtoday.org/2026/05/08/askjaxtoday-world-golf-village/] on how the development has evolved. Guest: Noah Hertz, St. Johns County reporter, Jacksonville Today Building bridges A Jacksonville sheriff’s officer literally talks a man off the ledge. On April 12, an officer who just happened to be on scene directing traffic found himself deeply involved in efforts to save a suicidal man on the Dames Point Bridge. Officer Antonio Richardson, also a pastor for more than three decades, pleaded with, prayed over and cajoled the man to step back from the edge, before he finally took Richardson’s hand and was pulled into his embrace. The event was captured in a brief viral video, but the actual incident took most of an hour and involved several other officers as well. We talk to Richardson about how the remarkable moment fits into his career in law enforcement. If you or someone you know is going through a mental health crisis, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Guest: Officer Antonio Richardson, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Asian Night Market A free community event anchored in celebrating Asian culture, cuisine and local vendors kicks off with two events next month. Asian Night Market Jax offers live entertainment, including karaoke and cultural dances, along with authentic dishes from Thailand, Korea, Cambodia, Philippines and Vietnam. The event is held the second weekend of every month outside the RD International Supermarket on Beach Boulevard, with the next market night slated from 4 to 10 p.m. June 12 and 13. Organizers added additional nights along the Riverwalk at Central Park at RiversEdge from 4 to 10 p.m. June 26 and 27. We sit down with event organizers to discuss how it has evolved and why the community keeps showing up — plus, we get a sneak peek of what’s on the menu. Guest: * Madeline Nguyen, host, Asian Night Market * Vu Nguyen, co-host, Asian Night Market See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.