First Coast Connect: Week in Review

First Coast Connect: Murder case shake-up

A high profile murder case saw some high stakes legal developments with the recent disclosure of a statement allegedly made by the defendant to an informant in the Duval County jail. According to a document released by prosecutors last week, the inmate claims accused killer Mario Fernandez Saldana revealed that his wife, Shanna Gardner, was the mastermind of the fatal 2022 ambush that claimed the life of St. Augustine father of four Jared Bridegan (Shanna Gardner’s estranged ex-husband). The document says Fernandez Saldana also asked the inmate to help frame Bridegan’s widow (his second wife) after the inmate bonded out. With jury selection in Fernandez Saldana’s murder trial set to begin Aug. 10, we get legal perspective on how consequential the new disclosure could be, both for him and his co-defendant, Shanna Gardner. Guest: Belkis Plata, criminal defense attorney School of thought It’s been burned to the ground, rebuilt, destroyed, relocated, repurposed and ultimately operated under at least eight different names, but the Stanton moniker and what it signifies remains an indelible piece of local history, one deeply embedded in Jacksonville’s African American community. We talk to the authors of Stanton, a new book exploring the 140-plus year history of an institution that began as the first school for Black students in post-Emancipation Florida and was for a time led by civil rights activist and writer (then-Principal) James Weldon Johnson. Stanton later became Duval County’s first magnet school and remains the oldest continually operating high school in the state. The book tells the story through hundreds of photographs, memories of famed alumni, sports records, cultural endeavors and decades of academic achievements. Guests:   * Ronald Galvin, co-author, Stanton * Tiffany Galvin Green, co-author, Stanton Power Ranger Amid our seemingly inescapable technological landscape, it’s increasingly rare to find kids engaging in simple things like going outside to play, searching for critters and getting their hands dirty. But one Jacksonville 8-year-old is bucking that trend and getting recognized for doing so. Raza Syed’s interest in nature and wildlife led him to the Junior Ranger program and later the Jr. Ranger Competition, a National Wildlife Federation event that asks young explorers to share their outdoor adventures in a bid for the national title. Raza placed second  [https://jr-ranger.org/2026/raza-b40e]in the competition semifinals, ranking in the top 1% out of more than 100,00 kids participating nationwide. We ask Raza about his favorite animal facts and hear how the competition allowed him to gain a deeper appreciation for the great outdoors. Guests: * Raza Syed, Jr. Ranger quarterfinalist * Asghar Syed, Raza’s father See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The Morning Report: Property Tax Cut Proposal Fallout

Florida voters will decide the future of property taxes this November, and local leaders are warning the proposed cuts could have major consequences for county budgets and public services. Also, policy experts are raising concerns that property tax changes could shift costs to renters and businesses, potentially leading to higher rents and new fees if the amendment wins voter approval. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

First Coast Connect: On Wednesday’s show: A House Call from Dr. Joe

The spiraling Ebola epidemic in central Africa and the recent hantavirus outbreak are sobering reminders of the globally interdependent realities of healthcare. We discuss how the current political landscape and changes in spending on international medicine could be contributing to the spread of disease. Also, RFK wants you off your antidepressants and has no problem calling you fat: Why some say his approach to addiction, obesity and mental health is a retread of decades-old “shame-based” messaging. We discuss those recent medical headlines with Dr. Joe Sirven, who also answers your healthcare questions on any topic.  Guest: Dr. Joe Sirven, Mayo Clinic neurologist and host of WJCT’s What’s Health Got To Do With It? [https://news.wjct.org/show/whats-health-got-to-do-with-it] ’Zine fest A celebration of experimental publishing is headed to the heart of Jacksonville’s art scene. The 5th annual Duval Comic & Zine Fest [https://www.dcazfest.com/] sets up shop — including demos, displays and DIY inspiration — in the CoRK Arts District. It’s a chance to check out the evolution of the ‘zine from the early fanzines of the punk and indie music scenes to the social justice and protest era to its modern iteration as an anything-goes artist chapbook. More than 70 artists will be on hand showing/selling/swapping their wares, and activities include live risograph or RISO printing [https://risottostudio.com/pages/what-is-risograph-printing?srsltid=AfmBOoqrtPVTb053cWpm4BZv4FsDTCQCEvmrAxWk280LKmV1EFXNQqL4], button making and hands-on workshops. We talk to two participant organizers about how the event has grown to meet the moment. Guests:   * Kiana Blaylock, poet, teacher, independent journalist and zinester * Thony Aiuppy, art educator, cartoonist, zinester and storyteller Something’s Coming  The legendary lyricist and composer Stephen Sondheim died five years ago as a nonagenarian, but he remains freshly fascinating for generations of fans. A new book by Pulitzer finalist Daniel Okrent about his life and troubled relationship with his mother, Stephen Sondheim: Art Isn't Easy, has reignited conversations about the demanding and influential artist. Considered a “difficult genius,” Sondheim is the creator behind such seminal Broadway musicals as Gypsy, West Side Story, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Sweeney Todd, and Sunday In The Park With George, among many others. A local production of the musical revue Sondheim on Sondheim marries the best of his personal songbook with video interview segments with the master himself. The show runs at Theatre Jacksonville [https://www.theatrejax.com/season-106] from June 5 to June 21. Guests: * Curtis J. Williams, director, Sondheim on Sondheim at Theatre Jacksonville * Josh Waller, actor * Leanne Gullo, actor   See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The Morning Report: School Tax Vote Delayed & Expanded Capacity for Jax Beach Bars

The Jacksonville City Council’s Finance Committee delays a vote on a measure that would place the Duval County school district’s teacher pay tax referendum on the November ballot, putting pressure on council members to act before election deadlines. Plus, Jacksonville Beach launches a pilot program allowing some bars and restaurants to temporarily expand outdoor capacity during Jaguars home games as the team prepares for seasons impacted by stadium construction and relocation. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

First Coast Connect: Killing medical research

In late April, the White House abruptly fired the entire board of the National Science Foundation, the agency that provides the largest support and funding for nonmedical research and education. It was just the latest in a series of unprecedented decisions that has upended the scientific world. Along with funding freezes, spending caps and deep cuts to ongoing research, the effects are being felt not just in hospitals and university settings, but in the lives of ordinary individuals, including some who are deeply invested in research outcomes. We talk to a participant of one recently canceled Alzheimer’s study about the answers she’d hoped to gain into a devastating family history of dementia, and a local HIV/AIDS researcher who has seen critical funding end for a longitudinal study dating back to 2007. Guests: * Jennifer Mansfield, research study participant, partner at Holland & Knight * Dr. Mobeen Rathore, pediatric infectious diseases physician and founding director of the University of Florida Center for HIV/AIDS Research, Education and Service Urban arboretum tour A first of its kind approach to preserving, appreciating and educating around Duval County's urban tree canopy, the quarterly Historic Springfield TreeWalks are designed to transform the neighborhood into a “living classroom.” The upcoming Integrated Urban Ecology tour focuses on how the natural elements of the historic district combine with manmade ones in ways that affect walkability, flood control and the overall feel of the community. Led by an experienced urban planner and landscape architect, the event highlights the nascent Springfield Arboretum, a project showcasing tree species around the historic district, which includes 35 identification tags and an opportunity for self-guided tours. We talk to the June 6 tour [https://www.facebook.com/events/26728878796704360/?rdid=Amk2iA0i9ZJygBxU&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1Atuq3Piuk%2F#]’s guide about how the Springfield of today is a legacy of decisions made generations ago. Guest: Daniel Ashworth Jr., senior landscape architect and urban designer, member of Springfield Preservation and Revitalization board of directors Main drag Jacksonville community theater The 5 & Dime [https://the5anddime.org/s2026/the-legend-of-georgia-mcbride/] presents The Legend of Georgia McBride, a special show to honor Pride month and the art of drag. Set in a Florida dive bar, the show tells the story of a young Elvis impersonator who suddenly finds himself making a career change to lip-syncing drag queen. The play explores the poignant ups and downs of self-acceptance and identity, while never losing its sense of humor. JaxPlays [https://jaxplays.org/reviews/2026/05/30/wigs-up-worries-down-the-5-dimes-georgia-mcbride-sparkles-where-it-counts/] gave particular praise to performer Brandon Hines, “whose years as a professional drag queen are on glittering display,” calling the performance “astonishingly assured.” We talk to the show's directors and stage manager about why this story resonates with local audiences and how it fits into the theater’s overall mission. Guests: * Madelene Skinner, co-director, The Legend of Georgia McBride * Ashli Simmons, stage manager, The Legend of Georgia McBride * Greg Hewitt, actor playing Eddie in “The Legend of Georgia McBride” See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.