First Coast Connect: Ask the Mayor

First Coast Connect: Ask the Mayor

Should Jacksonville adopt a data center moratorium? And what does a potential lawsuit by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority against the city mean for the future of consolidated government? We ask Mayor Donna Deegan about that, as well as how newly proposed Jacksonville Housing Authority job requirements could affect her plan to address homelessness in the city. Guest: Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan Sweet deal Then, a Northside bakery expands its family-owned footprint to West Jacksonville. We ask the “The Cookie Man’s” kids about carrying on his sweet legacy with an expansion of Arble Baking Co [https://arblebaking.com/]. The bakery has served cakes, pies and handmade cookies from its Dunn Avenue location for years, but before that, the family business was built around the reputation of Willis “The Cookie Man” Anderson, who made and sold cookies from his home kitchen for the better part of four decades. The new location opens later this year at Community First Credit Union’s new Murray Hill branch — former site of Edgewood Bakery. Guests: * Teia Anderson, co-founder, Arble Baking Co. * Monica Anderson, co-founder, Arble Baking Co. * Sam Inman, president and CEO, Community First Credit Union 10 years OutEast What began as a community coalition evolved into a community development group and ultimately a vehicle to access much needed federal housing funds. The Historic Eastside — defined by the neighborhoods of East Jacksonville, Fairfield, Oakland, Campbells’ Addition and Phoenix — celebrates a decade in the business of growth and transformation with an evening devoted to history and storytelling. Al Letson, a Jacksonville native and Peabody Award-winning host of the podcast Reveal [https://revealnews.org/podcast/], returns to town to celebrate one of the city’s most important historically Black neighborhoods at Always Been Here: An Evening with Al Letson [https://www.hecdcjax.org/10-th-anniversary]. The event will be held at WJCT Studios at 6 p.m. Thursday. Guest: Suzanne Pickett, CEO of Historic Eastside Community Development Corp. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The Morning Report: Harris Teeter Grocery Plans in FL and JTA Leadership Update

Jacksonville's planned Harris Teeter grocery store remains on track despite reports the chain has scaled back its broader Florida expansion. Plus, JTA CEO Nat Ford is among the finalists to lead the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system as the agency in Texas prepares to select its next chief executive. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

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.