First Coast Connect: Week in Review

First Coast Connect: Government expert Chris Hand

Each month, we sit down with attorney and government expert Chris Hand to break down local and national political headlines. Among our topics: * Proposed property tax cuts draw legal challenges and criticism from economists, with projections estimating a $5 billion loss in the first year. * Voters in Duval County will decide whether to extend a property tax first approved in 2022 to supplement teacher salaries. * City officials must decide if there’s space in the budget for public incentives to bring a Publix and Culinary Institute of America campus to Downtown. Guest: Chris Hand, local government expert, attorney and co-author with the late Sen. Bob Graham of America, the Owner's Manual [https://collegepublishing.sagepub.com/products/america-the-owners-manual-2-239708] A bloody campaign A documentary and rare photo exhibit highlight St. Augustine’s critical role as a civil rights battleground where a series of wade-ins and demonstrations turned violent. Passage at St. Augustine examines how local activists and a Black Air Force veteran sparked a confrontation over segregation that drew the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to the nation’s oldest city and helped pave the way for the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. We talk to the film’s director about the historical significance of these events, why it took 13 years to complete the project and his upcoming exhibition [https://www.visitstaugustine.com/event/splash-heard-around-world]. The free showing and discussion will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at St. Paul A.M.E. Church in St. Augustine. Guest: Clennon L. King, award-winning journalist, documentary filmmaker and director of Passage at St. Augustine: The 1964 Black Lives Matter Movement That Transformed America Artists wanted Do you have an idea for a sculpture? Riverside Avondale Preservation is calling for artists to submit ideas for a new public sculpture at the newly named Fishweir Crossing roundabout. Located on the edge of the Riverside Avondale Historic District and Fishweir Creek, the sculpture will serve as a landmark connecting the Fairfax Manor and Lakeside Park neighborhoods. Officials say the sculpture’s design should reflect the character, culture and natural environment of the communities that meet there. Up to three artists can be selected to develop conceptual designs for the project. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. June 30. Find more information here [https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=17637]. Guest: Nancy Powell, co-chair, Fishweir Crossing Roundabouts Planning Committee See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The Morning Report: JEA Workplace Survey and Juneteenth Celebrations

A new employee survey offers the first look at morale inside JEA since a Jacksonville City Council investigation into workplace concerns started. We also preview Juneteenth events across Jacksonville and St. Augustine marking the end of slavery in the United States. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

First Coast Connect: Celebrating Emancipation Day

As Juneteenth celebrations kick off across the city, we take a closer look at the long road from emancipation to equality. Becoming a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth marks the anniversary of June 19, 1865, the date when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, declaring all enslaved people be freed. The troops came more than 2½ years after President Abrahamn Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. We sit down with prominent Jacksonville civil rights activist, historian and author Rodney L. Hurst Sr. as he reflects on the meaning of the holiday, his role in the 1960 Woolworth sit-ins and the events that led to Ax Handle Saturday. We also preview Juneteenth celebrations happening on the historic Eastside. Guests: * Nigelle Kohn, executive director, Florida Avenue Main Street Inc. [http://www.floridaavenuemainstreet.org/] * Rodney L. Hurst Sr., civil rights activist, historian and author of It Was Never About a Hotdog and a Coke! [https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/3461984-it-was-never-about-a-hotdog-and-a-coke-a-personal-account-of-the-1960-s] Teach ‘em young Teaching Black History in Florida has changed in recent years, but Juneteenth can serve as a time to educate about the harsh realities in American history, like slavery and discrimination. A Jacksonville educator wrote a book to share how families, schools and community organizations can help young learners understand the history and significance of Juneteenth. All About Juneteenth Dictionary for Kids offers practical strategies for teaching children about freedom, resilience and cultural heritage through literacy, vocabulary and storytelling. The book also details the backgrounds of key figures, activists and important locations in the Civil Rights Movement and shares a how-to guide on creating a Juneteenth sidewalk parade. We ask the book’s author what inspired the project and ask her about the importance of teaching Black history at a young age. Guest: Celeste Payne, founder of Arts Empowered Inc. and author of All About Juneteenth Dictionary for Kids [https://www.amazon.com/All-About-Juneteenth-Dictionary-Kids-ebook/dp/B0FCGSBRKP/ref=sr_1_3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xkVeQG5YZGGGFmLror1BnZaylFDC_YzTUT1Bv36ZvaPj6wLBa18XwmrZtyIW3RfLn3_HDxWpSQqXXBfLsXSozuTLkcSCiVADovqvkL71DpsxZUq6ef0jG72MexrpV9mkLjyqPHCCgqvTVTC6e_zNgA.XepXf70R1twQTO-M3ZJFrQ5GhnrHdCt3QZHnpTY8jAE&dib_tag=se&qid=1781613711&refinements=p_27%3ACeleste+Payne&s=digital-text&sr=1-3] Secret sauce A beloved Jacksonville pizza restaurant serving up famous New York-style pies turns 50. Renna’s has served the community since 1976 and is the second oldest pizzeria in Jacksonville (Joseph’s Pizza opened its doors in 1956). We speak to a local owner and operator about how the company has managed to stay relevant for five decades and how he works to preserve Renna’s tradition as the brand evolves. Guest: Matt Wymer, owner and operator, Renna’s Pizza Mandarin & Argyle Forest See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The Morning Report: Preventing Abuse and Data Center Concerns in St. Johns

A Jacksonville nonprofit is launching a new effort focused on engaging men and boys in preventing domestic abuse and promoting healthy relationships. Plus, St. Johns County leaders are considering a temporary pause on new data center developments as officials weigh potential impacts on the region’s power and water systems. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

First Coast Connect: Life-saving lung study

A Jacksonville-based lung study could help reshape lung disease screening guidelines for people considered low risk. The $24.8 million national study [https://www.lung.org/media/press-releases/fy26-jacksonville-lung-health-cohort] is led locally by UF Health and Nemours Children’s Health and is tracking the lung health of 4,000 young adults to better understand how lung disease develops over time. One participant, a 35-year-old nonsmoker, credits the study with saving her life after a scan revealed a cancerous nodule in her right lung. We speak with the lung cohort member and the study’s research director about what participants can expect and how early detection can save lives. Guests: * Dr. Kathryn Blake, director, Center for Pharmacogenomics and Translational Research, Nemours Children’s Health * Cindy Springer, Lung Health Cohort Study participant and development director for the American Lung Association in Jacksonville Moving music A new book explores the adventure one aging musician goes on after learning she may soon forget how to sing or play guitar. Lost in the Summer of ‘69 is USA Today bestselling author Eliza Knight’s latest historical fiction following Eleanor Bell just before her 69th birthday after she learns she is showing early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. She’s determined to make the most of her time left and sets out on a cross-country road trip to California to rediscover her love for music. But Eleanor forgets to tell her family where she’s going, prompting her daughter and granddaughter to go on a journey to find her. We ask the book’s creator about the inspiration for the novel and the importance of the historical setting ahead of two local book events happening this week. Guest: Eliza Knight, USA Today bestselling author of Lost in the Summer of '69 [https://elizaknight.com/books/lost-in-the-summer-of-69/] Band together Big band music and ballroom dancing return to Amelia Island this summer. The Amelia Island Dance Festival features a 12-piece live band, professional vocalists and, of course, dancing. The series includes songs spanning nearly a century from the Jazz Age to modern hits. Dancers of all skill levels are welcome, whether they’re seasoned ballroom enthusiasts or first-timers. Musicians from Crescendo Amelia [https://www.crescendoamelia.com/] join us to discuss how the series is helping keep the legacy of big band and jazz alive while creating a vibrant cultural gathering for residents and visitors alike. Guests: * Dennis Negrin, bandleader, Crescendo Amelia * Kim Reteguiz, vocalist, Crescendo Amelia See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.