Melissa Ross: First Coast Connect

[TheCat]

Melissa Ross is hosting for Diane Rehm's show today. It's on now...sorry for the late notice.

The Supreme Court Considers Affirmative Action As Campus Protests Over Racial Bias Continue

The Supreme Court hears arguments for and against affirmative action, and on campuses across the country, students protest over racial bias continue. Join us to discuss diversity on campus and the ongoing struggle for inclusion, community and trust.


http://www.wjct.org/listen/

[TheCat]

Schedule for the week:

http://www.wjct.org/listen/

TUESDAY
State Rep. Janet Adkins
Gender equality in media coverage
Jacksonville Public Library's "Great Decisions" discussion series

WEDNESDAY
Football and concussions
Nu-Well Physicians
National Blood Donor Month

THURSDAY
Public Defender Matt Shirk
North Florida TPO
Comedian Greg Morton
Around town with Kerry "The Specktator" Speckman

FRIDAY
Media roundtable week in review
International dyslexia expert Susan Barton
ARBUS Magazine's "All the Angels Come" series

[TheCat]

Wednesday, January 6, 2015:

http://www.wjct.org/listen/

With the release of the new film "Concussion," the debate over concussions in football and the lasting effects experienced by many current and former players is back in the spotlight. We'll speak local neurologist Dr. Syed Asad and Rick Johnson of Sports Technologies, LLC, who has been working to develop helmets to better protect against traumatic brain injuries.

We'll also talk with Dr. Saumil Oza, chairman of the new company Nu-Well Physicians.This group of 11 local physicians has created a new line of cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juices.

And we'll learn how OneBlood (formerly the Blood Alliance) is partnering with the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens to encourage more people to donate blood in the new year. Spokesperson Odette Struys will join us.

[TheCat]

http://www.wjct.org/listen/


MONDAY

    We'll speak with David Cobb, outreach director of the Move to Amend Coalition, which was formed in 2010 as a response to the Supreme Court Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision establishing corporate personhood. He'll be appearing on the UNF campus Monday night to discuss their efforts to amend the decision.

    Attorney Tad Delegal on Jacksonville's pension

    "Jacksonville in a Box" subscription service

    Sports wrap up with Cole Pepper


TUESDAY

    Human trafficking

    "War Against All Puerto Ricans" author Nelson Denis on the Jones Acts and its effect on the economy of Puerto Rico

    Players by the Sea production of "Cotton Alley"


WEDNESDAY

    I-95 Overland Bridge project

    Jazz bassist and "Jazz Night in America" host Christian McBride, performing this week at the Ritz Theatre [PRE-RECORDED]


THURSDAY

    Episcopal School head coach and former NFL quarterback Mark Brunell and John Cornack, CEO of The Eisenhower Center

    Actress Sonia Manzano (Maria from "Sesame Street")

    "Sunken Conservation" documentary airing on WJCT TV

    Artist Ambler Hutchinson

    Around town with Kerry Speckman


FRIDAY

    Media roundtable week in review

    Greenscape of Jacksonville bringing international artist Konstantin Demopoulos's "The Blue Trees" environmental exhibit to the First Coast

[TheCat]

Friday January 15

This is subject to change.

We'll discuss the week's top news stories with our roundtable of local journalists: Larry Hannan, Florida Times-Union reporter; Fred Matthews, Examiner blogger; Matt Shaw, Folio Weekly editor; and WJCT analyst John Burr.

One Spark co-founder and former CEO Elton Rivas on his resignation from the festival [BY PHONE]

"42nd Street" Star Caitlin Ehlinger, on stage now at the Times-Union Center [PRE-RECORDED INTERVIEW]
Greenscape of Jacksonville bringing international artist Konstantin Demopoulos's "The Blue Trees" environmental exhibit to the First Coast. We'll speak with Demopoulus and Greenscape of Jacksonville executive director Anna Dooley

[TheCat]

The week of January 18, 2016.


http://www.wjct.org/listen/

TUESDAY

Hundreds of Florida death penalty cases are in limbo following the Supreme Court's decision last week tossing out the way the state sentences people to death. We'll speak with Darlene Farah, a Jacksonville resident concerned that the ruling will create delays in her daughter's murder trial. We'll also be joined by her legal counsel, local attorney Dale Carson.

In this month's edition of the First Coast Connect Book Club, book blogger Stacey Goldring joins us to discuss Daniel James Brown's "The Boys in the Boat."

Generation W founder Donna Orender on the organization's upcoming "Generation WORKS" event
Farah & Farah attorney Eddie Farah on the law firm's "Keep Jax Safe" initiative [PRE-RECORDED INTERVIEW]

WEDNESDAY

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Ringmaster Johnathon Lee Iverson on the circus's decision to retire performing elephants after this year.

M*A*S*H star Loretta Swit on this week's The M*A*S*H Gala: A Benefit for Ayla's Acres No-Kill Animal Rescue in St. Augustine [PRE-RECORDED INTERVIEW]

THURSDAY

St. Johns Riverkeeper Lisa Rinaman
Hemming Park's 150th
Weekend events with Kerry "The Specktator" Speckman

FRIDAY
Media roundtable week in review
Amelia Island Restaurant Week
U F Health Women and Heart Disease: Update, Treatment and Prevention Conference

[TheCat]

Thursday, January 20, 2016 @ 9am

http://www.wjct.org/listen/

St. Johns Riverkeeper Lisa Rinaman will be our first guest Thursday morning. Her group is teaming with environmental organizations from around the state to urge Gov. Rick Scott to veto an industry-friendly water policy bill that was passed by the Florida Senate last week. We'll discuss this and other issues affecting the river.

Friends of Hemming Park will celebrate 150 years of the park with a special event this weekend. We'll discuss the park's history with Friends of Hemming Park CEO Vince Cavin and board president Wayne Wood.

Weekend events with Kerry "The Specktator" Speckman

[TheCat]

Friday, January 29, 2016 @ 9am

http://www.wjct.org/listen/

We'll discuss the week's top news stories with our roundtable of local journalists: Paula Horvath, Florida Times-Union columnist; Fred Matthews, Examiner blogger; A.G. Gancarski, Florida Politics and Folio Weekly writer; John Burr, WJCT analyst.

Justin Miller of the St. Augustine-based nonprofit Pangolin Conservation joins us to discuss their work promoting the conservation, education and research of the species known as the world's most trafficked mammal.

The third annual Jazz on the Bridge event will be held next week to raise funds for the nonprofit Bridge of Northeast Florida, which works to better the lives of children living in some of the city's most impoverished communities. We'll preview the event with Bridge of Northeast Florida CEO Shariffa Spicer and Jazz on the Bridge co-host and comedian Adrian "A-Train" Smith.

[TheCat]

Week of Feb. 1, 2016 @9am

http://www.wjct.org/listen/

MONDAY
Monday, we'll discuss making plans for downtown revitalization a reality, including identifying viable projects and leveraging limited funding. Joining us will be Aundra Wallace, CEO of Downtown Investment Authority; Jim Bailey, chair of the Downtown Investment Authority and owner of Bailey Publishing; and Kimberly Waterhouse, director of programs with CREW Jacksonville.
Local activists Chevara Orrin and Daniel Locke join us with details on their upcoming study circle on race issues.
We'll speak with Dr. Neil Sanghvi of the First Coast Heart & Vascular Center about atrial fibrillation, the number one heart rhythm disorder in the world.
Sports wrap up with Cole Pepper

TUESDAY
Paul Krishnamurty, chief political analyst for Betfair.com, the British betting exchange regarded as one of the best prediction guides for elections. Krishnamurty is following the 2016 presidential election, and will share his thoughts following the Iowa caucus.
Dr. Mike Shirley, director of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, on the upcoming State of the Reserve event.
Dr.  Eric Sauvageau, director of the Stroke & Cerebrovascular Center at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, on the correlation between heart disease and stroke.
New initiatives from local theatre Players by the Sea

WEDNESDAY
Florida Blue CEO Pat Geraghty and Mayo Clinic Cardiologist Dr. Amy Pollak on National Wear Red Day
"A Legacy of Faith" documentary
"Food for Thought" event at the Fernandina Beach Library

THURSDAY - FAITH MATTERS
No First Coast Connect on Thursday. In its place will be the second edition of WJCT's quarterly program, Faith Matters, exploring contemporary issues through the lens of faith.

Hosts Nancy Broner and Kyle Reese of UNF's OneJax Institute will be joined by local and national faith leaders to discuss the role of faith in the political process.

FRIDAY
Media roundtable week in review
2016 Environmental Protection Board Water Education Festival
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts theatre department's production of "Radio Golf" at the Ritz Theatre
Jacksonville Dance Theatre's "Duets for Valentine's Day"

[TheCat]

Feb 1, 2016 @ 9am

http://www.wjct.org/listen/

Tuesday, we'll speak with Paul Krishnamurty, chief political analyst for Betfair.com, the British betting exchange regarded as one of the best prediction guides for elections. Krishnamurty is following the 2016 presidential election, and will share his thoughts following the Iowa caucus.

Dr. Mike Shirley, director of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, will join us to discuss the upcoming "State of the Reserve" symposium.

Dr.  Eric Sauvageau, director of the Stroke & Cerebrovascular Center at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, will speak on the correlation between heart disease and stroke.

And we'll find out about Player's by the Sea's "New Voices" initiative to develop local playwrights. Joe Schwarz, Players by the Sea executive director, and Bradley Akers, associate director, will join us.

[TheCat]

MONDAY
Dr. Michael Hallet, professor of criminology and criminal justice at UNF, will join us to discuss violent crime in Jacksonville.
We'll preview the 26.2 with Donna marathon with founder Donna Deegan and learn about the latest breast cancer research at Mayo Clinic with Dr. E. Aubrey Thompson, co-director of the Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer Translational Genomics program.
David Bonner, executive creative director at the advertising firm On Ideas, joins us with a look at some of the most talked about Super Bowl ads.
And we'll discuss the outcome of the big game with sports contributor Cole Pepper.

TUESDAY
TedxFSCJ's "Immigrants, Refugees and Jacksonville's Muslim-American Community" salon event
Jacksonville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists screening Buster Keaton's "Sherlock, Jr." with live pipe organ accompaniment
Reathreaded's fifth annual "Mukti" fundraising event
Musician Alan Parsons, performing at the Florida Theatre with the Jacksonville Rock Symphony [PRE-RECORDED PHONE INTERVIEW]

WEDNESDAY
JAX Chamber president Audrey Moran on expanding Jacksonville's human rights ordinance
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts 30th annual "Extravaganza"
Going Green: Environmental Youth Council
WJCT's The Square winner Monique Mancera [PRE-RECORDED PERFORMANCE]

THURSDAY
Local Homes for Heroes helps veterans, teachers and other heroes save money when purchasing homes
Anazao Galleries bringing Emilie Shapiro's sustainable line of jewelry to Jacksonville
Weekend events with Kerry "The Specktator" Speckman

FRIDAY
Media roundtable week in review
Baptist Health Girls' Night Out event

[TheCat]

Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016 @ 9am

http://www.wjct.org/listen/

Tuesday, we'll examine issues facing Jacksonville's immigrant, refugee and Muslim-American communities with UNF professor Parvez Ahmed, FSCJ professor Paul Hendrickson and Ranna Abduljawad, member of Floridians Responding to Refugees. A TEDxFSCJ salon event Wednesday night will further explore this topic.

We'll preview the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists' upcoming screening of Buster Keaton's "Sherlock, Jr." with live pipe organ accompaniment. Patricia DeWitt, the guild's sub dean, will join us.

We speak with famed musician and record producer Alan Parsons about his performance at the Florida Theatre this week with the Jacksonville Rock Symphony. [PRE-RECORDED PHONE INTERVIEW]

And Rethreaded founder Kristen Keen joins us with info about the organization's special Valentine's Day pop-up shops.

[TheCat]

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016.

http://www.wjct.org/listen/

We'll speak with JAX Chamber president Audrey Moran about the group's decision to support expanding Jacksonville's human rights ordinance to cover LGBT citizens.

In this week's edition of our Going Green segment, we'll talk with Hunter Miller of the Environmental Youth Council, a St. Augustine group of young environmental activists. [BY PHONE]

We'll preview Douglas Anderson School of the Arts' upcoming "Extravaganza" event with jazz director Ace Martin and communications director Scott Reneau.

Local musician Monique Mancera, the latest first place winner of WJCT's "The Square," joins us for a special in-studio of her winning song. [PRE-RECORDED SEGMENT]

[Scarlettjax]

I just want to throw a comment in here about how much I enjoy First Coast Connect.  If I don't catch it when it's on, due to work and life and stuff, I listen to the podcasts.  Such a great way to keep up with what's really happening in our city.  Kudos and all the good stuff to Melissa Ross!

[TheCat]

Monday February 16, 2015

We'll discuss the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and businesses claiming a right to refuse service based on religious objections, with Toni Van Pelt, President of the Washington D.C.-based Institute for Science and Human Values. Van Pelt will be speaking on the topic at the First Coast Freethought Society this week.

We'll learn about new efforts by the American Legion to help Northeast Florida veterans Clarence Hill, past National Commander, and Annie Anderson, District Area Auxiliary President.

Baptist Health cardiologist C. David Hassel, MD joins us to discuss transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
And sports contributor Cole Pepper drops by with a recap of the Jacksonville Armada's match against Orlando City this weekend and other local sports news.