First Coast Connect With Melissa Ross

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Hosted by Melissa Ross, First Coast Connect is an hour-long call-in program that features local newsmakers, civic and community leaders, arts, activities across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, along with spot news features and a weekly roundtable of local journalists.

WJCT


    • Dec 4, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 53m AVG DURATION
    • 1,346 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from First Coast Connect With Melissa Ross

    Signs of abuse

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 51:00


    A mom recently reunited with her children says wrongful abuse allegations are destroying families.

    Fear and loathing

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2025 51:00


    The author of “Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Jew?” examines the history of Jewish hatred — and Jewish resilience.

    Jax who?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2025 51:00


    The search for Jacksonville's identity becomes a Civic Council campaign.

    Pregnancy, GLPs and maternal health

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2025 51:00


    Dr. Joe Sirven joins us in his monthly "House Call" to discuss the latest medical headlines and answer health care questions.

    Being present for holiday giving

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2025 51:00


    From shopping local to thrift-gifting we explore holiday gifts to feel good about.

    Florida's 'oil coast' and payback for Alligator Alcatraz

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2025 51:00


    Government expert and attorney Chris Hand breaks down the month's political headlines.

    The sleep whisperer

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2025 51:09


    A board-certified sleep psychologist shares how to manage insomnia without medication and why we should look beyond “sleep hygiene” to achieve meaningful rest.

    sleep whisperer
    First Coast Week in Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2025 51:00


    It's the week's biggest headlines, from corruption allegations against Florida lawmakers to the growth of a residential Downtown.

    Our economic reality show

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2025 51:00


    Economist and author Peter Atwater explains the “K-shaped economy” and why confidence (or its absence) drives human behavior.

    Attorney general candidate Jose Javier Rodriguez

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2025 51:00


    We meet the Democratic candidate challenging James Uthmeier for the role of Florida's top cop.

    Political analyst Rick Mullaney

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2025 51:00


    From fallout over the shutdown to an about-face on the Epstein files, attorney and analyst Rick Mullaney helps decipher the political tea leaves.

    The cost of child care

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2025 51:00


    A new task force confronts one of the most pressing and expensive challenges for families: child care.

    First Coast Week in Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2025 51:00


    It's the week's biggest headlines, from emergency SNAP gap funding to allegations of fraud in the city's telehealth contract.

    Winning in an AI job market

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2025 51:00


    TEDxJacksonville's keynote speaker says your job isn't to compete with a system, but to “become more human."

    Ask the Mayor

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2025 51:00


    Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan discusses city business, from the politics of her predecessor to a profusion of downtown parkspace.

    mayors ask the mayor
    Paying to hawk at Art Walk

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2025 51:00


    New rules and vendor fees are changing who can participate in the iconic Downtown event.

    Growing pains

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2025 51:00


    The city has proven unwelcoming for some urban farmers. We talk to agricultural and legal experts who hope to change that.

    First Coast Week in Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2025 51:00


    It's the week's biggest headlines, from JTA's costly effort to boost ridership to growing pushback to charter school expansion.

    The future of ferry land

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2025 51:00


    Home to two iconic restaurants, a river ferry and world famous shrimp — but what's the future of Mayport Village?

    How a Michelin star could change local foodie fortunes

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2025 51:00


    The revered restaurant rating system will expand its Florida footprint to include the First Coast in 2026.

    A house call with Dr. Joe

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2025 51:00


    From a rise in sleep disorders to a decline in peanut allergies, we talk about the latest medical headlines with Dr. Joe Sirven.

    Government expert Chris Hand

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2025 51:00


    From fallout from the government shutdown to disagreement over property tax cuts, we break down state and local political headlines.

    First Coast Week in Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2025 51:00


    It's the week's biggest headlines, from local fallout from the government shutdown to the uncertain future of a historic marine attraction.

    Republican gubernatorial hopeful Paul Renner

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2025 51:00


    From MAHA to resilience to affordable healthcare, former House Speaker and Northeast Florida lawmaker Paul Renner offers his vision for governor.

    Women leaving prison

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2025 51:00


    Life on the outside brings special challenges for formerly incarcerated women.

    UNF poll results plus an undisclosed MLK assassination attempt

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2025 51:00


    A new poll takes Floridians' political pulse, and a native St. Augustinian unearths a shocking story from the city's civil rights past.

    Cohabitation or 'hostile takeover'?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2025 51:00


    Local schools must make way as a charter school network prepares to occupy dozens of existing school buildings in Duval and around the region.

    First Coast Week in Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2025 51:00


    It's the week's biggest headlines, from council pressure on the Jacksonville Aviation Authority to back-to-back losses for the state attorney.

    Policing the police

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2025 51:00


    A local documentary series looks back at the unprecedented federal investigation into officer corruption, drug dealing and murder at the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

    Florida, strange but true

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2025 50:59


    Acclaimed author and environmental reporter Craig Pittman talks about the endless inspiration of his home state.

    Unsafe behind bars

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2025 51:00


    A former prison investigator flags safety concerns as the Department of Corrections chief submits a “staggering” budget request.

    Crackdown on campus speech

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2025 51:00


    Teachers at the University of North Florida and Florida State College at Jacksonville discuss threats, retaliation and the chilling effect of secret surveillance.

    First Coast Week in Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2025 51:00


    It's the week's biggest headlines, from a controversial arrest by Jacksonville police, to city leaders denying School Board members their own attorney.

    Pulitzer Prize-winning author Gilbert King

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2025 51:00


    A conversation with the author whose book and podcast, “Bone Valley,” helped free a wrongfully convicted man after 36 years in prison.

    When foster care comes to an end

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2025 51:01


    Employment and housing are just two of the challenges facing foster care “graduates” aging out of the state system.

    Why do people migrate?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2025 51:01


    An international migratory expert explains the economic and environmental forces reshaping global migration, ahead of an appearance in Jacksonville.

    Lenny Curry 2.0 Has Zero Apologies

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2025 50:57


    From social media posts to JEA to critiques of the current administration, former Mayor Curry says, "It is what it is."

    First Coast Week in Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2025 51:00


    It's the week's biggest headlines, from an aborted sale of the Duval Schools headquarters to the city's riderless “driverless” vehicles.

    Gubernatorial candidate David Jolly

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2025 51:00


    A former Republican turned Democratic candidate hopes to be Florida's next governor.

    'Fans, bands and fried chicken'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2025 51:00


    Riverside Avondale Preservation's second annual Music Tour features the author of a new history of the legendary Jax Beach nightclub Einstein A Go-Go.

    Ask the Mayor

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2025 51:00


    From a gubernatorial critique of an airport hologram to the resignation of a top staffer, we talk city news with Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan.

    mayors ask the mayor
    Drones that address manatee deaths

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2025 51:00


    As manatee deaths rise in Northeast Florida, a local nonprofit convenes scientists, conservationists and maritime professionals with one mutual goal: saving the gentle giants while keeping the shipping economy afloat.

    First Coast Week in Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2025 50:59


    It's the week's biggest headlines, from a new tool for tracking domestic violence to a hologram hullabaloo staged by state officials.

    No 'safe harbor' for sex trafficking victims

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2025 53:00


    State laws designed to treat people who are trafficked as victims instead of criminals aren't working as planned. A new report shows what's happening instead.

    The Young Ones

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2025 51:00


    A new generation of local environmental activists is tackling everything from litter to climate change. We meet three of them.

    Retribution and the justice system

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2025 53:00


    A local political and legal expert analyzes the Trump administration's crackdown on the president's personal enemies and political rivals.

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