First Coast Connect With Melissa Ross

Tax season arrives alongside a wave of critical state attention on Jacksonville's property tax revenues.

From a brewing battle over public health spending to a “performative” tax cut, we get Jacksonville Mayor Deegan's take on budget season so far.

The official policies and personal preferences of new Health and Human Services Secretary RFK have broad effects across the First Coast.

It's the week's biggest headlines, from a shooting at Fort Stewart to a detention center at Camp Blanding.

A new city initiative aims to tell the difficult stories of Jacksonville's disparities through hard numbers.

A series of discussions prompted by a controversial arrest tackles concerns about police violence and a broken trust with some in the Black community.

In an increasingly politicized City Hall, we ask new Jax City Council President Kevin Carrico what kind of leader he plans to be.

Animal rescuers and advocates discuss the challenges and rewards of humane activism.

It's the week's biggest headlines, from the discovery of a long-overdue report into the Douglas Anderson scandal to the ongoing controversy over a viral traffic stop video.

The University of North Florida's first faculty fellow for artificial intelligence explains what we need to watch, anticipate and possibly even fear.

The director of the critically acclaimed “No Sleep Till” discusses the inspiration behind her locally shot and set film.

A new report finds 34 children sent to the notorious school for boys ended up sentenced to death in Florida courts.

We talk with the reporter behind a yearlong investigation into why the acclaimed arts school became a magnet for sexual misconduct scandals.

From a police punching video to political perceptions in a new GOP poll, we talk about all the week's biggest headlines with our panel of journalists.

How a promise made 17 years ago led the First Coast News anchorman to help a stranger with leukemia.

How changing immigration policies are making it tougher for employers to comply with the law.

A traffic stop in February becomes topical news after the driver's attorney releases the shocking video.

We check in with Jacksonville Today beat reporter Noah Hertz about what's happening in the state's fastest growing coastal county.

It's the week's biggest headlines, from questions about Alligator Alcatraz contracts to City Council politics over committee appointments.

Government expert Chris Hand helps decipher what the mayor's spending plan means for government priorities — and taxpayers.

From the shadow docket to the expansion of presidential powers, we ask experts in constitutional law to help interpret a consequential Supreme Court term.

A lead sex crimes prosecutor explains how federal funding and advanced DNA testing have helped the local State Attorney's Office build successful cases out of the state's rape kit backlog.

We ask a local attorney how the state's extension of noncompete restrictions on employees could affect your next job hunt.

It's the week's biggest headlines, from deep cuts to Jacksonville's Emerald Trail to deep fakes of Marco Rubio.

Sewage sludge is costing taxpayers millions and harming the St. Johns River, a new report finds.

Bishop Felipe Estévez of St. Augustine pushes back on Gov. Ron DeSantis' recent string of execution orders.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan discusses the latest city business and takes your calls and questions.

In our monthly “House Call” with Dr. Joe Sirven, we discuss the impact that using artificial intelligence has on the human brain.

A recent investigation yielded charges against three airport authority board members ranging from Sunshine Law violations to felony witness tampering.

A giant trucker, an Irish bar and — of course — a Florida connection. A new podcast focuses on an FBI spy success story.

Michael Bell is scheduled to be put to death July 15 for a 1993 double murder.

Jacksonville native and Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Kevin Sack discusses his new history of the storied Charleston church.

It's the week's biggest headlines, from council support for a rare mayoral veto to a lawsuit over a smelly St. Johns County biomass facility.

Government expert Chris Hand breaks down how local projects fared financially and how the governor's veto pen could still change those calculations.

Former Jacksonville journalist and politico Abel Harding tries his hand at fiction with the release of "Last Time I'll Ask."

Bows, dogs, bait? A final vote on Florida's proposed black bear hunt will determine the ground rules. And Sporting JAX unveils two international friendlies.

The U.S. launched a surprise weekend attack on Iran's nuclear sites – but are we at war?

It's the week's biggest headlines, from a contempt finding for Florida's attorney general to bad “Karma” at a local automotive dealer.

Local bookstore owners and bibliophiles recommend the best beach books and rainy day must-reads.

A local orthopaedic surgeon returns from a surgical mission to the war-torn nation.

A vote to remove DEI from public school policy draws pushback.

From an attempt to silence reporting on Hope Florida to a new Jacksonville bill limiting aid for immigrants, we discuss all the week's headlines.

Jacksonville University public policy expert Rick Mullaney breaks down the latest White House headlines.

The incoming CEO of 904Ward discusses the mission to end racism at a time of growing backlash.

Jax power couple and civil rights icons Gwen and Alton Yates talk about their new memoir.

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia seeks designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site