WJCT News Now

WJCT News Now

Stay connected to Jacksonville and Northeast Florida with WJCT News Now — your free, daily news podcast from WJCT Public Media. Every morning, anchor Steven Ponson breaks down the headlines you need to start your day informed. Then go deeper with First Coast Connect — the show, hosted by Anne Schindler, is where local newsmakers, civic leaders, artists, and community voices come together to talk through what's happening in your backyard. Subscribe and make WJCT News Now part of your daily routine.

Episodes

July 22, 2026 45 mins

A Democrat in a heavily Republican district takes on a well-financed incumbent. If it sounds familiar, it’s because she’s lived this before. Democratic candidate Rachel Grage, now challenging District 5 Republican congressman John Rutherford, previously mounted a campaign for the Beaches-area House district seat held by Republican state Rep. Kiyan Michael. In both cases, Grage has expressed det...

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Jacksonville’s proposed capital improvement plan includes hundreds of millions of dollars for projects including EverBank Stadium renovations and the Museum of Science and History’s new downtown facility. Also, two St. Johns County commissioners facing criminal charges tied to an alleged fake voter guide scheme say they have no plans to resign, despite a vote of no confidence from fellow commissioners.

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Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan presented her $2.03 billion budget Monday, choosing not to presage the fiscal impacts of a proposed property tax cut, which goes before voters in November. Deegan’s 1.1% ($22.6 million) increase over last year’s budget is modest by most measures, but diametrically opposed to the austerity budget that the Jacksonville City Council leadership has said it wants in a...

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Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan is proposing a more than $2 billion budget that includes increased funding for public safety, road projects and septic tank removal, as the City Council begins its review. Plus, a new University of North Florida poll finds support for a proposed constitutional amendment to phase out property taxes drops sharply when voters are told about the potential impact on local government budgets.

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Today, former Republican lawmaker Jeff Brandes discusses what he calls “the blast radius nobody is talking about” if a property tax cut is approved by Florida voters. Amendment 3, which appears on the November ballot, would dramatically curtail state property tax revenues, which fund most local government services, including police, fire, libraries, maintenance and community events. Brandes, wh...

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Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan is set to present her proposed city budget, outlining spending priorities for the coming fiscal year and kicking off the annual budget process. Meanwhile, St. Augustine begins implementing new rules for vehicles for hire, including limits on pedicabs and updated welfare standards for horse-drawn carriage operations.

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July 17, 2026 51 mins

Each Friday, our media roundtable dives into the biggest stories of the week. Among our topics this week:

  • ICE agents are involved in three deaths in just one week — including one in St. Augustine.

  • The governor steps up his already record-setting pace of executions, scheduling two on the same day.

  • The courts stop STOP WOKE — again — on college campuses.

  • Duval County School Boar...

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The Jacksonville Aviation Authority votes on a decision to delay legal action against the city for 30 days while pursuing mediation over a dispute about airport governance. Also today, we report on the arrest of a Jacksonville congressional candidate facing federal charges after allegedly making threats against President Donald Trump.

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Well, that escalated quickly. Just hours after a new state law took effect offering a fast track to develop Florida’s farmlands, four large-scale developers applied to take advantage of it. Senate Bill 686 allows property owners to develop their land at least as intensely as adjacent properties without going through any additional rezoning process at the county level. The streamlined procedure also p...

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A vigil in St. Johns County honors a man who died while fleeing ICE agents, as organizers call attention to concerns over immigration enforcement. We also explain the upcoming voter registration deadline ahead of Florida's August primary election, including how to register or update your information.

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July 15, 2026 51 mins

Connor Cauley, one of the “City Hall Three,” was recently released from jail after serving a 60-day sentence for battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer without violence. The case grew out of May 2025 pro-Palestine disturbance at a meeting of the Jacksonville City Council, during which Cauley and two others were arrested. Although he lost his case at trial, his defense res...

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A man fleeing federal immigration agents was struck and killed by a semi-truck in St. Johns County on Tuesday. Plus, Jacksonville has been selected as the future home of the Culinary Institute of America's Southeast hub, with plans for a downtown riverfront campus that could reshape the city's culinary landscape.

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July 14, 2026 51 mins

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...

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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.

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July 13, 2026 51 mins

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 great...

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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.

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July 10, 2026 51 mins

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 teach...

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Jacksonville-based EverBank will keep its headquarters downtown after questions about its future location, and the St. Johns County Planning and Zoning Board rejects a proposal for a Daily’s gas station in Fruit Cove following opposition from nearby residents.

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Our election season coverage continues with 4th Congressional District candidate Brit Robinson. The self-described Democratic Socialist is positioning herself as the voice for young, working class voters, calling the current administration “fascist and authoritarian” and accusing her incumbent opponent of being “complicit” in an anti-democratic agenda. Robinson faces fellow Democrat...

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Thousands of Duval County Public Schools students are experiencing homelessness, and a local nonprofit is turning to basketball to raise awareness and support before the new school year. Plus, Colorado State University has lowered its Atlantic hurricane season forecast.

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