In presenting her $2 billion budget proposal, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan repeatedly stressed the return on investment the city derives from every dollar spent. In her July 20 speech to City Council, she estimated returns of 3 to 1 (from the the physical activity engendered by city parks) to 20 to 1 (from investment in arts and culture). We ask the mayor about subsequent critiques of the administration’s math, as well as first responder pushback to a proposed property tax cut.

Guest: Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan

Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge

A highway patrolman credited with preventing more than 200 suicides during his time patrolling the Golden Gate Bridge speaks on the First Coast on Wednesday as part of the Zero Suicide Summit in St. Johns County. After spending 23 years in the role, now-retired Sgt. Kevin Briggs travels the country as an advocate for suicide prevention. One of Briggs’ most well-known interventions was in 2005 when he talked 22-year-old Kevin Berthia from the ledge. Berthia now serves as a mental health and suicide prevention advocate and speaker himself. We sit down with the former patrolman to discuss why he thinks his words have saved so many lives. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, you can call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Guest: Sgt. Kevin Briggs, retired California highway patrolman and suicide prevention advocate

'And Then There Were None'

The world’s bestselling murder mystery of all time gets new life on stage in Amelia Island. Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None tells the macabre and mystifying tale of 10 people summoned to a remote island, where they begin being killed, one by one, in accordance with the words of a chilling nursery rhyme. As with all Christie crime novels, everyone is a suspect, but unlike the others, everyone also ends up dead — making finding the true culprit a sleuthing master class. Amelia Community Theatre presents its take on the classic from Aug. 14-29. We talk to the director and three principal actors about why the story remains vibrant nearly a century after it was published.

Guests:


Jayme Tipton Taylor, director of And Then There Were None at Amelia Community Theatre


Melissa Coon, actor playing Vera Claythorne


Anthony Pierce, actor playing William Henry Blore


Carlos Semidei, actor playing Dr. Edward Armstrong

In presenting her $2 billion budget proposal, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan repeatedly stressed the return on investment the city derives from every dollar spent. In her July 20 speech to City Council, she estimated returns of 3 to 1 (from the the physical activity engendered by city parks) to 20 to 1 (from investment in arts and culture). We ask the mayor about subsequent critiques of the administration&rsquo;s math, as well as first responder pushback to a proposed property tax cut.
Guest: Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan
Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge
A highway patrolman credited with preventing more than 200 suicides during his time patrolling the Golden Gate Bridge speaks on the First Coast on Wednesday as part of the <a href="https://lsfhealthsystems.org/zero-suicide-stjohns">Zero Suicide Summit</a> in St. Johns County. After spending 23 years in the role, now-retired Sgt. Kevin Briggs travels the country as an advocate for suicide prevention. One of Briggs&rsquo; most well-known interventions was in 2005 when he talked 22-year-old Kevin Berthia from the ledge. Berthia now serves as a mental health and suicide prevention advocate and speaker himself. We sit down with the former patrolman to discuss why he thinks his words have saved so many lives. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, you can call or text the <a href="https://988lifeline.org/">Suicide &amp; Crisis Lifeline at 988</a>.
Guest: Sgt. Kevin Briggs, retired California highway patrolman and suicide prevention advocate
'And Then There Were None'
The world&rsquo;s bestselling murder mystery of all time gets new life on stage in Amelia Island. Agatha Christie&rsquo;s And Then There Were None tells the macabre and mystifying tale of 10 people summoned to a remote island, where they begin being killed, one by one, in accordance with the words of a chilling nursery rhyme. As with all Christie crime novels, everyone is a suspect, but unlike the others, everyone also ends up dead &mdash; making finding the true culprit a sleuthing master class. <a href="https://www.ameliacommunitytheatre.org/">Amelia Community Theatre</a> presents its take on the classic from Aug. 14-29. We talk to the director and three principal actors about why the story remains vibrant nearly a century after it was published.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>
Jayme Tipton Taylor, director of And Then There Were None at Amelia Community Theatre
</li>
<li>
Melissa Coon, actor playing Vera Claythorne
</li>
<li>
Anthony Pierce, actor playing William Henry Blore
</li>
<li>
Carlos Semidei, actor playing Dr. Edward Armstrong
</li>
</ul>

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 highlights from First Coast Connect — the show where local newsmakers, civic leaders, artists, and community voices come together to talk through what's happening in your backyard.

 Subscribe free and make WJCT News Now part of your daily routine.

Stay connected to Jacksonville and Northeast Florida with WJCT News Now &mdash; 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 highlights from First Coast Connect &mdash; the show where local newsmakers, civic leaders, artists, and community voices come together to talk through what's happening in your backyard.
&nbsp;Subscribe free and make WJCT News Now part of your daily routine.