Jacksonville's Morning News Interviews

YOU DECIDE 2024 coverage continues, as the first presidential debate is just over a week away, and a new poll out this morning shows President Biden and former President Trump are tied among registered voters. WOKV's Samantha Manning breaks down what the poll shows, and how both candidates are preparing for the debate.

WOKV political analyst Rick Mullaney joins JMN to discuss the latest in the "Stadium of the Future" funding concerns, as a considerable amount of funding in the Community Benefit Agreement has been removed from the current deal. He also discusses the successes of OCEARCH, their relationship with JU, and how JU is unique in the area to offer a dual-degree program for a Masters in Public Police and...

Tim Cost, President of Jacksonville University, joins JMN to discuss the ongoing relationship between JU and OCEARCH in shark research. JU is proud to sponsor and collaborate with OCEARCH, as they prepare for their 48th global research expedition.

Dr. Bob Hueter, OCEARCH Senior Advisor for Science & Academics, joins JMN to discuss their upcoming research trip to get shark data from European waters, and the role students play in completing research projects, and how this research relates to and informs ecology and marine biology efforts. The relationship between JU and OCEARCH since 2017 has been key in accomplishing their research goals.

Kenzie Horton, a JU graduate student researching white sharks movements, and Paige Finney, the Communications Specialist for OCEARCH, discuss their shark tagging and tracking processes, and the movement of white sharks. Data collected by OCEARCH is available online, along with live active tracking maps as they study shark migration.

Dr. Bryan Franks, Executive Director Marine Science Research Institute, joins JMN to discuss the relationship between Jacksonville University and OCEARCH, with a detailed look at their upcoming Mediterranean research trip and the global applications of OCEARCH research.

Dr. Harley Newton, Senior Veterinary Scientist & Chief Veterinarian for OCEARCH, joins JMN to share details about the organization, their relationship with Jacksonville University, their research, and an upcoming research investigation on white sharks in the Mediterranean.

SUMMER LEARNING - With a growing focus “pandemic learning loss,” summer schools and summer enrichment programs have emerged as a popular recovery strategy across the country. An estimated 5.8 billion of ESSER funds (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund) expected to be spent on summer programs before September 2024. This comes as school district across the country continue to strug...

Robert follows the latest in the "Stadium of the Future" deal negotiations, as nearly $100 million of the planned "Community Benefit Agreement" funding allocation earmarked for for the Eastside, affordable housing, homelessness, and workforce development will no longer be a part of the city’s portion of the deal.

YOU DECIDE 2024 coverage continues, as President Biden announced a $50 million ad blitz highlighting Trump's felony convictions, scheduled to air in the days leading up to the next debate. And speaking of the debate, WOKV's Samantha Manning has details on how the Presidential candidates are preparing.

YOU DECIDE 2024 coverage continues, as President Biden makes a long term security agreement with Ukraine at the G7 summit. Meanwhile, Russian President Putin will visit North Korea, fueling US political propaganda about a "Russian-Korean weapons pipeline." And more big decisions are pending from SCOTUS, including the Trump "Presidential immunity" case, as their session wraps.

Robert updates the latest information about an overnight/early morning shooting on Moncrief Road, that has had a stretch of the road closed for investigation for several hours.

SUMMER CHILDCARE With school out for the summer, many working parents are struggling to find childcare options to help fill the gaps. Across the country, 51% of people in the United States live in a “childcare desert” with a limited or no options for childcare providers, according to the Center for American Progress. One issue contributing to the lack of childcare options is the cost. Nationwide,...

Breaking - Robert reports on a Northside shooting off Moncrief Road, that has a stretch of the road blocked off while JSO investigates.

YOU DECIDE 2024 coverage continues, as former President Donald Trump spent Thursday on Capital Hill, unifying congressional republicans and looking ahead to a possible second term. WOKV's Samantha Manning reports on what we know about the closed door meetings, and the rumor that there was birthday cake...?

Meteorologist Garrett Bedenbaugh joins JMN with an extended forecast for Father's Day weekend.

YOU DECIDE 2024 coverage continues, as Jared reports on SCOTUS' 9-0 decision that widespread access for abortion drug mifepristone will continue, as the critics challenging the accessibility lacked standing to file a claim. Abortion and related women's health rights remain a hot-button issue in the presidential campaign. The Supreme Court has yet to rule on the "Trump immunity" issue that is also...

Chandler Morgan has your weekly update of what's new and what's happening "Around Jax"

Ben Becker is back with this weekend's report on local restaurant inspections.

This week's First Responder spotlight shines on the trio of JSO Officers Dye, Kernodle, and Whitmar, for their lifesaving rescue when a vehicle went into a retention pond.

GENERATOR SAFETY - As storm season gets underway, many homeowners will reach for a portable generator to keep the lights on if the power is knocked out. But if you’re not careful, those generators could lead to serious, sometimes fatal carbon monoxide exposure if not used properly. Candice Cole is live in Washington with a warning to homeowners from the Consumer Product Safety Commission and tips...

YOU DECIDE 2024 coverage continues, as President Trump returns to Capitol Hill today, for the first time publicly since the January 6 events. He will be meeting with assorted legislators and potential VP candidates, as he attempts to rally Republicans under a unified agenda. President Biden, meanwhile, is attending the G7 summit in Italy, working on plans to provide infrastructure support and a lo...

Clark has a scam alert about online bill payments! Hear his tips to protect your money, and how you can make sure your payment is getting to where it ought to go!

Action News Jax's Jake Stofan reports on the latest Florida budget, approved by Gov. DeSantis yesterday. Nearly $1 billion in programs was vetoed, including several Jacksonville related proposals, but Jacksonville did receive some of the new budget's funding.

YOU DECIDE 2024 coverage continues, as Jared looks at the Biden agenda for the G7 conference including a security agreement between the US and Ukraine; and while Biden pledged to NOT pardon his son's recent gun convictions, critics are speculating whether a commutation or some other clemency method might be employed.