Intersection: Gram Parsons and country rock

Gram Parsons was a pioneer in the 1960s and 1970s of country rock.

He’s best-known for his work with the International Submarine Band, The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, and he traces his roots to Central Florida.

This week on Intersection 90.7’s Mark Simpson talked with WESH-TV journalist Bob Kealing about his new book, “Calling Me Home: Gram Parsons and the Roots of Country Rock.”

Also, WUSF journalist John O’Connor gave an update from the Republican National Convention.

Are you a fan of Gram Parsons?

Listen to Intersection and then share your perspective on Florida Talks. The show airs Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. and is rebroadcast Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. Or listen online here.

Intersection: Curiosity success boosts Florida’s Space Coast

The Curiosity rover’s Mars landing is a big success for NASA a little more than a year after the end of the shuttle program.

The landing could herald a new focus for Florida’s Space Coast, on research and exploration rather than what essentially was a taxi service shuttling astronauts to the International Space Station in low-Earth orbit, say University of Central Florida space experts Dale Ketcham and Josh Colwell this week on Intersection.

“To me it’s a symbol of NASA getting back to what we want to be doing, which is what we haven’t done before,” Ketcham says.

Florida’s Space Coast, already the beneficiary of a large government program, historically received a small share of space research and exploration funds, Ketcham says. Now that the shuttle program has ended and the Space Coast is working to diversity its economy Curiosity’s success could make it easier to lobby for those funds, he says.

Have you been following Curiosity’s Mars mission?

Tune into Intersection and then share your perspective here on Florida Talks. Intersection airs Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. and is rebroadcast Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. Or listen online here.

Gulf Coast Live: Creating a Future for Adults with Autism Conference / Sarasota Considers Domestic Partner Registry

The 1990s saw an explosion in the number of children diagnosed with autism and now as those kids are approaching their 20s, families in Southwest Florida and around the nation are struggling to find appropriate work and housing options.  Experts with the advocacy organization Autism Speaks predict that another 500,000 children with autism in the U.S. will be reaching adulthood in the next decade.  Ahead of next month’s “Creating a Future for Adults with Autism” conference in Naples, we’ll explore efforts to increase group home and housing community options in our region.

And, Sarasota has joined a growing number of cities and counties nationwide in its consideration of expanding rights to unmarried couples through the establishment of adomestic partner registry.  Find out what the registry could mean for unmarried couples in our community, both straight and gay.

The show will be live at 9AM on 90.1 FM

Call in: 1-877-428-8255
Email: gulfcoastlive@wgcu.org
Click here to go to the show’s page

Jacksonville City Council Votes on Human Rights Ordinance Expansion on WJCT’s First Coast Connect

In a close vote last night, the Jacksonville City Council voted down an amendment to the city’s human rights ordinance that would have added sexual orientation as a protected class. The Council chambers were packed with both supporters and opponents of the bill. Those against the measure say it violated their religious principles; advocates for the change say it was a long-overdue measure to make the city more competitive with other cities. We spoke to local attorney Jimmy Midyette, who was part of a coalition of business, city and religious leader urging the Council to pass the bill, about his reaction to the vote.

We also spoke to Shands Jacksonville CEO Jim Burkhart about what changes the Affordable Care Act will bring to the First Coast, and how his facility is taking the lead on indigent care here in Jacksonville.

Whether it’s in construction, design, energy or in our personal choices, the concept of sustainability is one that both corporations and individuals are pursuing. The Jacksonville firm Breaking Ground Contracting is offering classes in this area as part of their Your Personal Sustainability series. Catherine Burkee, director of Education Services for Breaking Ground, and author and course teacher Therese Tappouni joined us with more about the courses.

Theatre Jacksonville’s new production of Is He Dead is a funny look at how one artist will go to attain fame and love. The new comedy, based on a play by Mark Twain, tells the tale of a genius painter who realizes that only dead painters truly achieve fame and fortune. Theatre Jacksonville executive director Sarah Boone came by Studio 5 with a preview of tomorrow night’s premiere.

And we found out what’s going on around town this weekend with Jacksonville Magazine’s Kerry Speckman. Visit her website for a full list of events.

If you missed any portion of today’s program, be sure to check out our podcasts at www.wjctondemand.org or listen to the replay of this program tonight at 8 pm on WJCT Arts.

You can join in on the discussion by clicking the add comment button. We value your feedback.

And be sure to check out what’s coming up this week at the First Coast Connect homepage.

Intersection: Orlando philharmonic seeks new music director

The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra begins its new season next month. At the same time the philharmonic is searching for a new music director.

Maestro Christopher Wilkins will conclude an 8-year tenure in 2014.

This week on Intersection 90.7’s Mark Simpson talked with philharmonic Executive Director David Schillhammer about Wilkins’s tenure with the philharmonic.

“He’s a very sensitive musician,” Schillhammer says. “He’s a great leader. He, I think, has worked well with each of the sections in the orchestra to bring out their best. He’s developed new players. We’ve been able to bring in a whole new crop of players.”

Are you a music lover?

Tune into Intersection and then share your perspective here on Florida Talks. The show airs Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. and is rebroadcast Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. Or listen online here.

Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford on WJCT’s First Coast Connect

Once a month Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford joins us to discuss the biggest issues facing the First Coast. He came by Studio 5 this morning to discuss the city’s proposed budget for next year. Layoffs are looming for city works and dozens of police officers because of a $7.2 million deficit in the budget. We spoke to the Sheriff about why he’s pressing the Jacksonville City Council to let him use savings in this year’s budget to meet the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office payroll.

There’s a casting call out right now in Florida for a new reality that will be produced right here in the Sunshine State. The Quest will challenge young people between the ages of 18 and 23 to fulfill their dreams while also experiencing some real adventures in the Florida Keys. The show will beginning shooting there this Fall, but you still have a chance to register at their website. We learned more from spokeswoman Courtenay Bowser.

And our resident travel expert Judy Wells dropped by with some great tips for those heading to New York City this year. You can find out more at her website, www.wellsworld.net.

And we found out why Jacksonville Beach has been chosen by HGTV for the site of their first-ever Smart Home. The house will be built in the Paradise Key South Beach neighborhood, and will be a throwback in terms of its old Florida style but with lots of 21st century upgrades. We spoke to Glen Layton, the local builder selected to build the home, and Lon Walton, the developer of the project, about the build. You can find out how to enter for a chance to win the house by visiting HGTV’s website.

If you missed any portion of today’s program, be sure to check out our podcasts at www.wjctondemand.org or listen to the replay of this program tonight at 8 pm on WJCT Arts.

You can join in on the discussion by clicking the add comment button. We value your feedback.

And be sure to check out what’s coming up this week at the First Coast Connect homepage.

Gulf Coast Live: Post Election Analysis/ Artist Fran Noack

With Florida’s primary election behind us, join us for an in depth analysis of the results with News-Press political columnist Betty Parker and FGCU Political Science Professor, Dr. Roger Green. We’ll be reviewing the winners and losers, the impact of Florida’s new elections laws, and the political climate moving into the November general election.

Plus, we’ll sit meet Cape Coral artist Fran Noack who was part of the creative team that produced television’s first color cartoon, Colonel Bleep in 1956. His work is currently on display at the Lee County Alliance for the Arts.

 

The show will be live at 9AM on 90.1 FM

Call in: 1-877-428-8255
Email: gulfcoastlive@wgcu.org
Click here to go to the show’s page

Florida’s Voting Rights Laws on WJCT’s First Coast Connect

As voters head to the polls for today’s state primary elections, Florida is one of several swing states that has been affected by an unprecedented wave of new legislation to change or restrict voting rights. Supporters of these new laws say they’re needed to stop voter fraud, but opponents argue the measures are intended to suppress voter turnout among groups that tend to vote for Democrats. We discussed the issues with Angela Demonbreun, president of the Jacksonville chapter of Florida’s League of Women Voters, a group that’s heavily involved in debate over these laws.

We also spoke to author Mike Lofgren about his new expose of the dysfunction happening in Congress, The Party is Over: How Republicans Went Crazy, Democrats Became Useless, and the Middle Class Got Shafted.

And we got a preview of WJCT’s Speaking of Women’s Health event from special guest speaker Dr. Joel Fuhrman. He told us how your diet could be making you sick, and why a few simple changes could make a big difference.

And in our Tech Tuesday segment, MOSH Planetarium director Tom Webber joined us with a look the NASA Curiosity Mars rover.

If you missed any portion of today’s program, be sure to check out our podcasts at www.wjctondemand.org or listen to the replay of this program tonight at 8 pm on WJCT Arts.

You can join in on the discussion by clicking the add comment button. We value your feedback.

And be sure to check out what’s coming up this week at the First Coast Connect homepage.

Intersection: Primaries with commentators Dick and Lou

Dave Weldon’s surprising surge against Connie Mack in the Republican race for Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson’s seat isn’t enough to win next week’s primary election, 90.7 political commentators Dick Batchelor and Lou Frey say.

Batchelor and Frey discuss the primary elections, President Obama’s Central Florida visit and upcoming Republican National Convention in Tampa this week on Intersection. For Weldon it’s too little too late, says Frey, a Republican. 

Batchelor compares Mack’s relunctance to engage with the media and his attacks on the St. Petersburg Times to Gov. Rick Scott’s reticence with the media during Scott’s campaign in 2010.

“The fact is now he’s coming back to the media,” says Batchelor, a Democrat. “I think Connie Mack is making a short-term mistake. The fact is you can’t run against the media.”

Who do you plan to vote for in next week’s primary elections? Why?

Tune into Intersection and then share your perspective here on Florida Talks. The show airs Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. and is rebroadcast Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. Or listen online.

Florida’s Role in 2012 Politics on WJCT’s First Coast Connect

Florida is always a hotbed for politics, especially in a presidential race year. We discussed the state’s role in the presidential candidates’ campaigns, the Florida primary election next week and local races with Florida State College at Jacksonville’s political science professor Marcella Washington this morning.

We also heard the remarkable story of Anderson Burke, author of the new e-book Three Fields (brothers) – it follows Burke’s journey in rediscovering his brother, Eddie, who was born with severe down syndrome and put into a State developmental institution at a young age. We spoke to Anderson Burke about reconnecting with his brother, and discussed the state of funding for Florida’s institutional system with Kathy Jackson, executive director of The Arc of St. Johns, a grassroots organization in St. Augustine that provides services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Supreme Court recently ruled in the case PILVA v. MENSING that, unlike name brand drug companies, consumers cannot file lawsuits against manufacturers of generic pharmaceuticals because of injuries stemming from side effects. We discussed what this could mean for patients with Chris Shakib, attorney at the Terrell Hogan law firm, who specializes in representing victims of defective drugs and medical malpractice.

If you missed any portion of today’s program, be sure to check out our podcasts at www.wjctondemand.org or listen to the replay of this program tonight at 8 pm on WJCT Arts.

You can join in on the discussion by clicking the add comment button. We value your feedback.