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Jacksonville is booming — but can everyone afford the growth?  Mayor Donna Deegan on housing, the city budget and what's next at JEA. And Senator Rick Scott on the cost of living, election security and the growing debate over AI.

After nearly 12 years leading Downtown Vision, CEO Jake Gordon is preparing to step away from the role. Gordon reflects on downtown Jacksonville’s transformation since 2015, including billions of dollars in investment, expanded programming, new public spaces, social services and the growth of the Downtown Ambassador Team.

Dr. LaShonda "L.J." Holloway is running for Congress, promising what she calls "a better day" for education, healthcare, and communities. We'll ask what she would actually do - and how she would pay for it. Then, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Gilbert King joins us to discuss Bone Valley, his examination of a Florida murder conviction and the possibility that the justice system got the wrong man.

In this episode of This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition, Kent Justice talks with Darby McLean, CEO of Spiceology, about how chef-driven food brands are reshaping the grocery aisle. McLean explains how restaurants serve as testing grounds for new flavors, how social media and e-commerce accelerate product development, and why local chefs can inspire products with national potential.

Jacksonville is making major decisions about its future - from protecting personal privacy to preparing workers for new industries and strengthening the region's vital connection to Puerto Rico. Councilman Jimmy Peluso discusses Flock cameras, JEA and the city budget. Then, Florida's governor announces a major investment in skilled-trades training at Cecil Commerce Center. FSCJ President John Avendano explains. And we'll examine a new partnership between Trailer Bridge and Ports America designed to strengthen Jacksonville's role in Puerto Rico trade.

Jacksonville’s continued growth is driving new investment in multifamily housing, including Mesa Capital Partners’ acquisition of Satori Town Center near St. Johns Town Center. In this episode, host Kent Justice talks with Mesa President and COO Paul Berry about why Northeast Florida remains attractive to investors, how proximity to major employers, retail, downtown and the beaches shapes renter demand, and what Mesa looks for in a Class A apartment community.

A new member of the Jacksonville City Council gets sworn into office this week, fresh off a big win in a county wide special election. Mone' Holder joins us to look at the issues ahead. Plus, passing the torch. City Council Vice President Joe Carlucci is with us to discuss his leadership role, as he follows in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. And, the City Budget and looming property tax referendum are big topics for the City's Chief Administrative Officer, Mike Weinstein.

Citi is one of Jacksonville’s biggest private employers—nearly 4,000 people—and Kent Justice sits down with Ed Skyler, head of Enterprise Services and Public Affairs, to ask what Citi’s “long-term commitment” actually means. Skylar points to a strong business climate, a deep talent pipeline (dozens of universities within 150 miles), and a hybrid model designed around flexibility and collaboration.

A City Hall comeback, a Tallahassee push, and a warning about taxpayer costs. On This Week in Jacksonville - Former Council President Scott Wilson is challenging incumbent Kevin Carrico for Jacksonville City Council District 4. Then - councilman Terrance Freeman is running for Florida House District 12. And Florida TaxWatch CEO Jeff Kottkamp joins us on DROP - explaining why his group says the Legislature should rein it in.

Jacksonville voters change the makeup of City Hall — and the mayor is changing her team, too. Donna Deegan joins us after Tuesday's election, with a new member headed to City Council — and veteran business leader Darnell Smith back as her chief of staff. Then — show me the money. Council members are putting the mayor's budget under the microscope, asking what taxpayers are actually getting for what they spend. 

Ember and Iron is growing — and Kent Justice sits down with owners Chef Michael Cooney and Brittany Cooney to talk about what’s driving that expansion and what it takes to scale a local restaurant brand without losing what made it work in the first place.

Jacksonville’s startup scene gets a spotlight Aug. 19 when the Jacksonville Venture Competition returns to The Link in Nocatee, featuring six local startups pitching live—with the winner eligible for potential investment.

Kent Justice tackles a question a lot of HOA homeowners are asking after the “Hammocks” case in South Florida: could HOA fraud happen here — and would anyone catch it in time? Kent’s guest is Marc Rodriguez, EVP of Market Operations at RealManage, who breaks down how financial oversight can fail inside volunteer-run boards, what practical controls can stop fraud before it starts, and how technology can add real transparency for both board members and homeowners. 

Global trade volatility isn’t fading - it’s becoming the baseline. In this episode of This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition, Kent Justice talks with Robert Peek, Chief Commercial Officer at JAXPORT, about how overlapping shocks (wars, tariffs, Panama Canal drought, Red Sea disruptions, oil-price spikes) are reshaping supply chains — and why Jacksonville’s port strategy is to “play the long game” with infrastructure and capacity.

The Jacksonville City Council is facing big issues, including a property tax referendum, public safety, affordability and much more. And next month, every voter in the city can vote in a special election for an at-large seat on the City Council. News4JAX political analyst Rick Mullaney, filling in for anchor Kent Justice, talks with the candidates for that seat. Plus, in four short years, the Jacksonville University College of Law has become one of the best law schools in Florida, including a bar passage rate above 90% last year. The founding dean, Nick Allard, joins Mullaney to discuss the law school and its future. NOTE: Mullaney is the executive director of the Haskell Public Policy Institute at JU.

Jacksonville University College of Law Founding Dean Nick Allard joins Kent Justice to explain how JU built a brand-new downtown law school in just a few years—and why it matters for Jacksonville’s growth.

Kent Justice talks with Adam Butcher, North Florida area manager for PCL Construction, about the visible—and less visible—economic impact of Jacksonville’s downtown/riverfront buildout. Butcher explains PCL’s growing local presence, why One Tower Court is a signal that Shipyards redevelopment is “real,” and how multiple anchor projects (including the Four Seasons) create an ecosystem that attracts more investment.

Florida voters could soon decide the biggest property tax change in a generation. If tax revenue goes down, what happens to the services your city depends on? And who pays the difference? Then, Jacksonville has a new City Council president. Nick Howland steps into the role as City Hall prepares for difficult budget choices, renewed scrutiny over JEA, and questions about how much government should spend - and how much it should cut.

Jacksonville University College of Law Founding Dean Nick Allard joins Kent Justice to explain how JU built a brand-new downtown law school in just a few years—and why it matters for Jacksonville’s growth.

We start with a headline from Washington with ripple effects everywhere: the U.S. Supreme Court striking down President Trump's order attempting to end birthright citizenship — and raising fresh questions about how far a president can go by executive action.  Political analyst Rick Mullaney joins us. Then, we'll bring it back home to Florida's economy: high-wage manufacturing jobs, a statewide push to grow them, and what it takes to keep companies investing here.