Deegan faces panel of local journalists in televised event; Davis attends separate untelevised event with parents
The Mayoral Candidate Forum is happening Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at the WJXT-4 studios. Kent Justice along with journalists from First Coast News, WJCT and the Florida Times Union will ask questions to one of the two candidates, Democrat Donna Deegan. Both candidates, Deegan and Republican Daniel Davis were invited months ago. Deegan accepted, Davis declined.
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WJCT shifting 89.9 FM to an all news/talk format
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. WJCT, the community-owned public broadcast organization, is shifting its converting its radio station 89.9 FM into an all news/talk format. The radio station will soon be known as WJCT News 89.9 as part of a shift that will add midday local newscasts to the stations programming along with 13 new national programs to its weekly schedule. The changes are set to begin on July 13. They come as the station, a news partner of News4Jax, aims to keep up with a growing audience across its radio, digital and app platforms. The growing need for sources of news and information that are deeply thoughtful, unfailing in the pursuit of truth and universally available has never been clearer than it is now, said David McGowan, President & CEO of WJCT.
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Jazz fans, rejoice: WJCT hosts virtual jazz fest
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The Jacksonville Jazz Festival may not be in the cards this year, but theres still a way for jazz fans to get their fix over Memorial Day weekend. WJCT announced Monday its rolling out Jazz Festival Weekend, a multi-day slate of jazz programming that will help fill the void created by the cancellation of the annual festival, which was scrubbed due to COVID-19. Jazz Festival Weekend is our way of providing jazz fans with the opportunity to enjoy the tradition of great music over the Memorial Day weekend, through a virtual experience, said David Luckin, Music Director of WJCT. - Jazz on WJCT 89.9 FM (online at wjct.org, and the WJCT app) on Saturday, May 23 from 9PM to 12AM. - Live local jazz on the Jacksonville Music Experience Facebook group (facebook.com/groups/jaxmusic/), featuring Northeast Florida artists Chris Thomas Band, Mama Blue, JB Scott and the Lisa Kelly Quintet, and more.

Gov. DeSantis announces new $145 million headquarters for FIS
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) is following through on its commitment to build a $145 million headquarters in Jacksonville. Governor Ron DeSantis made the official announcement Friday afternoon during a press conference at the FIS Building on Riverside Avenue. The new headquarters of the financial technology company is set to be a 300,000 square-foot, 12-story building located near the current FIS Building. "Jacksonville has really done a good job of being a great place to do business for companies like FIS," DeSantis said. In exchange for its investment in Jacksonville, the company is poised to receive a financial incentives package from the city and state worth almost $30 million.

'Major' announcement brings Gov. DeSantis to Jacksonville
Ron DeSantis will make a stop at the FIS Building in Jacksonville on Friday afternoon for what is being billed as a "major" economic announcement. The announcement likely has to do with a company going by the code name "Sharp," according to the Jacksonville Daily Record. The Record reports the unnamed company, which might be Fidelity National Information Services, has promised to create 500 jobs and build a $145 million headquarters. In exchange for its investment in Jacksonville, the company is poised to receive a financial incentives package from the city and state worth almost $30 million. As WJCT previously reported, the City Council OK'd a bill last month that contains the city's share of those incentives.

City gets creative to help fill void left by Publix closing
Wendland said he's now looking at possibly bringing a new grocery store into the space to replace Publix, but that takes time. "People with transportation could get steeply discounted rides to and from the grocery store," he said. Also in the mix is the possibility of teaming up with Feeding Northeast Florida to bring residents fresh food via "mobile market." The city does have money available to incentivize new grocery stores to rent the space in food deserts like the one created by the Publix closing. Earlier this year, City Council adopted a new full-service grocery program that appropriated $3 million for grocery stores and healthy options education.