First Coast Connect: Don’t mess with cats

Free-roaming cats face an array of hazards, from vehicles to other predators to occasionally freezing temperatures. But they can also be deliberately targeted by humans — which is where the University of Florida’s Veterinary Forensic Sciences Laboratory comes in. Under the direction of forensic pathologist Dr. Adam Stern, the program A Cat Has No Name prides itself on being a “kitty CSI” team, using science and evidence to determine cases involving animal cruelty. Stern, founder and coordinator of three Animal Cruelty Task Forces throughout the state, explains how the program uses current cat necropsies, the results of earlier investigations and the data sorting capacity of artificial intelligence to better identify patterns and guide future criminal investigations.   Guests: Dr. Adam Stern, veterinarian and professor of forensic pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida   Dr. Jon Kim, assistant professor, College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida UNF poll results A new poll asks Florida residents who they want to be the state’s next governor based on expected head-to-head matchups. It also examines evolving views on the affordability crisis, ICE crackdowns, legalizing marijuana, gun laws and the need for AI regulation. We talk about the results and what they suggest about the coming midterm election cycle with the director of the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab. Guest: Sean Freeder, assistant professor of political science, University of North Florida and director, UNF Public Opinion Research Lab RE: Purpose; the art of Nari Ward From bleak arrays of abandoned baby strollers to an American flag fashioned from clothing security tags, New York-based, Jamaican-born artist Nari Ward pulls meaning from the mundane. In works both political and deeply personal, Ward’s multimedia creations have earned acclaim from the artistic world for their nuanced exploration of both the soul of man and the detritus of his existence. Ward brings his five decades of creative experience to an installation at MOCA Jax's Project Atrium, the monumental Great Greetings. Guests: Nari Ward, artist, creator of MOCA Jacksonville Project Atrium installation Great Greetings Ylva Rouse, deputy director of curatorial affairs and senior curator, MOCA Jacksonville See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.