Melissa Ross, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Melissa RossJanuary 6, 2016

On Saturday, the 14th anniversary of the day that the first detainees were taken to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, anti-war activists from across the country will march on U.S. Southern Command headquarters in Doral to demand the immediate closure of the prison. At one point, 779 prisoners were held at Gitmo without trial or charges. Today […]

Melissa RossJanuary 5, 2016

State Rep. Janet Adkins has introduced legislation intended to clear the massive backlog of rape kits across the state that she hopes moves quickly when the Legislature convenes next week. “It’s a reasonable expectation for victims of sexual assault that when an evidence kit is collected, that something is done with that kit, that the […]

Melissa RossJanuary 4, 2016

Saying that states have the right to protect themselves from “acts of war,” state Rep. Lake Ray of Jacksonville has filed legislation that would compel Florida’s refugee resettlement organizations to allow state background checks on refugees being brought in from Syria and other troubled areas. “It addresses the concerns the state has and many citizens have related […]

Melissa RossJanuary 4, 2016

History shows that a rebounding economy tends to favor the Democratic nominee in the 2016 presidential election, say two North Florida economists, with the caveat that it’s a long way between now and Nov. 8. Forecasts for the coming year are all over the map, but economist Andres Gallo of the University of North Florida is on […]

Melissa RossDecember 30, 2015

Just as Jacksonville’s battle over its human rights ordinance heats up (again), North Florida same-sex couples are preparing to celebrate their one-year wedding anniversaries in a public downtown event. On January 10, 2015, Jacksonville attorney Carrington Mead married more than 60 same-sex couples in a mass ceremony in Hemming Park following the Supreme Court ruling […]

Melissa RossDecember 29, 2015

The North and Central Florida nonprofit Ability Housing has received a $150,000 grant from the Florida Blue Foundation to support The Solution That Saves, a statewide pilot providing Florida-specific data on the effects of providing permanent supportive housing to high users of crisis services. Examples of that include arrests and/or involuntary commitment to mental health facilities. […]

Melissa RossDecember 28, 2015

They’re the official state animal, yet the Florida panther is one of the most endangered species on Earth, with fewer than 180 of the big cats alive today. The breeding population of Florida panthers now exists only on the southern tip of the Sunshine State. Noting the record number of panther deaths in 2015, U.S. […]

Melissa RossDecember 24, 2015

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Amidst all the shopping, wrapping, and returns, the Florida Retail Federation says this holiday season is also expected to feature a spike in fraud. The FRF says retailers expect fraud to reach more than $2.2 billion nationally, an increase in fraudulent activity of 3.5 percent over 2014. The biggest offense: criminals who try to return […]

Melissa RossDecember 23, 2015

The messaging war over expanding Jacksonville’s HRO, or human rights ordinance, is heating up as Christmas draws near, with District 3 City Councilman Aaron Bowman the latest to enter the fray Bowman’s email inbox is already drawing hate messages, advocates say, after his piece in support of updating the ordinance to cover LGBT residents appeared […]

Melissa RossDecember 22, 2015

In an e-blast to supporters and media outlets, the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality is urging supporters to email City Council members and “urge them to pass this important legislation.” “Equally important, we need to make it clear to Council members that we oppose any attempt to put these basic protections on the ballot,” the message […]

Melissa Ross
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Anti-war activists will rally in Miami to close Gitmo

Janet Adkins on Corrine Brown: “The courts have spoken”

Lake Ray bill would require state background checks of Syrian refugees

Improving economy slightly favors Democrats in 2016 (but anything can happen)

Email insights: Jax same-sex couples to celebrate one-year wedding anniversaries in Hemming Park

Florida Blue gives Ability Housing $150K to house homeless, study issue

Vern Buchanan on Florida panther: “They face extinction”

Florida Retail Federation expects spike in holiday fraud

Councilan’s pro HRO op-ed generates hate mail, positive mail pushback

Email insights: Jax Coalition for Equality asks supporters to email City Council in support of the HRO