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

Melissa RossNovember 23, 2015

Everything old is new again, the saying goes. In North Florida, that also holds true for crime prevention initiatives. Sources tell Florida Politics that Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is set to announce new details about a revamped Jacksonville Journey initiative on Dec. 1 The program, debuted under the mayoral administration of John Peyton, began as […]

Melissa RossNovember 20, 2015

The nation’s 42nd president was appearing before the well-heeled Ponte Vedra crowd to talk about health disparities, and how to fix them, via his Clinton Health Matters Initiative. But, of course, Bill Clinton couldn’t resist a few political remarks. Like this opener: ‘We are all interdependent, even if we build a 5-foot brick wall across […]

Melissa RossNovember 19, 2015

Jacksonville’s Read It Forward Jax Coalition is composed of some real heavy hitters across the 904, such as Kerri Stewart, chief of staff to Mayor Lenny Curry; Susie Wiles, chairwoman of the Donald Trump campaign in Florida; and many more. But the coalition’s creator has the respect of them all: attorney and former Duval County […]

Melissa RossNovember 18, 2015

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization is out with its 2016 Corporate Equality Index, an annual report assessing LGBT inclusion in major companies and law firms across the nation, including 21 in Florida. In an email to media outlets, the HRC champions that […]

Melissa RossNovember 17, 2015

The potentially historic U.N. summit on climate change later this month in Paris, expected to draw President Barack Obama and other world leaders, will be scaled back due to security concerns following the terror attacks Friday that left 129 people dead across the French capital. But the talks are going forward, although concerts, a planned […]

Melissa RossNovember 16, 2015

The former US military commander in the Middle East is appearing in North Florida this week and giving his insights on how world powers should respond to the deadly attacks in Paris from the Islamic State. John Abizaid, the retired U.S. Army general who served as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commander from 2003-2007, will speak Tuesday […]

Melissa RossNovember 16, 2015

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The election is a year away, but incumbent David Shoar has drawn a challenger in the race for St. Johns County Sheriff. Debra Maynard, former patrol deputy and crisis intervention coordinator with the department, has filed paperwork for the contest. Maynard, a Republican, has since left law enforcement and now works in construction management. She […]

Melissa RossNovember 13, 2015

Just as a closely watched U.S. Supreme Court case may strike down Florida’s death penalty sentencing laws, ACLU staff attorney Adam Tebrugge of Bradenton is discussing the death penalty Monday night in St. Augustine at an event sponsored in part by Amnesty International. The high court is reviewing what the New York Times calls Florida’s […]

Melissa RossNovember 12, 2015

The HBO documentary film shot in Jacksonville that tells the story of the Jordan Davis shooting and the trial of Michael Dunn will screen on the Florida State University campus this weekend before it premieres on national television next week. In an e-blast, the group Generation Progress has announced the screening in cooperation with HBO, […]

Melissa RossNovember 11, 2015

As headlines across the state continue to pile up, documenting the horror show that is Florida’s mental health system of care, state Reps. Janet Adkins and Charles McBurney listened somberly to a litany of problems – and proposed solutions – at a public forum Monday at Jacksonville City Hall looking at the issue. The Community […]

Melissa Ross
Image via AP.

Jacksonville Journey “2.0” to officially debut Dec. 1

Bill Clinton in Jax: “I want to defeat ISIS”

Read It Forward Jax Coalition moves ahead

Email insights: Human Rights Campaign ranks Florida companies in 2016 Corporate Equality Index

Climate change, security concerns related, says Jax researcher

Retired Gen. John Abizaid speaks in Jacksonville on American role in fight against ISIS

St. Johns County Sheriff’s race draws new candidate

Florida’s death penalty reviewed by U.S. Supreme Court, discussed in St. Augustine

Email insights: HBO to screen ” 3 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets” at FSU

Pleas for reform heard at Jax mental health roundtable