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

Melissa RossJune 11, 2016

As the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission debates whether to hold another bear hunt later this year, activists opposed to the practice say they’ll stage a statewide protest to urge the FWC to vote the idea down. Commissioners approved the controversial hunt last year, the first in the state in more than two decades. […]

Melissa RossJune 9, 2016

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is out with a new report detailing the state, county, and local voting changes — proposed or implemented — during the past three years since the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder. The report, titled “Democracy Diminished,” looks at how states and counties with […]

Melissa RossJune 8, 2016

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The fundraising continues apace for 4th Circuit State Attorney candidate Melissa Nelson. A cluster of North Florida heavyweights is hosting a reception for Nelson in Atlantic Beach June 23 (and encouraging contributions of up to $1,000). Acosta’s Gary Chartrand and his family, JAX Chamber chief Audrey Moran, and former U.S. Attorney Paul Perez are some […]

Melissa RossJune 7, 2016

Activists in Jacksonville are hosting a town hall meeting tonight at the Wells Fargo offices on North Main Street after weeks of protests against the shooting death of Vernell Bing. The Kemetic Empire says it’s hosting the event “to present solutions, a platform for the community to express their views and concerns.” Invited to appear […]

Melissa RossJune 6, 2016

Michael Dunn, the man convicted in 2014 in the shooting death of unarmed black teen Jordan Davis of Jacksonville, will draw yet another protest this week. The group Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) says it will protest outside the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. Dunn’s attorney is appealing the […]

Melissa RossJune 2, 2016

Despite a somewhat stalled process over vehicle inspections and background checks, the man heading up the regulatory argument in Jacksonville over Uber and Lyft says progress is hopefully imminent. I think where we’re going is a good place,” says City Councilman Matt Schellenberg. Schellenberg chairs the council’s Vehicles for Hire committee. “We hope to get […]

Melissa RossJune 1, 2016

Fans of skateboarding are mixing it up on Facebook with Jacksonville City Councilman Bill Gulliford. After Gulliford proposed legislation to ban skateboarding downtown, foes of the measure quickly took to social media to denounce the idea — and Gulliford himself. You can check out one such lively exchange here, on the Facebook page of MetroJacksonville’s Stephen Dare. […]

Melissa RossMay 31, 2016

This weekend, the Jacksonville Young Democrats will host the Florida Young Democrats 2016 State Convention at the downtown Hyatt Regency, with a slew of party officials and rising stars slated to attend. However, it’s still up in the air as to whether DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz will attend the Jacksonville event. “The Congresswoman has […]

Melissa RossMay 27, 2016

Music fans who flock to the Jacksonville Jazz Festival this weekend can expect to be asked to sign a petition supported by voting rights activists around Florida. The Florida Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative was an initiated constitutional amendment that fell short of the required signatures needed to make it onto the Florida ballot […]

Melissa RossMay 26, 2016

Improving Duval County’s dismally low child literacy rates is the mission behind Jacksonville’s Read It Forward Jax Coalition. One of the initiatives that coalition has discussed is looking at ways to get more books into the hands of more kids — particularly low-income children who may not have access to a wide variety of books at home. […]

Florida’s bear hunt foes gear up for new round of protests

‘Democracy Diminished’ report outlines potential threats to voting in Florida

Melissa Nelson fundraiser set for Atlantic Beach

Town hall tonight in Jacksonville focusing on police shootings

Protestors to rally outside Michael Dunn appeal hearing in Tallahassee

Matt Schellenberg: taxis should ditch medallions, introduce their own apps like Uber

That time Bill Gulliford got into it with his critics on Facebook — over skateboarding

Florida Young Democrats hope to confirm DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Voting rights activists to petition this weekend at Jacksonville Jazz Fest

Molly Curry to help relaunch the JaxKids Book Club