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

Melissa RossAugust 20, 2015

Even though a 120-day moratorium on dispensing Charlotte’s Web is still in place in Jacksonville, one official involved with regulating the drug for cultivation and sale says the process is moving forward, albeit very slowly, for getting the non-euphoric THC oil into the hands of sick patients. “Over the past few weeks, everyone has learned […]

Melissa RossAugust 19, 2015

The Reverend John Guns lights up with enthusiasm as he talks about the new back-to-school initiative in Jacksonville designed to support and encourage male students from 6th through 12th grades — one with strong buy-in from the city’s mayor, sheriff, and school superintendent. “It’s an exciting week,” said Guns during an appearance on WJCT’s First Coast Connect. […]

Melissa RossAugust 18, 2015

In the wake of The Florida Times-Union’s powerful dive into dangerous gaps in the state’s mental health care system, advocates pushing for change say they’re readying their strategy to press legislators hard to enact reforms in 2016. “We’re coordinating a statewide advocacy effort, bringing together mental health professionals, advocates, families, and consumers, to really have […]

Melissa RossAugust 17, 2015

As former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush continues to take heat over calling Common Core education standards “poisonous,” Duval County’s superintendent is taking a more positive spin about the new state curriculum being unveiled this fall. “We’re going to see another level of instruction at the elementary level, especially when it comes to writing and reading,” Superintendent Nikolai […]

Melissa RossAugust 12, 2015

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Many Americans are familiar with the famed pioneers of racial integration in sports: Jackie Robinson with the Dodgers, or Althea Gibson at Wimbledon. But after the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, many lesser-known African-American athletes also became firsts in their sport, and faced a lonely and sometimes terrifying road. One of them was […]

Melissa RossAugust 12, 2015

The political newcomer challenging incumbent Maria Mark for an Atlantic Beach City Commission seat says he got into the race after an emotional debate over the 2014 passage of a comprehensive human rights ordinance in the coastal community. Mark led that charge, but her opponent John Stinson on Wednesday called the ordinance “poorly written and poorly […]

Melissa RossAugust 11, 2015

Rep. Ron DeSantis, a Naval Reserve Officer, has blasted out another email expressing frustration with the Department of Veterans Affairs, responding to reports that the VA has denied 35,093 combat veterans benefits due to an ongoing computer error. “Over 35,000 combat veterans have been stuck in limbo due to a computer glitch that could have easily […]

Melissa RossAugust 10, 2015

The North Florida politician known for being the first in the area to lead on passing a comprehensive HRO stands by her record as she gears up for re-election. “It was the right thing to do,” says Atlantic Beach City Commissioner Maria Mark. Mark, the Executive Director at the Timucuan Trail Parks Foundation, faces off […]

Melissa RossJuly 30, 2015

As the two massive government programs that insure poor and older Americans turned 50 Thursday, leading insurers in Florida are brushing aside Jeb Bush‘s recent comments that Medicare should be “phased out.” “We’re not policymakers,” said Michael Lawton, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Florida. Lawton represents the nation’s largest private health insurer serving millions […]

Melissa RossJuly 29, 2015

Saying it’s an “outrage” that the Florida Legislature “thwarted the will of the voters,” the new head of the North Florida Land Trust says the fight over Amendment 1 and land conservation in the state isn’t over. “We’re organizing for 2016,” said Executive Director Jim McCarthy during an appearance on WJCT’s First Coast Connect. “We need […]

Melissa Ross

Charlotte’s Web in Jacksonville: “We need to move quickly”

John Guns: one city/one Jacksonville “an exciting week”

Florida mental health summit: “We will impact the 2016 Legislative Session”

Nikolai Vitti: Florida Standards will be “another level of instruction”

“Strong Inside” takes compelling look at race, college sports in 1960s South

Political newcomer John Stinson takes on incumbent Maria Mark in Atlantic Beach

Email insights: Ron Desantis says “no accountability” within the VA

Maria Mark: HRO “the right thing to do”

Florida’s insurers defend Medicare at 50

North Florida Land Trust vows “we’re organizing” to fight over Amendment 1