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

Melissa RossMay 25, 2016

Families in Florida who have lost loved ones murders that remain unsolved often press in vain for authorities to re-examine their “cold cases.” Duval County alone has more than 1,200 unsolved murders dating back to 1970. Jacksonville resident Ryan Blackman, who lost his father to an unknown killer, has set up an online database in […]

Melissa RossMay 24, 2016

This wild 2016 campaign season, we’ve heard a lot about delegates. Pledged delegates. Superdelegates. “Unbound” delegates. Delegate math. Delegate count. The delegate tracker! The nation (er, actually just political junkies in this great land of ours) is tracking delegates the way people living in prefab housing in Oklahoma stay glued to the local news when […]

Melissa RossMay 23, 2016

Death penalty opponents in Jacksonville are rallying Thursday night at an event honoring the late Shelby Farah. Titled “Not In My Name,” the evening is billed as “bringing awareness about the death penalty and the trauma inflicted on victims and family members within the criminal justice system.” Farah was just 20 when she was murdered […]

Melissa RossMay 20, 2016

LGBT students in the Clay County Public Schools confronted Superintendent Charlie Van Zant Jr. in the wake of his remarks about the Obama administration’s directive on transgender bathroom access in public education. Van Zant made his feelings known through the use of a robocalling system that went out to some 35,000 households in the district. […]

Melissa RossMay 19, 2016

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The Northeast Florida donor class is ramping up its efforts to support 4th Judicial Circuit State Attorney candidate and trial attorney Melissa Nelson. An appeal went out this week from Jacksonville’s Gary Chartrand, executive chairman of Acosta and a member of the State Board of Education. “This race represents what I have always valued in the […]

Melissa RossMay 18, 2016

Opponents of Clay County School Superintendent Charlie Van Zant Jr. are blasting what they call unethical campaign tactics by the incumbent. Addison Davis of Orange Park, a Republican and educator who works as Duval County Public Schools chief of schools, is one of several candidates challenging Van Zant as he campaigns for a second four-year term. The […]

Melissa RossMay 16, 2016

As criticism mounts toward the Obama administration’s new directive on transgender students and public school bathrooms, Jacksonville’s schools chief is pointing out that public schools in Duval County have quietly been allowing transgender kids to use the bathroom they feel most comfortable with for several years now. “We have been problem-solving on these issues for […]

Melissa RossMay 13, 2016

A new study from the Pew Research Center finds the phenomenon of a shrinking middle class is a reality across Florida. According to Pew, the percentage of families earning middle class incomes has fallen in nearly nine out of 10 major cities nationwide over the last several years. That includes most population centers in Florida. Four […]

Melissa RossMay 12, 2016

At least one Jacksonville official says the 904 should follow the lead of Austin, Texas when it comes to how to regulate ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft. City Councilman John Crescimbeni said all he’s calling for is a level playing field. “Either everybody plays by the rules, or we just get rid of the […]

Melissa RossMay 11, 2016

It’s the remarkable tale of a poor Mexican boy who beat long odds to become a renowned brain surgeon. His mission — to eradicate brain tumors. Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa first came to this country as an illegal immigrant. Jumping a border fence on the day before his 19th birthday in 1987, he had no English and no money, so […]

Melissa Ross
A nice warm evening in Tallahassee on a very busy street while taking this shot.

Aaron Bean to try again with ‘cold case’ legislation

What goes into being a convention delegate? For starters, some travel expenses

Jax death penalty opponents to rally in honor of the late Shelby Farah

LGBT students confront Clay County Superintendent

The fundraising push is ramping up for Melissa Nelson

Clay County superintendent race gets uglier

Nikolai Vitti: “fear factor” involved with transgender bathroom issue

Florida’s shrinking middle class

A voter referendum for Uber/Lyft in Jacksonville?

Brad Pitt, immigration, Mayo Clinic, and ‘Dr. Q’