Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Melissa RossJune 22, 2015

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Chicken-keeping residents across Duval County both in the urban core and in more rural areas may soon have reason to cluck their cheer if a new rule allows them to keep those hens on their property, permanently. “People really want to get in touch with their food comes from. I want my son to know […]

Melissa RossJune 22, 2015

Arguing that Jacksonville is becoming an increasingly diverse community, city activists who’ve long pushed for “inclusive prayer” to open city council meetings say they’ll make their voices heard again at Tuesday night’s session. Under the leadership of outgoing Council President Clay Yarborough, a Christian invocation typically has been recited to open the government meetings. That […]

Melissa RossJune 19, 2015

New Jacksonville mayor-elect Lenny Curry won’t be sworn into office until July 1, but some of his very newest constituents enjoyed a swearing-in ceremony of their own on a sweltering June morning at the city’s downtown main library. Jacksonville’s World Refugee Day celebration began with a Naturalization Ceremony at the library, followed by a children’s […]

Ryan RayJune 17, 2015

In an upbeat conference call that included statewide education officials, including Department of Education Secretary Pam Stewart, and Wendy Spencer of the federal Corporation for National and Community Service said Wednesday that Florida will be the recipient of $15.4 million for AmericCorps-led education projects. The officials said that figure will be matched by local money bringing the […]

Melissa RossJune 17, 2015

The parents of epileptic children in Jacksonville say they’re prepared to pack up and move to Colorado to treat their kids if the Jacksonville City Council doesn’t reverse course on its new moratorium on Charlotte’s Web dispensaries. “I hope the city will change its mind, because there are lots of families who don’t want to […]

Melissa RossJune 15, 2015

Could the iconic downtown Jacksonville Landing be torn down and a rebuild started from the ground up? That question will be on the table Tuesday night at a workshop on the Landing’s future sponsored by the city’s Downtown Investment Authority. “We are starting from scratch,” DIA board member Doris Goldstein says. Goldstein spoke during an […]

Melissa RossJune 12, 2015

During his successful campaign for Jacksonville mayor, Lenny Curry made public safety a key campaign issue, and repeatedly pledged to bring back the city’s Jacksonville Journey anti-crime initiative. The “Journey,” as it was known, began under former mayor John Peyton as a response to Jacksonville’s skyrocketing violent crime rate. A series of interlocking initiatives focusing on […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 11, 2015

Denise Lee is approaching the end of her tenure on Jacksonville City Council. She has a lot to be proud of as she exits for her next venue, with smart money having her headed toward the Curry administration. Her signature achievement, however, must be considered the Blight Committee, which she has used to take aim […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 10, 2015

On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed two bills into law with vastly different ramifications for Jacksonville. The first, HB 647, amends the Jacksonville city charter to modify the authority of the Civil Service Board, revising the authority of the civil service board to hear appeals, complaints, and grievances. Rep. Lake Ray‘s bill amends provisions in the charter […]

Melissa RossJune 9, 2015

An on-air discussion of the McKinney, Texas, viral video making the rounds this week quickly turned into an impassioned debate on criminal justice, with one participant’s calls to confront institutional racism set against another’s plea to evaluate police use-of-force incidents case by case. “We have to look at the institutionalization of racism in America,” activist Wells […]

Tag: Jacksonville

Fans of urban chickens in Jax hope to crow with victory over new ordinance

Activists to Jax City Council: Go back to “inclusive prayer”

New citizens join Jacksonville community at World Refugee Day celebration

Florida receives $15 million in AmeriCorps education projects aid

Jax mom on Charlotte’s Web flap: Families will move to Colorado if moratorium stays

City “starting from scratch” on Jacksonville Landing, downtown investment board member says

Under Lenny Curry, Jacksonville Journey anti-crime effort set to make comeback

Future Jacksonville undersheriff talks blight enforcement

Governor signs Jacksonville civil service, kiteboarding bills

The McKinney video: a Rashomon