Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

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Melissa Ross - page 2

Melissa Ross has 42 articles published.

In addition to her work writing for Florida Politics, Melissa Ross also hosts and produces WJCT’s First Coast Connect, the Jacksonville NPR/PBS station’s flagship local call-in public affairs radio program. The show has won four national awards from Public Radio News Directors Inc. (PRNDI). First Coast Connect was also recognized in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 as Best Local Radio Show by Folio Weekly’s “Best Of Jax” Readers Poll and Melissa has also been recognized as Folio Weekly’s Best Local Radio Personality. As executive producer of The 904: Shadow on the Sunshine State, Melissa and WJCT received an Emmy in the “Documentary” category at the 2011 Suncoast Emmy Awards. The 904 examined Jacksonville’s status as Florida’s murder capital. During her years in broadcast television, Melissa picked up three additional Emmys for news and feature reporting. Melissa came to WJCT in 2009 with 20 years of experience in broadcasting, including stints in Cincinnati, Chicago, Orlando and Jacksonville. Married with two children, Melissa is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism/Communications. She can be reached at [email protected].

Audrey Gibson, Mia Jones both “absolutely” eyeing Corrine Brown’s CD 5 seat

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Two potential heirs to the much-discussed 5th Congressional District long held by U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown have confirmed they are sizing up the seat should it become available. “Absolutely,” said state Rep. Mia Jones, one of four veteran Jacksonville politicians seen as a viable contender to run in Brown’s stead. The others are former Jax Mayor Alvin Brown, state Sen. Audrey Gibson, and former state Sen. Tony Hill. “I believe that you have to keep all options open, and it would…

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Florida activists continue to push fracking bans

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

The grassroots push to ban fracking in Florida continues. Activists are mobilizing fracking foes to call and email Calhoun County Commissioners and demand an emergency meeting on the issue. The sparsely populated county is in the Panhandle, west of Tallahassee. “Calhoun County will have the Cholla Petroleum Company begin seismic testing any day now,” reads the invite to one Facebook organizational effort. “This is for fossil fuel extraction for oil or gas. Fracking via hydraulic fracturing and matrix acid stimulation is…

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Gov. Scott signs restrictive abortion measure into law

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Among the 68 bills Governor Rick Scott just signed into law, perhaps the most attention-getting is HB1411, a bill that “revises regulations for licensed abortion clinics.” The controversial measure imposes new restrictions on clinics where abortions are performed, by requiring that physicians who work at them hold admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. The new law also prohibits public funding for organizations like Planned Parenthood. Since a similar measure was passed in Texas in 2014, more than half of that state’s 41…

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U.S Senate approves Bill Nelson bill to speed search for Zika virus cure

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Four new cases of the Zika virus were reported in Florida this week, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 66.   To help prevent the disease from spreading further, late Thursday night the U.S. Senate approved a bill sponsored by Sen. Bill Nelson and others to speed development of vaccines and treatments for the disease.   “We need to figure out a way to stop the spread of this virus sooner rather than later,” Nelson said. “This bill creates an…

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The Dream Defenders launches #SquaDD2016

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

The Florida-based activist group Dream Defenders is debuting a “presidential cabinet,” dubbed #SquaDD2016, with the goal of “speaking truth to power by elevating the voices of young Black and Brown people.” According to the organization, “We organized #SquaDD2016 with the intention of conveying the message that we demand more from the Presidential Candidates, particularly those who benefit most from and claim to represent the voices of Black and Brown youth and communities, Hillary and Bernie. #SquaDD2016 used political theater as a means…

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Harper Lee “would be extremely upset” with Donald Trump rhetoric, “Scout” says

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The actress who portrayed the iconic role of Scout onscreen in Harper Lee‘s classic tale “To Kill A Mockingbird” decried the “inflammatory and divisive” rhetoric of Donald Trump, saying the late Lee would not have approved, either. “I think she would be extremely upset with some of our politicians who are not being realistic, and who are pulling this country apart,” said Mary Badham, who was 10 when she appeared as “Scout” with Oscar winner Gregory Peck in the 1962 film.…

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Donald Trump’s Florida campaign to hold weekend volunteer events

in 2017/Top Headlines by

Despite his declining poll numbers coming out of the Iowa caucuses, the Florida state director of the Donald Trump presidential campaign says this weekend is going to be a busy one for Trump supporters and volunteers. “We invite you to join us this weekend for a variety of volunteer events for the Trump Campaign,” Karen Giorno writes in an email to supporters. “We will have a great time meeting fellow Trump supporters and helping the campaign to get Mr. Trump elected…

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