John Lewis talks to St. Petersburg

photo by Jonah King, John Lewis and Charlie Crist preparing to talk to the crowd

Lewis speaks on the importance of voting, optimism in the face of fear, and endorses Charlie Crist BY JONAH KING Neighborhood News Bureau Civil rights is a 9-word problem: “Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, I Have a Dream.” Those nine words are the universal American understanding of the civil rights movement of the 1960’s. Another two… Continue reading John Lewis talks to St. Petersburg

Voting tomorrow? See how candidates address Midtown’s concerns

BY MOLLY CURLS Neighborhood News Bureau ST. PETERSBURG — As the unprecedented presidential election takes the nation by storm, coverage of local politics is suffering. On Tuesday’s ballot, several races will have profound and immediate effects on St. Petersburg’s Midtown community. This year, Republican incumbent Marco Rubio, who fell out of favor with Florida in… Continue reading Voting tomorrow? See how candidates address Midtown’s concerns

The making of an election coverage: NNB reporters tell the stories behind the story

NNB reporter Danielle Von Dreele interviews Dolores Fletcher at the Thomas "Jet" Jackson Recreation Center polling site. Photo by Bernardo H. Motta

BY SAMANTHA PRITZLAFF AND CHOYA RANDOLPH NNB Reporters ST. PETERSBURG – The Neighborhood News Bureau (NNB) reporters successfully participated in reporting the 2015 Municipal Election in Midtown, the first NNB Special Project since launching the new website in September 2015. This project was a collaboration with Creative Loafing in which USFSP students enrolled in NNB provided stories… Continue reading The making of an election coverage: NNB reporters tell the stories behind the story

The highs and low voter turnout on St. Pete Election Day 2015

Outside the Christ Baptist Church precinct 113

BY KALIE MCCAUSLAND NNB Reporter Between voting on four candidates running for both District 5 and District 7 and four referendum questions the 2015 St. Petersburg general election could mean significant change in Midtown. Steve Kornell, the incumbent, won District 5 and will serve a third and final term on City Council. The native St.… Continue reading The highs and low voter turnout on St. Pete Election Day 2015

City elections won from home

BY KALIE MCCAUSLAND NNB Reporter Sitting at an oblong table inside a glass-walled room are nine individuals overseeing the preservation of democracy. The table is littered with soda cans, water bottles and Styrofoam take-out containers from a nearby restaurant, it is clear they have been here for awhile. Part of the group includes the three-member… Continue reading City elections won from home

Newton doesn’t lose hope

BY BRIGITTE TOULON NNB Reporter ST. PETERSBURG – Although Will Newton did not win the position for District 7, he won’t let the loss bring him down. He remains hopeful for the future of the District. “I want to thank my team and all the people who supported me,” said Newton. As for the race and… Continue reading Newton doesn’t lose hope

Midtown voter turn out may not be as bleak as it seems

Outside the Christ Baptist Church precinct 113

BY ERIC VAUGHAN NNB Reporter A busy road in Midtown. Workers head home and drive right by the 113 Precinct  located inside the Christ Gospel Church. Poll workers say even though voter turnout is apparently low, it beats last year when a record low of only 26 voters showed throughout the entire day. At around… Continue reading Midtown voter turn out may not be as bleak as it seems

Kids cause disturbance on Election Day

Election Day at Polling Location for Precinct 225 BY CARLY ROMANO NNB Reporter ST. PETERSBURG—During midday, the polling location for voting precinct 225 was having problems with kids throwing rocks and pine bark not only at cars in the parking lot, but also at a poll-worker and his motor bike. This caused a disturbance, which… Continue reading Kids cause disturbance on Election Day

Low flow of voters for St. Pete city election

BY INDHIRA SUERO NNB Reporter An empty street and a few signs indicated where to vote for the candidates running for St. Petersburg City Council District 7. However — around noon — only two voters appeared to exercise their right to vote at New Hope Baptist Church. The District 7 race has community activist Lisa… Continue reading Low flow of voters for St. Pete city election