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Independent News
A Call to Action: Newborns diagnosed with drug exposure up three-fold
Press Release: The number of babies born exposed to prescription drugs is growing at an alarming rate. In 2011, there were 1,563 instances of newborns diagnosed with drug exposure in Florida, a three-fold increase since 2007. These infants are born addicted and are admitted to the hospital for [...]
Does your child have an abusive high school coach? Tell us about it
Last month a video shown on ESPN led to the firing of the Rutgers men’s basketball coach, Mike Rice. In the video Rice is seen yelling homophobic slurs at his players, kicking them, grabbing them and shoving them. He also throws basketballs at their legs, their heads and their bodies from [...]
The Big Slim Down
Several members of Pensacola’s African-American community expressed concerns Thursday night as the Pensacola City Council considered cutting its two at-large seats. “In the African-American community, we have angst about decreasing representation,” said Dr. Marion WIlliams, of Movement for [...]
Why does Pat Bainter care about House District 2?
Pat Bainter is a powerful political consultant that has pumped over the years millions into the campaigns of Republican lawmakers in the state through a host of Electioneering Communications Organization. Organizations tied to Bainter are behind the negative mailers, which slam Ed Gray and Jack [...]
Gupta awarded National Merit Scholarship
More than 40 high school Florida seniors have earned a 2013 National Merit Scholarship. PHS senior Nick Gupta is included in the group. They are part of the first group of winners awarded scholarships this year financed by businesses. “These students are the best and brightest of our [...]
House District 2 Race, Jeremy Lau Interview
This week's print edition of the Independent News features excerpts from interviews with the District 2 candidates as they head toward June's special election in the wake of Rep. Clay Ford's passing. Over the next few days the full interviews will be posted on Ricksblog. Let's start with the race's [...]
CMPA problem is process, not size
I wrote last month about the lack of a set process for the CMPA/City Council/Mayor to lease the parcels at Maritime Park. During the debate over the YMCA leasing parcel 8, the mayor announced that he had hired CBRE to help the city develop a plan for the park leases and other city [...]
Evers’ Ethanol Victory
Sen. Greg Evers is applauding passage today of a bill repealing Florida’s requirement that fuel sold in the state be blended with ethanol. He described the passage as a “tremendous victory.” “The bill eliminates the unnecessary power of the government to force Florida citizens to buy and [...]
The Calming Clarification
A state senate bill amendment pertaining to RESTORE Act funds made local officials a bit nervous this week. It’s calmer now, after some language-tweaking and assurances from state lawmakers that counties will not be circumvented when the Clean Water Act windfall finally hits. Escambia County [...]
Local teachers presented Governor’s Shine awards
Press Release: Today, Governor Rick Scott showed his appreciation for Florida’s teachers and applauded their commitment to improving Florida’s education system by presenting the Governor’s Shine Award to six 2013 - 2014 District Teachers of the Year. Governor Scott said, “Florida [...]
Gunther says city and state ethics codes don’t apply to CMPA
Fred Gunther visited the Independent News and said that he believes that he did nothing wrong when he presented a competitive lease proposal for Parcel 1 at the Maritime Park. He said that he shouldn't have used the word "client" and that he would not have accepted a commission unless the CMPA [...]
RESTORE Committee Rolls On
By Jessica Forbes RESTORE Advisory Committee Rolls On: Experts and Televised Sessions to Come Two Lines in Tallahassee The politics of determining whom will be responsible for distributing the expected hundreds of millions of RESTORE Act dollars reared their heads on Monday across the [...]