The Belle Bear Fan Club highly approved of her topping the 2025 Inweekly Power List, while the Pam and Ashlee’s “Mean Girls” sitcom still drew readers. And everyone loved Inweekly Rising Star Alex Smith landing a big job at the University of West Florida.
Belle Bear tops 2025 Power List
Belle Bear, co-founder of IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay and champion of numerous nonprofits and causes, is #1 on the 2025 Inweekly Power List.
- As the matriarch of the Bear family, 84-year-old Belle is extraordinarily influential and yes, wealthy, but anyone who truly knows her describes her as unpretentious, sweet and humble. Belle shops at Dollar Tree, invites neighborhood children over to bake cookies and pays medical bills for her seamstress.
“I’ve never known anyone like her in my life; she has no ego,” her best friend Mary Hoxeng said. Read more.
Daily Outtakes: Pam’s secret sauce undermines public good
In Escambia County, the powerful have found a new way to deal with a situation when they don’t win votes to kill projects before the Tourist Development Council or the Board of County Commissioners – just lean on County Clerk Pam Childers. She will shut down the funding.
The latest example is the Sacred Heart Foundation’s request for $250,000 to promote its Wine on the Water fundraiser. Read more.
Hofberger insinuates Moreno unqualified
County government has become mean girls on parade. In an interview with the Pensacola News Journal, County Commmissioner Ashlee Hofberger insinuated that County Administrator Wes Moreno doesn’t have the qualifications to lead Escambia County’s government.
Wes Moreno has worked for Escambia County for nearly four decades, starting on a road crew. His positions include:
1. Maintenance worker
2. Equipment operator
3. Road correction officer
4. Engineering technician
5. Chief of construction management
6. Deputy bureau chief of public works
7. Deputy Director of Public Works
8. Director of Public Works
9. Deputy County Administrator
He was named interim county administrator in June 2021 and made county administrator in 2022. Under Moreno’s leadership, the county hit significant infrastructure milestones in FY 2023-24, completing $100 million in projects.
Hofberger also told the once-daily newspaper that she had no specific in mind for the administrator, but we have several confirmations that she was the mastermind about bringing in Chief Deputy Sheriff Tommi Lyter as Moreno’s replacement. Read more.
Rising Star Alex Smith lands UWF post
The University of West Florida announces Alex Smith as Director of External Affairs, effective March 3. Smith joins UWF after serving the City of Pensacola as Constituent and Legislative Liaison and Special Assistant to Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves.
In his new role, Smith will lead and manage external relations for the Office of the President, overseeing major presidential initiatives and ensuring their alignment with the University’s strategic goals. He will engage with external public and private agencies, organizations and stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and advance institutional priorities.
Read more.
DeSantis looks to find waste in his administration, local governments and higher education
Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued an executive order creating his version of President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). However, its work will not be independent and will not examine the Governor’s office. Read more.
PODCASTS – YOUTUBE
PODCASTS – SPOTIFY
Senator Don Gaetz discusses several key legislative initiatives in an interview with Rick Outzen. He highlights the importance of his insurance and utilities bills, which face significant opposition. He elaborates on the Public Service Commission bill, aiming to add a CPA and financial analyst to the commission and require disclosure of utility rate cost drivers.
He also introduces an ethics bill targeting false claims of military service for personal gain and addressing unpaid fines for election and ethics violations. Link.
Link.
PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS (PBMs)
Mike Papantonio discusses the impact of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) on the healthcare system, mainly focusing on the high costs of medications like insulin.
He highlights the lack of transparency and the manipulative practices of PBMs, which include backdoor deals and kickbacks disguised as rebates and administrative fees. These practices significantly inflate drug prices, making essential medications unaffordable for many. PMBs and the soaring price of insulin are central to Papantonio’s new novel, “The Middleman.”
Link.
Pharmacist Darrell Miller discusses with Rick Outzen and Sena Maddison how Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are diverting 340B funds for their own profit. Link.
