That is the question that one concerned parent asked me yesterday. This time last year our newspaper and thousands of parents with kids battling severe forms of epilepsy were pushing the Florida…
Category: News
Panhandling law passed, but are we enabling it
Panhandling, homelessness and what can government do about them were topics of discussion yesterday for the Escambia Board of County Commissioners. The BCC did pass a stricter Panhandling ordinance that updated prohibitions…
FDLE: Cabinet will not investigate ouster, but will discuss overall process in March
The word from the Florida Cabinet meeting today at the Florida State Fair in Tampa is the Florida Cabinet will not investigation the abrupt resignation of FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey. However, the…
Senate Committee passes Gaetz bill to promote adoption of kids in foster care
The Florida Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs, chaired by Senator Eleanor Sobel (D-Hollywood), today passed Senate Bill 320, Adoption and Foster Care by Senator Don Gaetz (R-Niceville). The legislation,…
PPD written procedures for body cameras
Here are the written policies and procedures on how the Pensacola Police Department will deploy body cameras. The General Order was issued Tuesday, Feb. 3. PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is…
Robinson will withdraw Open Container ordinance
After hearing from his fellow commissioners this morning at the board’s agenda review session, Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson said he will withdraw the proposed Open Container ordinance that was up for…
Journalists seek answers from Gov. Scott in Sunshine Law lawsuit
By BRANDON LARRABEE THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA Media organizations and open-government advocates are upping the pressure on Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet, filing a lawsuit that alleges the handling…
Pensacola Police will now wear body cameras
Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward announced today that Pensacola Police officers would begin wearing body cameras as part of their regular duty gear. “Pensacola is fortunate to have what I believe is one…
2016 Florida Ballot: Rights Restoration Amendment
Sara Latshaw, Director for American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Florida—Northwest Region, stopped me earlier this week to talk about the ACLU initiative to restore the rights for people who have been…
Florida has over 1.3 million signed up for Obamacare
Nearly 7.5 million consumers selected a plan or were automatically re-enrolled through the HealthCare.gov platform as of Jan. 30, 2015, including 1,339,791 in Florida. Today’s Weekly Enrollment Snapshot for the first time…
Gaetz sponsors bill to encourage dentists in needy areas
Finally a Senate bill from Northwest Florida that doesn’t involve guns. Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, has filed a proposal that would create a program to provide financial help to dentists who work…
PYP looks for Operations Director
The Pensacola Young Professionals (PYP) are looking for an Operations Director to supports the overall strategic plans and operational duties of the organization. Here is the job description: PYP – Operations Director…
Studers form umbrella to cover BLAB, Pensacola Today and Studer Community Institute
The Studer cadre of corporations has added another layer. In a press release today, it was announced that Studer Communications will the “umbrella organization that encompasses BLABTV, the website PensacolaToday.com, and the…
Valentino complaint against Chief Deputy dismissed
The Florida Commission on Ethics has dismissed an ethics complaint filed by former County Commissioner Gene Valentino against Escambia County Chief Deputy Eric Haines. Valentino had been upset that Haines would not…
Florida Cabinet meeting tomorrow could be fun…Oh, there is now a lawsuit
February’s Florida Cabinet is scheduled tomorrow to be held in Tampa during the State Fair. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam thought what could be a heated discussion over how Gov. Rick Scott has…
UWF Football celebrates first ever signing day
The University of West Florida football program, led by head coach Pete Shinnick, will formally announce its first signing class on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Media are invited to attend a press conference…
Next local grassroots fight: PATS Center
Parents are rising up to challenge Superintendent Malcolm Thomas’ push to close the Program for Academically Talented Students (PATS) Center. A online petition has been started that already has 111 signatures. Parents…
Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital encourages vaccinations
Pediatric specialists from The Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart are encouraging community members to vaccinate themselves and their children to protect against a measles outbreak, which has infected more than 100 people…
Weigh in on tourism plans for Escambia County
Visit Pensacola has launched Destination 2020, a community project for the planning and development of a 5-year strategic plan for Escambia County. A large part of that plan involves gathering perspectives from…
Scott’s staff pushes back on allegations in FDLE controversy
By JIM TURNER THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA Gov. Rick Scott’s office continued pushing back Monday against claims his staff forced longtime Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey to resign…