Please read this week’s cover story–“When Yellow Ribbons Aren’t Enough.”
Category: News
Grover proposes TDC plan
An Open letter sent to TDC and media: Dear Fellow TDC Members: I realize the intention of this meeting was not to begin the debate of tourism in Escambia County. However, it…
Express bus route works in Broward County
Sun-Sentinel reports: “This route is like none other in Broward. Riders park their luxury cars before boarding and carry iPads and laptops to enjoy free Wi-Fi. The line is full of business…
French company behind labor problems with ECAT
Veolia Transportation manages Escambia County Area Transit. According to the local workers, who are paid on average about $12/hour, Veolia violated a contract by not paying employees a 4.5 percent wage increase….
Buzz: ECAT workers lowest paid in state; court injunction coming
According to union officials, the striking workers at Escambia County Area Transit make between $!2/hour to a high of $16.47/hour – which makes the lowest paid transit drivers in the state, maybe…
Dixon miracle has strings
Superintendent Malcolm Thomas and the School Board relented to public pressure and agreed to allow A.A. Dixon Charter School to stay open for the entire school year. IN reporter Jeremy Morrison was…
Teacher merit pay doesn’t improve test scores, creates cheaters
Freakonomics says that there’s been “some pretty damning evidence” proving that merit pay for teachers doesn’t work for teachers or their pupils. The research shows that merit pay, in a variety of…
Is St. Joe Co. taking over state land use policies?
Gov. Rick Scott has appointed another St. Joe Co. executive to a top position in the his administration. Gov. Rick Scoot and the Florida Cabinet, acting as the Board of Trustees (BOT)…
Thomas pulls Dixon off agenda
A miracle?
Mayor’s Office – Weekly Update 9.20.11
Press Release: Port of Pensacola secures grant funding, attendance up at pre-school programs, and City launches Facebook and Twitter –The Port of Pensacola has been awarded $1.95 million in grant funding from…
Huh, huh….TDC did talk about hoteliers concerns & breaking from Chamber in March (audio)
These are from the transcripts of the March 4 and May 3 TDC meetings. Oops., Larry Johnson was there at the March 4: March 4 – TDC meeting Memo-2 McKinnon: The only…
Buzz: TDC not going away
Perdido Key Chamber Chairwoman Alison Davenport doesn’t have to worry about the Tourism Development Commission going way. It was formed by legislative act and can’t be easily dissolved without also doing away…
More on Dixon showdown tonight
IN reporter Jeremy Morrison interviewed Rev. Lutimothy May about tonight’s Escambia County School Board vote on whether to close A.A. Dixon Charter School. If the Board does it, they will be on…
Don’t panic
Have had my hands full completing this week’s issue. The cover story is powerful and on an important issue so I needed to focus on it. Right now, I’m on The Ed…
A.A. Dixon responds to Superintendent Thomas and his workshop
A.A. Dixon is fighting back–their parents, teachers, the churches and the community aren’t going to go away quietly. Tomorrow night’s School Board meeting could be interesting. Too bad, the School District keeps…
Thomas tells IN that he is in favor of closing A.A. Dixon
IN reporter Jeremy Morrison interviewed Escambia County Superintendent of Schools Malcolm Thomas today about the School Board tomorrow on whether to close the A.A. Dixon charter school. Thomas predicts the struggling school…
Buzz: Superintendent Thomas withheld Title I funds from Dixon Charter School
One of the big justifications for closing A.A. Dixon Charter School is that it had nearly $100,000 operating deficit in its first school year, 2010-2011. The IN has learned that the School…
Senator Thrasher Congratulates Senate President-designate Gaetz
Press Release: Senator John Thrasher (R-St. Augustine) today released the following statement congratulating Senator Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) on his designation as Republican Senate President for the 2012-2014 term. “I congratulate Senator Gaetz…
Guide to this week’s GOP conference in Orlando
The Florida Republican Party is holding being Thursday its three-day Presidency 5 conference at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. This is the state party’s biggest political event of the election…
Drug deaths surpass tragic fatalities in U.S.
The Los Angeles Times reports that drugs exceeded motor vehicle accidents as a cause of death in 2009, killing at least 37,485 people nationwide, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Centers…