State Rep. Michelle Salzman has asked Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia to audit Escambia County, paying close attention to the Escambia Children’s Trust and the Escambia…
Category: Escambia County
Top 10 Stories of July 2025
Even though the post was up less than 24 hours, the article on University of West Florida General Counsel Susan Woolf being fired drew the largest audience due to interest statewide in…
R.I.P Office of Independent Internal Audit
The once-touted Office of Independent Internal Audit (OIIA) and its publicized policy manual have disappeared from Clerk Pam Childers’ website. Background: Last summer, Childers launched her Office of Independent Internal Audit to…
By the Numbers: City District 6 has lost 1,600 Black voters since 2012
The News Journal’s analysis of the chaotic Fricker Center town hall prompted me to examine the City of Pensacola’s voter registration statistics. In our archives, I found the voter demographics as of…
Land Exchange Closes Fire Safety Gap
When the Paradise Beach fire station closed its doors in 2018, area residents faced the troubling reality that their nearest emergency response would be miles away. But thanks to the determined leadership…
Top Reads: Week Ended July 26, 2026
By far, the story receiving the most attention was my exclusive interview with Dr. Martha Saunders. Mayor D.C. Reeves had a rough week—the curbside recycling nightmare, continued pushback over the Police Chief…
Jesse Casey passes away
General contractor and frequent county commission candidate Jesse Casey passed away suddenly due to complications caused by gallstones. The Republican first filed to run for the Escambia County District 1 seat, currently…
What, what? PNJ reports funding pulled for Galvez Landing
This popped up on my feed: Escambia postpones Galvez Landing project, opts to fund Perdido Key beach access instead Pensacola News Journal Escambia County initially planned to spend millions in RESTORE Act…
County’s Summer Youth Employment Program Celebrates Another Year
Last week, Escambia County concluded another transformative cycle of its Summer Youth Employment Program, offering over 200 local youth invaluable work experience and career development opportunities. The program continues to serve as…
Jeremy Cassidy and the Power of One Moment
Earlier this week, I talked with Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons about retired deputy Jeremy Cassady, who passed away last week and will be buried today. “I was the chief of police…
Deputy Jeremy Cassidy’s Unwavering Decision
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jeremy Cassady, 50, passed away last week, after a long battle with cancer that his family and colleagues believe was connected to his line-of-duty injuries and subsequent…
Top Reads: Week Ended July 19, 2025
We provided readers a variety of topics last week, covering the University of West Florida, Pensacola Police Department and County Clerk Pam Childer’s refusal to pay for high school juniors to attend…
Judge Stafford passes, marking the end of an era for the federal judiciary
Senior United States District Judge William H. Stafford, Jr., father of former Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford, passed away on July 14, at the remarkable age of 94. His death…
Celebrating Success: Escambia County’s Summer Youth Employment
This Friday, July 18, the Escambia County Commission celebrates the nearly 200 young people who dedicated their summer to gaining valuable work experience through Escambia County’s Summer Youth Employment Program. The recognition…
County Advances Design of Traffic Management Plan for Pensacola Beach
At its meeting on July 10, the Escambia County Commission approved a contract to develop a Pensacola Beach Traffic Congestion Management Plan, a response to mounting traffic issues that have worsened as…
Buzz: $4.6M Frozen + Mystery Buyers: Stories Media Missed
Two statements made at public meetings went under the radar for most of the media last week Mental Health Funds Frozen At the Escambia Children’s Trust board meeting on July 8, Escambia…
Daily Outtakes: Childers blocks $500 for American Legion kids
Frustrations mount as commissioners and the clerk’s office clash over Clerk Pam Childers’ new community support fund requirements. What should have been a routine approval of a $500 payment to the American…
Remembering the Cantonment Catfish Pond
When a “catfish pond” becomes a massive excavation operation, you know something fishy is going on. In 2006, Roads Inc., Escambia County’s largest road contractor, applied for a stormwater permit to…
Podcast: ShotSpotter won’t return
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons is navigating budget realities after Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed state funding for the county’s ShotSpotter program, leaving law enforcement agencies to reassess their crime-fighting strategies. Background: The…
Daily Outtakes: Children’s Trust, County Settle Dispute
Before last night’s meeting of the Escambia County Commission, the Escambia Children’s Trust had five votes to approve an exemption request and interlocal agreement that will direct Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds…
