Politics - Rick's Blog

PSC Hires Ole Miss Assistant Basketball Coach

PSC hires Kayla Gordon—former Ole Miss assistant & Jacksonville Univ. legend—as new Lady Pirates head coach. Full story at ricksblog.biz

Bronze statues of soldiers at a war memorial, one standing with a rifle and another seated, with an American flag in view and a helicopter monument in the background.

Pensacola’s Tale of Two Toilets

A $700K veterans restroom was fully approved, funded, and ready to build. Then Reeves became mayor. Now it’s stalls from Seattle

Police Arrests Teen, Age 16, Connected to Downtown Shooting

BREAKING: 16-year-old charged in downtown Pensacola mass shooting—accused of handing shooter the gun. More arrests coming.

Expanded Pensacola Beach Air Show Schedule

Blue Angels turn 80, America turns 250! Pensacola Beach Air Show returns July 17-18 with B-1Bs, F-35s & more. Full schedule here.

White ceramic bowl with melted dark chocolate dripping over the rim and onto a pale surface, spoon inside partially visible.

Issue Too Difficult? Use the Moreno Molasses Strategy

Four thorny issues. Each requiring negotiations. Zero follow-through. How Escambia’s county administrator uses delay as a strategy—and gets away with it.

Bright yellow magazine cover featuring a tall stack of pennies with bold white 'weekly' text across the top and red caption boxes reading 'YOUR PENNY BACK ON THE BALLOT'

Inweekly July 9, 2026 Issue—News & Views That Matter

Your penny’s on the ballot, teachers finally get credit, and PSC students fought censorship & won. New Inweekly is out — read it all

Woman in a geometric dress speaks at a podium outdoors beside a tree-lined street with cars and cafe seating behind her.

Sitting Down with Council President Allison Patton

Palafox was a gamble. The port was “dead weight.” Now they’re driving Pensacola’s future. Council Pres. Patton breaks it down

Commissioner May: More Than Curfew Needed

Chief Winstrom talked to the shooting victim’s family. Now Commissioner Lumon May explains what’s next: real structure for at-risk teens.

Bald police officer in full uniform seated in an office, with framed posters and a laptop on a desk behind him.

Chief Winstrom: A Minimum of Two Shooters Still at Large

“A minimum of two.” Chief Winstrom reveals shooters are still on the run after downtown’s Fourth of July tragedy. He also discusses the investigation details.

Aerial view of a modern glass-fronted multi-story complex beside a large stadium, with a green park, lake, and surrounding streets nearby.

Other Presser Takeaways: Library, CEMEX, Hard Rock and More

Mayor Reeves talks pool hours, a $425K airport grant, Sanders Beach construction, the Cemex mystery poll & Hard Rock’s tax fight.

Two Arrests Made in Downtown Mass Shooting

2 arrests, 3 shooters ID’d in downtown PJ Sheppard shooting. No murder charges yet. Chief reveals new details on video, injuries & motive.

Escambia Teachers Earn A, Not Bereavement or Maternity Leave

Escambia teachers just earned the district its first-ever A grade. The district’s thank-you? No to duty-free lunch, no to bereavement leave.

Man at a podium during an Escambia County election event, with a large 'America's 250' sign on display behind him.

Election Supervisor Bender Preps for Aug. 18 Election

New “I Voted” sticker, ballot tracking & 10 polling place changes — Bender lays out big shifts before Escambia’s Aug. 18 primary.

The Staggering Cost of James Uthmeier

Alligator Alcatraz cost taxpayers $1B. Then came a secret Trump library land deal & a $10M Medicaid scandal. Uthmeier’s pattern, exposed.

How Do You Feel About the Port, Cemex and D.C.

An anonymous survey is testing Pensacola voters on the mayor’s race — then spends a dozen questions building the case for Cemex at the port.

Not Adding to a Mother’s Pain

Chief Winstrom on the hardest part of his job: sitting with PJ Sheppard’s grieving mother. “There’s no way to fix that, no way to make it better.”

DCF Secretary Resigned Last Week

Nearly four months after a long-delayed confirmation by the state Senate, Department of Children and Families Secretary Taylor Hatch left the office last week.

Police chief in dress uniform speaking at a Pensacola Police press conference, with microphones on the wooden podium and officials behind him.”,

Shooting Victim Identified; Suspects Still At-Large

PPD names the victim as Philip “PJ” Sheppard, says 2+ weapons were fired in the downtown shooting tied to an ongoing feud. Curfew talk continues.

Conceptual rendering of a modern multi-wing residential complex with a central courtyard and pool amid landscaping.

227-Unit Apartment Complex Next to Veterans Park Challenged

Neighbors sued the city over Helm at Hawkshaw’s approval. Major differences between 2017 & 2026 designs. Planning Board has to redo it. Rehearing Tues, 2 p.m.