Category: Politics
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Press Conference Today on Targeted Downtown Pensacola Shooting
Winstrom briefs media Monday 11am on targeted downtown shooting that killed a teen, wounded 6. Curfew now on the table. Full story on ricksblog.biz.
UPDATE: Mass Shooting Downtown Pensacola: Six injured, One Dead
BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: Chief Says Downtown Shooting That Killed 19-Year-Old Was Targeted; Six Others Wounded Pensacola Police Chief Eric Winstrom says at least one gunman…
Grassroots Charity Raise $$$ for Mental Health Effort
He lost a friend to suicide. Now Ryan Goldberg’s Campfire Fund has put 80 people through therapy — and it’s throwing a bash July 11
City’s 311 tests AI Customer Service with Penny
Pensacola’s 311 is getting an AI assistant named Penny. Who’s really behind her, and what’s the cost to taxpayers? Full story on ricksblog.biz
Florida Humanties Skips Over WF Public Libraries
Santa Rosa Co. got $4,500 in America 250 book grants. Escambia’s WFPL got $0—as its qualification crisis raises questions why.
Gotcha or Notcha on Data Centers. You Decide
Same emails, two very different stories: Did Kohler secretly push a data center he later opposed — or was it always just a battery factory? You decide.
ALICE Still Lives in Escambia County
Community & Economy Half Our Neighbors Are One Car Repair Away From Crisis United Way’s ALICE Report shows nearly 50% of Escambia and Santa Rosa…
South Navy Blvd Project Survives Veto; Public Safety Not So Much
Commissioner Mike Kolher’s South Navy Blvd Project funded, but DeSantis vetoed Salzman’s $2.4M public safety items requested by Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger.
Escambia Public Schools Show Marked Improvement
FL hits 60%+ proficiency in reading & math for the first time ever. Escambia’s middle schools are improving even faster.
