At 9 a.m. today, the Escambia Board of County Commissioners will see the latest plans for update the Pensacola Bay Center during its Committee of the Whole. The BCC has been presented…
Andrade: Dueling tax cuts create ‘bizarre times’ in Tallahassee
State Rep. Alex Andrade criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis’s proposal to give $1,000 rebates to Florida property owners, calling it a “free check handout” that “smacks of socialism.” In our interview yesterday, Andrade…
Breaking: Beggs & Lane merges with Phelps
Phelps announced today that it will combine with Beggs & Lane, Pensacola’s oldest law firm, effective May 1, 2025. The strategic move will expand Phelps to more than 425 attorneys across 17…
Under The Radar: GE Vernora expands in Pensacola
FloridaWest, Greater Pensacola Chamber and Escambia County missed this news story. GE Vernova unveiled a state-of-the-art Customer Experience Center in Pensacola last week. The innovative customer experience center at its Pensacola facility…
Merting Family donates $500,000 to UWF
A generous $500,000 gift from the Merting Family has founded the Merting Family Fellowship Support Endowment at the University of West Florida. This donation establishes the John W. Merting Family Office of…
Valimont first Democrat to beat a GOP candidate in Escambia since 2006
Republican Jimmy Patronis won Florida’s First Congressional race. Still, Democrat Gay Valimont became the first Democrat to get more Escambia County votes than her GOP opponent in a federal race since 2006….
Chamber announces PACE 2025 award winners
The Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce held its annual Pensacola Area Commitment to Excellence (PACE) Awards last night at the Pensacola Beach Hilton. Sue Straughn from WEAR-TV Channel 3 once again served…
Daily Outtakes: Andrade to investigate Hope Florida amid transparency concerns
State Rep. Alex Andrade, chair of the Health Care Budget Subcommittee, has announced plans to investigate the Hope Florida initiative. This program, championed by First Lady Casey DeSantis, has recently faced scrutiny…
City has right to inspect Chappie James Memorial finances
Under its stewardship agreement with the City of Pensacola, the General Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr. Memorial Foundation had to send the city an annual report on March 2, which included the nonprofit’s…
Mayor’s Presser: Port ready to begin American Magic HQ construction
Mayor D.C. Reeves announced retired Rear Admiral Lance Scott as the new Port Director, pending Pensacola City Council approval. With 31 years of Navy experience, Scott brings significant leadership credentials, having commanded…
March goes down as worst month for S&P 500 since 2022
The S&P 500 recorded its worst month since 2022, shedding 5.8 percent in March. Why? Analysts have cited higher tariffs, weaker economic growth, and more significant inflation than had been assumed at…
Pensacola native named senior enlisted advisor at Army hospital
General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital held a change of responsibility ceremony, welcoming Command Sgt. Maj. Johnny D. Thompson, a Pensacola native, as the new senior enlisted advisor. The outgoing command sergeant…
Daily Outtakes: Can we trust $2.3 million with these guys?
One difficult question has not been asked during the Escambia County Commission and the Tourism Council debates about how to help fund the construction of the General Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr. Monument…
DeSantis counters with $1,000 rebates, but no details
From the governor’s office: Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced a proposal to deliver immediate property tax relief to Florida homeowners: a rebate averaging $1,000 for each homesteaded property in the state. The…
DeSantis opposes House Sales Tax Cut Plan
Gov. Ron DeSantis rebuffed House Speaker Daniel Perez’s proposal to cut Florida’s sales tax Monday, arguing that Floridians want property tax relief instead. During an appearance at Florida Realtors in Orlando, DeSantis…
Foundation changes wording from ‘plaza’ to ‘open-air museum’
General Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr. Memorial Foundation has changed how it describes the monument and plaza it wishes to build to honor the Pensacola native and war hero. What was once a…
New House budget offers $5B tax cuts
On Friday, House Speaker Daniel Perez revealed a fiscally conservative budget proposal of $112.95 billion for Florida, positioning it as a more restrained spending plan than those proposed by both Governor Ron DeSantis…
New group tries to organize Perdido again
Envision Perdido, a newly formed organization, has announced plans to gather input from Perdido residents regarding the community’s future development priorities. The organization is positioning itself as a platform for community dialogue…
Daily Outtakes: Fill the Bus to Save UWF
The grassroots effort to support the University of West Florida and replace Gov. Ron DeSantis’s appointees to the UWF Board of Trustees with local leaders is assembling a “rapid response team” to…
Daily Outtakes: Taking a long weekend
It’s March Madness time, my favorite time of the year. I will be away from my computer until Monday morning. Have a great weekend! Hoddy Toddy!