Without the funding from a third $25 million grant from BP, the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council had to scrap plans to bring in political comedians Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert. The…
Breakdown of School District costs for records
What is now called “Public Records Request #97” – documents regarding the internal investigations into Warrington Middle School- will cost the IN $374.40 because of the cost of redacting the volume of…
Escambia Student Expulsions declining
The Escambia County Public School District has slowed down on its student expulsions. In January and February 2010, the District expelled 46 students. During the first two months of 2011, only 25…
Mayor issues statement on union vote
Yesterday The City employees voted 102 to 47 in favor of joining the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. From Mayor Ashton Hayward: “Over the past several months – from…
PolitiFact: Scott holds most of cards on high speed rail
While lawmakers try to figure out how to get the $2.4 billion in federal funds for the proposed high-speed rail from Tampa to Orlando, St. Pete Times report that Gov. Rick Scott…
BP: Feinberg plan too generous
Mobile Press Register is reporting: BP complained in a letter to Ken Feinberg, head of the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (which is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, not the Gulf Coast) that he…
Escambia Student Councils to be drug tested
If a middle or high school student wants to participate in extracurricular activities in Escambia County public schools, their parents must agree to let them be randomly drug tested. Key Clubs, Student…
Buzz: City workers vote to unionize
Just a phone call. City workers have voted to unionize. It may take a couple days for the vote to be certified. I’m hearing the vote was greater than 2 to 1…
Patrick Gonzalez sentenced to death
It took five minutes for Judge Nicholas Geeker to sentence Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. to death for the murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings and an additional 10 minutes to read his…
Toomer’s Corner tree-killer has Milton connection
Lee County, Ala. officials have arrested Harvey Updyke in connection with the Toomer’s Corner tree poisoning, WTVM-TV in Columbus, Georgia reports. According to the report, Auburn police arrested Harvey Almorn Updyke, 62,…
Small businesses are suffering, support locals
The aftermath of the BP disaster are being felt through the community. Small businesses that depend on strong tourism seasons to carry them through these months are hurting. Real people, real businesses…
Bama fan poisoned Auburn’s oaks at Toomer’s Corner
ALLACCESS. com reports Auburn’s beloved oak trees at Toomer’s Corner are dying, poisoned by an unknown individual who may have revealed himself on Paula Finebaum’s regionally syndicated sports talk show. The school…
Officials work to circumvent Gov. Scott decision on high speed rail
St. Pete Times reports lawmakers question whether Gov. Scott has the authority to unilaterally cancel the Tampa-to-Orlando line by rejecting $2.4 billion in federal funding for the project, which was approved by…
Buzz: County gets no relief from Scott pension reform
I spoke with County Commissioner Grover Robinson yesterday about the budget. He said that Gov. Rick Scott’s proposal for county employees to contribute 5 percent of their pension costs to Florida Retirement…
Ain’t No Sunshine at the District
In the days of Sheriff Ron McNesby (2001-2008), Public Records Request by IN were an adventure. It all began when we requested the flight logs of his helicopters because we had heard…
For Computer Geeks Only
Yesterday I posted a ThinkProgress story on how the hackers who go by the name Anonymous discovered a plot by security firms working of the U.S. Chamber’s law firm that was to…
Looking for Phil Campbell
Brooklyn writer Phil Campbell is looking for all the other Phil and Phyllis Campbells who live all over the world. He is organizing the first-ever International Phil Campbell Convention, to be held…
How ‘Morning Joe’ picks its music
When you watch “Morning Joe,†you can’t help but notice the music. Every commercial break is book-ended with tunes from a mix of bands — the Rolling Stones, Smashing Pumpkins, Rilo Kiley,…
Escambia County: $1.84 million BP claim
County Attorney Alison Rogers has informed me that the Board of County Commissioners will vote on accepting a $1,841,171 settlement with BP for lost revenues. Read Settlement offer.
Scott assumes all black legisators grew up poor
When white people, without any real experience working and living with people of other cultures and racial backgrounds, try to interact with minorities, the results can be awkward. Gov. Rick Scott welcomed…
