By IN reporter Sean Boone According to West Florida Hospital spokesman Kendrick Doidge, the $550 million deal that would have West Florida buyout Baptist Healthcare has been delayed. Rumors have recently speculated…
Buzz: Baptist/West Florida deal off
Update: Baptist spokesman says the deal is still on, but is delayed until the bond market recovers. We are hearing the Baptist Hospital purchase of West Florida Hospital may be off. There…
Mack delivers the smack
Councilman-elect Diane Mack is upset with the political appraisal given by an Innisfree director on the chances of passing the airport lease. Mr. Richard Chism Director of Development Innisfree Hotels Baybridge Professional…
Fogg bets on SEC championship
The Mobile Press Register reports that Mayor John Fogg has a bet with Mobile Mayor Sam Jones on Saturday’s Alabama-Florida game. If Alabama wins, Fogg has to donate $150 in cash or…
Bed tax may be raised
Get ready for a battle over tourism dollars. Bay County (Panama City Beach) is set to raise its bed taxes 2 cents which moves its rate to 5 percent. Okaloosa, Escambia and…
Who owns training facilty property
The land for the proposed $22-million training facility to build by PJC is owned by RMS Timberlands, LLC. The purchase price is $3,278,400. Resource Management Service (RMS) Timberlands is a Birmingham-based company…
Okaloosa County has training facility
There is tremendous pressure by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Pensacola Junior College for Escambia County to give—-yes, give—$11 million to Pensacola Junior College to buy 684 acres north of Molino and…
Few more facts about Sansom’s college job
The St. Petersburg Times has been reporting more details on House Speaker Ray Sansom’s new job at Northwest Florida State College. Sansom will be paid $110,000 — nearly $25,000 more than his…
County bonds that never got paid
In doing some research I came across the debt portion of the county budget. It appears that for nearly two decades Escambia County has been continually refinancing its bonds that are tied…
Call for Sansom to resign
Florida Democrats are calling for Ray Sansom to resign either from Northwest Florida State College or the Florida House speaker. Press release: Today Florida Democratic Party Chair Karen Thurman called on Speaker…
Florida fails at higher education
The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education released its latest report that evaluates the state’s colleges and universities. Florida didn’t do too well. • Only 27 percent of Florida high…
Former editor blasts Gannett
As announced on this blog yesterday, Gannett has mandated further cuts at the News Journal. This is a real shame because it will impact this community – both in jobs lost and…
Who will replace Mel Martinez
The biggest name being batted around is popular former Gov. Jeb Bush. However, I wouldn’t rule out MSNBC host and former Congressman Joe Scarborough. Yes, he’s moved to the Washington, D.C., but…
CMP could begin Feb. 2009
The summary of the Master Developer Agreement has a timeline for the various phases. It shows that Land Capital plans to start moving dirt on the site in February 2009. Stadium will…
Boone Report: Port director says lease is good deal
by IN reporter Sean Boone by Sean Boone Pensacola Port Director Clyde E. Mathis says the proposed Council amendment to the lease between the Pate Stevedore cold storage company and the city…
More layoffs
This time it’s at the Pensacola News Journal. Owner Gannett has ordered another 10-percent cut throughout the system. We hear the cuts include three employees from the Sports staff, a features writer…
Martinez won’t seek re-election
U.S. Mel Martinez has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2010. Read more.
Taxpayers Association to form
Last night in a packed room in McGuire’s Irish Pub, attorney Bob Kerrigan announced that he was forming a group to be a watchdog over the budgets of county and city government….
Free our CMP
I read the daily newspaper’s article on yesterday’s Community Maritime Park Associates Board meeting. It’s titled “Maritime Park plan in flux.” Folks, we have to get rid of this notion that the…
Century approves All-For-One concept
The Century City Council listened last night to Scott Remington and Jason Crawford talk about consolidating Escambia County into one unified government. The council then passed a resolution that endorsed asking the…
