The Escambia County Sheriff’s budget has increased $26.6 million this past decade – 57.6%.  The budget is about $3 million  shy of what was when the ECSO managed the county jail,…
Presser notes: COVID, Scooters, Park
At his weekly presser, Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said the percentage COVID-positive cases is up as are hospitalizations. “We’ve not been tracking hospitalizations, but I did get a text from Dawn Rudolph…
Proposed county budget online
Escambia County’s proposed  budget for 2021-22 is now online.  The total combined budget is $568,262,165, down $19.7 million from the current year budget of $587,933,284. The budget online is interactive. The Escambia…
Check out July 15 issue
Scoop There It Is Celebrating National Ice Cream Day Around Town (and in your freezer) Sunday, July 18 —The Official Scoop— Just in case you’re rolling your eyes while reading this and…
Local white supremacists indicted
Acting United States Attorney Karin Hoppmann announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging 16 individuals with violent crimes in aid of racketeering. According to the indictment, the defendants were members of…
Peacocks honored by Gulf Coast Kid’s House
John and Jerre Peacock recently made a $25,000 donation to Gulf Coast Kid’s House to further their mission of ending child abuse and healing families impacted by abuse. “It takes a truly…
County still needs census data to redraw districts
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford told the Board of County Commissioners that his office has yet to receive the 2020 census data. At the Committee of the Whole, Stafford said…
Backroom Briefing: Getting hot over protests
By Jim Turner, © 2021 The News Service of Florida. All rights reserved; see terms. Weekly political notes from The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Nearly three months after signing a…
BCC looks at charging mobility fee
At its Committee of the Whole, the Escambia Board of County Commissioners will discuss whether to add a mobility fee for new construction. From the Powerpoint presentation attached to the agenda item:…
Andrade environmental panel tomorrow
State Rep. Alex Andrade will be holding an Environmental Panel Discussion focusing on water quality, oyster restoration, and preserving Northwest Florida’s natural habitat at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 15, at Institute…
Warrington Middle turnaround plan approved
Today, the Florida Board of Education approved improvement plan for Warrington Middle School presented by Escambia County School Superintendent Dr. Tim Smith at the St. Petersburg College Seminole campus in Pinellas County….
Podcast: The Magic of Southern Fiction
For three years, I hosted “Pensacola Speaks” on WCOA 1370AM. One of my favorite interviews was with award-winning author Katherine Clark on the magic of Southern fiction:
Oh, no! Cuban-American protestors block roadways
The Orlando Sentinel reports that protestors calling for the U.S. to help demonstrators in Cuba blocked roads in Tampa, Orlando and Miami – a violation of the Anti-riot bill passed by the…
County budget buzz
Escambia County’s proposed budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year will be posted on the county’s website today or tomorrow. As we suspected, former County Administrator Janice Gilley left the county without completing…
DeSantis asks Biden administration for $1.1B for Medicaid
By Christine Sexton © 2021 The News Service of Florida. All rights reserved; see terms. TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is asking the federal government for an additional $1.1 billion in…
Best of the Coast voting passes mid-point
The Best of the Coast voting is going strong. The readers’ survey continues through Wednesday, July 21. Just like we have every summer for the last 21 years, we’re asking you all…
Local cities receive block grants
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced grant awards totaling more than $3.5 million in Northwest Florida. Grant funding will be used to improve infrastructure, community redevelopment, and job creation in…
Change of Command at Information Warfare Training Command
Cmdr. Meredith Schley relieved Cmdr. Zach D. McKeehan as commanding officer of Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Corry Station in a Change of Command Ceremony held at the National Naval Aviation Museum…
Clerk having trouble collecting bed tax
Escambia County Clerk of Courts Pam Childers tried to deliver to the Board of County Commissioners her monthly report on Tourist Development (also known as bed tax) last Thursday, but Commissioner Jeff…
DeSantis appoints local
Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Katie Spear and David Rouse to the Board of Optometry. Katie Spear of Pensacola, is a licensed optometrist and owner of The Visual Performance…