During his re-election campaign, Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward touted how many staff positions he cut and how he reduced payroll costs. His proposed budget for FY 2017 shows that the personnel costs…
Budget Voodoo: City departments have increased spending significantly
Pensacola residents are lucky to have an experienced City Council reviewing the FY 2017 budget proposed by Mayor Ashton Hayward. P.C. Wu has 12 years on the council, Jewel Cannada-Wynn 10 years,…
Budget Voodoo: City of Pensacola enterprises down from FY 2014
The City of Pensacola has four businesses–Pensacola International Airport, Pensacola Energy, Port of Pensacola and Sanitation. In FY 2014, they turned operating profits, except for Sanitation. In the proposed budget for next…
Grand jury indicts man for first degree felony murder in toddler’s death
State Attorney Bill Eddins announced today that an Escambia County Grand Jury indicted Alonzo Dewayne Thompkins, Jr. for First Degree Felony Murder in the death of a two year old child, C.S….
Pen Air Employees grant Magic Moment wish
On Wednesday, Aug. 31 at 10 a.m., the employees of Pen Air Federal Credit Union will grant a 13-year-old, Central Baldwin Middle School student his Magic Moment wish. The surprise will include…
Viewpoint: College football is a touchdown for Florida’s local and state economies
By Dominic M. Calabro It is Hurricane season in Florida. And Seminole season. And it’s also the season for the Gators and Rattlers and Bulls and many others. After a long hot…
Pensacola native chosen Roman Catholic bishop for Memphis
Martin D. Holley, currently Auxiliary Bishop of Washington D.C. and an advocate of minority issues, has been appointed the new Bishop of Memphis, Tenn. by Pope Francis. Holley was born Dec. 31,…
General Revenue estimates reduced
Florida TaxWatch reports that the General Revenue Estimating Conference has revised earlier estimates, reducing expected collections by $131.9 million in the current year (FY 2016-17) and by $131.1 million for the next…
Pensacola Children’s Chorus alum debuts first album [podcast]
Charley Young, the “unstoppable Southern Girl with New York City Grit“, will debut her first album, Phoenix Rising, next month. The release date is Sept. 13 and is available for pre-order on…
Mum on investigation of shooting in old Escambia courthouse
Escambia County and Pensacola Police Department are not ready to release any more information on the Aug. 12 shooting at the Escambia County Administrative Complex. Joy Tsubooka, the county’s Community & Media…
UWF librarian shares his research on Bayview Park Cross
Yesterday, Dean Debolt, the University Librarian for UWF University Archives and West Florida History Center and John C. Pace Libraries, posted his research on the Easter sunrise services held at the City…
GSA poised to fix major leaking problems at Federal Courthouse
By Duwayne Escobedo— In one empty office in the north east corner of the federal courthouse on the fourth floor sits a trash can to catch water that bows the ceiling. Small…
DROP: City General Pension
In reviewing the Individual DROP Account statements for the City of Pensacola’s General Pension, we found several employees who have completed the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) and are still working for…
Broxson widens lead in campaign fundraising versus Hill
The campaign reports for the Aug. 6-12 reporting period have been posted on the state’s Division of Elections website. State Rep. Doug Broxson raised $22,000, while Rep. Mike Hill only collected $9,200….
Escambia County voters are doing it early
According to the Escambia Supervisor of Elections’ office, nearly 16,000 voters have already cast their votes for the Aug. 30 primary: Mail-in: 14,261 Early Vote: 1,643 Total 15,904 The breakdown by Party:…
Three UWF students named American Chemical Society Scholars
Three students from the University of West Florida Department of Chemistry were recently selected to join the National American Chemical Society Scholars Program. A total of 12 UWF students have been named…
Homestead exemption helps determine legal residency for Florida House
Rep. Mike Hill is under investigation for claiming a homestead exemption for a home in the Marcus Pointe subdivision that he and his wife have owned since 1995. The residence is in…
State Weekly Roundup: This is a test
(Recap and analysis of the week in state government) By BRANDON LARRABEE THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA Whether it’s the kind given to students in school or the kind that can detect…
Miller tours Federal Courthouse on Monday
U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL-01) announced that he will be touring the Federal Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida along with the Senate Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Chairman John Boozman (R-AR),…
University president selections have become more like speed dating
Like UWF, Florida Gulf Coast University is looking for new president. Last month, their presidential search committee voted to accelerate the search timeline, moving the final selection from March 2017 to December…