by Lawrence S. Wittner The issue of making college tuition-free has recently come to the fore in American politics, largely because the two leading contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination, Bernie Sanders…
Santa Rosa finalist catching heat at current job
Jackson County Administrator Ted Lakey, one of the finalist for the Santa Rosa county administrator job, is in a fight to keep his current job. On Tuesday night, Jackson County Commissioner Eric…
Florida still has high rate of uninsured kids
By MARGIE MENZEL THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA The number of uninsured children in the U.S. has dropped to a “historic low” under the federal Affordable Care Act — but Florida, while…
Fur flies on Florida Senate floor on redistricting vote, Latvala v. Gaetz
Notes from the News Service of Florida on today’s meeting of the Florida Senate: CONVENED: The Senate convened at 10 a.m., President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, presiding. PRAYER: Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, led…
Talking about jail sites
by Jeremy Morrison Across the front of the room a series of renderings rested on easels, each detailing potential sites for a new Escambia County jail. One visual aid in particular seemed…
Literary crisis should be a priority
The National Center for Education Statistics today released the Nation’s Report Card on mathematics and reading assessment findings across the country for fourth and eighth grade students. Compared to 2013, eighth grade…
Ethics matter: State land director resigns
Last Friday, State Lands Division Director Kelley Boree resigned. The Tampa Bay Times had investigating a sole-source $500,000 contract awarded to a company founded by another DEP employee and her husband. As…
Donovan lands big deal at new job
Former Pensacola International Airport Director Greg Donovan resigned in August 2014 to head the Melbourne, Fla. airport. Yesterday U.S. Air Force announced that one of his tenants at the Melbourne International Airport,…
Pensacola artist shines in Buffalo
Pensacola native Morgan Arnett enrolled this summer into the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of Buffalo. Her work has been featured at Center for the Art’s “Say Hello to…
Latest poll shows why Northwest Florida Republicans like Carson and Trump
The latest NY Times/CBS News poll has retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson ahead of Donald Trump in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. However, the difference is well within the poll’s margin…
‘Blue Moon’ suspect arrested
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan announced that Donald Hartung Sr., 58, has been arrested in connection with a triple homicide that occurred on Deerfield Drive on July 31. The victims, all deceased,…
State attorney looks into credit card misuse in city of Destin
Destin City Councilwoman Prebble Ramswell and City Manager Greg Gisela are being investigated for “irregularities in the city credit card†use. Last week, Gisela asked the State Attorney’s Office to review the…
Podcast: Songwriters help Larry Butler scholarship fund
On Nov. 6, the Frank Brown Songwriters’ Festival will pay tribute to Nashville’s legendary producer Larry Butler with a special concert at the University of West Florida Mainstage Theater. The benefit show…
UWF tackles dating violence
University of West Florida Wellness Services recently partnered with the UWF Department of Social Work to kick off the Red Flag Campaign for dating violence awareness. Adopted by more than 200 colleges…
State auditor writes up Northwest Florida Water Management District
Last month, the State Auditor General issued a report that pointed out several operational issues with the Northwest Florida Water Management District (NFWMD), which manages the water resources for Escambia, Santa Rosa,…
Okaloosa County gearing up to recruit airline
Pensacola International Airport is going have more competition for new airline service. The Okaloosa County Tourism Development Council has voted to budget $3 million to spend over two years to recruit the…
Florida deals with 17 redistricting amendments today
Today, state senators will face a slate of 17 amendments when they meet to consider a new set of lines for the chamber’s 40 districts. Four members of the Senate account for…
Today on Pensacola Speaks
On News Talk 1370 WCOA, I will interview Mica Hughes-Harrell, UWF Director of Wellness Services, on The Red Flag Campaign, national initiative to raise awareness of dating violence on college campuses. I…
Podcasts: UWF Historic Trust and Chasing the Cheese
On Friday, I had interviewed Rob Overton, executive director of the University of West Florida Historic Trust. He talked about the newly announced interpretative master plan for downtown Pensacola’s historic district. I…
Inaugural Pensacola a la Habana Regatta this weekend
The first major, fully-permitted sailboat race to Cuba – since diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba ceased Jan. 3, 1961 – starts this weekend near the mouth of Bayou Chico at…