By JIM SAUNDERS THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA Millions of Floridians could find it a little cheaper to run the air conditioning in 2016. The state’s four major investor-owned utilities — stretching…
City of Gulf Breeze funds street paving using other sources, not just gas taxes
Gulf Breeze City Manager Buz Eddy told Inweekly that the city of Gulf Breeze spends about $450,000 on paving and sidewalks. Half of the expenditures are funded by the city’s allocation of…
Big drop in city transportation expenditures over the past five years
Included with Olson’s letter is a spreadsheet that shows how the old allocation formula was calculated in 2006. The city expenditures were much higher from 2001-2005 than they have been the past…
Mayor Hayward and Olson fight to keep old tax allocation
Yesterday afternoon, Pensacola City Administrator Eric Olson sent Escambia County Administrator Jack Brown a letter requesting the county continue the current Local Option Gas Tax allocation of 18.22 percent. He also included…
How Escambia County calculated gas tax allocation
Amy Lovoy, Assistant County Administrator, calculated the new allocation formula for Local Option Gas Tax revenue. Here are the notes she provided with her spreadsheet: Attached are the distribution percentages based on…
Bad News: City could lose $1 million-plus in local option gas tax
City of Pensacola may lose $1,086,400 in local option gas tax revenue if the Escambia Board of County Commissioners passes a proposed resolution to adjust the formula used to allocate the gas…
Bud Light Charity Tennis Challenge returns Oct. 23-24
Press release: The Pensacola Sports Association, in partnership with the Lewis Bear Company, is hosting the 11th Annual Bud Light Charity Tennis Challenge October 23 and 24 at the Roger Scott Tennis…
Circuit Judge candidates announced
The First Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission received applications from the individuals listed below to fill the vacancies created by the retirement of Judge Terry Terrell and Judge Michael Jones: Ryan M. Barnett…
Florida cities can sue banks for targeting minorities for predatory loans
By JIM SAUNDERS THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA A federal appeals court Tuesday said the city of Miami can pursue lawsuits alleging that three major banks violated the Fair Housing Act by…
City releases new policy for federal emails (update)
Pensacola City Administrator Eric Olson sent out this email to city department heads: After consultation with the City Attorney I am clarifying my email dated 7/7/2015 10:46 AM. The procedures mandated by…
Pensacola Speaks: Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera takes on Rep. Murphy over Iran deal
Yesterday, Democratic Congressman Patrick Murphy came out in favor of the Iran nuclear deal, calling it “the toughest decision of my time in Congress.” Murphy, who is running for the U.S. Senate…
81st Pensacola Interstate Fair announces entertainment
Press release: It’s Magical! It’s Fun! It’s the Fair! The 81st Pensacola Interstate Fair promises all the fun and excitement that it’s become known for over the years, along with big name…
Dance: PenBEx 5 this weekend, Sept. 4-7
PenBEx 5 is a series workshops and social dances at multiple events around Pensacola and Pensacola Beach. PenBEx stands for Pensacola Blues Exchange. An exchange is a dance event where people from…
Questions about journalists’ name changes
Last week’s shooting has prompted a discussion in the media over news reporters adopting on-air names different from their own. The shooter in Roanoke, Va. once worked at the WDBJ-TV as a…
UWF OEDE offers $5 million incentives for job creation
Press release: The University of West Florida Office of Economic Development and Engagement is accepting applications for $5 million in job creation incentives. The funds, offered through the Industry Recruitment, Retention and…
State Capital Briefs: Pot Petitions, Redistricting
From: THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA MARIJUANA INITIATIVE HEADED TOWARD COURT REVIEW Backers of a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana appear to have submitted enough petition signatures to spur a…
350 Pensacola: What are legal and policy responses to climate change
Press release: Florida’s coastline is slowly drowning as a warming planet pushes seas higher, and all levels of government are taking steps to plan for and adapt to the rising seas. Join…
State Attorney: City needs to rewrite federal email policy
Pensacola City Administrator Eric Olson has to rethink his policy on how city employees  handle emails from federal accounts after the State Attorney’s office notified him that his July 7 mandate was…
Only 30 days remain to submit RESTORE project ideas
Press release: Escambia County is reminding citizens who wish to submit their ideas for Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies (RESTORE) projects to do so before the submission deadline…
StudioAmped begins recording Sept. 28
WSRE, PBS for the Gulf Coast, has moved the taping of “StudioAmped” from spring to fall. Now the free Amos Studio concert series is happening around the Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival with…