Sources in Tallahassee have shared that University of West Florida Trustee Chair Rebecca Matthews has been directed to hire a Moscow, Idaho company, RedBalloon, to do the university’s presidential search. Who’s RedBalloon?…
UWF Adds Civil Engineering Program
The University of West Florida’s Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering is launching a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree this fall. The program will be housed within the newly…
Tina Brown’s Epstein Column Demands Your Attention
When legendary editor Tina Brown—who transformed Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and founded The Daily Beast—weighs in on Jeffery Epstein and the records related to his case, I want to know what…
Buzz: $4.6M Frozen + Mystery Buyers: Stories Media Missed
Two statements made at public meetings went under the radar for most of the media last week Mental Health Funds Frozen At the Escambia Children’s Trust board meeting on July 8, Escambia…
Daily Outtakes: Childers blocks $500 for American Legion kids
Frustrations mount as commissioners and the clerk’s office clash over Clerk Pam Childers’ new community support fund requirements. What should have been a routine approval of a $500 payment to the American…
Remembering the Cantonment Catfish Pond
When a “catfish pond” becomes a massive excavation operation, you know something fishy is going on. In 2006, Roads Inc., Escambia County’s largest road contractor, applied for a stormwater permit to…
Top Reads: Week Ended July 11, 2025
Coming off a long Fourth of July holiday weekend, I was concerned about getting back into a news frame of mind. We had finished six months of some of our most intense…
Rev. John Powell passes away
Rev. John Powell, a steadfast pillar of the Pensacola community and founder of Truth for Youth, has passed away while fighting to recover from a heart attack that struck him earlier this…
TaxWatch Report: Trump Tariffs’ Impact on Florida Consumers
President Trump’s sweeping tariff policies are set to deliver a significant financial blow to Florida consumers, according to a comprehensive analysis released by Florida TaxWatch. The nonpartisan watchdog organization warns that the…
What caused Mayor Reeves and Chief Randall break-up?
Yesterday, the City of Pensacola announced Eric Randall has stepped down as Chief of Police, effective immediately. Also, effective immediately, Mayor D.C. Reeves has named Captain Kristin Brown as Acting Chief of…
Podcast: ShotSpotter won’t return
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons is navigating budget realities after Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed state funding for the county’s ShotSpotter program, leaving law enforcement agencies to reassess their crime-fighting strategies. Background: The…
Daily Outtakes: Children’s Trust, County Settle Dispute
Before last night’s meeting of the Escambia County Commission, the Escambia Children’s Trust had five votes to approve an exemption request and interlocal agreement that will direct Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds…
Help Shape the Future of the Fricker Resource Center
The City of Pensacola invites residents to help shape the future of the Fricker Resource Center by participating in two upcoming public engagement meetings for the Fricker Resource Center Renovation Project. Thanks…
Pensacola Bay Center Renovation Plans Gain Momentum
City and county leaders agree to expedite facility improvements while awaiting the completion of a comprehensive district study. Pensacola city and county officials are moving to accelerate renovation plans for the aging…
How Much Did Maritime Park Increase Downtown Property Values
The CRA was established in 1982 to promote economic development and urban revitalization in the area bound by Bayfront Parkway, A Street, Cervantes Street, and Ninth Avenue. To fund the CRA, the…
Podcast: Appointed vs. Elected Superintendent
As Escambia County prepares for what could be its seventh or eighth referendum on whether to elect or appoint its school superintendent, Walker Wilson is ready to defend the appointed system he…
Daily Outtakes: Galvez Landing Boat Launch Expansion Nixed
The $5 million expansion of the Galvez Landing boat launch has been dropped from Amendment 4 for the RESTORE funding plan, and public beach access has been retained. Read Agenda Item. This…
Trust Board Meeting Focuses on ECPS Academic Improvements
Last night, the Escambia County Children’s Trust board meeting reviewed academic progress across Escambia County Public School District (ECPS), with data showing improvements in multiple schools through targeted community partnerships and student…
Right Time, Right Idea
When people stroll down Palafox Street in downtown Pensacola, they see a vibrant city celebrating its rich history. When they attend a baseball game at Blue Wahoos Stadium or listen to the…
Presser Notes: Pensacola’s Curbside Recycling Returns
Pensacola residents can once again participate in curbside recycling as Mayor D.C. Reeves announced the relaunch of the city’s recycling program this month. The program, which had been on hiatus, is now…
