How Tallahassee tackles homeless issue
The Tallahassee City Commission voted yesterday to lease the city’s 3.8 acres on West Pensacola Street for a new 24-hour Comprehensive Emergency Services Center that…
Escambia graduation rate up, but still below state rate
More high school students received diplomas this year in Florida, according to a report released yesterday by the Florida Department of Education. FDOE shows 75.6…
Grover tops campaign fundraising for second consecutive month
Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson (R-District 4) raised in November the most of any local candidate–$18,075. Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward was second ($3,550) and School…
Merrill elected first chairman of Visit Pensacola board
Yesterday, the Visit Pensacola board of directors held its first meeting. The meeting was primarily organizational and was properly held in the “Sunshine.” The board…
Independent News requests Mayor Hayward hold a press conference on Pitt Slip leases
The time has come for Mayor Ashton Hayward to explain his position on the Pitt Slip leases and why he believes The Fish House and…
Study says Escambia County is the 13th worse election offender
Escambia County Election Supervisor David Stafford questions validity of recent report that ranks his office as the 13th worse “election offender” in Florida. The Democrat-leaning…
Hayward says he has not changed his position on Pitt Slip
From Mayor Hayward: “The City’s position has not changed. The City is not backing down. I am pleased that Mr. Merrill and Mr. Russenberger have…
And poof, Mayor Hayward rescinds his notification of default against The Fish House
Mayor Ashton Hayward has rescinded his notice that The Fish House and Atlas Oyster House owed the city five percent of their gross sales retroactively…
2014 Rising Star nominations open, deadline Dec. 23
Since 2006, The Independent News has honored the top under-35-year-olds in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The “stars” have come from all walks of life…
Sen. Evers announces local state-funded road projects
The Florida Legislature has recently approved the funding for many key transportation projects across Northwest Florida. “As a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, it…
Ala. Supreme Court turns down Tyler Toyota appeal of $7.5 million slander judgment
The Alabama Supreme Court has affirmed the $7.5 million slander judgment against Bob Tyler Toyota–which is the largest slander award ever upheld by Alabama’s highest…
UWF establishes Early American Studies program, reflecting Pensacola’s history
The University of West Florida Department of History recently developed a graduate program offering a comprehensive look at Early American studies, with a special emphasis…
Buzz: Hayward pulls out of Germany trip
We received word that Mayor Hayward decided not to go to Germany with the Gulf Coast Aerospace Coalition–no word on whether Airport Director Greg Donovan…
Chief of Staff lied on his resume
One of the bigger stories around the state is the Miami Herald’s report that Gov. Rick Scott’s chief of staff, Adam Hollingsworth, lied about having…
City acknowleges public record request for partial assignment
The request is in the system. Let’s see what they find. From: City of Pensacola Public Records Office Subject: Public Records Request :: W000189-120913 Date:…
Weekend Buzz: Wilson, new TDC head, Fish House lawsuit and laughing at Hayward
Touart Decision Aftermath Commissioner Wilson Robertson wasn’t too happy about the 3-2 vote to remove George Touart from the list of candidates to be considered…
Walton County TDC has BP gift card issue, too
One of my favorite investigative reporters, Tom McLaughlin with the Fort Walton Daily News, reports today that auditors found the Walton County TDC had “inadequate”…
Hayward vs. The Fish House: Request for partial assignment
A key part of Mayor Ashton Hayward’s claim that The Fish House owes the city five percent of its gross sales retroactively to April 2000…
Mayor takes communications adminstrator with him to Germany
The Northwest Florida Daily News listed yesterday some members of the 35-person delegation headed to Germany in hopes of landing companies in the supply chain…
Top Posts for the week
The city of Pensacola remains the most popular posts on the blog. Several the posts were tied to the IN cover story “How Not To…


