The State of Florida provides free phones for citizens who have hearing impairments. In 1991 the Florida legislature passed the Telecommunications Access System Act to make basic telecommunications accessible and affordable for…
UWF Trustee, English professor honored at United Negro College Fund luncheon
The Greater Pensacola Chapter of the United Negro College Fund honored Lewis Bear Jr., chair of the University of West Florida Board of Trustees and president/CEO of the Lewis Bear Company, and…
Evers: ‘It’ll be snowing in Miami’ when pension bill passes
By Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida A law-enforcement union and one of the Republican senators who helped kill an overhaul of the state pension system last year came out Thursday…
County commission delays county administrator decision until noon tomorrow
For three and a half hours, the Escamabia County Commission listened to its five finalists for the county administrator position and deliberated who should replace George Touart. A motion to simply name…
Saenger Theatre Ranks No. 2 Nationwide
The SMG-Managed Saenger Theatre was listed as a No. 2 Top Spot Nationwide by Venues Today, an international trade magazine. The ranking was based on concert and event grosses for venues with…
Lizardfest this weekend
Lizardfest Serves Up Big Economic BoomOver $1,000,000 Spiked into Pensacola Area One of the biggest sporting events in Pensacola annually takes place this weekend, March 15-16. The Pensacola Lizardfest is a two-day…
United Way of Escambia County launches second annual non-profit training series
United Way of Escambia County is launching the second annual non-profit training series with this year’s first program hosted at the Lewis Bear Company from 9am to 3pm on Wednesday, March 26….
World’s Largest Food Truck Festival Ever, Part II – Tampa March 29-30
Some cities have ways to have fun with food trucks, not bash them. Tampa’s mayor is participating. The second World’s Largest Food Truck Festival, a weekend of gourmet food, live music, petting…
Breaking News: Florida Supreme Court rejects medical malpractice damage cap
The Florida Supreme Court ruled this morning that a 2003 law limiting damages in medical-malpractice cases is unconstitutional. The long-awaited ruling came in the case of a Panhandle woman who died of…
Win tickets to Hangout Festival (updated link)
The Independent News is giving away two tickets to Hangout Festival, May 16-18. Each email address entered will only be counted once, and winners must provide their own hotel and travel arrangements…
Homeless expert: Ordinances should never be first step in dealing with the homeless, calls the laws ‘silly’
Mayor Ashton Hayward, Pensacola City Council and the City of Pensacola garnered international ridicule for its homeless ordinances, particularly the one that outlawed blankets. An online petition by Rev. Nathan Monk has…
House of Sticks: Resuming the Chase
My allegiance to this column is based on my ability to lead you to credible references. Giving you resources that can verify my statements in detail, and name names, from the events…
House Democratic Leader Perry Thurston On the Passing of Former Governor Reubin Askew
House Democratic Leader Perry Thurston (D-Fort Lauderdale) issued the following statement regarding the death of former Florida Governor Reubin Askew: “Reubin Askew distinguished himself as one of the greatest governors in Florida…
Breaking News: Former Gov. Reuben Askew passes away
By Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida Former Gov. Reubin Askew, a major figure in modern Florida political history, died early Thursday at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare. Askew was 85. The former…
North Hill to City Council: ‘Please do not let us down’
PNJ reporter T.S. Strickland wrote in his column today about attorney Erik Mead’s email to the Pensacola City Council regarding the controversy in North Hill over the city granting a permit to…
Viewpoint: Decoupling can take dogs out the dog tracks
On June 20 a greyhound named Royal Runner died at Palm Beach Kennel Club. The dog was entered that day into a training event, and had never officially raced. In the final…
U.S. News & World Report: FSU law school better than UF
Florida State University’s law school continues to move up in national rankings and is listed among the best graduate and professional programs in the United States, according to U.S. News & World…
Hayward continues to have problems with zoning and neighborhoods. Why?
In the past five months, we’ve had two zoning issues come up inside the Pensacola city limits—Dollar General on Spanish Trail and Dept. of Corrections on North Palafox. The residents in both…
Jolly sinks Sink
Yesterday Republican David Jolly beat Democrat Alex Sink by less than 4,000 votes to win the Florida Congressional seat held by his old boss, the late Rep. Bill Young. Jolly won with…
Panhandle Tiger Bay Club hears from moderate Republican. This may be your last chance to see one.
Republican candidate for Congress in the Panhandle in 2010 and author of “The Reluctant Republican: My Fight for the Moderate Majority” (University Press of Florida), Barbara Olschner will be speaking to the…