As chair of the House Health Care Budget Subcommittee, State Rep. Alex Andrade oversaw the largest portion of Florida’s state budget. The Pensacola Republican characterized the final days of negotiations as particularly…
City’s $2.4M demand: A Strategic Move or Legal Necessity?
The City of Pensacola sent shockwaves through local government circles last Friday when it formally demanded $2,448,905 from the Escambia Children’s Trust, asserting its claim that tax increment financing (TIF) revenues generated…
Podcast: Martha Saunders on journey to excellence
The University of West Florida has climbed to third place statewide in performance-based funding metrics—a dramatic improvement that reflects years of strategic focus and institutional commitment during Dr. Martha Saunders’ tenure as…
Daily Outtakes: City demands $2.4M from Children’s Trust
Last Friday, the City of Pensacola formally notified the Escambia Children’s Trust (Trust) to remit tax increment revenues (TIF) generated within the City’s Community Redevelopment Areas (CRAs), plus interest and late fees….
Beach Gateway Survey: “Not Rigged” version
The Escambia County Tourism Development Council meets tomorrow after its 2 p.m. budget workshop to discuss the Pensacola Beach Gateway. Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger’s survey found her fans liked cartoon #2. However, we’ve…
Block-By-Block graduates HVAC cohort
Building Careers, One Block at a Time: Escambia County Celebrates HVAC Workforce Development Graduates Escambia County recently celebrated a milestone in workforce development as 10 young adults graduated from the Block-By-Block Workforce…
Andrade on $115B budget: Tax Cuts, Healthcare Reform, and Hope Florida
As Florida legislators prepare for tonight’s final budget vote, State Rep. Alex Andrade offered insights into what he calls a “fiscally conservative” $115 billion spending plan that prioritizes tax relief and government…
Take Flight: New MaxFlight 360 Simulators at the National Naval Aviation Museum
Last Friday, the National Naval Aviation Museum launched two new MaxFlight 360 simulators—cutting-edge attractions delivering the ultimate flight experience with heart-pounding 360-degree pitch, roll, and spin motion. These simulators feature custom-designed exterior…
UWF Achieves #3 in State University System Rankings
As President Dr. Martha Saunders prepares to hand over her job, University of West Florida Provost Dr. Jaromy Kuhl announced to UWF Board of Trustees last week that UWF achieved remarkable success…
The Tale of the Sale of Old Stinky
The former Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) Main Street sewage treatment plant site, commonly known as “Old Stinky,” has become the focus of substantial redevelopment on Government Street in downtown Pensacola. The…
Top Reads: Week ended June 14, 2025
Readers followed closely the University of West Florida Board of Trustees and the Pensacola Beach Gateway debacle. UWF We posted Manny Diaz’s employment contract before any media in the state. Florida Education…
Saturday Takeaways
The Florida Legislature dropped from its health care budget funding Hope Florida staff positions at the Department of Children and Families, eliminating over $2 million initially allocated by both chambers. A separate…
Baptist: The $2 Million Question
By Addy Ruiz Will the Escambia County Commission contribute $2 million to the demolition of the closed Baptist Hospital? Should it? Background: Two years after closing, the old Baptist Hospital still stands…
From Ole Miss Politics to Mysteries
A Conversation with Author Dr. Darden North In this podcast episode, I reconnected with longtime friend Dr. Darden North, a practicing gynecologist turned acclaimed mystery novelist. In this engaging conversation, the two…
Daily Outtakes: UWF Trustee Tables Hoffman Tenure Despite Faculty Support
In a contentious move at Thursday’s University of West Florida Board of Trustees meeting, newly appointed trustee Zack (The Heritage Hack) Smith successfully tabled the tenure application of Dr. Chrystina Hoffman, Assistant…
Pensacola Honors Historic Burial Ground with Marker Ceremony
The City of Pensacola will commemorate the installation of a marker honoring the unmarked burial ground at Miraflores Park on Tuesday, June 17, at 9 a.m. to commemorate the installation of a…
IHMC Pioneers the Future of Human-Machine Collaboration
The Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) has always been ahead of the curve, but its latest venture into collaborative autonomy represents a quantum leap forward. In a recent episode…
UWF Trustees give Saunders full performance bonus
Chair Rebecca Matthews’ recommendation that President Dr. Martha Saunders receive her full 20% performance bonus received unanimous approval from the University of West Florida Board of Trustees. Because of Saunders’ resignation in…
Latest in UWF BOT Mysteries
The University of West Florida Board of Trustees meets at 9 a.m. While we did receive the contract proposal for Interim President Manny Diaz Jr, Board chair Rebecca Matthews still has not…
Presser Takeaways: Major Infrastructure Updates and Service Changes
During his press conference on Wednesday, June 11, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves covered everything from major construction projects to service disruptions and upcoming community events. Baptist Health Project Moves Forward Mayor Reeves…