County & City Coast Thru Christmas City of Pensacola and Escambia County governments try to coast to the end of the year without any drama. Neither the City Council nor County Commission…
Lewis Bear family gives UWF $1 million
After today’s board of trustees meeting for the University of West Florida, the Lewis Bear Family Foundation presented UWF president Dr. Judy Bense a check for $1 million. The gift will support…
Crist issues statement on Rubio signing up for Obamacare
From former Gov. Charlie Crist (current Democratic candidate for Florida governor) about Senator Marco Rubio’s decision to shop for and purchase health care for his family through one of the health care…
FSU loses BCS graduation championship
The University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Study of Race and Equity analyzed the graduation rates each of the football teams participating in the 2014 Bowl Championship Series. Florida State finished at…
Pensacola City Council passes Domestic Partnership Registry
The Pensacola City Council voted 8-1 tonight in favor of an ordinance creating a domestic partnership registry for the city. The following statement on the council’s vote may be attributed to ACLU…
Dr. Ruth Orth honored by OPERA America
OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, has named Dr. Ruth W. Orth, chair of Pensacola Opera’s Board of Trustees, the recipient of the 2014 National Opera Trustee Recognition Award. In…
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 will focus on serving the homeless in…
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 percent of Florida’s high school seniors graduated…
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 Board candidate (District 3 race) Sabrina Wallace-Jordan…
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 approved its bylaws and elected Collier Merrill…
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 Atlas Oyster House owe the city five…
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 Center for American Progress Action Fund issued…
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 now agreed that there are legitimate issues…
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 to April 2000. The mayor claimed in…
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 We are looking for Rising Stars for…
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 is my great honor to have worked…
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 court. In November 2011, a Mobile County…
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 on the American Southeast and the Caribbean….
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 and Communications Administrator Tamara Fountain went. Councilwoman…
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 a college degree from the University of…