Escambia’s Big Gamble, or ‘No Blinking’

The Escambia County Commission has decided to take over operations of the Escambia County Jail. The move follows fruitless negotiations with the Escambia County Sheriff,…

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Brush Strokes and Non-Starters

It’s unclear what course of action the Escambia County Commission will take in response to the recent U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the operations…

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Panama Gene and the Flow Control Victory

Fresh off his economic development trip to Central America, Escambia County Commission Chairman Gene Valentino is jazzed about possible opportunities locally. “Contrary to the pundits,…

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County Jail cited by DOJ as unsafe, needs more staff and better mental health program

The Civil Right Division of the U.S. Department of Justice has concluded its five-year investigation of the Escambia County Jail and its findings are as…

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Stand down, fumbles and Act II this week

Last week was one of those rare weeks when news seemed to come from every direction. We had Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll, the first African-American…

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Valentino Vents

Escambia County Commission Chairman Gene Valentino learned about the mess over at the chamber of commerce a few days ago. “I’m a little disappointed with…

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City on ECAT: ‘No Decisions Have Been Made’

Pensacola City Council members this week spoke out against Mayor Ashton Hayward’s apparent intention—relayed via a public statement from Escambia County Commission Chairman Gene Valentino—to…

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Valentino challenges City on its pulling gas tax revenues from ECAT

Our reporter Jeremy Morrison is covering the Escambia County Commission agenda workshop. He just texted me that Commissioner Valentino has made a statement against Mayor…

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Touart’s Return

George Touart is returning to county government. In a move Escambia County Vice Chairman Gene Valentino described as a way to keep the county “moving…

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Life After Randy

With Randy Oliver gone, the Escambia County Commission must now decide who will take the reins as County Administrator. “I really can’t tell you for…

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Foreign Delegation Dollars

Recently returned from scouting out business interests in Germany, Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino told the commission this morning to expect visits from foreign delegations…

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The Randy Conversation

The parameters of a discussion regarding Escambia County Administrator Randy Oliver’s contract remain a mystery. The county commission is scheduled to take up the matter…

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Commissioners Face Gibbs Alone

Three Escambia County Commissioners facing individual lawsuits may be on their own. The lawsuits stem from decisions each commissioner made in an official capacity. “I…

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Commissioner Valentino on Bay Bridge Toll

Earlier this month, the Escambia County Commission passed a resolution opposing a toll on the bay bridge. State transportation officials invited Commission Chairman Wilson Robertson…

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Dirty Smurfs

Escambia County officials have no interest in seeing a recycling center on a collection of remediated Superfund sites. They also don’t want to see any…

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Buzz: White and Valentino at it again

We’re hearing that Escambia County Commissioner Kevin White wants to appoint Karen Sindel to the county planning board and fellow commissioner, Gene Valentino, isn’t happy….

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Gilmore Deposition for Valentino trial

Tomorrow, Okaloosa County Judge Jim Ward will rule on a motion by Barry Beroset to dismiss the misdemeanor charges for campaign solicitation in a government…

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Unofficial transcript of Touart-Valentino phone call

On Sunday, the Pensacola News Journal published an article on a taped conversation between former County Administrator George Touart and County Commissioner Gene Valentino. Valentino…

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Problem on Alabama side of Key

Spoke last night with Commissioner Gene Valentino who drove late yesterday an ATV on the beach from Perdido Pass to Eden Condominiums. He said that…

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Where was BP at 4:30 press conference?

At the Sunday, June 6, 4:30 pm press conference, BP had no representative. I asked Commissioners Gene Valentino and Kevin White, “Shouldn’t BP be a…

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