Pensacola was excited to hear that University of West Florida trustee Scott Yenor had been removed from a board, only to later find out it was not from the UWF Board of Trustees.
They also read with interest County Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger’s failed attempt to fulfill what appeared to be a campaign promise to County Clerk Pam Childers and fire County Administrator Wes Moreno. Unfortunately, Chief Deputy Sheriff Tommi Lyter was caught in the political crossfire.
1. Breaking: Senate votes to remove Yenor, but not from UWF BOT State Sen. Randy Fine pushed for removing Boise State professor Scott Yenor from the IHMC board, calling the UWF Board of Trustee chairman – who was appointed to the board by @GovRonDeSantis – an “idiot,” a “bigot” and “misogynist.” Read more.
2. Wes Moreno’s employment contract: I broke the news that County Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger wanted to put the county administrator’s contract on the March 6 agenda for discussion. Furthermore, Chief Deputy Sheriff Tommi Lyter was calling around town, telling people that an unnamed commissioner (Hofberger, obviously) had asked if he was interested in the job. Read more.
Hofberger’s request was shut down by Commission Chairman Mike Kohler, who didn’t like how Team Ashlee disrespecting Moreno’s nearly four decades of service to the county. Read more.
3. The Escambia County School District drew readers. On Monday, I reported a small town hall where School Superintendent Keith Leonard and School Board Chairman David Williams cleared up rumors that N.B. Cook Elementary and O.J. Semmes Elementary were merging and Pensacola High School was adding seventh—and eighth-grade classes. Read more.
Celestine Lewis appeared at the school board meeting and tried to buy the Gibson School property, claiming that her Jaqueline Harris Preparatory Academy needed a new building because its current home was up for sale. She didn’t tell the board that her nonprofit owned the building. Read more.
4. Breaking: Pensacola JazzFest 2025 canceled After 42 years, the Jazz Society of Pensacola announced the festival was canceled “due to the loss of funding for arts and culture events by the State of Florida, reductions in donations and other factors.” Read more.
5. As tensions simmer, Andrade tells DeSantis, ‘Just don’t be a jerk’ Rep. Andrade expressed frustration with Desantis’ political posturing, noting the legislature’s support for the governor’s agenda. Read more.
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