
When I appeared on a panel to discuss the news stories of 2024, PNJ Executive Editor Lisa Nellessen Savage remarked that any story about County Clerk Pam Childers went viral for them. She’s right. Our readers love to hear about the clerk’s foibles.
Daily Outtakes: Chappie James Monument group tried to prove David Bear lied. It didn’t go well
The Board of Directors of the General Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. Memorial Foundation asked David Bear, Lewis Bear Company CEO and chairman of the Escambia County Tourist Development, to prove that he contributed to its Foundation. Bear showed them the canceled check and gave them the narrative about it. Why won’t the Foundation provide a fully accounting of its finances? Why is County Clerk Pam Childers covering up for them and not applying the scrutiny she gives other expenditures? Read more.
Daily Outtakes: Comments raise Sunshine Law questions
*Has backroom dealing become Escambia County’s new preferred governance style?* The same players who cried foul over Jeff Bergosh’s text messages appear comfortable with private meetings and pre-arranged votes when it serves their interests. The public deserves better. Read more.
UWF Board Appointments: The Hidden Story
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis should write a textbook on how power consolidation works when nobody’s paying attention. One chapter must be devoted to the political maneuvering happening right under our noses at the University of West Florida. Read more.
County Commission wants transformative change to Bay Center
Finally, the Escambia Board of County Commissioners appears to be on the same page. Let’s get a Mercedes version. Read more.
ST Engineering moving Mobile, AL ops to Pensacola and San Antonio
We deciphered the weirdest press release ever and broke the news ST is shutting down its operations in Mobile, Ala. Read more.
FROM INWEEKLY
Outtakes—DOGE Needs Another D
Governor Ron DeSantis has established his own version of President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) through executive order, drawing both skepticism and criticism.
The Florida DOGE will operate from within the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget and will focus primarily on identifying wasteful spending in local governments, state universities and colleges. However, the Governor’s office itself appears to be exempt from this efficiency review. The correct acronym should be DODGE. Read more.
2025 Florida Legislative Session Bills to Watch
The Northwest Florida delegation made their presence known in Tallahassee before the legislative session opened on March 4. State Sen. Don Gaetz, Rep. Alex Andrade and Rep. Michelle Salzman filed bills that seek to ease restrictions on marijuana, enforce safeguards for children using social media and turn up the heat on utility companies to lower costs. Read more.
Winners & Losers 3/6/25: EMAN EL-SHEIKH, JOHN ERAR, JAMAL AND JAMARI SHARP, and ESCAMBIA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Read more.