UWF PURGE
The firing of a prominent LGBTQ+ advocate at the University of West Florida drew concern from the local area, where the LGBTQ+ community has deep roots. A right-wing group had targeted Aurora Osborn, the University of West Florida’s Senior Director of the Office of Campus Culture and Access, in a hidden camera video in May.
The group falsely accused her of being an “extremist” and pushing a “pro-DEI agenda.” She is the vice president of Sunday’s Child, a Pensacola-based nonprofit group dedicated to promoting diversity, inclusion, and equality, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community, by awarding grants to local initiatives and nonprofits in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Fact: The 2024 Intellectual Freedom and Viewpoint Diversity Survey found that cancel culture, limitations on free speech and indoctrination are not problems at the University of West Florida. Sixty-five % of UWF students reported that the campus atmosphere was equally tolerant of both liberal and conservative ideas and beliefs, which is higher than the State University Student (SUS) average of 51% and the Buckley National Student Sample (36%).
Read UWF Purge Continues; Targeted Administrator Fired
PAVING OVER IT
Florida cities and counties are facing the Florida Department of Transportation’s mandate to remove all street murals and crosswalks. The motto is “Make Florida Roadways Boring Again.” Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves says the city doesn’t have time for this and has asked FDOT to address A Street.
Read Mayor asks FDOT to remove A Street mural
AND OR OR
The indictment of Justin J. Wright states he “engaged in conduct that placed the person in reasonable fear of death of and serious bodily injury to that person, an immediate family member of that person, and a spouse and intimate partner of that person” in violation of Title 18 US code sections 2261A(1)(A) and 2261(b). An attorney pointed out that the code regarding stalking says “or,” not “and.”
In most instances, this wouldn’t matter, but the person in question is County Clerk Pam Childers. Everyone wants to see the complaint when it’s unsealed. Childers had insinuated that the June 2024 fire bombing had to do with the Escambia County Commissioners. That doesn’t appear to be likely now. Was Childers being blackmailed?
Read Is ‘Intimate Partner’ a Typo in Extortion Indictment
BYE, VEO
Mayor D.C. Reeves announced today that Pensacola will terminate its contract with VEO scooters effective November 1, citing resident survey data showing a clear majority of concerns about the program’s value to the community. On Reddit, this has been circulating. Will there be a movement to save the scooters? Read Adios, Veo Scooters
WHERE ARE OUR OYSTERS
The Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program released its 2025 State of the Bays Report today, revealing critical conditions for oyster populations in the Pensacola Bay System while showing stability in seagrass habitats across both watersheds.