Why Sources Trust Us: The Major Stories We Broke in 2025

Rick Outzen

4 hours ago

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When I started my newspaper 27 years ago, I talked with publishers, editors and reporters with successful alt-weekly newspapers around the country. They said that Gannett would be a tough competitor and wouldn’t take kindly to another newspaper in a market it dominates, as the News Journal did in the 1990s and 2000s.

Of course, we poked the bear. Our inaugural marketing campaign was: “A Good Newspaper for a Town that Needs One.”

The editors and reporters shared that the key to good investigative reporting was building sources. We would never much the number of reporters other media could throw at a story.

Recently, I have come to understand the value of being nimble and having the experience and institutional knowledge to connect the dots better than anyone else.

The past year, we broke an unusually large number of stories, thanks to readers and sources trusting us with their stories – especially in December. Here are a few that stood out:

December

Deadly Gregory St. Intersection Sees Accidents Triple

The City of Pensacola and the Florida Department of Transportation have a problem—the first intersection coming off the Chappie James Bridge, Gregory Street and 14th Avenue, has had 22 vehicular crashes and three motorcycle fatalities in 2025 as of Dec. 8. The crashes reported by Mayor D.C. Reeves in an email to District 3 FDOT Secretary Tim Smith are triple times higher than the average of the previous two years.

Charter School with Diaz Connection Opening on UWF Campus in January

Somerset University Preparatory Academy has announced it will open a private elementary school in Building 85 on the University of West Florida campus in January. The semester tuition is $3,750, with a $100 registration fee.

Rep. Andrade: AG Uthmeier “Stole” $16M from Florida Taxpayers

State Rep. Alex Andrade revealed new evidence confirming that the controversial $10 million payment to the Hope Florida Foundation was indeed Medicaid money—and that the scheme ultimately cost Florida taxpayers $16 million, not the $10 million initially reported.

Weekend Buzz: Downtown Post Office

Work has begun on the new downtown Pensacola post office. It’s at the site of the old Sluggo’s and Napoleon Bakery on South Jefferson Street. The renovations are expected to take about six months, according to my sources. The Post Office moved from its Palafox location on April 26, 2024. The post office boxes were relocated to the East Hill Station, 3001 North Davis Highway.

Pensacola Mardi Gras Announces New Parade Route

Pensacola Mardi Gras is adapting to downtown’s “Reimagine Palafox” construction project with a temporary parade route change (Jefferson Street) and a new series of Tuesday night events designed to bring crowds to local businesses during the first six weeks of the street’s closure.

Good News: Tacos Mexicanos Staying Open

Gabe Hernandez has sold the popular Taco Mexicanos to Pablo Hernandez (no relation). The food truck will stay open through December while they work out the details. The “full hand off” will take place on Jan. 1. Gabe will remain involved on the brand level.