Rick's Blog

Visit Pensacola’s next tourism chief comes down to two: a Galveston exec and Chattanooga’s retiring CEO. Meet them Thursday at The Fish House.

200+ artists, $26,000 in prizes, a UK textile artist and free admission — the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival takes over downtown Pensacola Nov. 6-8.

Retired Navy captain who ran a $180M Naval Academy operation is now CEO of the Pensacola Interstate Fair — with a plan to go year-round.

Sports A week of elite college soccer returns to Pensacola as 12 Southeastern Conference women’s teams compete for the 2026 SEC Championship, Sunday, Nov. 8,…

DHS’s own watchdog confirms it: “Alligator Alcatraz” locked detainees in 18-sq-ft metal boxes and never nailed down what rules applied.

Cruz and Cantwell say college sports is “the Wild West.” Their bipartisan bill could end it, and a UWF Argonaut watched it happen.

Free pet adoptions in Escambia County Sept. 18–30 — dogs & cats 1+ get a forever home for just a $15 fee.

UWF art students spent their summer building one gallery show—see “Altered State” at The 52 World before it closes Oct. 1!

Two Studer-owned teams, one wild week—Monarchs punch their ticket to a division title while the Blue Wahoos open the playoffs at home.

Escambia’s charter math problem: 62% of voters live in 3 districts that have crushed every charter vote since 1977. Can 2028 be different?

UWF’s Lumpy DeWeese trades helmet for hallways of Congress today, pushing the Protect College Sports Act to save college athletics from chaos.

Escambia County has rejected a charter 4 times since 1977. Now a former Pensacola charter architect says it’s time to try again. Here’s why.

A singer who nearly lost the ability to sing, license plate cameras going dark across the county, a Commerce Secretary in line to run Pensacola State, and the festivals that kick off fall—all in the Sept. 10 issue.

Commissioners just approved Jonathan Owens’ full $124,704 legal bill, 4-1 — over the county attorney’s own objections. Here’s who fought it and why.

20 years ago, Pensacola voted yes. Quint Studer reveals the behind-the-scenes of the fight for the Maritime Park and Blue Wahoo Stadium.

Jobs, jobs, jobs—but where’s the talent going to come from? Landrum’s Jim Howe breaks down how the Gulf Coast fills the skilled-worker gap for shipbuilding and ST Engineering.

Miami’s DIB runs on $22M a year. Pensacola’s runs on $1.2M — and it’s hosting the state’s downtown directors anyway. Here’s how.

Commissioner Lumon May just joined David Jolly’s new Black leaders coalition for governor, so if Pam Childers wants Jolly’s number, she knows who to call.

Florida’s most Instagrammable beach revealed — and Pensacola Beach cracks the state’s top 3! See the full rankings here.

Hofberger talked tough on budget cuts to News Journal—but never made the motion. Image and political reputation in recovery mode as she faces the voters in Nov.