Rick's Blog

Ballet Pensacola’s new executive director talks about stepping into leadership, the company’s evolution from Kaleidoscope Dance Theatre, and plans to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2028.

She digs her own clay and started downtown’s newest art night. Plus Escambia schools first A, TruWorth debut, Jolly on data centers, Jelly Roll vs. Patronis.

UWF just landed a national maritime workforce designation, one of only 16 in the U.S. Here’s how 1,085 students are building Gulf Coast ships.

Escambia teachers got the district an A — union president Carol Cleaver says they’re still waiting on a raise, lunch breaks & bereavement leave.

Pensacola just handed residents the mic. New Civic Dialogues tool lets you pitch city priorities directly—six weeks only. Here’s how it works.

Community & Law Local Firm Launches First NIL Practice in the Region — Free Seminar Explains Why It Matters Levin Papantonio attorney Brenton Goodman joins…

Kohler says Escambia has “not a whole lot” of fat to cut—so why does Amendment 3 have him bracing for a $43M hit? Budget breakdown inside

Pensacola’s airport is getting a $165M facelift — and the director finally admits Vegas flights are still in play. Details and podcast on ricksblog.biz.

Grand jury: $10M misappropriated. House Dems say impeach AG Uthmeier. DeSantis’ team calls it politics. Here’s what’s really going on.

The audited financial statements give the taxpayer a limited view of the Clerk of Court’s financial operations. However, all the numbers have been audited and,…

A $200K state grant just moved Corry Station a step closer to a $200M+ rebuild of its cyber warfare training hub. Here’s what’s planned.

Clerk Pam Childers still won’t release detailed budgets—but audited records reveal spending up 22% while revenue grew 17%. Taxpayers now covering $3.9M.

Florida is short 486,000 homes — and a new report says local zoning, not land, is why working families can’t afford a starter home anymore.

Public Safety Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons is suspending the county’s license plate reader system, following Florida Governor’s order Monday directing law enforcement agencies to…

Sheriff Chip Simmons just suspended Escambia’s license plate camera network statewide pressure mounts and privacy questions grow. Full statement on ricksblog.biz.

Downtown Pensacola’s Harvest Sip & Shop returns Sept. 9 — Fall finds, live music, seasonal sips & a shot at 3 gift baskets from 24 local shops.

Songwriters fest just got bigger — 150+ artists, 11 days, two towns. Nashville hitmakers hit downtown Pensacola before the beach takes over.

Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon welcomes The Holman Law Firm, boosting Family Law services across NW Florida. 100+ years of trusted counsel, now stronger.

Escambia Clerk Pam Childers’ budget jumped 62% in five years—$2.19M more. Her website won’t explain why, and her office hasn’t released a detailed breakdown.

UWF’s Trista Bennett is one of just 7-12 students statewide picked for a Florida Gubernatorial Fellowship — a year in Tallahassee, law school next.