The Escambia County Commission have begun budget meetings to consider a 474.9 million dollar budget, about an 18 million dollar increase from last fiscal year. There was a meeting yesterday and one is scheduled for today beginning at 9 am in the board chambers of the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place. … MORE
Yearly Archives: 2018
BAY COUNTY FOUND BODY INVESTIGATED
The Bay County Sheriff’s Department is conducting a death investigation after a body was discovered inside a former Panama City business. A cleaning crew discovered the man’s body yesterday inside the former D&D Tire Center at 4050 W. 23rd Street. A Department spokesman said the building had been empty for some time and the body…… MORE
FLORIDA GASOLINE PRICES
If you think gas is more expensive this summer in Florida, you’re right. The Triple A Auto Club says this is the most expensive summer gas in four years. Since June 1st, Florida gas prices have averaged $2.76 per gallon – an increase of nearly 50 cents compared to the average price last summer. But current…… MORE
NEW SCHOOL YEAR
A new school year begins in much of Florida in less than a month. The State Department of Education says 19 of the 67 school districts will begin school on August 10th including Walton County. Another 40 districts will be open by August 13th, including Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties. Miami-Dade County, which is…… MORE
PINE FOREST TRAFFIC FATALITY
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 32-year old local man was killed in a traffic crash on Pine Forest Road near 9 1/2 Mile Road Friday morning, and two Emerald Coast Utility Authority workers were seriously injured. Troopers said 32-year old Blake Wartenbe (“Wart-En-Bee”) was southbound on Pine Forest Road when he attempted to pass…… MORE
COCAINE FOUND IN GULF
A bale of cocaine was recovered from the Gulf just south of Pensacola yesterday. A boater spotted the 35 kilo bale – about 77 pounds – and Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Marine Patrol assisted in the recovery of the drugs. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s…… MORE
EAST PASS BOAT ROLLOVER
The marine unit of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office rescued two people who were on a boat that overturned in the East Pass yesterday, Marine Unit Deputy Kyle Corbitt heard people calling for help on Channel 16 and found the boat in the Gulf near the Pass. Both people were rescued and both declined medical…… MORE
MEDICAL EXAMINER AUDIT
The Okaloosa County’s Department of Inspector General said an audit shows that District 1 Medical Examiner Andrea Minyard received over $673,000 in salary last year and another 1.14 million dollars in professional fees. The audit said there were instances where costs were being reimbursed by the counties without sufficient supporting documentation and that public funds…… MORE
CREDIT REPORT FREEZE BILL
The Credit Report Freeze Bill that was signed into law in Florida in March went into effect July 1st. It eliminates the $10 fee that credit reporting agencies were charging to freeze their credit. A credit freeze prevents access to your credit report, which makes it more difficult for scammers to open credit lines in…… MORE
SUPREME COURT PICK
President Donald Trump is still deliberating his decision on a replacement for Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. The President has spent the weekend discussing his options with allies and will announce his pick tonight from the White House. Top contenders include federal appeals judges Brett Kavanaugh, Raymond Kethledge, Amy Coney Barrett and Thomas Hardiman. They…… MORE
