News

In this edition of Gulf Stories Moment, we visit with Dr. John Worth, professor of Anthropology at UWF, who tells us about the Spanish and Native landscape during the 1680's & 90's that lead to the establishment of Pensacola's presidios.

After a quarter-century as president of the First Amendment Foundation in Florida, Barbara Petersen is stepping down at year’s end.

“I think it’s time for a change; 25 years is a long time and I think we need to take a fresh look at what we do and how we do it,” said Petersen.

Petersen has not been at the Foundation since day one – it was created in 1984 -- but she says when she did get there a decade later, there wasn’t much foundation to be had. As the first hired president, Petersen says she was handed the keys to an empty office.

Young musicians are being given a platform to perform, show off their talent and get experience performing in front of crowds as part of the Youth Music Project. Once a month, on Gallery Night in downtown Pensacola, the project sets up a stage for performers to show what they’ve got. “We have been doing the stage for five years” said Chris Klotz, a partner in the Pensacola law firm Stevenson Klotz.

The Santa Rosa County Commission is ready to approve an all-new group of appointees to the county’s zoning board. The new members will get right to work, with a new formal set of ground-rules.

Commissioners are appointing an entirely new zoning board, three weeks after controversial remarks by three members prompted commissioners to dismiss all 10 individuals from that advisory committee, and any other committees on which they served.

Work is underway at the University of West Florida, on the next generation of video surveillance for both the nation’s military dogs, and canines used in first response.

The Guided Fur Missile Tactical Camera System is a part of UWF’s “Hacking for Defense” program. H4D began at Stanford University in 2016, and now is at around 50 universities nationwide.

Veterans Day 2019 was celebrated in many different ways and at several venues across Northwest Florida on Monday, including the annual event at Veterans Park in downtown Pensacola.

The annual parade downtown was a bit late getting to the park but once there, a large crowd was on hand to honor those who have worn the nation’s cloth.

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to your Veterans Memorial Park; why are we here today? We’re here to celebrate the veterans, right?” said Paul Entrekin, the president of the Veterans Memorial Park Foundation.  

Pensacola’s first ever Mini Maker Faire is this weekend, and one of the main attractions is a presentation from inventor, author and video game designer Jane McGonigal. WUWF’s Bob Barrett spoke with McGonigal about her background, and what we can expect from her presentation on Saturday.

It’s pretty easy to attack video games. Lots of people do it. But Jane McGonigal says approaching a video game should be seen as approaching any new challenge.

Records from Escambia County government are in the hands of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, as part of an ongoing investigation. 

The probe began earlier this year, focusing on the Emergency Medical Services division of the Public Safety Department. At issue, allegations by county medical director Dr. Rayme Edler that at least five EMS employees had falsified training documents.

Stargazers are in for a treat this month, for the first “Transit of Mercury,” in three and a half years, and the last one to be seen here for the next three decades.

Just what is a “Transit of Mercury?” We asked retired Pensacola State College astronomer Wayne Wooten.

Inventors and innovators will be getting together in downtown Pensacola this month for the city’s first ever Mini Maker Faire. In 2006, the first Maker Faire was held in the San Francisco Bay area. The event has quickly grown and spread.