News

The coronavirus pandemic is changing life for individuals, businesses and charities in Pensacola — the latter including Ronald McDonald House at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital.

Opening in 1984 in a six-bedroom house, the facility has grown to a 26-bedroom complex that opened in 2010. Director of Development Summer Jimmerson says more than 10,000 families have been served.

“We have 26 bedrooms in the house, so anywhere from 55-70 people at any given time,” said Jimmerson, referring to normal conditions.

This week, we're joined once again by Jamin Wells, Assistant Professor with the History Department at UWF.  He gives us an overview of the history of Pensacola tourism.

A free summer education program is now available to pre-kindergarten students in Escambia County.

The program is designed to help kids make up for lost learning due to the coronavirus and enhance their overall school readiness.

“Let’s practice our letter sounds,” begins the “Mama Squirrel Letter Sound Song,” produced by the school-readiness program Waterford Upstart.

With Memorial Day observances cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, we would like to offer an encore of the 2015 ceremony at Veterans Park in downtown Pensacola. WUWF’s Dave Dunwoody was there.

Hundreds of people turned out that Sunday for the Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Pensacola.

Veterans Park Foundation President Butch Hansen served as Master of Ceremonies for the program, which was held under some clouds with gusty winds, along with typical late spring temperatures well into the 80s.

Government forecasters are predicting an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season with the possibility of almost 20 named storms.

During a teleconference with the media Thursday Neil Jacobs, acting administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center, said indications point to an above-average season from June 1 through Nov. 30 -- with the possibility of extreme activity.

The Okaloosa County School District has solidified plans for honoring its graduating seniors. True walk-across-the-stage ceremonies are set for July. In addition, starting today (Thurs), the taping begins on a professionally produced video for each senior.

Escambia County’s blueprint to reopen short-term vacation rentals — with precautions for COVID-19 —has the blessing of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

A Pensacola landmark is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, but will running with a new set of rules when it reopens this month.  

“I bought 50 acres on the corner of W Street and Highway 29, and the park now sits on about 25 of those (acres),” said Richard Sanfilippo, the owner of Sam’s Fun City in Pensacola.

Executive Order number 20-123 from Gov. Ron DeSantis kicked in on Monday, putting Florida in full phase one of the state’s reopening plan in the time of coronavirus. Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson addressed the change during his Monday news conference.

“The executive order allows gyms and fitness centers to open at 50% capacity; and allows restaurants, retail, museums and libraries to increase to 50%,” said the mayor.

The mayor also was to have requested that DeSantis reopen gyms, but the executive order rendered that moot.

This week, we welcome back Dr. Jane Caffrey, Professor from the Center for Environmental Diagnostics and bio-remediation, and the Department of Biology at UWF.  She's gives us a current and historical perspective of oysters in our region.