News

Two million dollars is coming from the Environmental Protection Agency, for the establishment of northwest Florida’s first-ever estuary program.

The program covers a pair of bays – Pensacola and Perdido. Darryl Boudreau, a watershed expert with the Nature Conservancy, says the money is the result of more than five years of work.

The tickets are set for the 2018 Florida Governor’s race, as both nominees made their selections ahead of the mandated deadline on Thursday.

Orlando businessman Chris King is joining nominee and former primary rival Andrew Gillum on the Democratic ticket. Gillum — the Mayor of Tallahassee — released a video welcoming King aboard.

“What the race is about is where we want to go as a state; not where we’ve been, but where we want to go,” said Gillum in the video. “We believe, collectively, that common sense; that optimism, that inspiration – all of that will win out.”

As Tropical Storm Gordon enters the history books, at least one organization is hoping it will serve as a reminder to get their homes storm-ready.

Very little, if any, structural damage has been reported from Gordon, which brought heavy rain and gusty winds to the Panhandle and south Alabama prior to hitting near Pascagoula, Mississippi. At least one local organization believes Gordon should be a wakeup call for homeowners.

While Tropical Storm Gordon has come and gone, it’s leaving behind a soggy legacy in northwest Florida and south Alabama for the next few days. WUWF’s Dave Dunwoody reports.

Gordon and his 70 mile an hour winds — just shy of hurricane strength — made landfall near Pascagoula, Mississippi late Tuesday.

“Most areas over there in the western Florida Panhandle from Pensacola eastward have received 5-8 inches just since the start [Tuesday] evening, and it’s still raining,” says Jack Cullen, a forecaster at the National Weather Service in Mobile.

After a federal court ruling that struck down barriers on early voting locations on college campuses, the League of Women Voters wants them in place for the November 6 general election.

At issue is Sec. of State Ken Detzner’s advisory opinion in 2014, which claimed state law barred the University of Florida student union from being used as an early voting location. Judge Mark Walker said in July that the ban appeared to be a way to stop younger voters from casting ballots -- something he said “does not remotely serve the public interest.”

After cruising through the Republican primary, Gov. Rick Scott is heading into what’s expected to be a bitter and expensive showdown with Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson. Many believe the race ultimately could play a decisive role in which party controls the Senate.

Scott – who’s term-limited as governor – scored an easy win over California businessman Rocky De La Fuente, who earned attention this year by mounting U.S. Senate bids in multiple states at the same time. He did not campaign against Scott.

The long goodbye to Sen. John McCain will continue through Sunday when he will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Prior to his death from brain cancer last weekend, McCain was a frequent visitor to the Pensacola area, where his bonds ran deep. The city is tied to his family’s legacy in the naval aviation.  McCain also had close friendships in the community.

Only hours after their primary election victories, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and Rep. Ron DeSantis made it clear that the governor’s race is going to be a nasty contest between two candidates who are polar opposites.

Right after winning the Republican nomination,  DeSantis appeared on Fox News, and said this in reference to Gillum, the Democratic nominee, who is African-American.

The race to decide Pensacola’s second strong-mayor will advance to the November 6 general election, between two high-profile figures in city and county government.

Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson led the six-candidate field on Tuesday, garnering 34 percent of the vote. He and City Councilman Brian Spencer – who was second with 21 percent will meet in the runoff. The win for Robinson comes almost a year after starting his campaign.

The Florida statehouse has one new and one old representative from northwest Florida, and one candidate who is looking to make a comeback.