Inweekly April 10 2025 Issue

winners & losers

winners losers

UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA The Merting Family has emerged as a champion for academic excellence, establishing a $500,000 endowment to launch the John W. Merting Family Office of Research and Intellectual Growth at UWF. The investment will prepare students compete for Fulbright and Rhodes scholarships, potentially producing UWF's first Rhodes Scholar. Located in the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, the program provides talented scholars comprehensive guidance and financial support. John Merting, a retired maritime attorney and Pensacola native, hopes his hometown university will gain increased visibility through these high-profile academic achievements.

IMPACT 100 PENSACOLA BAY AREA

The organization of philanthropic-minded women announced its 2025 membership drive concluded with a record-setting total of 1,242 members. On Oct. 19, IMPACT 100 will give back to the community $1,242,000 by awarding 12 significant project grants of $103,500 each to nonprofit organizations serving Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. Over the past 21 years, IMPACT 100 has awarded 165 grants totaling over $17 million to local nonprofit organizations.

JOHNNY

THOMPSON General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. Thompson as its new senior enlisted advisor during a change of responsibility ceremony on March 25. Thompson, a Pensacola native who entered the Army as a combat medic, previously served at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital. Thompson's military career includes numerous leadership positions, multiple deployments to Iraq and extensive military education. His stateside assignments include posts in Georgia, Texas, South Carolina and Kentucky, with overseas service in Hawaii. Thompson said, "Our mission here is not just about healthcare. It's about readiness, resilience and unwavering support to those who serve and have served."

FRIENDS OF PENSACOLA STATE PARKS

Thanks to a grant from IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area, the nonprofit will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new inclusive playground at Big Lagoon State Park from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. The playground will feature wheelchair-accessible equipment, sensory-friendly play zones and accommodations for children with various abilities. Design elements include smooth-surface pathways, transfer platforms and specialized swings.

TESLA Its vehicle deliveries plummeted 13% in the first quarter of 2025, with just 336,681 vehicles delivered compared to 386,810 a year earlier. The decline, described by Wedbush analyst Dan Ives as "a disaster on every metric," comes as CEO Elon Musk faces mounting criticism for his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency in the Trump administration. The company is experiencing substantial sales drops in key markets, including Europe, California and China, despite offering incentives like 0% financing. Musk himself acknowledged that his political activities are hurting Tesla, with the stock falling by 6.1% after Musk took the government role.

STATE AGENCIES

Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez ordered a probe into state agencies to investigate potentially wasteful government spending. However, during a House Budget Committee meeting, legislators expressed frustration over agencies' lack of cooperation. The committee approved sending document request letters to multiple agencies, including Emergency Management, Management Services, Corrections, Education, Health Care Administration and the Florida State Guard. They also approved creating a "Florida Accountability Office" to strengthen legislative oversight. DeSantis has publicly criticized the House for "expanding bureaucracies" and "squandering" Florida's conservative agenda, while House Budget Chairman Lawrence McClure maintains they're simply "looking out for taxpayers."

MICHAEL FLYNN The Florida Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by the former national security adviser to President Donald Trump in his defamation lawsuit against political strategist Rick Wilson. The court did not provide reasoning for its decision, which is standard practice. Flynn, a Sarasota County resident, initiated the lawsuit after Wilson referred to him as "Putin employee Mike Flynn" in a 2022 tweet and later retweeted, "FYI, Mike Flynn is Q." Wilson, a GOP strategist known for his anti-Trump stance, helped establish The Lincoln Project. Previously, the 2nd District Court of Appeal upheld a Sarasota County Circuit Court ruling rejecting Flynn's case. The appeals court characterized Flynn as a "quintessential public figure" who failed to demonstrate that Wilson acted with actual malice. The court determined that Wilson's statements constituted "nonactionable rhetorical hyperbole or opinion."

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

A LEGACY IN LIMBO

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan dedicated a center at Tuskegee University to honor General Daniel "Chappie" James Jr., saying, "He had four stars on his shoulder and 50 stars on his heart." Reagan described James as "one of America's best," whose judgment and courage were vital to our nation's defense and survival.

Chappie James is undoubtedly Pensacola's most prominent veteran and arguably its most historic native son. His legacy is commemorated throughout our city with a museum, flight academy, park, state office building and numerous other tributes. This recognition is well-deserved for a man whose remarkable journey took him from a small house on Alcaniz Street to becoming the first Black four-star general in U.S. history.

James' education began at his mother's private school for Black children. Lillie James was a "model teacher" who instilled discipline and high expectations in all her students. Her famous 11th Commandment— "Thou Shalt Not Quit"—shaped young Chappie's character and guided him throughout his distinguished military career.

Ron DeSantis signed legislation officially designating the structure as the General Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. Bridge.

However, the effort to complement this honor with a memorial plaza has been bogged down in controversy. What started as a simple yet significant tribute with an estimated cost of $500,000 has ballooned to $2.3 million, with little transparency about where the money has gone or is going.

The General Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. Memorial Foundation has repeatedly missed deadlines and changed plans. In 2022, the Foundation chairman predicted completion by the end of that year, along with a dedication ceremony in early 2023. Yet today, the plaza remains merely a rendering, and the Foundation continues to seek additional taxpayer funding while evading questions about its finances.

However, the effort to complement this honor with a memorial plaza has been bogged down in controversy.

After graduating from Booker T. Washington High School, James attended Tuskegee Institute, where he found his purpose in life through aviation. As a Tuskegee Airman, he became part of one of the most celebrated fighter groups in American military history. His service spanned three wars—World War II, Korea and Vietnam—where he flew over 170 combat missions combined.

James was not only a remarkable pilot; he was also a brave advocate for equality. During his early service, he challenged military segregation by participating in acts of civil disobedience that helped pave the way for the integration of the Armed Forces through President Truman's Executive Order 9981.

Rising steadily through the ranks, James earned his fourth star in 1975, making history as the highest-ranking Black officer in U.S. history. One of his final prestigious posts was commanding the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), where he was responsible for our nation's nuclear defense during the height of the Cold War.

When Pensacola residents were surveyed about renaming the Three-Mile Bridge, they chose Chappie James by a margin of 7-to-1 over the incumbent namesake. In 2020, Governor

Documents obtained through public records requests reveal discrepancies in the Foundation's financial reporting. Despite receiving grants from the City of Pensacola, the State of Florida and corporate donors, the Foundation appears to have been insolvent at various points while publicly asserting its readiness to begin construction.

Even more concerning, the Foundation has not complied with the reporting requirements in its stewardship agreement with the City of Pensacola, which mandates annual financial statements and gives the City the right to inspect or audit the Foundation's records.

The time has come for our elected officials to take charge of this project. The City of Pensacola should exercise its oversight authority to conduct a thorough audit of the Foundation's finances.

The City and Escambia County should freeze any additional funding until transparency is restored and consider assuming direct responsibility for completing the memorial.

A man who broke racial barriers and rose to command our nation's nuclear defenses deserves nothing less than a memorial built with the same values by which he lived his life. Our community embraced Chappie James as a hero, overwhelmingly supporting the renaming of the bridge. Now, we must ensure his memorial is completed with integrity, transparency and excellence.

Let us remember Miss Lillie's command— "Thou Shalt Not Quit"—and apply it to our collective responsibility: properly honoring her remarkable son. {in} rick@inweekly.net

MID-SESSION UPDATE LOCAL DELEGATION FLEXES MUSCLES IN TALLAHASSEE

By Rick Outzen

Northwest Florida is represented by three delegates with differing personalities, yet their unique approaches have proved impactful this legislative session.

State Rep. Michelle Salzman fights feverishly for causes dear to her and her District 1 constituents, never shying away from the spotlight. The Cantonment lawmaker filed House Bill (HB) 759, which would allow anyone 18 or older to buy a firearm. The current gun law prevents anyone under the age of 21 from making such a purchase.

"If you're old enough to fight for your own country, you should be old enough to fight for your own home," Salzman told Inweekly.

The House passed her bill with a 78-34 vote. However, for the third consecutive year, the legislation seems destined for the same fate as its predecessors in the Senate. Sen. Jay Collins (R-Tampa) has filed a similar bill that is gaining no traction.

Another of Salzman's bills garnering statewide attention tackles social media use by minors. HB 743 and a similar bill filed by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (Senate Bill 868) are progressing through their respective chambers. HB 743 requires social media platforms to allow parents and legal guardians access to messages for 14- and 15-year-olds. It also provides law enforcement access through a warrant or parental permission and prohibits platforms from allowing children under 14 to access messages that disappear, such as on Snapchat.

"There's Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and all these different platforms that parents don't have access to," Salzman said. "Law enforcement

doesn't have access, and they have to subpoena the records, which is a lot of work."

CANDID ANDRADE

Fellow Rep. Alex Andrade has been outspoken and candid. He has openly criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis for proposing a $1,000 property tax rebate. The governor touted the rebate as the first step in eliminating property taxes entirely in 2026. His proposal depends on approval from the Legislature and counters House Speaker Daniel Perez's proposal to reduce the sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25%.

"It smacks of socialism to me," Andrade said. "He's literally just taking sales tax money and cutting a check and the condition is you got to oppose this sales tax cut. It's ridiculous when we should as conservatives be supporting both tax cuts equally. I don't understand his play here. It's almost like he can't get out of his own way right now."

Andrade doubled down, citing a damning report on how property insurers hid profits that the Office of Insurance buried for three years and how the Agency for Healthcare Administration misplaced $160 million in funds intended to cover Medicaid disallowance.

"I think the theme this year that we're really discovering is that the governor's a great legislator, but he is not the best manager," Andrade said.

Andrade also filed HB 555, which eases the requirements for medical marijuana cards and allows cardholders 21 and older to grow up to two cannabis plants for personal use. His motivation stemmed from the fact that nearly six million Floridians voted in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana through Amendment 3

in 2024, but that fell short of the 60% threshold.

His marijuana bill languishes in the Justice Budget subcommittee while a watered-down version is moving through the House.

"I've reviewed the proposed amendment for that severely pared down version of the bill, and frankly, I'll just take what I can get," Andrade said. "I think all that the House is comfortable moving is a change from an annual re-up for licenses for medical marijuana cards to bi-annual."

SAGE GAETZ

State Sen. Don Gaetz is the wise sage in the group. Nothing that happens in Tallahassee surprises him. His pedigree as the former Senate president puts him a notch above other lawmakers and explains why his voice carries extra weight in Tallahassee.

Gaetz admits that some of his bills were "heavy lifts." His bills to better regulate insurance companies and power companies have gained no traction.

"Both are dead as I expected," Gaetz said. "They died because the utility companies and insurance companies have a great deal of influence in Tallahassee. I'll be back with both next session."

He still flexed his influence by shining a spotlight on corruption among Florida-based insurers. Gaetz and Andrade introduced SB 554 and HB 451 before the session. Their bill called for property insurance companies to reveal their financials if asking for rate increases.

In February, the Tampa Bay Times accessed a report commissioned by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation in 2022. The report revealed Florida-based insurers asked for rate increases by claiming they were running low on money from 2017-2019. In actuality, they made billions of dollars from sister companies that they own. A House subcommittee further revealed the corruption by putting insurance commissioners under oath to testify about the reports.

"Sen. Gaetz looks omniscient on that one because it was his brainchild, his concept, and it just so happened he was spot on with it," Andrade said. "So, kudos to Sen. Gaetz for spotting the issue before everybody else."

While the property insurance bills are dead in both chambers, Andrade remains optimistic that improvements will be passed. "That policy is moving; it's just moving in a different vehicle."

TEAMWORK

Gaetz teamed with Andrade to provide the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition

(IHMC) with autonomy. The legislation has advanced through the chambers and empowers the IHMC board of directors to establish subsidiaries independently from the Board of Governors. The bill further allows IHMC to assume responsibility for the annual certification of its compliance instead of the University of West Florida Board of Trustees.

Another bill filed by the two Northwest Florida delegates covers charter schools. SB 140 and HB 123 allow a municipality to apply for a job engine charter under certain conditions, and the legislation requires a school board to submit a five-year plan to the Department of Education before occupying purchased or acquired property. The bill is moving successfully in the Senate but slowly in the House.

"That bill will move, and I think do well," Gaetz said.

Other bills filed by Gaetz moving successfully toward the finish line address affordable housing, ethics, exceptional student education and sexual images.

SB 184 requires local governments to adopt an ordinance that allows accessory dwelling units in certain areas. The bill authorizes a local government to provide a density bonus incentive to landowners who make certain property donations to assist military families with affordable housing.

His ethics bill (SB 184) prohibits candidates, elected officials, appointed public officers and public employees from misrepresenting their service records in the military.

SB 102 requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a workforce credential program for students with an autism spectrum disorder or who are on a modified curriculum.

Gaetz filed SB 1180 in reaction to how a male Pensacola high school student used an artificial intelligence app last fall to create fake nude images of female students. The male student avoided arrest because he never distributed the photos. SB 1180 closes that loophole by prohibiting the creation of lewd imagery or depictions involving children and the creation of nude photos involving identifiable persons. {in}

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES

SEN. DON GAETZ

gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov

Pensacola: (850) 595-1036

Tallahassee: (850) 487-5001

REP. ALEX ANDRADE alex.andrade@myfloridahouse.gov

Pensacola: (850) 462-4776

Tallahassee: (850) 717-5002

REP. MICHELLE SALZMAN michelle.salzman@myfloridahouse.gov

Pensacola: (850) 471-6024

Tallahassee: (850) 717-5001

Photo by Feng Cheng / shutterstock.com

GOP STRONGHOLD BROKEN Democrat Gay Valimont achieved in the April special election what no Democratic candidate has accomplished in nearly two decades: securing more votes in Escambia County than her Republican opponent in a federal race. Despite Republican Jimmy Patronis winning Florida's first congressional election overall, Valimont's performance marks the first time since 2006 that a Democrat has outpolled a GOP candidate in the county.

Escambia County reported an unexpectedly high voter turnout of 33.45%, with Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender noting that voting traffic steadily increased throughout the day. "We started the day at 1,800 votes an hour for the first few hours," Bender said, "but by late afternoon, the county was processing nearly 4,000 votes per hour between 4-6 p.m."

The surge in voter participation led to a brief ballot shortage at St. James Missionary Baptist Church, where voters reportedly had to wait 10-15 minutes for additional ballots to arrive. Bender confirmed that his office had "already dropped off a hundred ballots at that location, and more were on the way" to remedy the situation.

Complicating the day was confusion about the location of Precinct 98. The Valimont campaign alleged that Bender had relocated the precinct on Election Day without proper notice, but the supervisor firmly rejected this characterization as "disingenuous." Bender explained that Macedonia Baptist Church had notified his office in January that it would no longer serve as a polling location, and his office had communicated this change through multiple channels, including sample ballots, election day tips and 3,009 individual letters sent to registered voters in the precinct.

The escambiavotes.gov website did list Macedonia Baptist Church as Precinct 98's location but included a disclaimer directing voters

to enter their address for information on temporary polling locations.

The last Democrat to outpoll a Republican opponent in Escambia County was incumbent Senator Bill Nelson, who narrowly defeated Katherine Harris in the 2006 general election, 42,964 to 42,573 votes. Nelson went on to win that statewide Senate race with 60.3% of the vote.

The results of the April 1 special election may indicate shifting political dynamics in a traditionally Republican-leaning county, making Valimont's performance a notable development in Florida's political landscape.

AUDIT NEEDED The General Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. Memorial Plaza project has raised concerns about financial transparency and escalating costs after it missed the deadline to provide the City of Pensacola with an annual report and its year-end financial report. What began in 2018 as a $500,000 tribute to the Pensacola native who became the first Black fourstar general has ballooned to a $2.3 million project with unclear financial accounting.

According to public records obtained by Inweekly, the project's timeline has continuously shifted while costs have more than quadrupled.

Although Foundation chairman Cris Dosev has claimed it has raised $1.3 million, financial documents reveal concerning discrepancies. A balance sheet from March 2025 shows $200,441 in the checking account, along with $1.63 million in "other assets"—half of which was an anticipated but not secured county grant.

More troubling are revelations from the Foundation's 2023 Form 990, which showed the organization was essentially insolvent in January 2023 with only $17,867 in its account while owing Dosev $100,000. Despite this precarious financial position, Dosev told the Pensacola News Journal that construction would begin by spring 2023.

State Rep. Alex Andrade has expressed

concerns about how the Foundation has used $700,000 in state funding, questioning whether they've violated terms of their appropriation request. Meanwhile, the Foundation failed to submit a required annual report to the City of Pensacola by the March 2 deadline.

Budget documents show the Foundation needs approximately $760,000 more to complete construction, plus an additional $250,000 for the maintenance endowment they've claimed to have but apparently don't. If the group returned to the original, simpler design from 2018, it could complete the project with existing funding and pass on spending nearly $1.2 million on the massive plaza.

Under its stewardship agreement covering the Foundation's use of Wayside Park for the monument, the City of Pensacola has the right to conduct a full financial inspection and audit before the Pensacola City Council moves forward on the project.

"I'm looking into reports of strongarm tactics that the governor's office has used to force state vendors to donate to Hope Florida." Alex Andrade

BAY CENTER Last week, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves addressed the Escambia County Commission during its Committee of the Whole to discuss the city's position on the future of the Pensacola Bay Center. He asked the commissioners to collaborate on a comprehensive plan for renovating the Bay Center and possibly developing the surrounding area.

"This area will define the city and county for generations to come," Reeves told commissioners. "I believe how we work together can be the determinant of which way this redevelopment goes."

Mayor Reeves believes there is a consensus among elected officials and the community at large on the need to renovate the existing Bay Center facility. He joked that he has "never received an email or been stopped on a street corner by anyone saying how modern and aesthetically pleasing the current Bay Center is."

The mayor proposed that the city fund a district development master plan. Unlike previous studies that concentrated only on particular venues or facilities, this plan would examine the entire surrounding area, including aspects like community engagement, connectivity, urban design and traffic impacts.

The approach would digest all previous studies conducted over the past decade and

provide a data-driven economic analysis to identify what works best for the community, its citizens and taxpayers.

Mayor Reeves also committed to addressing the Grand Hotel property, a key area adjacent to the Bay Center. He stated that the city's Community Redevelopment Agency is already working with current owners and interested parties on the renovation or overhaul of that property.

Reeves also promised that if the county agrees to collaborate, the comprehensive master plan would be completed by this fall. He proposed a joint meeting at City Hall within 3045 days to secure the master plan development firm with all stakeholders present.

Mayor Reeves acknowledged the "analysis fatigue" felt by officials and citizens after years of studies, but he emphasized that with a potential $100 million investment at stake, it's crucial to "get this right" through a collaborative, comprehensive approach.

Following the mayor's presentation, the commissioners discussed immediate next steps to maintain momentum. Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger specifically asked what formal action the board needed to take to move forward with the collaborative study.

County Attorney Alison Rogers advised that the discussion was heading in the direction of creating a formal task force subject to Sunshine Law requirements. This would require determining whether it would be a county committee with outside entities or a city task force with county representation.

Mayor Reeves offered to work with county staff to develop a proposal for the suitable structure, highlighting the necessity for a group that could "move more nimbly" than large joint meetings. Commissioner May supported this approach, adding that at least one "at-large stakeholder" from the community should be included to ensure citizen representation.

The parties agreed to further discuss the details further in a previously scheduled meeting between city and county staff. Commissioner Hofberger stressed the importance of choosing "the quickest path forward" to show progress to the community, while Commissioner May urged them to "make it as simple as possible."

HOPE SCRUTINY State Rep. Alex Andrade, Chair of the Health Care Budget Subcommittee, has initiated an investigation into Hope Florida, an initiative championed by First Lady Casey DeSantis.

The probe comes amid allegations that the program's charitable foundation has failed to comply with state laws governing oversight, ethics and fundraising requirements. According to a House committee report, the organization has not provided mandated documentation to the Legislature or conducted required annual audits.

"I'm looking into reports of strong-arm tactics that the governor's office has used to force state vendors to donate to Hope Florida," Andrade stated in a recent interview. He expressed concern about the "lack of transparency and

Gay Valimont / Courtesy Photo

their unwillingness to actually disclose who their donors are, what their operations are, what their performance has been and who's actually working on the program."

Hope Florida was established in 2021 as a program to connect Floridians seeking assistance with resources outside of government, primarily from nonprofits, faith-based organizations and private businesses. In January 2025, Gov. Ron DeSantis formalized the initiative by creating a Hope Florida Office within the Executive Office of the Governor, appointing Erik Dellenback as Executive Director.

The administration claims Hope Florida has helped more than 30,000 Floridians reduce or eliminate their reliance on public assistance. However, Andrade has questioned these figures, suggesting they may simply reflect normal Medicaid disenrollment patterns.

The investigation takes on additional significance as Gov. DeSantis is seeking to codify Hope Florida into state statute and secure dedicated state funding for the program.

Andrade emphasized that his investigation must conclude before the end of the legislative session. His committee will examine whether state employees have been coerced to work for the foundation instead of performing their authorized duties, and whether state vendors were pressured to donate prior to contract awards.

The Hope Florida Foundation operates as a "direct support organization" under state law but appears to be overlooking several legal requirements associated with this designation.

MAJOR MERGER Effective May 1, Phelps will combine with Beggs & Lane, Pensacola's oldest law firm. The move will expand Phelps to more than 425 attorneys across 17 offices, strengthening its presence along the Gulf Coast.

Marshall Redmon, Managing Partner of Phelps, emphasized how Beggs & Lane's reputation and culture align with Phelps': "Pensacola has always appealed to us as a strategic location that offers a vital connection across the Gulf Crescent from Houston to Tampa."

The combination connects Phelps' existing Gulf Coast offices and enhances its expertise in various practice areas, including employment, healthcare, energy, real estate, tax, white-collar defense and intellectual property. Both firms have long histories of client service, with Phelps founded in 1853 and Beggs & Lane in 1883.

"It became clear over the past nine months in our talks together that Phelps shared our pride in maintaining strong long-term client relationships," said Beggs & Lane Managing Partner Bill Mitchem, noting that the merger will offer clients a broader platform and expanded services.

PERDIDO REDO Envision Perdido, a newly formed organization, has launched an initiative to gather community input on future development priorities for the Perdido area. The group aims to create a platform for dialogue concerning growth, environmental issues

and quality of life through a series of planned meetings with local organizations, followed by public events designed to obtain broader community feedback.

According to their announcement, Envision Perdido's mission is to foster "a shared community commitment to preserve Perdido's culture, protect its natural beauty and balance progress with local values and environmental stewardship." The organization positions itself as a facilitator of community discussions rather than an advocacy group with predetermined stances.

This initiative comes in the wake of an unsuccessful incorporation effort in 2023 led by We Are Perdido. That campaign sought to establish Perdido as a municipality in Escambia County, arguing incorporation would give residents greater control through "Home Rule," preserve quality of life and ensure more tax dollars would be reinvested locally.

Despite a feasibility study by BJM Consulting that concluded incorporation was financially viable without new taxes and initial support from local representatives, the effort stalled when State Rep. Alex Andrade declined to file the necessary legislation. Andrade cited significant issues with the feasibility study, particularly regarding revenue projections that he calculated overestimated potential city income by "about $327 per household."

Community members interested in Envision Perdido's activities can find more information at envisionperdido.org or contact the organization at info@envisionperdido.org.

UNDER THE RADAR GE Vernova has unveiled a new Customer Experience Center at its Pensacola facility, marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by CEO Scott Strazik. The center features multiple conference rooms, collaboration spaces and direct access to the production floor.

This development is part of GE Vernova's recently announced $600 million investment plan for its U.S. operations over the next two years. The Pensacola facility has proven its strategic importance by producing wind turbines generating over half of the 2.4 GW ordered for New Mexico's SunZia wind farm project.

The company has also secured new orders for 109 wind turbines for RWE New Energy developments in Texas, with shipments beginning later this year. Since 2024, the Pensacola operation has manufactured nearly 500 repower turbines, delivering more than 850 MW of capacity for repowering initiatives across the United States.

TRANSPORTATION

2025 The Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) seeks public feedback on its proposed 2025 Transportation Project Priorities through April 25. These projects aim to improve mobility, safety and connectivity throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida, as well as Orange Beach and Lillian in Alabama.

Explore the project priorities through the Virtual Open House at ecrc.org/flalpriorities. The virtual open house features an interactive project map, a list of proposed projects and a link to the survey to gather input on how they should be prioritized based on community needs. Projects range from roadway improvements to safety enhancements, bike/pedestrian connections and other regional priorities.

The TPO also created a Project Priorities Toolkit with outreach materials for community organizations, which can be accessed by contacting marketing@ecrc.org. The TPO Board will approve the final priority list on May 14, and it will then be submitted to the Florida Department of Transportation as part of the regional planning process.

SPRING HIRING EVENT Escambia

County

Public Schools is hosting an in-person Teacher Hiring Event to fill teacher positions for the 2025-2026 school year. The event will take place 9-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, at Booker T. Washington High School, 6000 College Parkway.

All interested persons must have a bachelor's degree or higher, complete the online application to attend the hiring event and submit official transcripts before the day of the hiring event. Full-time teaching positions at all grade levels will be available for the 2025-2026 school year.

Applicants should be prepared for on-thespot interviews and job offers and must bring their resume and identification cards. Onboarding will be completed at the hiring event.

"We need educators who will make a great impact on the lives of our kids." Melia Adams

"We want our schools to be fully staffed for the new school year in August and persons interviewing may have the opportunity to secure a teaching position before leaving the event," said ECPS Director of Human Resource Services Melia Adams. "We need educators who will make a great impact on the lives of our kids."

School administrators and staff will be conducting interviews. Available instructional positions include English, math, science, social studies, music and art education, elementary education, special education and foreign languages. New teachers' starting salary is $48,300, and benefit packages will be explained.

Please visit apps2.winocular.com/escambia/jobs/jobpost.exe and click on "2025-2026 Teacher Hiring Event (In-Person)." Application deadline is May 1. Applicants will receive an email notification if eligible to attend.

For more information about the Teacher Hiring Event, please contact Melia Adams, Director of Human Resource Services, at (850) 469-6111 or madams@ecsdfl.us. {in}

EYES STILL ON THE PRIZE

New Documentary Series Focuses on Environmental Justice in Pensacola

By C. Scott Satterwhite

The third version of PBS's famed "Eyes on the Prize" documentary series was released in February with an episode that focused on Escambia County and the rise of the environmental justice movement.

In 1987, PBS first launched its groundbreaking documentary series. The historic multi-episode series took an in-depth look the Civil Rights movement less than two decades after Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. The series offered viewers a glimpse into the background of a movement that changed America, from slavery to the 1960s landmark Civil Rights legislation, just as the Reagan Administration was beginning to move those gains back.

Fast forward nearly four decades. The wins from the King era, most notably the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, have increasingly been gutted, while a new movement takes stock of where to go in the years following the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. With this in mind, producers at HBO created "Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest." This new installment takes the series in a new direction, focusing on modern issues like the longstanding but underdiscussed problem of environmental racism.

Enter Pensacola.

PENSACOLA AND MOUNT DIOXIN

The environmental scandal of Escambia County's "superfund" sites is well known within environmental activist communities, but isn't highlighted in many other histories of the area.

The term "superfund" came out of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and refers to a tax levied against major polluters to help clean areas that the original polluter could not cover. In the case outlined by the documentary, the polluters were Escambia Wood Treatment Company and Agrico Chemical Company, both of which ceased operation before a clean-up could begin. The ground and water pollution in the neighborhood sandwiched between these sites near Fairfield Drive and I-110 ultimately led to the third largest community relocation in EPA history.

Mount Dioxin is the most famous landmark from this history, and a nickname given to the man-made dump where toxic land was hauled to in an effort to protect the community from Agrico and Escambia Wood Treatment Company's carcinogenic waste. Agrico Chemical Company created fertilizers and Escambia Wood Treatment Company produced creosote and PCBs for the coating of power line poles, railroad ties and other wood products.

According to the EPA's website, Agrico Chemical Company operated between 1889 and 1975, and Escambia Wood Treatment Company operated from 1942-1982. During this period, the majority of which overlapped with legal segregation, the supervisors were white and the majority of the employees were Black. In many cases of manmade environmental disaster sites in the South, the residents nearby were minority communities. Mount Dioxin was no exception.

THE BIRTH OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT

The episode of "Eyes on the Prize III" featuring Escambia County is called "Spoil the Vine," and begins with a community in North Carolina that many claim to be the birthplace of the modern environmental justice movement.

In Afton, N.C., the mostly African American residents of this rural area began protests against the government's plan to bring a toxin-filled waste pit to their community. To fight back, the Warren County Environmental Action Team formed and led protests from 1978-1982. The protests drew the national spotlight on Warren County and brought attention to the issue of what is now called "environmental racism."

Escambia County enters the episode after the focus on Warren County, and viewers meet residents who lived next to the Escambia Wood Treatment Company. Like Warren County, when locals realized that the numbers of people dying from cancer in their neighborhood was unusual, community members formed Citizens Against Toxic Exposure (CATE).

In an interview for the Samuel Proctor Oral History Project, Pensacola resident Francine Ishmael describes how her mother, Margaret Williams, was approached by some of the homeowners between the two superfund sites "to discuss some of the concerns they had about the air, the water and people that were getting sick from just being outside, kids playing around in the area."

"With that, and the help of the community," she added, "they came together and formed an organization in the spring of '92 called Citizens Against Toxic Exposure."

CITIZENS AGAINST TOXIC EXPOSURE

Ishmael and her husband Eddie are featured prominently in the documentary, along with archival footage of Williams, who died in 2011.

According to her daughter, Williams was voted president "because no one else wanted to do it."

"She loved her community. She loved the people that she worked with, grew up around, and worshiped with and it became concerning for her. So she stepped out and really made her voice heard and really made a big difference in the community," Ishmael said of her mother.

In an interview for NPR's "Living on Earth," Williams described a photo she held.

"This is one of my grandbabies, and when she was born this child had six toes, you know. We had to have them operated on, and both my parents died from cancer, and I had one child that was stillborn and one born with respiratory problems—he died at three months. We had an uncle who lived with us; he died from cancer."

Williams' experience was similar to others in the neighborhood, as many knew of other neighbors who died of cancer or illnesses related their exposure to toxins.

Eddie described being a kid and growing up near another superfund site— Agrico Chemical Company—and playing around in yellow fog.

"We had no idea that it was toxic," Eddie recalled. "Ignorance is bliss, but when I started examining my surroundings—window panes you couldn't see out of because of the etchings of the chemicals released from the plants. When I grew up, I found that that same stuff [toxins] was affecting me."

Eddie described having medical issues his whole life. "I was a very bad asthmatic. I couldn't walk a block." With his personal history, including having an autoimmune disorder, he was inspired to go into the medical field in college.

Later in life, he inherited a home in the neighborhood, but soon ran into issues with coming home. Having a history in medicine, Eddie was later recruited by Williams into CATE and helped with community education.

With both polluters long out of the picture, the EPA tried to fix the issue through various means, all of which were unsuccessful. Eventually, the extraordinary move to relocate the community was made, which many argue was bungled by the organization.

"It was the first African American relocation project that had ever occurred in this country, and they had no policy," said Francine. "They had a uniform relocation policy that only applied to military bases. So they had nothing that could help them with an African American community relocation policy."

"When I grew up, I found that that same stuff was affecting me."

EDDIE ISHMAEL

While the EPA has made other arrangements and settlements since, most were more favorable to the communities involved than the one near Mount Dioxin.

"It just makes a big difference when you're looking at African American communities … that are always, constantly perpetrated [against] by

these corporations because they know that these communities are the ones that are going to be the … least resistant because of the limited resources that they have to work with. So they have to rely on a voice."

In Pensacola, the voices were Williams and CATE. {in}

If you, or someone you know, has been impacted by pollution and wants to tell their story, the University of Florida Gulf Scholars and the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program are conducting interviews locally this Saturday. The interviews will be archived in the university's digital library.

PENSACOLA ENVIRONMENTAL ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

WHEN: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, April 12 WHERE: One Palafox Place, 3 W. Garden St., Ste. 210

DETAILS: To reserve an interview spot, go to: go.ufl.edu/pensacola

"Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest" is currently available to stream on Max. hbo.com/eyes-on-the-prize-iii-we-who-believe-in-freedom-cannot-rest

a&e happenings

Community Picnic is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 19 at Seville Square in downtown Pensacola. There will be hamburgers, hot dogs, Civitan cooks, a Pepsi Trailer, guitarist John Wheeler, Kazoo, the Pyramid Show Choir, Fire Truck from Pensacola Fire Department, Boy Scout Troop 409 leading the Pledge of Allegiance, Gulf Coast Model A Club, an Autism Pensacola display table, a Pensacola Civitan Club display table, face paint and balloons.

ACTS ONLINE FUNDRAISER ACTS is hosting an online fundraising raffle to help fund a 12-week support group for adults who have experienced childhood sexual abuse. Tickets are just $10 each, and all proceeds will go directly toward supporting the program. Raffle tickets can be purchased at we-are-acts.com through April 19.

ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal

Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Beef 'O' Brady's, 1 New Market St., Cantonment (on Nine Mile Road near Pine Forest Road). The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. For more information, visit facebook. com/animalalliesflorida.

ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN ADOP -

TION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.

CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD

DRIVE

The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing Ministry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens 10 a.m. and also has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women, as well as sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details.

The Fred Levin Way Fest is a free event for the community that occurs once each year in downtown Pensacola and is designed to help families and individuals in need. Enjoy free food, games, music, art and more 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, April 13 at Palafox and Government Streets. Details at fredlevinfest.com.

ARTS & CULTURE

STOP KISS Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 11; Saturday, April 12; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 13 at University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway, Building 82. Details and tickets available at uwf.edu/cfpa.

CINEMAS IN THE SAND: THE PARENT

TRAP The next Cinemas in the Sand is Friday, April 11. All movies are free to the public and will start at sunset on a giant movie screen in front of the Gulfside Pavilion stage, weather permitting. For weather updates, go to facebook.com/ visitpensacolabeach.

IHMC OPEN HOUSE The Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition will host an open house 4-7 p.m. Friday, April 11 at 40 S. Alcaniz St. Dozens of researchers, roboticists, engineers, cognitive scientists and human performance experts will share what they love about their life in science during Open House for National Robotics Week. The final tour begins at 6:30 p.m.

A CABARET OF CURIOSITIES An immersive experience including six open-bar venues, culinary art catering, live entertainment and a surprise around every corner. Enjoy live bands, DJs, aerialists, flash mobs, singers, musicians, drag performers, graffiti artists and more 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets start at $150 and are available at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

OPERA AL FRESCO Pensacola Opera artists perform at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at Rev. H.K. Matthews Park, 1201 E. Anderson St.

ODD COLONY SPRING MARKET Local vendors will be at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox

St. 12-4 p.m. Sunday, April 13. Details at facebook.com/oddcolony.

CRAFTS & DRAFTS Make a one-of-a-kind piece of art for Easter 2-4 p.m. Sunday, April 13 at Coastal County Brewing Co., 3041 E. Olive Road. Details at coastalcountybrewing.com/shop/ols/ categories/art-parties.

2ND SUNDAY MARKET AT GARY'S BREWERY Vendors, live music and food trucks 12 p.m. Sunday, April 13 at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. Details at facebook.com/garysbrew.

TRUE SOUTH: A CONVERSATION WITH JOHN T. EDGE On Tuesday, April 15 at 5:30 p.m. join the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities for the inaugural Gulf Coast Culture Series event, True South: A Conversation with John T. Edge, at the Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. This event is free and open to the public. Details and registration at events. uwf.edu/event/true-south-a-conversation-withjohn-t-edge-2025.

BEAUTY AND THE BRIDE Bridal runway and wellness event 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 15 at Mind Body & Soul Medical, located at 630 E. Government St. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in a raffle featuring giveaways from Mind Body & Soul Medical, including a Deluxe Hydrafacial, a 60-minute Personalized Treatment Facial and a Bridal Medical-Grade Skincare Regimen.

Each attendee will receive one raffle ticket upon arrival and the opportunity to earn additional tickets by donating formalwear to support Project Formal. Details at mindbodysoulmedical.com.

SYNTHESIS A group BFA exhibition featuring a variety of mediums including drawing, painting, fiber, photography, printmaking, digital media, graphic design and sculpture at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. An opening reception is 5-7 p.m. Friday, April 18. Details at pensaccolamuseum.org.

BLUE MORNING GALLERY: SPRING FLING

The latest Blue Morning Gallery exhibit is Spring Fling with featured artists Jan Hoffman, Mark Schmitt and Kathy Stewart. The gallery is located at 21 S. Palafox St. Visit bluemorninggallery.com for details.

JIMMY RHEA: TO BE DEFINED Pensacola Museum of Art exhibit featuring mixed-media work by Jimmy Rhea that juxtaposes historical icons with contemporary culture is on view through June 1 at PMA, 407 S. Jefferson St. For museum hours and details, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

IN YOUR FACE: PORTRAITS BY GILA

RAYBERG Mosaic portraiture by Gila Rayberg. On view through Sept. 7 at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. Details at pensacolamuseum.org.

UWF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT AT BLUE MORNING GALLERY Blue Morning Gallery will present its two UWF scholarship recipients,

Stephanie Nowlin and Izzy Braniff. Work from the two artists will be in the featured artists area at the gallery through April 26. Blue Morning Gallery is located at 21 S. Palafox St.

THE MEMBERS SHOW PMA Members show is on view through June 1 at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. Details at pensacolamuseum.org.

SILENT BOOK CLUB AT BODACIOUS Sundays are for quietly reading at Bodacious Bookstore & Café, 110 E. Intendencia St. Join the Silent Book Club 10-11 a.m. Sundays. Details are at facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore.

PENSACOLA ROSE SOCIETY Monthly meetings are normally 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Pensacola Garden Center, 1850 N. Ninth Ave. Visit pensacolarosesociety.org for more information.

BTB COMEDY Watch live standup comedy in open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates.

COMEDY SHOWCASE AT SUBCULTURE

BTB Comedy presents a comedy showcase the first Thursday monthly at Subculture Art Gallery, 701 N. V St. Follow facebook.com/pensacolasubculture for updates.

SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers every month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.

PALAFOX MARKET Enjoy Palafox Market 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox Street at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook.com/ downtownpensacola.

CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193 Don't miss Cabaret Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m. For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.

SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pensacola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling (850) 941-4321.

AFTER DARK: SEVILLE QUARTER GHOSTS, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY TOUR AND DINNER After Dark Paranormal Investigation and Dinner happens inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with real ghost-hunting equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more related to Seville

Photo Courtesy of Pensacola Blue Wahoos / By Nino Mendez

a&e happenings

Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. After your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations are required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.

FOOD + DRINKS

SAGE IN BLOOM Cooking class is 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 11 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. Cost is $60 per student and tickets are available at pensacolacooks.com.

HALFWAY TO OKTOBERFEST German beers, keg tossing, stein hoisting and German style food 4-9 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Details at facebook. com/garysbrew.

BULLY DOG DAY IN THE CCB BEER GAR-

DEN All dog breeds welcome for this dog friendly event 1-5 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at Coastal County Brewing, 3041 E. Olive Road.

UWF DAY OF PLAY Bring your family for an afternoon of outdoors with fellow Argos at the UWF Sports Complex, 1100 University Parkway with yard games, a tie-dye shirt station, vendor booths and baseball and softball games 12-3 p.m. Saturday, April 12. Details at uwf.edu/offices/ presidents-office/founders-week.

PEARLS & GRAPES: AN OYSTER & WINE EXPERIENCE Event is 5-9 p.m. Tuesday, April 15 at Drift Modern Coastal Cuisine, 41 Fort

Pickens Road. Cost is $66. Details and registration at Eventbrite.

HOOK & COOK Cooking demonstration featuring Christian Wagley with Healthy Gulf and Executive Chef Jason Hughes, themed around local fish and local waters. Event is 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17 at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. Tickets are $55 and can be purchased at taylor@goodgrits.com or by calling (850) 287-0200.

EVERYTHING BACON Cooking class is 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 18 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. Cost is $60 per student and available at pensacolacooks.com.

MEN'S NIGHT AT WISTERIA From 3 p.m. to close Mondays, guys can play free darts and enjoy $6 craft tallboys. There are more than 150 craft beers to choose from. Wisteria is located at 3803 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

FREE POOL Free pool all day at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. SIN Night begins at 1 a.m. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

FIGHTER GAME NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Gamers unite 5 p.m.-close Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

TRIVIA NIGHT AND SIN Trivia is 9-10:30 p.m. Mondays, and SIN is 11 p.m.-3 a.m. at Mugs &

Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar. com for details.

BINGO NIGHT AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS Play a game (or two) of bingo 6-8 p.m. Mondays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.

DOUBLE MONDAYS AND SIN NIGHT Enjoy Double Mondays 8 p.m.-midnight and SIN Night 11 p.m. to close at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.

KARAOKE Karaoke is 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. SIN Night is from 1 a.m. to close Mondays at Sir Richard's Public House, Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

75-CENT OYSTERS AT ATLAS Enjoy 75-cent oysters 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. For more information, visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com.

MUSIC BINGO Test your music knowledge 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Wisteria, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Take part in half-price bottles of wine and $5 canned cocktails. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

POKER NIGHT AND BINGO AT O'RILEY'S

Visit O'Riley's Irish Pub for poker at 6:30 p.m. and bar bingo 8-10 p.m. Tacos on special all day. Tuesdays at 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

LUNCH AT THE DISTRICT The District Steakhouse, 130 E. Government St., is open for special lunch seatings the third Friday of the month. Enjoy a $5 martini or house wine. Seatings are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Reservations are accepted but not necessary. Details are available at districtsteaks.com.

DOLLAR NIGHT Enjoy Dollar Night 8 p.m.midnight Tuesdays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

TUESDAY TRIVIA AT PERFECT PLAIN Visit Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for trivia nights 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at 50 E. Garden St. Visit perfectplain. com/upcoming-events for details.

DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night is 8 p.m.-midnight Wednesdays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Food trucks on site. Details are at orileystavern.com.

TRIVIA AT O'RILEY'S Test your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Wednesdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

WHISKEY WEDNESDAY KARAOKE Karaoke is 9 p.m.-1 a.m., at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

TRIVIA AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS Take part in trivia nights 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.

SIPPIN' IN SUNDRESSES LADIES' NIGHT

AT FELIX'S Pop-up shops, pink drink specials and live music are 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 400 Quietwater Beach Drive.

PITCHERS AND TAVERN TRIVIA Get deals on pitchers 8 p.m.-midnight at O'Riley's Tavern. Trivia is 8 p.m. SIN Night starts at 1 a.m. Thursdays at 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.

WEEKLY SINGO AT PERFECT PLAIN

BREWING CO. Music Bingo Thursdays is 7-9 p.m. at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. Details are at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.

POOL TOURNAMENT Pool tournaments

begin 8 p.m. Tequila Night is from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Thursdays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night with a DJ starts 8 p.m. Thursdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

KARAOKE Karaoke is from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. and SIN Night is 1 a.m. to close Thursdays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

TRIVIA UNDER THE TREES Trivia is 6 p.m. Thursdays at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT

Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back by popular demand 7-9 p.m. Thursdays at 208 Newman Ave. Test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.

BIG BEER NIGHT Drink specials 8 p.m.-12 a.m. and SIN Night from 1 a.m. to close Fridays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

FEISTY FRIDAY NIGHTS Drink specials start 8 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge. com for details.

TGI FIREBALL FRIDAY Drink specials are all day Fridays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. SIN Night starts at 11 p.m. Visit orileyspub. com for details.

FISH FRY FRIDAY Half off fish n' chips from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and live DJ at 9 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

WEEKLY SATURDAY BRUNCH Brunch is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

SHAMROCK SATURDAY Shamrock Saturday is 9 p.m. SIN Night starts at 11 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

FREE POOL AND BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S TAVERN Enjoy free pool all day and play bar bingo 8 p.m. Sundays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT CAFÉ SINGLE FIN

Partake in brunch specials, full café menu, espressos and bottomless mimosas until 1 p.m. Sundays at Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. Live music begins at 10 a.m. Visit cafesinglefin. com for details.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AND KARAOKE O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St., hosts brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays. Karaoke begins at 8 p.m. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT ATLAS OYSTER

HOUSE Sunday Brunch is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. View menus at atlasoysterhouse.com.

KARAOKE AT MUGS & JUGS Karaoke is 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sundays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Sce nic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

SIN NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S SIN Night is 12 a.m. to close Sundays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

LIVE MUSIC

MUSIC AT FIVE SISTERS BLUES CAFE Visit Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St., for live music:

•6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 10: Cat Daddy Blues Duos

•6-10 p.m. Friday, April 11: Blue Levee

•6-10 p.m. Saturday, April 12: Glen Parker

•11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, April 13: Curt Bol

•6-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 15: John Wheeler

•6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 17: Forrest Higgins

DIONYSUS, FUNK HEADS, LIGHTYEAR

SISTERS Show is 7 p.m. Thursday, April 10 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10$15 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

BENEFIT FOR JAIMES MILLER WITH THE LADIES OF, ACORNS, EMERALD COAST MURDERS AND R. GABRIEL TODD Show is 7 p.m. Friday, April 11 at Betty's, 506 W. Belmont St. $10-$20 suggested donation.

FRIED GREEN FRIDAY, PANHANDLE PIRATES, CREMRO SMITH, DUSTY DELUNA, SCO MAZZI Show is 7 p.m. Friday, April 11 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

BIG SOMETHING Show is 7 p.m. Friday, April 11 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets at vinylmusichall.com.

Adoption • Paternity • Dependency/DCF Hearings Prenuptial Agreements • Postnuptial Agreements Divorce • Child Custody and Timesharing Child Support • Child Support Modifications Alimony • Collaborative Divorce • Divorce Mediation • Pre-Suit Family Law Mediation

127 Palafox Place Suite 100 (850)466-3115 autumnbeckblackledge.com

GASOLINA: REGGAETON PARTY Show is 9 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets at vinylmusichall.com.

JAIMES MILLER BENEFIT With American Suicide, Cockfight, Heavy Kid, Basilantros. 7 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10-$20 suggested donation. Details are at thehandlebar850.com.

a&e happenings

ATOLL, DEMON KING, CESSPOOL CORRUPTION, RAT KING, ACCURSED CREATOR Show is 7 p.m. Sunday, April 13 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10-$15 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

MILLION DOLLAR TIME MACHINE A musical act featuring classic rock tribute acts. Show is 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 13 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.

AN EVENING WITH GRATEFUL SHRED Show is 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 13 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets at vinylmusichall.com.

JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR Show is 8 p.m. Monday, April 14 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.

RUNGE STRINGS Performance is 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 15 at UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 11000 University Parkway. Tickets are free, but registration is required. Reserve your spot at uwf.edu/cfpa.

MAC MCANALLY Show is 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 15 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.

BANDS ON THE BEACH Weekly concert series is 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Gulfside Pavilion

on Pensacola Beach. Disco Kiss is April 15 and Whitesands Panhandle Band is April 22. Details at visitpensacolabeach.com.

UNDEROATH Show is 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 16 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets at vinylmusichall.com.

UWF SINGERS: FAURE REQUIEM The performance will be held Thursday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Rolfs Music Hall at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 11000 University Parkway. Tickets are free, but registration is required. Make yours at uwf.edu/cfpa.

JGBCB Jerry Garcia Band Cover Band show is 7 p.m. Friday, April 18 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets at vinylmusicband.com.

PENSACOLA PICK NIGHT AT ODD COLONY

Music pickers of all levels are invited to play 7-9 p.m. every last Monday of the month at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Bring your acoustic instrument and jam. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.

TUESDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT SEVILLE

QUARTER Enjoy smooth jazz with Melodious Allen and The Funk Heads on Tuesday nights at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.

KARAOKE AT O'RILEY'S UPTOWN Sing your heart out 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays at O'Riley's Uptown, 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT GARY'S BREWERY

Open mic night is hosted by Renee Amelia 6 p.m. every other Wednesday at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for details.

KARAOKE AT THE HANDLEBAR Karaoke is 9 p.m. Wednesdays at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Visit thehandlebar850.com for details.

KARAOKE AT WISTERIA Wisteria Tavern hosts karaoke 7 p.m. Wednesdays at 3808 N. 12th Ave. Details are at wisteriatavern.com.

WHISKEY WEDNESDAY KARAOKE Karaoke starts 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

WEEKLY SINGO AT PERFECT PLAIN

BREWING CO. Take part in musical bingo 7 p.m. Thursdays at Perfect Plain, 50 E. Garden St. Admission is free. Details are at facebook.com/ perfectplainbrewingco.

KARAOKE NIGHTS AT SIR RICHARD'S

Bring your singing talents Monday and Thursday nights to Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Festivities are 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

HAPPY HOUR LIVE MUSIC AT O'RILEY'S Drink specials and live music are 4-7 p.m. Fridays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

SUNDAY KARAOKE AT MUGS & JUGS Karaoke starts 9 p.m. Sunday at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

KARAOKE NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S IRISH PUB Karaoke is 8 p.m.-midnight Sundays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Details are at orileyspub.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT CALVERT'S Listen to live music 5-8 p.m. Sundays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. Visit facebook.com/calvertsintheheights for details.

FITNESS + RECREATION

OCEAN HOUR CLEAN UPS Ocean Hour

Clean Ups are 8:45 a.m. Saturdays. On April 12, the sites are Casino Beach and Bruce Beach. Ocean Hour provides bags, gloves, grabbers and buckets. For more information, visit oceanhourfl.com.

BLUE WAHOOS HOME OPENER The Blue Wahoos home games are held at Blue Wahoos Stadium, 315 W. Cedar St. Upcoming dates include: 6:05 p.m. Thursday, April 10, Friday, April 11 Saturday, April 12 and 1:05 p.m. Sunday, April 13. Details and tickets at bluewahoos.com.

a&e happenings

DEEP SOUTH CRANES BLIZZARD SERIES: PENSACOLA SPORTS ONE HUNDRED Deep South Cranes Blizzard Series Gulf Coast Double Header kicks off at Five Flags Speedway, 7451 Pine Forest Road with the Pensacola Sports One Hundred. The 100-lap Super Late Model race will take center stage on 8 p.m. Friday, April 11. Details at fiveflagsspeedway.com.

DELUNA'S OPEN WATER SWIM Pick from .6, 1.2, or 2.4 miles swim challenges. Race is hosted by Salty Sports Society. On Pensacola Beach behind Flounders. Details at pensacolasports.org/delunasswim.

DOG EASTER EGG EVENT Enjoy a dog friendly Easter egg hunt 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at Calvert's, 670 Scenic Highway. Details at wolfgangparkandbrews.com.

GULF COAST WHALE FESTIVAL The Gulf Coast Whale Festival is 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at Gulfside Pavilion, 20 Casino Beach Boardwalk with educational exhibits, activities, live music, a puppet parade and the premier performance of Ode to the Rice's Whale, written by Pensacola performer Bob Teague. A 32' long inflatable Rice's whale will allow attendees to experience the size and beauty of a native Gulf whale. Details available at healthygulf.org/whalefestival.

GOAT YOGA Beginner yoga class for all ages with goats at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208

Newman Ave. 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12. Cost is $33. Registration is at facebook.com/garysbrew.

FULL MOON RESTORATIVE YOGA AND MASSAGE EVENT Enjoy a 90-minute yoga class and therapeutic massage 6-9 p.m. Sunday, April 13 at Yoga Adobe, 511 S. Palafox St. Details at iamabode.com/shop/p/apr25-full-moon.

MARINE CONSERVATION DAY AT GARY'S BREWERY Free day of community, conservation and fun 12-5 p.m. Sunday, April 13 at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. Details at facebook.com/garysbrew.

YOGA UNCORKED AT 5ELEVEN Yoga classes are 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays at 5eleven, 511 S. Palafox St., with Disko Lemonade running the class. Register at diskolemonade.com.

YOGA WITH MARNI AT HA-YA Visit Ha-Ya Wellness for integrative yoga with Marni 10 a.m. the first and third Saturday of the month at 4301 Spanish Trail Road. Visit facebook.com/asherandbeeapothecary for more information.

SIP AND STRETCH YOGA Yoga class for all levels is Sundays at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Class starts at 11:45 a.m. Cost is $18 for a onehour class followed by a complimentary beverage. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for details.

HOOK, LINE & SINKER MONTHLY FISHING SEMINAR SERIES Hot Spots Charters

hosts a monthly free fishing seminar the first Monday every month at Flounder's Chowder House, 800 Quietwater Beach Road on Pensacola Beach. A free fish dinner is 6:30 p.m. with the seminar at 7 p.m. and typically lasts about an hour. Visit facebook.com/hlsseminar for details.

TIKI TUESDAY SUNSET YOGA Take in a slow flow yoga class led by Donna Dickey 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Sneaky Tiki Bar, 17 Via De Luna Drive. Cost is $15 to drop in and includes a drink. For details, visit iamabode.com.

LIVE JAZZ AND SWING DANCING From 6:30-11 p.m. the first Friday of each month, enjoy a live band for dancing Lindy, Foxtrot, East Coast and West Coast Swing. This is a fun, friendly atmosphere with lessons for all levels and no partner required. Location is The Way You Move Dance Studio, 918 Winton Ave. The cost is $15. More information is at thewayyoumove.us.

WEST COAST SWING DANCE Join the fun

6:30-10 p.m. Wednesdays for $5 and 6:30-11 p.m. the fourth Saturday of each month for $10. All levels welcomed; no partner required. The Way You Move dance studio is at 918 Winton Ave. More information is at thewayyoumove.us.

BALLROOM, LATIN, SWING DANCE

From 6:30-11 p.m. the second Saturday of each month, enjoy a mix of music for all dancers. All

levels welcomed; no partner required. The Way You Move dance studio is at 918 Winton Ave. The cost is $10. More information is at thewayyoumove.us.

PENSACOLA PARKRUN The Pensacola Rec Plex North Parkrun is 7:30 a.m. Saturdays. The weekly timed 5K run or walk takes place at the University of West Florida and is free and open to everyone, regardless of fitness level. For more information, visit facebook.com/rpnparkrun or email recplexnorth@parkrun.com.

KID-FRIENDLY

PAW PATROL LIVE TICKETS ON SALE The Paw Patrol Live: A Mighty Adventure show has been announced for Oct. 14 and 15 at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets are on sale starting April 11. Details available at pensacolabaycenter.com.

PRESCHOOL ART & STORYTIMEB Join PMA alongside the West Florida Public Libraries to engage preschoolers in story time and art. During this free event at the Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St., a librarian will read selections of similarly themed books and encourage movement and participation. Event is 2:30-3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12. For ages 2-5. Details at pensacolamuseum.org.

for more listings visit inweekly.net

free will astrology

WEEK OF APRIL 10

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Life is asking you to be a source of generosity and strength for the people and animals in your sphere. I hope you will exude maximum amounts of your natural charisma as you bestow maximum blessings. Soak up the admiration and affection you deserve, too, as you convey admiration and affection to others. Here's a secret: the more you share your resources, help and intelligence, the more of that good stuff will flow back your way.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Ceramicist Jun Hamada says that trying to force harmony into her art leads to sterile work. "The most beautiful pieces come from the moments I stop trying to make them beautiful," she notes. "They emerge from embracing the clay's natural tendencies, even when they seem to fight against my intentions." I recommend her approach to you in the coming weeks. Your best results may emerge as you allow supposed flaws and glitches to play an unexpected part in the process. Alliances might benefit, even deepen, through honest friction rather than imposed peace. What will happen when you loosen your attachment to enforced harmony and let life's natural tensions gyrate?

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Gemini-born Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959) was a prolific architect who orchestrated many daring designs. Among his most audacious experiments was a project to build a house over a waterfall in Pennsylvania. "It can't be done!" experts said. But he did it. Before he was ready to accomplish the impossible, though, he had to spend months studying the site's natural patterns. I bring this to your attention, Gemini, because I believe you are ready to consider your own equivalent of constructing a house over a waterfall. Prepare well. Do your homework.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): In the early phase of his illustrious career as a photographer, Edward Weston (1886–1958) cultivated a soft-focus, romantic style. But he ultimately converted to stark, uncompromising realism. "The camera," he said, "should be used for recording life, for rendering the very substance and quintessence of the thing itself." If there is anything about you that prefers warm, fuzzy il -

By Rob Brezsny

lusions over objective, detailed truth, I suggest you switch emphasis for a while. If you like, you can return to the soft-focus approach in June. But for now, a gritty, unsentimental attitude will be essential to your well-being.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Here's my mini-manifesto about change, just in time for a phase when change is most necessary and possible for you. 1. Real change is often a slow and subtle process. There may be rare dramatic shifts, but mostly the process is gradual and incremental. 2. Instead of pushing hard for a short time, you're more likely to change things by persistently pushing with modest strength for a sustained time. 3. Rather than trying to confront and wrestle with a big problem exactly as it is, it's often more effective to break the seemingly insurmountable challenge into small, manageable pieces that can be solved one at a time through simple efforts.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Textile artist Mei Zhang wondered if the synthetic dyes she used on her fabrics were limited. Might there be a wider variety of colors she could use in her creations? She discovered that her grandmother, using age-old techniques, had produced hues that modern dyes couldn't replicate. "The most sustainable path forward," Zhang concluded, "often involves rediscovering what we've forgotten rather than inventing something entirely new." I recommend that counsel to you, Virgo. The solution to a current challenge might come from looking back instead of pushing forward. Consider what old approaches or traditional wisdom you might call on to generate novelty. Weave together fresh applications with timeless principles.

morrow or ten years from today is completely predictable. Its ever-changing nature follows a rhythmic pattern. I believe the same is true about our emotions and feelings, which in astrology are ruled by the moon. They are forever shifting, and yet if we survey the big picture of how they arise, we will see their overall flow has distinct patterns. Now would be a good time for you to get to know your flow better. See if you can detect recurring motifs. Try to develop more objectivity about how your precious emotions and feelings really work. If you do this correctly, you will deepen and enhance the guiding power of your precious emotions and feelings.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Research reveals that interludes of productive uncertainty may strengthen our brain's neural pathways— even more so than if we consistently leap to immediate comprehension. The key modifier to this fortifying uncertainty is "productive." We must be willing to dwell with poise in our puzzlement, even welcome and enjoy the fertile mystery it invokes in us. Neurobiologist Aiden Chen says, "Confusion, when properly supported, isn't an obstacle to learning but a catalyst for understanding." These ideas will be good medicine in the coming weeks, dear Scorpio.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Persian American author Haleh Liza Gafori translates the poetry of 13th-century Sufi mystic Rumi. One of their joint books is titled Gold. She writes, "Rumi's gold is not the precious metal, but a feeling-state arrived at through the alchemical process of burning through layers of self, greed, pettiness, calculation, doctrine—all of it. The prayer of Sufism is 'teach me to love more deeply.' Gold is the deepest love." That's the gold I hope you aspire to embody in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. You are in a resplendently golden phase when you have more power than usual to create, find and commune with Rumi's type of gold.

lessly active could be just what you need to open up space for fresh possibilities.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): The moon rises about 50 minutes later every day, and always at a slightly different place on the horizon. The amount of light it shows us is also constantly in flux. And yet where and how it will appear to -

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): The coming weeks will be an excellent time to reframe the meaning of "emptiness" in your life. To launch your quest, I will remind you that quiet interludes and gaps in your schedule can be rejuvenating. Sitting still and doing nothing in particular may be a good way to recharge your spiritual batteries. Relieving yourself of the pressure to be end-

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): There was a time, many years ago, when I consulted a divinatory oracle every day of my life. Sometimes it was the Tarot or the I Ching. I threw the Norse runes, did automatic writing, used a pendulum or tried bibliomancy. Astrology was always in the mix, too, of course. Looking back on those days, I am amused at my obsession with scrying the future and uncovering subconscious currents. But employing these aids had a wonderful result: it helped me develop and fine-tune my intuition and psychic powers—which, after all, are the ultimate divination strategy. I bring this to your attention, Aquarius, because I believe you now have an enhanced power to cultivate and strengthen your intuition and psychic powers.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): The fovea is the part of the eye that enables sharp vision. Humans have just one kind of fovea, which gives them the ability to see clearly straight ahead. Eagles have both a central and peripheral fovea. The latter gives them an amazing visual acuity for things at a distance. This extra asset also attunes them to accurately detect very slow movements. I suspect you will have a metaphorical semblance of the eagle's perceptual capacity in the coming weeks, Pisces. You will be able to see things you wouldn't normally see and things that other people can't see. Take full advantage of this superpower. Find what you didn't even know you were looking for.

HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: Which of your previous bests are you primed to surpass? {in}

freewillastrology.com newsletter.freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com © 2025 Rob Brezsny

AMERICANS ABROAD Ukrainian American national Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, was arrested on March 30 after he made a visit to a remote island in the Indian Ocean, the New York Post reported. North Sentinel Island is home to a hostile, isolated tribe called the Sentinelese, and traveling there is banned. Polyakov was seen taking off in a small boat around midnight on March 29, with his only cargo a coconut and a can of Coke, which he intended to present as "offerings for the Sentinelese." HS Dhaliwal, the director general of police on the Andaman Islands, said officials were trying to find out more about Polyakov. He did make it to the island but appeared to be ignored by the natives. He left his offerings on the beach and collected sand samples, then returned to South Andaman. Police say in January, Polyakov filmed another remote tribe, the Jarawa, while visiting the Baratang Islands. An American missionary, John Allen Chau, was killed with an arrow by the Sentinelese in 2018.

SURPRISE! When a babysitter in Great Bend, Kansas, helpfully looked under the bed to check for "monsters" on March 24, she actually found one, NBC News reported. The Barton County Sheriff's Office was called to the home, where the babysitter had come face-to-face with a man hiding under the child's bed, around 10:30 p.m. After a short altercation with the babysitter, the man fled the home. The suspect, who was captured the next morning, was Martin Villalobos Jr., 27, who once lived in the house. Villalobos was under a protection order and had been warned to stay away from the home. He was arrested on charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary, aggravated battery, child endangerment and other offenses and held on $500,000 bond.

ANIMAL ANTICS Mail carrier Wayne White was on his route in Hyannis, Massachusetts, on March 28 when he ran into a flock of troublemakers, WHDH-TV reported. As he got in and out of his truck and delivered mail, three wild turkeys followed and harassed him while he tried to fend them off with a box. "Every time I moved the truck, the turkeys followed," White said. One encounter with the birds was caught on a home's surveillance video and showed White trying to do his job as they gobbled at him. "I do a lot of stuff on Nantucket, so I see deer all the time, but this is my first time with turkey," he said.

A CAUTIONARY TALE Minot, North Dakota, mayor Tom Ross resigned on April 1, which some might find a fitting date for his ignominious downfall. KMOT-TV reported that Ross was the subject of a complaint made in late January by the city attorney, Stefanie Stalheim, who said she had received a sexually explicit text from Ross. Ross admitted he had made a video of himself masturbating during his lunch break, intending to send it to his romantic partner. "I do take responsibility for this mis -

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

take," Ross said. "I tried to immediately correct it and was unable."

LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINAL Crush Comics in California's Castro Valley was burglarized on March 22, CBS News reported. The thief took a display of the store's most valuable comic books, said owner Josh Hunter. He figured they were gone for good, but then, just 12 hours later, one of his employees stumbled upon an eBay listing for a very specific comic book from the store. "I'm just going to buy that and see what happens," Hunter said. When he got the seller's name and address, he searched on Instagram and saw the burglar's offer to buy, sell or trade Lego sets. Next, Hunter called another comic shop and a toy store that had also been broken into and shared his findings. When the sleuths turned their results over to police, Alameda County Sheriff's officers served a search warrant at the home of Noorullah Amiri, 29, of Livermore, where they found tens of thousands of dollars' worth of comic books, collectibles and Lego sets. Amiri was taken into custody on March 27.

RECENT

ALARMING HEADLINE Felipe

Hoyos-Foronda, 38, of Queens, New York, was taken into custody at John F. Kennedy International Airport on March 28 after a medical procedure at his home went south, CBS News reported. According to police, a 31-year-old woman went to Hoyos-Foronda's home to have her butt implants removed. When the woman suffered complications, he called EMS and then took off, intending to flee to Colombia. First responders found the woman unresponsive. The criminal complaint said Hoyos-Foronda admitted to performing the procedure without a license and administering lidocaine, "causing her to go into cardiac arrest." Officials say the victim is still hospitalized with no brain activity, and she shows signs of lidocaine toxicity.

THE PASSING PARADE Delhi, India's "Potty Badmash," a 27-year-old pickpocket named Deepak, was finally arrested on March 24, The Times of India reported. Deepak is famous for committing thefts and knife-related crimes, then soiling his pants, creating a stench so terrible that it kept officers away from him. This time, however, they armed themselves with gloves and masks. "Team gave him chase and pinned him down," said an officer. "As expected, Deepak deployed his famous 'filth plan' but the officers ... thwarted his last-ditch effort and took him in custody." When they searched him, they found a knife, which Deepak described as his "lucky charm." During questioning he admitted to multiple mobile phone thefts and other crimes. {in}

From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2025 Andrews McMeel