Rick's Podcasts

Since launching in April 2021, we have now served over 330 kids and their families in our community! Your kindness has helped us grow and provide essential support to grieving children and their families.

Come celebrate your impact with an Open House to meet our staff and volunteers, tour our space, and admire our beautiful new backyard, a gift from the Leadership Pensacola Class of 2024. We hope to see you June 27!

With heartfelt thanks,

The Valerie's House Pensacola Family

Time: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 27
Where: 904 East Gadsden Street.

Y Reads had a phenomenal year. The test scores improved, kids were promoted to the next grade, and discipline problems decreased. Rebecca Rubey shares the details

The City of Pensacola and Mayor D.C. Reeves is hosting a Public Open House on Wednesday, June 26 from 4-7 pm at City Hall, 222 West Main Street. This is the latest step in Pensacola's Strategic Planning process.  Adrianne Walker has the details.

Three suspects and a sheriff’s office K-9 jumped from an Escambia County bridge Monday evening following a drive-by shooting. One suspect died from his injuries after jumping off the bridge. 

A second suspect, 19-year-old Jaquarius Trayquan Etheridge, has been charged with murder while engaged in a crime for the death of the suspect, attempted murder for the drive-by shooting, fleeing and eluding, and a weapons offense. He is jailed without bond.

The third suspect, the one chased over the bridge by K-9 Streeter, has not been captured.

Sheriff Chip Simmons discusses how the incident unfolded.

Rick talks with Sena Maddison, Andrea Rosenbaum, Mike Dobuski, Kerrith Fiddler, Kevin Adams, and Peter Charalambous.

Calling all area companies and organizations to join the “Quest for the Cup” in this year’s YMCA Corporate Cup Games, to be held Saturday, Sept. 21, at Pensacola State College.

In its 28th year, Corporate Cup welcomes local companies of all sizes for fun, fitness, and fellowship. Athletes participate in traditional events such as the One-mile Run, Egg Toss, and Obstacle Course, and unique events such as Sink It, Frisbee Chaos, and Sod Surfing. 

Teams must consist of 20-28 members at least 18 years old and regular employees of the company. Employee spouses may participate. For a $1,000 entry fee, your team receives event entry, food and drink, a participant gift for each team member, and a chance to win awards and bragging rights. Silver Sponsorships are also available. Proceeds benefit YMCA mission programs. The event is made possible by the support of Gold Sponsor Florida Power & Light.

Learn more and register at www.ymcanwfl.org.

Pensacola City Administrator Kerrith Fiddler discusses his five years with the city.   He started his public service Fiddler as a bus operator and worked his way up to his current role, gaining experience in different sectors of government. 

Fiddler believes that Pensacola, despite being a small city, has many amenities of a larger city, including its own airport, port, and gas utility. Fiddler is proud of the city's strategic plan and the progress made during his tenure, including a comprehensive compensation study aimed at ensuring fair wages for all city employees. He will be succeeded by Amy Miller on an interim basis.

Escambia County school board member Kevin Adams joined the show from the national Excellence in Education conference. He discusses the need for parents to be aware of the dangers to children of unlimited and unsupervised cellphone use, especially those younger than under 16. 

The Santa Rosa County Commission rejected by a 3-2 vote Commissioner James Calkins’ latest political stunt, a resolution declaring that Santa Rosa County does not welcome illegal aliens. Grace Resendez McCaffery, the owner of Latino Media Gulf Coast, discusses the damages caused by such resolutions.

State Rep. Alex Andrade: “It’s a four-page document that you have to sign under oath. It’s not the most difficult document to fill out, but it’s also not the most difficult document to print and mail in.”