Rick's Podcasts

According to Airport Director Matt Coughlin, the additional eight TSA workers at Pensacola International Airport are expected to improve service levels after staffing and training struggles. Coughlin also confirmed that Southwest Airlines' decision to cut service to several airports around the country will not impact Pensacola. Additionally, Roy Anderson Corp. has been awarded the contract for Hangar Three for $72.7 million, with work expected to start soon. The hangar will be able to accommodate wide-body jets, and ST  Engineering already has clients lined up for work there.

Twenty years ago, the City of Pensacola struggled to find a viable business strategy for the financially struggling Port of Pensacola. Ideas such as transforming warehouses into a maritime museum and a cruise ship accommodation were considered but were abandoned after Hurricane Ivan.  Today, the port is thriving and has diversified its operations, according to Port Director Clark Merritt. “We have a nice balance of cargo activities that are very robust with our long-term tenants like CMEX and Martin Marietta and, of course, the GE Wind products. They really are our bedrock of support at the port on the maritime commerce side.” The diversity comes with the addition of American Magic, Portside Pickle, and the University of West Florida’s mechanical engineering lab. Merritt shared that more is planned for the parcel between American Magic’s headquarters and The Fish House, but the site has challenges.

ABC News' Karen Travers was there, sitting at the head table.  She shares what happened.

The Bail Project - An Evening Hosted by Julian MacQueen with Robin Steinberg, Founder of the Bail Project, is  Thursday, April 25, starting at 6:30 p.m. in The Rex, 18 North Palafox St.  Bail Project CEO David Gasper discusses the program and shares its success in Pensacola.

Thousands of pounds of seafood, along with traditional festival fare, encompass this event. Festival runs 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, April 26, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, April 27, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, April 28, in Seville Square. Details are available at fiestapensacola.org/crawfish-festival.

Escambia County Public Schools is hosting an in-person Teacher Hiring Event to fill teacher positions for the 2024-2025 school year on Saturday, May 4 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Booker T. Washington High School, 6000 College Parkway. Visit the ECPS employment page at escambiacountyschools.org/employment and click on “24-25 Teacher Hiring Event.”  The application deadline is May 1.  Applicants will receive an email notification if eligible to attend. Melia Adams shares the details.

The University of West Florida placed second in the 2023 CAE-CD Community Outreach Award Competition, which is given by the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Community. UWF Cyber Ambassadors program is an important part of the center's community outreach. Guy Garrett leads the program.

Council member Jennifer Brahier discusses Portside Pickle, City Swimming Pools and creating a priority list for repairs and maintenance. 

 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh discussed various issues in District 1, including the problematic roundabout on Perdido Key, which he admitted was too small and needed to be redesigned. He also mentioned a new offer for OLF-8, which he believes is a better deal. Bergosh also announced that the next Coffee with Commissioner event will be held live in Perdido Key, where several new developments and improvements are underway.

It’s a huge weekend for Taylor Swift fans—her new album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” dropped at midnight, as the singer continues to ride the wave of her popularity peak. Jason Nathanson and Sena Maddison discuss the lead-up to the release.