News
Last Call for 12.23.25 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida
1+ hour, 38+ min ago (741+ words) Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed two new members and reappointed one incumbent to the Tallahassee State College District Board of Trustees. DeSantis named Sara Bayliss and Jonathan Rees to the Board and reappointed Karen Moore, according to an announcement from…...
Clay School Board member Robert Alvero under fire after saying most Black people are 'nasty' and 'rude"
1+ day, 7+ hour ago (256+ words) School Board member Robert Alvero is getting ripped for recent comments disparaging the vast majority of Black people. Alvero, a first-generation Cuban immigrant who came to the U.S. in 2008, has worked as a firefighter in Jacksonville and a member of the…...
Steven Herrig: New College is an economic engine worth the investment
4+ day, 4+ hour ago (936+ words) Back then, it was a quiet, sleepy town with a vibrant history, abundant natural beauty, a welcoming spirit, and a lifestyle that felt like home. We set about grafting our life onto the story of a place with roots established…...
New College Foundation announces $1M gift for ‘Socratic Stage’ program
6+ day, 1+ hour ago (287+ words) The New College Foundation has announced a $1 million donation from Dr. Michael C. and Ling Z. Markovitz to establish a new campus program centered on debate, classical learning and public discourse. The donation, made directly to the New College Foundation, will help…...
William Mattox: The ghost (students) of public school future?
6+ day, 2+ hour ago (554+ words) U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced last week that her department plans to step up efforts to rid federal student aid programs of "ghost students" " fake accounts set up by fraudsters to steal financial aid funds intended for real college…...
UF Trustees name search committee to find new President in Gainesville
6+ day, 5+ hour ago (366+ words) The University of Florida'Board of Trustees has established a Presidential Search Advisory Committee to conduct a national search for the school's next leader. The committee is composed of several representatives from across UF and the Florida University System. It consists…...
Orange County plans to close 7 schools amid declining enrollment
6+ day, 8+ hour ago (668+ words) Facing at least a $41 million loss this year and declining enrollment, Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) leaders said they have no choice but to close seven schools in the 2026-27 year. Some parents, meanwhile, are outraged about losing their beloved community…...
'This is personal': Cynthia West enters Okaloosa School Board race
6+ day, 15+ hour ago (291+ words) Cynthia West has formally announced her campaign for the Okaloosa County School Board seat in District 3, entering a contested local race as the March 2026 municipal election approaches. West's campaign launch, circulated this week, sets out a platform focused on fiscal…...
UWF Ph.D. student develops AI program to track and map impacts of wildfires
1+ week, 7+ hour ago (244+ words) University of West Florida researchers are now using artificial intelligence to track data that will improve how damage from wildfires is mapped. UWF Ph.D. student Valeria Martin has introduced what's being called CalFireSeg-50, a dataset that was formulated from satellite…...
William Mattox: Bedrock, we have a problem
1+ week, 14+ hour ago (455+ words) A funny thing happened in the Legislature last week. While the House was holding an "AI Week" to talk about all sorts of futuristic possibilities straight out of "The Jetsons," the Senate Appropriations Committee passed a school choice "glitch bill…...