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Jan 13, 2025 | 
yahoo.com | Mary Lett
When the University of West Florida’s Board of Trustees convenes soon, it will be the first time in at least five years in which all 13 seats are filled. This board, however, will have fewer local faces and more far-right leaning trustees with conservative views. Gov. Ron DeSantis last week announced the appointments of five new UWF trustees – Paul Bailey, Gates Garcia, Adam Kissel, Scott Yenor and Chris Young. As governor, DeSantis appoints six trustees to the board.
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Jan 13, 2025 | 
news.yahoo.com | Mary Lett
Santa Rosa County and Escambia County schools both saw increases in high school graduation rates last school year. The Santa Rosa School District reached its highest graduation rate to date − 90.9 percent − a half percent increase over 2022-2023’s 90.4 percent. The district, which had 2,231 graduating seniors last year, also surpassed the state’s 2024 graduation rate of 89.7 percent.
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Dec 10, 2024 | 
news.yahoo.com | Mary Lett
AMIkids is a place for second chances – or even third chances. The organization’s Youth Build Program helps 16- to 24-year-olds earn GEDs and industry certifications, learn a skilled craft while developing leadership and life skills. The program also helps them find and keep jobs. Monti Sommer, AMIkids executive director, knows firsthand the impact of the Youth Build Program. “We had a former student who was passing a construction site, went in and applied for a job.
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Dec 9, 2024 | 
yahoo.com | Mary Lett
Pea Ridge Elementary needs another playground, and students, staff and faculty are raising money for the project in the smelliest way possible. The school is holding a unique fundraiser, commonly known as the Stinky Fish Challenge. Several school employees have vowed to – maybe – taste surströmming. The public can donate money for the playground and watch the entire event play-by-play on Facebook. For those who don’t know, surströmming is fermented herring.
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Dec 9, 2024 | 
yahoo.com | Mary Lett
Some Booker T. Washington and West Florida Technical high school students are learning to design and construct artificial reefs that may eventually be used to help the area’s marine life. About 140 students from each of the schools are enrolled in marine science classes that incorporate a new Artificial Reefs Curriculum into coursework.
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Dec 2, 2024 | 
yahoo.com | Mary Lett
Escambia Children's Trust has, so far, awarded nearly $4 million to programs that previously received some funding from the Escambia County Board of Commissioners.County commissioners referred several nonprofits to the ECT after the special tax referendum was approved by voters in 2020. The measure allowed ETC to start receiving tax dollars and funding programs in 2022.
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Nov 28, 2024 | 
news.yahoo.com | Thomas Bender |Mike Lang |Mary Lett |Jesse Mendoza |Gabriela Szymanowska |Jennifer Sangalang
When does hurricane season end? Look back at damage in Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice BeachThree hurricanes made landfall in Florida during the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June 1 to Nov. 30, with the busiest months between August and October. • None Hurricane Debby made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida, about 7 a.m. Aug. 5, 2024, as a Category 1 storm. • None Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida, at 11:10 p.m. Sept. 26, 2024, as a Category 4 storm.
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Nov 28, 2024 | 
heraldtribune.com | Thomas Bender |Mike Lang |Mary Lett |Jesse Mendoza |Gabriela Szymanowska |Jennifer Sangalang
When is 2024 Atlantic hurricane season over? Season runs June 1 to Nov. 30 every year, with busiest part between August and October. Thomas Bender Mike Lang Mary Lett Jesse Mendoza Gabriela Szymanowska Jennifer SangalangUSA TODAY NETWORK - FloridaHurricane season is coming to a close. Three hurricanes made landfall in Florida during the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June 1 to Nov. 30, with the busiest months between August and October.
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Nov 25, 2024 | 
yahoo.com | Mary Lett
Pensacola High senior Zamya Powell usually never arrived on her school’s campus until about 11 a.m. each day. Classes start at 8:30 a.m.Since joining Chain Reaction’s Team Leadership Institute her junior year, Powell gets to school on time and her grade point average has improved from a 2.3 to nearly a 3.0. The 18-year-old is also on track to earn a majority of As, one B and one C the second nine weeks of this school year. She has also determined a career path.
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Nov 25, 2024 | 
yahoo.com | Mary Lett
A C.A. Weis Elementary fifth-grader experienced a medical emergency one recent Monday. The student was immediately checked by a Community Health Northwest Florida physician’s assistant at the school. Last week, a former C.A. Weis student, now in middle school, needed clothing and shoes. Principal Kim Thomas was able to get the child those necessities. These outcomes may not have been possible a few years ago – because C.A. Weis was a school in trouble.
