Opinion
Zoning board has had enough
In Florida, zoning boards are statutorily required and used to ensure controlled land development. They review applications for variances, special uses and rezoning requests and send their decisions and recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.
May is Military Appreciation Month
In 1999, congress declared May would be National Military Appreciation Month so the citizens of our country could publicly thank everyone who puts on the uniform of their branch of service.
Peeling back the layers of Ibis Road
The Ibis Road and Maikaira Ridge debacle has been at the forefront of Milton’s news for a couple of weeks now – though its roots stretch back over two decades. And this latest chapter of problems and actions and reactions has brought even more issues into focus.
P25 encrypted emergency communication system: A double-edged sword for public transparency and journalism
Emergency communication systems are critical for public safety, enabling swift coordination among first responders during crises. Over the years, technological advancements have made these systems more efficient, reliable, and secure. One such innovation is the P25 (Project 25) communication system—a suite of standards designed to ensure interoperability among various public safety agencies while prioritizing encrypted communication for enhanced security. While encryption undoubtedly bolsters the confidentiality of sensitive operations, it also raises significant concerns for journalists and advocates of government transparency.
Out and About
Daniel Evans
April 30, 2025
April 30, 2025
Last week I was writing about my critics and this week I started scanning pages of one hundred-year-old copies of the Milton Gazette, which is now the Santa Rosa Press Gazette. I found the following printed on May 1, 1925 – which could have been my column last week – just said in a different way…
Brian Out Loud
Brian Lester
May 12, 2025
May 12, 2025
Nearly 365 days ago, the Jay baseball team was on a field on a muggy night in Fort Myers celebrating its first state championship in more than a half century.
Last Tuesday night in Bonifay, nearly two hours from home, the season came to end as the Royals lost Game 2 to top-ranked Holmes County by a 3-1 score.
Last Tuesday night in Bonifay, nearly two hours from home, the season came to end as the Royals lost Game 2 to top-ranked Holmes County by a 3-1 score.
For God’s Sake
Michael Bannon
May 14, 2025
May 14, 2025
I used the Waze app on a recent road trip and was a good “Wazer,” reporting and confirming road hazards along the way. “Vehicle on shoulder ahead,” the digital assistant would announce, sounding to me like she was annoyed. Sometimes there was a vehicle and sometimes it was there no longer, and I would dutifully give a status update by selecting the appropriate button. It was on that road trip that I realized that I needed to have my eyes checked. Sometimes I reported that the vehicle was no longer there when in fact it was. I needed a “whoops, my bad” button.