Issuu

BIG SWINGS, BIGGER MONSTERS

A FALL MOVIE PREVIEW Independent News | September 24, 2026 | Volume 27 | Number 38

FREE ▶

winners & losers

outtakes

news 6

This is crazy.

buzz

feature

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Joshua Encinias, Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Dakota Parks, C.S. Satterwhite, Tom St. Myer

a&e 13

Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2026 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

inweekly.net

September 24, 2026

3 WAYS TO VOTE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

winners & losers

I M P O R TA N T D E A D L I N E S

Deadline to Register: Oct. 5

Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline: Oct. 22

BY MAIL

Voters are eligible to receive their ballot in the mail and return to the Supervisor of Elections Office by 7 p.m. on Election Day. For more information on voting by mail, visit EscambiaVotes.gov/vote-by-mail.

EARLY: OCTOBER 19–31

10 Early Voting sites will be available across Escambia County prior to Election Day. Voters are able to cast their ballot at any site from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit EscambiaVotes.gov/early-voting-locations.

ELECTION DAY: NOVEMBER 3

On Election Day, polls are open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Voters must vote in their home precinct on Election Day. Visit EscambiaVotes.gov/precinct-finder to view your home precinct. Visit us online at EscambiaVotes.gov

Call our office at (850) 595-3900

Email us at soe@escambiavotes.gov

Robert D. Bender, Supervisor of Elections Phone: (850) 595-3900 Fax: (850) 595-3914 Email: soe@escambiavotes.gov

EscambiaVotes.gov

Gilbert "Gil" Clark Jr. / Courtesy Photo

Ron DeSantis / Photo Courtesy of flgov.com

winners

losers

GILBERT "GIL" CLARK JR. The Pensacola In-

FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT The DeSantis administration could

terstate Fair has named the retired Navy captain as its new Chief Executive Officer, tasking him with modernizing the 91-year-old nonprofit. Clark spent more than 28 years in Navy leadership, including a stint as Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he oversaw a 5,000-person institution and a $180 million budget. Board President Andy Peterson said Clark brings the strategic vision needed for "the Fair's next chapter." Clark's priorities include launching a new spring event, expanding agricultural education programming for youth and pursuing partnerships with schools, universities and FFA/4-H programs. Clark's wife, Heather, grew up in Cantonment and graduated from Tate High School. The 91st annual Fair runs Oct. 22-Nov. 1.

KAREN S. MOLEK The professor and chair of the University of West Florida's Department of Chemistry has won the 2027 ACS-Dreyfus Award for Encouraging Underrepresented and Economically Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical Sciences. The American Chemical Society cited Molek for "for leveraging her professional career as a champion who advocates, supports and empowers students from disadvantaged backgrounds to realize and achieve their academic potential." Established in 1993, the award recognizes significant accomplishments by individuals who stimulate students, underrepresented in the profession, to elect careers in the chemical sciences and engineering. The award consists of $5,000 and a certificate. Molek will be honored at the ACS Spring 2027 Meeting in New Orleans. WALKER WILSON The Downtown Improvement Board unanimously approved a four-year contract extension for its executive director at its Sept. 15 meeting, keeping Wilson in the role through 2030. Wilson, hired in 2020 from a pool of 53 candidates, has led downtown through Hurricane Sally, the pandemic and the Palafox Street reconstruction. Under his tenure, taxable property value in the DIB district grew more than 51%, from $295.3 million to $447.25 million, and Palafox Market expanded from 145 to over 200 vendors. The Urban Core now counts 1,658 businesses and nearly 19,450 employees. Commercial occupancy stands at 97% for retail and 98% for office space. 44

face a $1.5 billion deficit in its Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund by the end of the fiscal year, despite a hurricane season with no Florida landfalls. Much of the strain traces to immigration enforcement, including the now-shuttered Alligator Alcatraz detention facility, with $187.8 million in already-completed contracts newly approved by the Legislative Budget Commission on Sept. 11. Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) has recovered only $84.6 million of a promised $608 million in federal reimbursements, leaving $523.8 million outstanding and 592 unpaid invoices. New FDEM Director Jared Perdue, on the job less than three weeks, declined to say when the backlog would clear.

AI GUARDRAILS Gov. Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump are split over AI guardrails as Florida's political landscape shifts. DeSantis touts Florida's data center restrictions, crediting himself for blocking hyperscale facilities from burdening residents with water and electricity costs. Trump has countered on Truth Social that he alone is the necessary "guardrail," touting existing criminal and regulatory powers while alleging a "SICK conspiracy" benefiting China. DeSantis warns federal regulation pushes could set up bailouts if AI falters. Gubernatorial hopefuls take different approaches, too. Democrat David Jolly wants a one-year data center moratorium, while Republican Byron Donalds favors local control and ratepayer protections over a blanket pause.

THE KENNEDY CENTER Its board voted last week to close the performing arts center's main building for a renovation project championed by President Donald Trump. The vote came hours after a federal judge again blocked Trump's name from being added to the building, part of an ongoing legal fight with Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio). Board resolutions cited water damage and a partial ceiling collapse as safety justifications and proposed alternative wording honoring Trump's "generosity" on the exterior marble. Trump said the renovation won't proceed unless courts side with him. Opened in 1971 as a "living memorial" to President John F. Kennedy, the center has never closed its main building for renovations of this scale before. inweekly.net

Unit available in Gulf front condominium complex Starboard Village! 1111 FORT PICKENS ROAD #312 $712,500

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ FACTS UNCOVERED Gov. Ron DeSantis and his administration misrepresented the conditions in Florida's immigrant detention center, dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz" by Attorney General James Uthmeier. Don't take my word for it. The Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General shared the facts in a scathing report released on Sept. 11.

WHAT WE WERE TOLD On July 2, 2025, the detention center received its first group of immigrants. The facility was built in eight days over 10 miles of Everglades to hold 1,500 detainees arrested by Florida law enforcement officers under the federal government's 287(g) program. Almost immediately, the detainees' families and attorneys began complaining about inhumane conditions at the facility. CBS News Miami heard from detainees that the cages where they were forced to sleep were crowded and that the food was substandard. Some said they had gone days without showering or receiving prescription medication, and at times the tents' air conditioners abruptly shut off in the sweltering heat. They claimed their drinking water came from toilet spigots and that at times, the toilets backed up, spilling feces onto the ground. Gov. DeSantis pushed back on the criticism. He said, "These are criminals. They make a claim, and the media runs with it. They were mad ham sandwiches weren't toasted—give me a break!" The Florida Division of Emergency Management oversaw the facility's construction and operation. Florida officials denied allegations of inhumane conditions, stating that the facility met the standards required by law. Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie joined DeSantis for a press conference outside the detention center on July 25, 2025. He bragged that Florida knew how to respond to a crisis and that the same speed and discipline had been applied to Alligator Alcatraz. He defended the conditions in the facility. "Our on-site services include hot meal service three times a day, not gray turkey by the way, full medical care including 24/7 clinic and pharmacy, indoor and outdoor recreational space, laundry, legal and clergy services and air-conditioned de-

tention housing units," he said. "These either meet or exceed the higher standard, whatever that is. Whether it's Florida standard or national standard, we meet or exceed the higher standard."

WHAT HOMELAND SECURITY FOUND In-

spectors arrived unannounced on Jan. 21, 2026. Their first finding undercut Guthrie's boast. Nobody at the facility could say which standards applied. Staff gave inconsistent answers, ICE's records listed the standards as "N/A," and no written policy or contract specified them. One official called it "so gray as to whose place this is." Inspectors applied the stricter of Florida's jail standards or ICE's 2019 standards. The facility passed on intake and use of force, but failed on six other areas: living space, recreation, water and hygiene, legal access and medical care. The specific findings can found in this issue's "Buzz" article. Most troubling, from July 2025 to January 2026, staff confined 79 detainees in metal enclosures of about 18 square feet for up to nearly two hours. Staff called them "calming areas." One detainee spent 26 minutes inside after staff noted he "failed to comply with a lawful command." Inspectors said no other ICE facility they had inspected used such enclosures. No one will be punished for misrepresenting what was done in Alligator Alcatraz. Guthrie resigned as director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management in August 2026 after joining Lt. Governor Jay Collins' losing gubernatorial primary campaign. Did he know this report was coming? Alex Lanfranconi, the governor's communications director, defended the governor for taking action on illegal immigration and attacked the media. He said, "The left-wing media wants to focus on a confinement area for violent criminal aliens who have proven they cannot remain peaceful while awaiting deportation." However, the report was from the Trump administration and supported what many in the media had written over the nearly 12 months the facility operated. Instead of doctored facts, Floridians deserve the truth about what was done in their name. {in} rick@inweekly.net

Tastefully remodeled 2 bedroom, 2 full bathroom condo

715 S PALAFOX ST.

Office for Lease Downtown Pensacola Waterfront on Palafox with Parking! 2 story building available. 5,700 SF / $25 PSF (Annual) Call or text Cheryl Young at 850-712-4742 or Mary Charlene Young at 850-712-3219 to see it today!

Cheryl Young Licensed Real Estate Broker

308 E. Government St. • Pensacola, Florida 32502

(850) 712-4742

Licensed in

www.sevillesquare.net • cheryl@sevillesquare.net Florida & Alabama

No one will be punished for misrepresenting what was done in Alligator Alcatraz.

September 24, 2026

A PARK RECONNECTING PENSACOLA'S PAST

Photo Courtesy of cityofpensacola.com

By Tom St. Myer For generations, Interstate-110 has been a visible reminder of what disappeared. Long before I-110 sliced through Pensacola, the area around what is now Hollice T. Williams Park was a thriving neighborhood with homes, churches, businesses and the kind of connections that make a place more than a collection of streets. Then came the interstate. Businesses vanished. Hundreds of Black families were displaced. The stories of several historically significant individuals from the "lost neighborhood" were nearly erased. Pensacolians know the legacy of Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James, the first African American four-star general, but others also had a huge impact. Katherine A. Goldsmith, R.N., coordinated the first nursing program for Black students at the Booker T. Washington Vocational School, which later became a model for the U.S. Navy. Dr. A.S. Magee Field is named for the surgeon who owned a pharmacy at Alcaniz and La Rua Streets. Dr. Magee performed surgeries in people's homes when Black doctors were not allowed to practice in hospitals during the early Jim Crow years. Another doctor, Dr. Eli Sanford Cobb, served in the U.S. Army during WWI and returned to Pensacola after the war to practice medicine. The E.S. Cobb Community Center bears his name. Spencer Bibbs was the county's first African American Supervisor of Colored Schools. The now-closed Spencer Bibbs Elementary School was named for him. The area eventually became a collection of recreational spaces and infrastructure beneath one of Pensacola's busiest roadways. Now the city 66

is preparing to spend millions of dollars changing what that land represents. The first phase of the Hollice T. Williams Stormwater Park project is moving toward construction after the City Council approved awarding the construction contract to Talcon Group, LLC. The City plans to break ground by the end of the year. For Mayor D.C. Reeves, the project is an attempt to repair a wound that opened decades ago. "I wasn't around when I-110 came in," Reeves said, "but learning how much of the commercial corridor down in that area was taken away—not just houses that were displaced, but also you wonder what that might look like where H&O [Restaurant] is, what would that area look like if those have been businesses or storefronts for 40, 50, 60 years?"

RECONNECTING A DIVIDED COMMUNITY

The interstate is not coming down. But the city can try to reconnect the people who live around it by expanding the park, which is named after Pensacola's first Black city councilman in the post-Civil War era. Appointed in 1970, Williams served six terms on the City Council. He also spent more than 50 years at the Pensacola YMCA, eventually becoming the first Black person to serve as director. "I believe the next best thing to reconnect a divided community from 60 years ago is to connect it through the fabric of a gathering place, of a public space," Reeves said. That gathering place comes with a price tag and an equally important second purpose: keeping water out of people's homes. The first phase combines recreational improvements with a major overhaul of stormwater

infrastructure. The city is using $25.1 million in federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Relief funds, $5 million in Natural Resources Damage Assessment funds administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and up to $1.8 million in Florida Department of Transportation funding to pay for the project. The NRDA money will primarily pay for stormwater improvements, including underground detention units, inlets and culverts. CDBG money will support the larger park redevelopment, including a new pump system at Long Hollow Pond, additional stormwater improvements, lighting, landscaping, recreational courts, fields and other amenities. At the heart of the stormwater work is a storage system capable of holding roughly 1.3 million gallons of water. "We need it because the water situation is really bad," said Vivian Lett, a nearby resident. Lett is also looking forward to the recreational side of the project. "I'm an outdoors person," she said. "I like the walking paths, but I also like that we still have the tennis courts and basketball courts. There's more area for the children to practice and I like that." The plans call for resurfaced tennis, pickleball and basketball courts, 55 light poles, 32 benches, 13 trash receptacles and 27 bike racks. About 1.3 miles of 12-foot-wide multiuse trail will be built using FDOT funding.

HARD DEADLINE

The improvements will be layered onto a park that already has a collection of facilities. The available options can sometimes feel disconnected from one another: the Cecil T. Hunter Pool, Blake Doyle Skate Park, Loaves and Fishes, From the Ground Up Community Garden, basketball and pickleball courts, a football practice field and a covered gazebo. The new project is intended to make those pieces feel less like separate amenities and more like a destination. But getting here has not been easy. The city's original bids came back well over budget, forcing officials to reconsider the plans and find ways to preserve as much of the project as possible. "We really had to go back to the drawing board and assess the plans and add some clarification in some areas," said Adrianne Walker, the city's strategic initiatives project officer. The second round of bidding produced a better result. "We got all six alternate bids funded," Reeves said. "That's a huge testament to our team." The project comes with a deadline. Grant funding deadlines require construction to be completed by June 30, 2028. Walker said the city expects construction to last between 12 and 18 months. "Obviously, June 30, 2028, is a very hard deadline," she said. That timeline leaves little room for the sort

of delays that often accompany large public construction projects.

COMMUNITY INPUT

The city's approach to the first phase recognized that the project's history can't be separated from its future. In 2023, Reeves participated in the Harvard Mayors' Institute on City Design, Just City Mayoral Fellowship. He credits that fellowship with opening his eyes to see the 2022 park plans through a justice and equity lens. Reeves concluded the plans did not sufficiently address justice and equity initiatives and needed more community input. Walker said officials hosted 31 different types of public events to hear what residents wanted from the park. The feedback was consistent. Residents wanted a welcoming and safe place, amenities that served people of different ages and abilities, flooding addressed and the history of the neighborhood remembered. "We wanted the community voice to be heard and that input to be taken into the decision-making process," Walker said. Community input is now woven into the larger vision for the park. The city plans to place 14 scattered-site parcels in and around the area for affordable housing. "It's not just to have a nice park, but make sure that we can preserve some affordability around it as well," Reeves said. The city has already earmarked about $10 million for a second phase that includes traffic calming and safety improvements around the park, along with another stormwater storage vault. For Reeves, the emotional stakes are more personal—not because he lived through the displacement, but because he has spent years listening to people who did. "We've probably spent more time studying the importance of this project than any of these other big ones that we're working on because of the impact that it had, and talking to grandmothers in the neighborhood that remember when it happened," he said. Those conversations changed the way the city approached the project. Interstate-110 remains. The homes and businesses that disappeared cannot be restored. But a public space can be built where people gather, a trail can cross through an area once divided, a child can play basketball where a neighborhood once stood and a stormwater system can help keep water out of homes and apartments. That's the promise of the Hollice T. Williams Park. "This isn't just this forgotten part where the pilings for the Interstate go," Reeves said. "This is now something that you can enjoy with your kids and your grandkids and this becomes a community asset, not just something that was left behind." To learn about the project, visit htwpensacola.com. {in} inweekly.net

November in Pensacola means art — over 200 juried artists, live music, delicious food, and kids’ activities. It’s all free and under the oaks in Seville Square.

Nov. 6, 7 & 8 Details at

ggaf.org

September 24, 2026

RELAX IN STYLE AND COMFORT

list of finalists and their proposed projects, is available at impact100pensacola.org.

FIGHTING FOR TEENS The Escambia Chil-

Photo Courtesy of IMPACT 100

GRANT FINALISTS IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area announced its 20 grant finalists for 2026, with 13 nonprofits set to receive $101,000 grants at the organization's annual meeting on Oct. 11. Record membership drove the record payout. IMPACT 100 counts 1,313 women members this year, and since each member's $1,000 donation flows directly into the grant pool, the total available for distribution reached $1,313,000—the largest single-year total in the group's history. This marks IMPACT 100's 23rd year awarding grants in the Pensacola Bay Area. Since its founding, the organization has distributed 177 grants totaling $18.7 million to nonprofits serving Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. The 20 finalists were selected by IMPACT 100's Focus Area Committees across five categories: arts, culture and history; education; environment and recreation; family; and health and wellness. Four organizations qualified in each category. Finalists include Ballet Pensacola, which plans to overhaul its Nutcracker costumes and

lighting; the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, seeking to modernize its Flight Adventure Deck for middle school STEM programs; and Sacred Heart Foundation, which wants to open Northwest Florida's first dedicated oncology boutique for cancer patients. Other finalists include Friends of Pensacola State Parks, proposing to rebuild 750 feet of damaged boardwalk at Big Lagoon State Park; Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, planning a home for two homeless families in partnership with Family Promise of Escambia County; and A HOPE's Snip Happens clinic, seeking equipment upgrades for its high-volume spay and neuter operation. Winners will be announced live at the annual meeting, where IMPACT 100 members will listen to presentations from the 20 finalists and vote to determine which 13 will receive funding. Membership in IMPACT 100 is open to any woman 18 or older who makes an annual $1,000 tax-deductible donation by March 1. The full contribution goes toward grants, with no portion diverted to administrative costs. More information, including the complete

dren's Trust board voted on Sept. 16 to hold its property tax rate flat for a second straight year and tentatively adopted a $12,855,672 budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. The board set the proposed operating millage rate at 0.3661 per $1,000 of taxable value. Because countywide property values climbed to $34.5 billion this year, the flat rate still generates more revenue than last year, an estimated $12,641,325 in ad valorem taxes, up from $12,528,140. Reserves are set at $606,784, or 5% of taxes collected. Grants and aid to programs remain the largest line item at $10,489,171, though that figure is down about $386,000 from the current year. Employee salaries and benefits rose to $793,268, and contracted professional services jumped to $319,474, driven largely by a planned increase in outside training and professional services. The budget vote nearly stalled when Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May pressed Finance Director Tammy Abrams on how much cash the Trust has uncommitted— roughly $2.4 million in reserves and about $3 million in unobligated funds, a figure expected to grow to $4.5 million as several out-of-schooltime grant clawbacks close out. Clawbacks are funds providers return when they don't spend their full grant amounts. May said he would support the budget only if the board committed to directing $1 million toward at-risk teenagers ages 15 to 18, citing Escambia's high probation-violation rate and pressing board member David Williams on a middle school football program Williams has floated publicly. Executive Director Lindsey Cannon told the board that staff has been studying the issue for months, working with Legal Services of North Florida on a focus group and tracking juvenile delinquency and recidivism data that show the Trust's three target ZIP codes outpacing the rest of the state. Cannon, however, would not commit to al-

locating $1 million for at-risk teens. She said the program committee is launching Cares grants for $1 million and another 20 new contracts, totaling as much as $5 million. "If we're looking at [addressing] large-scale youth, it's going to be a lot to stand up. So we may need to just prioritize what this board wants to see," she said. "We'll do whatever programs we need to do. We just want to know what your priorities are."

"We'll do whatever programs we need to do." Lindsey Cannon Williams didn't dispute May's characterization and suggested the issue go to the program committee, which meets next Oct. 6. May ultimately backed both the millage rate and the budget, but made clear his vote came with an expectation the board would follow through.

ARGO IN D.C. Liam "Lumpy" DeWeese, a senior finance major and football player at the University of West Florida, stood behind Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (DWash.) on the Capitol lawn on Sept. 14 as the two senators made their case for the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act. The bill, also carried by Sens. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), cleared the Commerce Committee on a 19-9 vote and has drawn support from more than 20 conferences representing 228 schools in 46 states, the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, both major pro players associations and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Cruz called the current transfer and NIL landscape "the Wild West"—the product, he said, of years of antitrust litigation that stripped away the rules governing college sports. The bill would cap eligibility at five years with a hard age limit of 24, guarantee every athlete one free transfer and crack down on what Cruz called "fake NIL," booster money funneled to recruits disguised as compensation. "It threatens the roster slots and scholarship

inweekly.net

CHARTER DEBATE John Peacock, a key figure

behind Pensacola's original push for a strongmayor charter, appeared on "Rick's Blog Live" to argue that Escambia County is overdue for its own home-rule charter. Unlike Pensacola, which operates under a charter granting it control over elections, salaries and government structure, Escambia County remains bound entirely by state statute, including how much commissioners are paid and how the county is organized. Peacock's central complaint is accountability. Under the current five-member commission system, no single official answers to the electorate for the county as a whole. A commissioner can perform well individually and still be outvoted 4-1, and Florida's Sunshine Law bars commissioners from coordinating outside of public meetings, limiting cohesive decision-making. "You can't effect change with your vote," Peacock said of the current county system. His proposal centers on creating an elected "county mayor" with executive authority comparable to Pensacola's strong-mayor system, along with locally set rules on salaries, elections, recall provisions and referendums. He emphasized the plan would not merge city and county governments. Pensacola would retain its own charter and mayor. September 24, 2026

Two paths could get a charter proposal before voters: a petition drive requiring signatures from 15% of the electorate, which would be 30,852 voters today, or the Escambia County Commission appointing an 11- to 15-member charter commission under state law. Either route ends with voters deciding.

"You can't effect change with your vote." John Peacock Peacock argues the timing is right, pointing to Pensacola's visible track record under strong mayors—from the ST Aerospace project to American Magic to the New Palafox project— as evidence residents now have a before-andafter comparison the county never had in past charter fights. That history is not encouraging for charter supporters. Escambia voters have rejected charter proposals four times: in 1977, 1979, a razor-thin 56-vote defeat in 1995 and a lopsided 2004 loss that saw 61% oppose the measure. Each attempt drew sharp divides between city voters, who tended to favor a charter, and county voters outside city limits, who consistently voted it down—largely over fears of higher taxes and expanded commissioner power. With roughly two years before the next election cycle, Peacock believes there's enough time to launch a new charter study effort now.

ALCATRAZ NIGHTMARE A U.S. Department of Homeland Security Inspector General report released on Sept. 11 confirms that the Ochopee, Fla., detention facility known as "Alligator Alcatraz" failed to meet detention standards in six of eight categories inspectors examined and that 79 detainees were confined in small metal enclosures over a six-month span before the facility closed in June. The report, OIG-26-22, stemmed from an unannounced Jan. 21 inspection of the Florida Soft-Sided Facility (FSSF), which opened July 3, 2025, under Gov. Ron DeSantis' 2023 emergency order authorizing the state to repurpose the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in the Everglades. Inspectors found the facility complied with intake and use-of-force standards but fell short on environmental health and safety, special management units, medical care, food service, personal hygiene and recreation. The facility housed detainees at 28 square feet per person—well under the 75-square-foot minimum required by the Florida Model Jail Standards for dormitory housing. Detainees left their units only for meals, three showers a week and an hour of recreation three days a week. The most striking finding: between July 17, 2025 and January 18, 2026, staff confined 79 detainees in small metal enclosures—about 18 square feet, roughly 4 feet 3 inches on each side—for periods averaging just under an hour, with one stay lasting nearly two hours.

Facility staff described the enclosures as voluntary "calming areas," but the Office of Inspector General found at least one instance in which a detainee was held for "failing to comply with a lawful command." Inspectors noted the enclosures had locking mechanisms despite staff assurances that no one was locked in. The report calls the practice unprecedented among detention facilities OIG has inspected. Inspectors also found detainees in the facility's Special Management Unit had no access to law libraries, legal materials or working telephones. One detainee went eight days without recreation. Six of eight detainees interviewed said drinking water was dirty; seven of eight said the facility was not clean, citing insect-infested showers. One freezer used to store food registered as high as 14 degrees Fahrenheit, well above the 0-degree maximum. Underlying all of it, staff could not consistently identify which detention standards applied, citing a mix of state jail standards, older ICE standards and internal Department of Corrections rules. ICE's own paperwork listed the facility's standards as "N/A." DHS's formal response did not address any of OIG's 10 recommendations, arguing Florida held authority over daily operations under its Section 287(g) agreements. Alligator Alcatraz closed in June 2026, and OIG administratively closed all 10 recommendations as a result. But the report notes a similar Florida facility, the state-run Baker Correctional Institution, remains open with over 1,000 detainees and no ICE inspection scheduled.

positions of hundreds of thousands of student athletes. It threatens women's sports," said Cruz. "It threatens Olympic sports. If Congress does not act, all of that is in jeopardy of going away." Cantwell said the bill would be the first federal statute recognizing athletes' right to NIL and revenue-sharing income, paired with a federal preemption clause requiring states with weaker standards to meet the new floor. She said runaway recruitment spending, up 300% by her count, has left most athletic departments unable to make ends meet, forcing schools to cut professors and programs to cover it. Arkansas men's basketball coach John Calipari, one of more than a hundred coaches who have endorsed the bill, said the current rules have pushed programs toward recruiting older transfer and international players over local high schoolers. He said, "None of it is fair." DeWeese, who transferred to UWF after two seasons at Stetson, has said the current system "created pandemonium" for programs trying to hold rosters together. "My sophomore year, that ended up being around 15, and now I think there's … maybe 10 of us left," he said of his old Stetson class. At UWF, he estimates the roster brings in 50 to 60 new players every year, which means learning an entirely new team every spring, then adjusting again before fall camp. A procedural vote has already passed. DeWeese expects a full Senate floor vote before the end of the month, with strong odds of passage. The House won't return until after the midterms, so supporters are hoping for action in a lame-duck session. Sen. Cruz said he's confident the President will sign it and has floated a signing ceremony at College GameDay before the season ends.

AIRPORT PARKING On Sept. 17, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves used Wednesday's press conference to update reporters on several airport developments, headlined by a rare piece of good news: Pensacola International has gone 485 consecutive days without landing on the TSA's "hot list," the federal designation for any hour with a security wait of 30 minutes or longer. The streak dates to May 20, 2025, and Reeves credited airport staff, TSA and federal officials including Sen. Rick Scott, who helped address staffing shortfalls of up to 35% identified in 2024. Reeves also announced that construction on the airport's new terminal will officially begin the week of Sept. 21, when the notice to proceed is issued for the nine-figure project. Site preparation will start almost immediately, and Reeves warned the work will squeeze existing parking capacity, especially heading into the holiday travel season. To manage the crunch, travelers can visit flypensacola.com, which shows real-time lot capacity. The McAllister overflow lot will get new directional signage, and the airport already has a fully designed 600-space expansion awaiting construction funding. Parking capacity is up 25% over four years, putting the airport roughly a decade ahead of its 2030 strategicplan target. {in} 9

Big Moments. Live Performances. Foo for the Soul. Oct. 29 – Nov. 9 foofoofest.com 010 1

inweekly.net

BIG SWINGS, BIGGER MONSTERS

A FALL MOVIE PREVIEW By Daniel Barnes

How did you spend your summer? You may have spent a good chunk of it at the movies, as the domestic box office hit $4 billion and even surpassed pre-pandemic revenues. Awards season officially kicked off this month in Toronto and Telluride, and last year, "One Battle After Another" rode the momentum of its September release all the way to Oscar glory. Christopher Nolan may already be clearing room in his trophy case for "The Odyssey," but can any of the films coming out in the next few months supplant it as the Best Picture frontrunner? With all this in mind, here are the films I'm most looking forward to between now and Christmas.

DIGGER

Oct. 2 When it comes to Oscar-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu ("Birdman"), I've always admired the ambition more than the execution. And after his unwatchable 2022 film "Bardo," the idea of Iñárritu making a wacky apocalyptic comedy feels borderline torturous. But with an unhinged Tom Cruise as a blustering plutocrat trying to save the world from the disaster he caused, it sounds like must-see viewing, trainwreck or not.

YOUR MOTHER YOUR MOTHER YOUR MOTHER

Oct. 9 The endlessly gestating "Blade" movie starring Mahershala Ali will apparently never happen, but "Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother" might be the project's silver lining. That's how the two-time Oscar winner Ali connected with director Bassam Tariq ("Mogul Mowgli"), who also wrote and co-produced this story of a deeply religious hitman and newly widowed father trying to protect his children.

FJORD

Oct. 9 Romanian director Cristian Mungiu took home his second Palme d'Or at Cannes last May for this scathing domestic drama. The trailer for "Fjord" is deliberately elliptical, but considering that September 24, 2026

Mungiu's previous Palme d'Or came for the unrelenting "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days," get ready for the wringer. Inspired by a true story, "Fjord" stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve as a conservative couple targeted by their progressive Norwegian neighbors.

THE SOCIAL RECKONING

Oct. 9 As recently as 2019, "The Social Network" screenwriter Aaron Sorkin said he wouldn't make a sequel without David Fincher. But with Fincher shepherding his $200 million, IMAX-exclusive follow-up to Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" instead, the Facebook sequel has Sorkin at the helm. Sorkin's directorial career has been unimpressive so far, but if this isn't in his wheelhouse, nothing is.

WILDWOOD

Oct. 23 Director Travis Knight might still be recovering from his "Masters of the Universe" mega-bomb, but if that drives him back into the arms of his stop-motion animation company Laika, then it's for the best. "Wildwood" is based on the 2011 children's fantasy novel by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis, and the trailer makes it look like a real stunner.

WILD HORSE NINE

Nov. 6 Black comedy maestro Martin McDonagh ("The Banshees of Inisherin") wrote and directed this story of CIA operatives dispatched to Easter Island on the eve of the 1973 Chilean coup. It stars John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as squabbling partners confronting the consequences of American meddling in one of the most beautiful and isolated places in the world. The supporting cast features Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits and Parker Posey.

GODZILLA MINUS ZERO

Nov. 6 Here's a CGI monster that's more my size. Takashi Yamazaki's

2023 kaiju epic "Godzilla Minus One" injected some heart and history into the formula, which carried it to international success and a surprising Best Visual Effects Oscar. Yamazaki and his cast return for the highly anticipated sequel, which is the first Japanese production filmed for IMAX.

PAPER TIGER

Nov. 20 For over 30 years, writer-director James Gray has been turning out quietly underrated movies in a variety of genres. "Paper Tiger" returns Gray to his favored milieu of working-class criminals. Adam Driver and Miles Teller star as brothers torn apart when their get-rich-quick scheme runs afoul of Russian gangsters. If Gray can bottle the same bruised humanity he's found before, this could be the one that sticks.

TENDER LOVING CARE

Dec. 4 Clint Eastwood may be done making movies, but we remain firmly within the era of the octogenarian auteur. Directors like Ridley Scott, Martin Scorsese and Michael Mann are making epic movies well into their eighties, and Steven Spielberg joins the club in December. But few remain as relevant as 83-year-old Mike Leigh, whose "Hard Truths" was my favorite film of 2024. Leigh says his new working-class comedy-drama "Tender Loving Care" will probably be his last, and it looks like he's going out on a high note.

WERWULF

Dec. 25 Gothic horror master Robert Eggers reunites with The Northman screenwriter Sjón for this sure-to-be-strange spin on the werewolf legend. Set in 14th-century England, the film is spoken entirely in Middle English—hence the janky spelling of Werwulf— and brings back Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe and Ralph Ineson from Eggers' "Nosferatu." {in} 11

A CRAFTY SOUTHERN PUB WHERE IT ALL COMES TOGETHER

MON-THUR 2-10 | FRI-SAT 11-11 HAPPY HOUR MON-THUR 2-4 UNIONPENSACOLA.COM

36 E. GARDEN ST. | 850.607.6320 212 1

inweekly.net

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 24-30

Arts & Entertainment art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...

A Strong Sense of Direction By Savannah Evanoff

Calder Allen / Photo by Barbara FG

There are always a million things running through Calder Allen's head. He can't quiet them, but there's two things he can do to at least channel them in the same direction: fly fishing and writing songs. The Austin-based country singer-songwriter said he played guitar in childhood as an anxious tic to calm himself—playing the same three chords for five years. It wasn't until the pandemic that he expanded his knowledge through YouTube and started singing and writing songs about his life at the time. "It's pretty funny to look back into all that stuff; it's high school teenage angst and stuff," Allen said. "I grew up surrounded by musicians on my dad's side and my mom's side, too, and I never really realized how much that influenced me until it did all of a sudden." Included in that artistic family is his grandfather Terry Allen, a famous country singer-songwriter, and grandmother Jo Harvey Allen, a playwright and actress in movies "The Client" and "Killers of the Flower Moon." Allen September 24, 2026

grew up in Texas, running in the woods with his friends, playing sports and visiting his grandparents in Santa Fe, N.M. every winter. "New Year's, my grandparents would have this big party … and I always remember being a kid and Charlie [Sexton] and Joe Ely would walk into the room and they would be in all black, and Joe would be telling train stories. And I didn't know why Charlie had three longer nails on his right hand; I was really confused as a kid, like, 'Who were these pirates in my grandpa's house?' Now they're like my heroes." Sexton, known for working with Bob Dylan, Arc Angels and Elvis Costello, is famous in the guitar community for having long, manicured fingernails on his picking hand to help with his hybrid picking style. "Whenever I listen to the Joe Ely record or Alejandro Escovedo or my grandpa or Guy Clark, it's like I'm right back in the living room in Santa Fe." While Allen was never steered toward music, expressing yourself was always the focus of family gatherings.

"It was like, 'How are you doing? What are you like? What's going on in your life? How does that make you feel? What's going on with this?' It's being able to say anything at the dinner table," Allen said. "My dad has these crazy journals that he has always done, and just the idea of putting your experiences on paper—that's always been a thing in my life, and so that influenced me more than anything." Having a safe space to share came in handy when he dropped out of college to pursue music. "It was so obvious that that's what I needed to be pursuing in my head, that nothing else, no one could tell me to do otherwise," Allen said. Allen developed his own relationship with music at the perfect time. He'd written many songs during the pandemic, when Sexton—who he considers family—conveniently had time off from touring to mentor him. Now, Allen's three albums deep. He recorded the latest, "Fault Lines," at Austin's renowned Arlyn Studios with Sexton and longtime col-

laborator Jacob Sciba. The title track needed to happen, he said. "I found out that my friend's mom had passed away, and I was in a hotel room by myself, and I ended up writing that song, just thinking about the whole situation," Allen said. "As far as what songs have the most meanings to be on that project, that's always going to be at the top of the list." He enjoys performing it when his mom's in the crowd, he said. "She totally supported me dropping out of school, and my whole family was very accepting of me doing music," Allen said. "I didn't have hard conversations, but the way that song's written, you probably wouldn't know that by the chorus. You would think there's some sense of disappointment. But telling the story live is pretty funny, because she's always like, 'You make it seem like I didn't support you.' I was like, 'Come on. They know you're here.'" Allen is equally passionate about playing guitar and writing songs. Some songs take three years to finish, and others take just five minutes after running into an ex-girlfriend. Whether it's because he comes from a clan of musicians or finds a rare sense of mindfulness in songwriting, he doesn't stutter when he states that AI has no place in the craft. "Music is human expression," Allen said. "AI cannot be music. That's what people don't understand … it's not even real. Like, what are people talking about? This is crazy. We've just lost complete connection to what music is about. It's just so invasive to what the whole point of writing a song is about." Allen is firm in his convictions, so it's no surprise that when asked his biggest accomplishment so far, he doesn't say opening for major artists like Miranda Lambert, The Dixie Chicks or Cody Jinks. He said it's having a strong sense of direction and not being swayed by others. That direction? Harder to describe than it is to do, he said. One thing is for sure, though: it'll include fly fishing and songwriting. {in}

CALDER ALLEN

WHAT: Calder Allen with Cody John Bennett at The Handlebar WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 WHERE: The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. COST: $20.45 DETAILS: calderallen.com, thehandlebar850.com 13

a&e happenings NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

5TH ANNUAL BREAST CANCER BENEFIT

Jeep's 5th Annual Breast Cancer Benefit is themed "Lights for the Fight." Take part in raffles and giveaways, craft beer, contests, photo ops and more. Event is 5-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Tickets are available at pensacolajeeps.org.

A NEW LEASH ON LIFE ADOPTION EVENT

Meet adoptable dogs from local rescues and support their causes 12 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Details available at facebook.com/garysbrew.

10TH ANNUAL DANETOBER FEST Northwest Florida Great Dane Rescue will take over Seville Square on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year's theme is "Not All Heroes Wear Capes … Some Drool." Visit nwflgdr.com for more information.

SIPPING FOR SNIPPING The next Sipping

for Snipping social will be Saturday, Oct. 3 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. This funds the SOS (Save our Shelters) program. Location is First Impressions Boutique, Nursery and Outdoor Solutions at 11545 Sorrento Road. All are invited. $20 donation. For more information contact sossaveourshelters@gmail.com.

canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women, as well as sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details.

ARTS & CULTURE

BROADWAY BALCONY CLUB RETURNS TO PENSACOLA Broadway in Pensacola has

announced the return of its Broadway Balcony Club for the 2026-2027 season, offering patrons the opportunity to attend three Broadway productions and receive one drink at each show for $99. The Broadway Balcony Club package allows patrons to select three of the four productions featured in the upcoming season: Legally Blonde, The Wiz, Mystic Pizza and Waitress. Packages are available for purchase online at broadwayinpensacola.com, while supplies last.

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN Pensacola Little

Theatre production showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25; Saturday, Sept. 26; and Thursday, Sept. 24. Also, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. Located at 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $15-$40 and available at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

GIRL ON THE TRAIN VIP LOUNGE EXPERIENCE The VIP event will be at Pensacola

ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Beef 'O' Brady's, 1 New Market St., Cantonment (on Nine Mile Road near Pine Forest Road). The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.

Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. Pre-show and intermission lounge access with complimentary wine, a personal commuter-train charcuterie box, private bar and commemorative merch. Cost is $35; mainstage show ticket required separately. Limited to 30 guests. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.

ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN ADOPTION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every

CURL UP & READ: SILENT BOOK CLUB

first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.

CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD DRIVE The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing Minis-

try is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens 10 a.m. and also has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top

414 1

Grab your current read and curl up with adoptable cats 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 at Coastal Cat Café, 1508 W. Garden St. Cost is $20 per person and includes one hot drink of your choice. Sign up at coastalcatpcola.com.

FRIENDS OF THE WEST FLORIDA PUBLIC LIBRARIES FALL BOOK SALE The Friends'

Fall Big Book Sale features a wide selection of hardback and softback books across numerous genres—including fiction, mysteries, biographies, young adult, children's literature, cooking and

foreign language—as well as multimedia items such as CDs, DVDs, vinyl and audiobooks. Located at West Florida Public Library, 239 N. Spring St. Dates are 3-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 (admission is $5 and free to Friends Members), 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 (admission is free; children receive one free book in honor of Dolly Parton) and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 (admission is free; $7 bag sale).

READ PENSACOLA BOOK CLUB The next meeting will discuss "The Caretaker" by Marcus Kliewer. 5-6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29 at Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. For more information, visit instagram.com/readpensacola. 2026 PUMPKIN PARTY The Strong Street Studio Pumpkin Party kicks off with an online sale 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 at strongstreetstudioglass.com. The in-person sale will take place 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 and Sunday, Oct. 4 at 109 N. A St. GABRIEL IGLESIAS Show is 8 p.m. (doors

open at 7 p.m.) Saturday, Sept. 26 at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Details and tickets available at pensacolabaycenter.com.

GULF COAST MINORITY CHAMBER 8TH ANNIVERSARY 90S THEME CELEBRATION Event is 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 at Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto St. Details and tickets available at gcmcc.info.

UWF PRESENTS: ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Oct. 2 and Oct, 9, Saturdays Oct. 3 and 10 and 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 4 and 11 at University of West Florida Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 11000 University Parkway, Bldg. 82. For tickets and information, visit uwf.edu/cfpa.

BALLET PENSACOLA PRESENTS: FRANKENSTEIN Performances are 7 p.m. Friday, Oct.

2 and Saturday, Oct. 3; and 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 and Sunday, Oct. 4 at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets and information available at balletpensacola.org.

POP-UP ART SHOW AND SALE Discover

original art and artisan goodies from local artists 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 at Framing by Design, 4718 N. W St.

FOLKLORE & COTTAGECORE MARKET

Shop and enjoy activities 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4 at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Visit the Little Adventurers Station with free woodlandthemed crafts for kids, along with the Woodland Wander—a property-wide quest where children search for hidden forest friends throughout the market. Kids who complete the adventure receive a handcrafted wooden medallion necklace, while participating adults are entered into an Oktoberfest basket drawing. Details at wisteriatavern.com.

CINCO BANDERAS Artel Gallery's contemporary art show Cinco Banderas is on view through Oct. 23. Also present are exhibits by featured artists Diane Brim, Wendy Emeny, Michael Curri and Ronson Stewart. Located at 223 S. Palafox St. For details visit. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Entrance is free. HOUSE SHOW: 309 ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE This exhibition features artists from the

2025 cohort of the 309 Punk Project Artist in Residence Program. Curated by Valerie George and Christopher Satterwhite, the exhibition brings together works made during each artist's residency alongside select pieces gifted to the 309 Punk Archive, preserving their contributions as part of our community's living history. The exhibit is on view through Nov. 29 at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St.

ROAD TO REVOLUTION EXHIBIT AT PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF HISTORY "Road

to Revolution: Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the American War for Independence" highlights how Pensacola helped shape the outcome of the American Revolution. Developed in partnership with America250, the exhibit explores how a Gulf Coast port played a pivotal role in a global conflict. The exhibit is on display through May 2027. The museum is located at 330 S. Jefferson St. For more information about the UWF Historic Trust, visit historicpensacola.org.

ALTERED STATE: BFA SUMMER STUDIO EXHIBITION An exhibition from students of

the Department of Art & Design at the University of West Florida. Students are under the mentorship of Marzia Ransom. Exhibit is on view through Oct. 1 at 52 World, 88511 Mysklak Way. View the exhibit Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 pm. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

inweekly.net

a&e happenings STEAM2026 STEAM2026 highlights themes of exploration and wonder through investigative contemporary art, interdisciplinary fields of study and unique collaborations. This national exhibition is a community-centered experience that integrates multifaceted art practices with science, new technologies and thought-provoking research. On view at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. through Jan. 17. For details, visit pensacolamuseum.org. HUMANISTS OF WEST FLORIDA MONTHLY MEETING The Humanists of West Florida

meet at the Ever'man Education Center, 351 W. Garden St. 10:15 a.m. every second Sunday of the month. For more information, visit facebook.com/ humanistsofwestflorida.

WEST FLORIDA GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY MEETINGS Monthly meetings start at 10:30

a.m. the first Saturday of every month (except March and July) at the Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. Informative lectures and resources to begin your ancestry research. Visit wfgs.org for more information.

WEST GARDEN DISTRICT ARTISAN MARKET Shop local vendors and artisans 1-6

p.m. Fridays at Del Mar Plaza, 1617 W. Garden St. For more information, contact info@ubpensacola.com.

TALK TO THE MOON COMEDY CLUB OPEN MIC Weekly comedy open mic is 7 p.m. Wednes-

days at Mathison Brewing Co., 500 E. Heinberg St. Signup starts at 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Adam Bowles and Russell Douglas. Details available at talktothemooncomedyclub.com.

FIRST FRIDAY AT BLUE MORNING GALLERY Visit Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox

St., 5:30 p.m. every first Friday of the month for a reception with wine, live music and occasional artist demonstrations. Visit bluemorninggallery.com for details.

MOVIE NIGHTS AT MUGS & JUGS Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway, hosts monthly movie nights. Watch their website for dates and movie announcements at mugsjugsbar.com. All movies are screened 9 p.m. on select Saturdays. CLUB 27 COMEDY SHOW Visit Lili Marlene's

at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. on the first and third Sundays of the month for a night of comedy. Doors open at 6 p.m. show starts at 7 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for details.

PENSACOLA HERITAGE FOUNDATION LECTURES Learn Pensacola and Northwest

Florida history through interesting, informal lectures every other Tuesday at The Wright Place, 80 E. Wright St. Doors open at 11 a.m., and lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. The lecture starts at noon and lasts one hour. Lecture cost is $5 for non-members and is free to members. Lunches are $12. For reservations, call (850) 380-7759.

PENSACOLA CINEMA ART FILM SCREENINGS Pensacola Cinema Art will screen films

select weekends during the summer season at 220 W. Garden St. Tickets are $10, and payment September 24, 2026

is cash only. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for their complete schedule.

LIVE MUSIC

PENSACOLA ROSE SOCIETY Monthly meet-

series takes place 7-9 p.m. every Tuesday through Oct. 27 at the Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach. Free to attend. Upcoming dates: Float like a Buffalo on Sept. 29 and The Astronauts on Oct. 6. For more information, call the SRIA at (850) 932-2257 or go to visitpensacolabeach.com for the latest updates.

ings are normally 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Pensacola Garden Center, 1850 N. Ninth Ave. Visit pensacolarosesociety.org for more information.

BTB COMEDY Watch live stand-up comedy in open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates. STAND UP COMEDY WITH PENSACOLA COMEDY CLUB Join the Pensacola Comedy

Club 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturday at Betty's on Belmont, 506 W. Belmont St. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit Eventbrite.

SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little

Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers every second Saturday of the month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.

PALAFOX MARKET Palafox Market is 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox Streets at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook.com/downtownpensacola. SUNDAY MARKET ON PALAFOX Rain-

or-shine market is Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Located in downtown Pensacola, between Chase and Gregory Streets in the MLK Plaza. Market features handmade crafts, art, baked goods, international cuisine and fresh produce. Visit smopalafox.com for details.

CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193 Don't miss Cabaret

Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m. For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.

SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pen-

sacola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling (850) 941-4321.

AFTER DARK: SEVILLE QUARTER GHOSTS, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY TOUR AND DINNER After Dark Para-

normal Investigation and Dinner happens inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with real ghost-hunting equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more related to Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. After your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations are required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.

BANDS ON THE BEACH The weekly concert

LIVE MUSIC AT FIVE SISTERS BLUES CAFÉ Enjoy live music Thursdays through Sundays at Five Sisters, 421 W. Belmont St. Upcoming dates: The Glen Parker Band 6-10 p.m. Saturdays; Curt Bol Band 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays; John Wheeler 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays.

BANDS ON THE BLACKWATER Enjoy live music along the Blackwater River in downtown Milton 7-9 p.m. Friday nights through Oct. 30. On Oct. 2 is Symphonic Thunder. Visit facebook.com/bandsontheblackwater. DIRTY SOUND MAGNET Show is 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets available at thehandlebar850.com. CALDER ALLEN Show is 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.

PANHANDLE SLAM JAM 2 Show is 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets available at thehandlebar850.com. EYEHATEGOD Show is 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.

CARNIFEX Show is 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com. PENSACOLA BEACH SONGWRITER'S FESTIVAL Listen to songs by the people who wrote

them at various venues across Pensacola and Pensacola Beach Oct. 1-10. Details available at pensacolabeachsongwritersfestival.com.

WRETCHED TONGUES Show is 8 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 1 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.

WUWF PRESENTS: RADIOLIVE The next Ra-

dioLive is 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 at the Museum of Commerce, 201 Zaragoza St. Featuring Cyrus Nabipoor, James Adkins and David Gautreu. Tickets are $10. Virtual stream tickets also available. Visit radiolive.org for details.

XTR HUMAN Show is 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 at

The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.

BANDS ON THE BAYOU: THE NEW CAHOOTS The last concert of the season is Friday,

Oct. 2. Food trucks on site at 4:30 p.m. and show starts at 6:30 p.m. at Bayview Park, 2001 E. Lloyd St. Free and open to the public.

a&e happenings PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: OPENING NIGHT Performance is 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 3 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Dress rehearsal is 1:30 p.m. and tickets are $10. Details and more available at pensacolasymphony.com.

PUNCHIS PUNCHIS BANDA RAVE Show is

9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at vinylmusichall.com.

ROMAN STREET WITH ANDY VARGAS

Show is 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.

TOAST: TASTE OF BREAD Show is 7 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 5 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.

OPEN MIC AT ALGA BEER CO. Country Club

is hosted by Brett Patterson of Snake and the Rabbit every Monday night. Sign-ups start at 6 p.m. and music starts at 6:30 p.m. All ages welcome. Visit facebook.com/algabeerco for more details.

MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER The Blues Society of Northwest Florida brings blues to Florida 7 p.m. Mondays at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Food and drink specials start at 8 p.m. Details are at sevillequarter.com.

PENSACOLA PICK NIGHT AT ODD COLONY Music pickers of all levels are invited to play

7-9 p.m. every last Monday of the month at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Bring your acoustic instrument and jam. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.

LIVE MUSIC NIGHTLY AT THE DISTRICT

Enjoy music and fine dining at The District: Seville Steak & Seafood, 123 E. Government St., every Tuesday through Thursday starting at 6 p.m. The regular weekly schedule is Tuesday Night Jazz with Love Brynnevere, Wednesdays with Platinum Bones and Thursdays Dan Lovelock on the piano. There is also live music on Fridays and Saturdays during happy hour starting at 4 p.m. Visit facebook.com/districtsteaks for details and updates.

MUSIC RX: JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED Jazz Pensacola and Escambia County

Medical Society present free concerts on the first Wednesday of the month in the cafeteria of Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola, 5151 N. Ninth Ave. from 1:30-3:30 p.m. For more information, visit jazzpensacola.com.

ROSIE O'GRADY'S DUELING PIANO SHOW Watch the famous dueling piano show 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at Rosie O' Grady's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Doors open at 7 p.m.

NOCHE TROPICAL: LATIN NIGHT AT SEVILLE QUARTER Presented by Latin Flavor En-

tertainment every Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Phineas Phogg's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.

urday, Sept. 26 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 at Seville Square in downtown Pensacola. Details at pensacolafoodfestival.com.

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT GARY'S BREWERY

FRENCH TOAST & BUBBLY SATURDAY

Open mic night is hosted by Renee Amelia 6 p.m. every other Wednesday at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for details.

LIVE MUSIC AT WISTERIA Watch live music

7-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for more information.

VIBE IRIE REGGAE: LIVE IN THE COURTYARD Enjoy Vibe Irie Reggae band 4-10 p.m.

Event is 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $63.61 at Eventbrite.

PERFECT PLAIN OKTOBERFEST Event is 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 at Perfect Plain, 50 E. Garden St. Details at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco. MUG TO MASTERPIECE: PAINT YOUR OWN BEER STEIN Event is 2-4 p.m. Sunday,

Sundays at the End O' the Alley Courtyard at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St.

Sept. 27 at Coastal County Brewing Company, 3041 E. Olive Road. Cost is $30 per person. Details available at coastalcountybrewing.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT CALVERT'S Listen to live mu-

MURDER MYSTERY DINNER AT THE WELL

FOOD + DRINKS

FALL HOSTING & CHARCUTERIE WORKSHOP Event is 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 at

BOUQUETS AND BELLINIS Event is 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Cost is $99.49 and available on Eventbrite. Details at facebook.com/bodaciousshops.

PENSACOLA SEAFOOD FESTIVAL Enjoy great food, shop vendors and listen to live music 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat-

for more listings visit inweekly.net

sic 5-8 p.m. Sundays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. Visit facebook.com/calvertsintheheights for details.

Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $70.81 and available on Eventbrite.

Event is 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 at The Well, 42 E. Garden St. Tickets are $80 and available at perfectplain.com.

Rooted in trust. Ready for tomorrow. INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

Clear Compassionate Counsel for Individuals and Families Scan to Watch

A Legacy Built on Trust

Estate Planning & Probate Trust & Fiduciary Litigation Family Law & Divorce Prenuptial & Marital Agreements Guardianship & Administration Personal Injury & Wrongful Death

Our 50th Story

inweekly.net

September 24, 2026

free will astrology WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 24 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): In the prac-

tice of niwaki, Japanese gardeners shape trees so they look both natural and artfully composed. They prune and style the branches to dramatize the tree's inherent character. Their goal is to collaborate. I recommend you experiment with a similar approach in the coming weeks, Aries. Try partnering with the living processes in your sphere rather than simply imposing your will on them. Ask yourself: what is trying to flourish here? Can I coax out some useful beauty? How can I coordinate my own intelligence with nature's intelligence?

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Your spir-

it creatures for the coming weeks are the slowmoving giant tortoises of the Galápagos Islands. They can live for more than a century. They conserve energy, move deliberately and carry their protection with them. I believe you will benefit from embracing their ways in the coming weeks, Taurus. Refuse to be rushed or pressured, either by others or yourself. Proceed at the precise rate you need to. Your natural strength will thrive through your incremental steadiness. P.S. Consider giving yourself a tortoise nickname.

Refuse to be rushed or pressured, either by others or yourself. GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): A master per-

fumer composes a fragrance in three layers. The top notes are what you smell first. They're vivid and volatile. The next layer blooms gradually, unfurling the heart notes of the fragrance. Underneath everything are the deep, resinous base notes, which don't fully reveal themselves for hours and cling longest to the skin. Let this be a metaphor to guide your joys and pleasures in the coming weeks, Gemini. Relish the bright top notes that flare and vanish, but persist long enough for the heart to open, and longer still for the deep base notes to emerge. Gather all the rich delights, not just some.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): It's hard, scary work for a crab to molt its shell and grow a bigger

By Rob Brezsny

one. As it waits for its new protection to grow, its soft, tender body is exposed and vulnerable. That's why it often hides in rock crevices, neither moving nor eating until its armor returns. Your situation, dear Cancerian, isn't nearly as dire as the poor, defenseless crab's. But as you power through your own personal molting season, I urge you to enhance your psychic protection. You need to feel extra safe and secure.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Bats navigate by

echolocation. They send out sounds and interpret the echoes. But when competing for food, they may also jam each other's sonar, generating acoustic interference that makes navigation harder for rivals. A similar phenomenon occurs in human populations. Some of the noisy talk we hear is other people's jamming signals. Consciously or unconsciously, they're creating interference that may make it harder for us to navigate. Now is a good time for you to learn better how to distinguish between real information and meaningless hubbub. Refine your filters.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Jan Tschichold

(1902-1974) was a brilliant typographer who revolutionized graphic design. He left his mark on millions of books. But later in life, he rejected some of his own rules, returning to classical typography and critiquing his earlier work as too rigid. In this spirit, dear Virgo, I will ask you if some of your long-standing rules no longer serve you. Is it possible that some of your own "best practices" may have calcified into unexamined dogma? The coming months will invite productive heresy against your past selves. You're allowed to contradict your earlier convictions. Hint: your vigorous evolution requires it.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): In the 18th century, Libran philosopher Denis Diderot was instrumental in creating the "Encyclopédie." It wasn't the first compendium of the world's knowledge, but it was the most ambitious and comprehensive. In 28 volumes, it assembled contributions from a large number of writers, including leading figures of the French Enlightenment. Robust collaboration was key to its enduring influence. In the coming weeks, Libra, I'm hoping that you, like Diderot, will be an initiator and facilitator of rich cooperation. Conversations, partnerships and shared projects could

generate insights that none of the participants would have discovered alone. By inviting multiple perspectives into the discussion, you will help cultivate a fertile weave of ideas.

Scout around for raw materials that have been overlooked or dismissed. SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): In the vol-

canic seas around Iceland, underwater eruptions sometimes build entirely new islands that rise from the waves as bare, black rock. During the ensuing years, wind and waves and seabirds seed them with life. Mosses, lichens, hardy plants and nesting birds slowly transform the raw lava into a living shore. I'm rooting for you to instigate a similar process, Scorpio. My prediction: a development that initially seems stark or unfinished could become fertile ground for growth. Your perceptive instincts will recognize possibilities before they are obvious to others. Be patient with beginnings that look raw.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): I invite you to achieve minor miracles that will enable you to brag at parties about how you created something out of nothing. Not in a loud, egotistical way, but with a sly glimmer in your eye, as if you're sharing secrets about how reality can be coaxed into generosity if you approach it with imagination and chutzpah. Yes, dear Sagittarius, I'm ecstatic to inform you that now is a favorable moment to turn scraps into usefulness, boredom into invention and vague hunches into tangible results. Be alert! Be on the lookout! Scout around for raw materials that have been overlooked or dismissed. Half-abandoned projects? Mercurial inclinations? Fugitive fantasies? Seemingly idle conversations that reveal marvelous glints and gleams? These are examples of the "nothings" you can turn into treasures. CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): I've got a

rough, tough assignment for you: dare yourself to be startled by your own exquisite beauty. Be bold and even brazen in appreciating what a marvelous creature you are. Can you summon the necessary audacity? I think you can. Please notice

the ways you have underestimated your gifts, minimized your impact or edited out your brilliance to make others comfortable. Allow yourself to feel the tender shock of recognizing that you're more interesting and mysteriously compelling than you've been trained to believe. P.S. This will help you call on even deeper inner resources in the coming weeks.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Aquarian writer Virginia Woolf was a fount of interesting ideas. Sometimes she pushed her active mind to track them down and capture them, but on other occasions, she enjoyed gathering gems that arrived as her imagination wandered and drifted. These "moments of being" provided her with small treasures while she was walking in nature, taking a bath or doing nothing in particular. I believe that you are now primed to experience many such pleasurable eruptions of insight. In the coming weeks, pauses and lulls and intermissions will open unexpected portals. PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): For the low price of $199, I could expertly dispel that annoying curse you've been lugging around. But I would feel sleazy taking your cash when you are fully capable of zapping the curse yourself. So instead I will recommend that you perform the banishing ritual, then write yourself a check for $199. Here's how. Step one: visualize an object that represents the curse. Imagine hurling it into a beach bonfire and watching it burn. Step two: bring to mind a person you believe contributes to the curse. Envision a rope that ties the two of you together, waist to waist. Then imagine yourself revving up a chainsaw, slicing through the binding and declaring, "You have no power over me!" Step three: roll on the floor as you laugh and cry tears of giddy release. HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: Find out about my new book "Enlightenment for Rebels" at tinyurl.com/s7s7s7s. {in}

freewillastrology.com

Stock Market Losses? Hire a lawyer who is a former Merril Lynch stock broker. Adoption • Paternity • Dependency/DCF Hearings Prenuptial Agreements • Postnuptial Agreements Divorce • Child Custody and Timesharing Child Support • Child Support Modifications Alimony • Collaborative Divorce • Divorce Mediation • Pre-Suit Family Law Mediation

11 East Romana Street | Pensacola, Fl 32502

genemitchell.org

818 1

127 Palafox Place Suite 100 (850)466-3115 autumnbeckblackledge.com inweekly.net

news of the weird

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

WELL, SH...OOT Australian athlete Joanna Wietrzyk won the Hyrox fitness competition in Beijing over the weekend of Sept. 12, but that's not quite why she's making headlines: The 22-year-old finished the race with fecal matter dripping down her legs while completing strenuous exercises on shared equipment, such as a rowing machine, at various stations, The Guardian reported. Her competition raised a stink over the fact that Hyrox did not intervene until after Wietrzyk completed—and won—the race. Hyrox China and Hyrox World issued statements saying they deep-cleaned affected areas that night, removed contaminated equipment and replaced affected carpet. Competition resumed the following day. Oddly enough, Hyrox had rules and protocols for violations such as littering or spitting, but none for bowel movements. They do now, though: "Hyrox made a mistake by not reacting immediately during the race. In the end it is my job to foresee these potential incidents—and I did not," Hyrox cofounder Moritz Furste said in a statement. "As of this moment, there are new rules and procedures in place to prevent situations like this from happening again." On Sept. 18, Wietrzyk announced: "On reflection, I have decided to retroactively withdraw from the race and forfeit the points I earned." [The Guardian, 9/14/26]

crane, the Gulf News reported on Sept. 10. The bull evidently climbed the 60-foot structure but couldn't figure out how to get back down. A crowd gathered at the bottom and tried to coax it away, even leaving it food and water, to no avail. Eventually, the police and the animal husbandry department coordinated efforts to retrieve the bull. Veterinarian Sachin Upadhyay gave the bull a sedative, and rescue personnel used a crane to lower the bull back to the ground unharmed. The rescue operation took about two hours. [Gulf News, 9/10/26]

GOAT GETS GRUFF A loose goat armed with footlong horns terrorized a neighborhood in Washington state on Aug. 28, KOMO reported. Members of the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office came to residents' aid when the mischievous head-butter reportedly tried to ram people in the area. The residents sought shelter in their homes while law enforcement officers came up with a plan to get the goat back into its pen. The goat and an officer began to struggle when the officer grabbed the goat's horns. "What do we do now? I have the goat by the horns," a deputy is heard saying through bodycam footage of the incident. It took two deputies each holding a horn with both hands and pulling the goat to get it back into its pen. No injuries were reported. [KOMO, 9/8/26]

ELK THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD When Bruce Roach of Vancouver Island approached his parked 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme on Monday morning, Sept. 14, he discovered the windshield had been broken, CTV reported. Security footage from the seniors complex where he lives showed a surprising culprit: an elk. In the video, a male elk is seen chasing a female elk before crashing through the windshield and running away. "He was in hot pursuit," complex manager Sam Hildebrandt said, noting that elk are not an uncommon sight in the area. The car's age makes replacement parts hard to track down, but Roach plans to repair his beloved ride. [CTV, 9/14/26]

EMUS, EMUS EVERYWHERE ABC 7 reported that an emu was on the loose in the town of Ramapo, New York, on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 12. Police were contacted about the emu's escape from the Rockland County petting zoo at 8:45 a.m. The Town of Ramapo Police Department utilized a drone to keep track of the large, flightless bird's path. In a social media post, the department said, "We don't know why the chicken crossed the road, but the emu crossed the road because Sgt. Anton didn't give it an option." Officers eventually managed to apprehend the emu, which was returned to the petting zoo. "No injuries, no citations, and no word yet on whether it plans to escape again," the department said. [ABC 7, 9/13/26] WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN A bull was stranded on the top of a water tower in India for two days before being rescued via

•Elsewhere in India, a family used a crane for a slightly different reason. Gulf News reported on Sept. 9 that Manoj Yadav, who works in Israel, did not have anyone available to drive his car, a Mahindra Scorpio Classic, while he was away. His family wanted to park it somewhere safe, and they decided on ... the roof. Videos shared on social media show the SUV being hoisted by a crane before being placed on the roof of the family's two-story house. "Now that's what you call taking parking to the next level," Anand Mahindra, CEO of the company that manufactures the Scorpio, said in a social media post, before urging people to not try the same thing at home and expressing concerns about whether the home could sustain the extra weight. [Gulf News, 9/9/26]

DRIVEN BATTY Commuters on a train headed for Glasgow, Scotland, had to contend with an unruly passenger: a bat. The Scottish Sun reported that on Saturday, Sept. 12, a bat flew around a ScotRail train car, leading to a comedy of errors. Picture it: Two women screaming about the bat. A ticket inspector trying to shoo it out the doors. An employee waving a flag at the winged creature, only for it to flee to the luggage rack. "The poor wee thing must have been a bit frightened," one passenger said. Eventually the bat flew out of the car during a stop after another passenger waved a hat at it. "Certainly an unforgettable experience," the passenger said. [The Scottish Sun, 9/12/26] {in}

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com September 24, 2026

NOVEMBER 12 & 13

BUSINESS + LEADERSHIP

CONFERENCE

En tre

n2 02 6!

INVEST

Julian MacQueen

Founder of SCI, Co-Founder & Partner of HealthCare Plus Solutions Group

the

Innisfree Hotels Chairman & Founder

Quint Studer

Jake Poore

Former Disney & Franklin-Covey Executive Customer Experience and Healthcare Patient Experience Speaker

Bert Thornton

Retired President/COO Vice Chairman Emeritus Waffle House

SCAN FOR TICKETS

Jean Marie Richardson Founder and CEO iFolio

Independent News | September 24, 2026 | inweekly.net

Presented by