Tallahassee
The City of Tallahassee held a quarterly budget workshop and addressed financial and resource plans for 2026 and detailed the need for a fire services fee increase.
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Leon County Government celebrated the CSC's opening of a new Family Resource Center at the Fort Braden Community Center.
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Two people were killed and six others were injured Thursday after a shooter, the son of a Leon County sheriff’s deputy, opened fire around lunchtime at Florida State University.
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After a comprehensive 22-month investigation into the disappearance of 12-year-old Lori Paige, the Tallahassee Police Department has arrested her father, 36-year-old Andrew Wiley, on charges of second-degree murder.
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According to recent filings, Leon County single-family construction permits were slightly up in March.
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By Samuel Schaefer
On April 9, 2025, a federal appeals court affirmed a lower court ruling that dismissed a lawsuit filed by Taylor Biro against the City of Tallahassee. Biro is a former member of the Citizens Police Review Board. Biro alleged the city violated her freedom of speech by removing her from the Citizens Police Review Board (CPRB) because of anti-law enforcement slogans on her coffee cup. After having her lawsuit dismissed in U.S. District Court, Biro appealed the decision. On
TMH, City Triage Turns Political
Matlow Renews Attacks on City Manager Amid TMH Discussion
By Steve Stewart
It appears that information gathered during a private meeting - related to the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital (TMH) issue - was intentionally shared with City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow who then used the information to publicly scold city manager Reese Goad during a recent city commission meeting.
The private meeting, which took place on Monday April 14th, included officials from TMH, the City, and FSU.
TMH called for the meeting to advance discussions related to a change in the governance structure currently in place between TMH and the City and to address issues related to a hospital project in Panama City Beach.
After the Monday meeting, during the April 16th Wednesday city commission meeting when the TMH issue was being discussed, Matlow criticized Goad's comments made in the meeting as reported by local media.
Matlow was upset that Goad had told TMH that the governance structure requested by
TMH would probaly not be approved by the city commission given the current legal issues that were unresolved.
Then Matlow asked Goad if there were comments made during the TMH meeting that were political in nature and related to “threats against your commissioners.”
Goad refused to speak to Matlow’s inquiry.
Matlow pressed the issue and asked the city attorney –
who was present at the private meeting – if such a discussion took place.
City Attorney Towman confirmed there was a discussion of a political nature. Matlow ended the discussion by addressing Goad, “I find it wholly inappropriate that political conversations that represent the city in political capacities while negotiating for the city in a public position. I am going to leave it at that.”
Hope Florida Foundation OK’s Changes Amid Scrutiny
By Dara Kam The News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE — Seeking to
“restore confidence” in its mission, directors of an embattled foundation affiliated with First Lady Casey DeSantis’ signature Hope Florida welfare-assistance program on Thursday agreed to strengthen the nonprofit’s structure amid widening scrutiny by the Florida House.
The Hope Florida Foundation Inc. directors finalized the changes in an online meeting that had to be aborted earlier Thursday after it was flooded with racial and anti-Semitic slurs and pornography.
Before the hours-long delay in the meeting, Joshua Hay, the foundation’s president, acknowledged the growing attention on the nonprofit, which is affiliated with the state Department of Children and Families and was launched in 2023.
“This has been an eventful week for the Hope Florida Foundation. Questions were asked. Answers were provided, and lessons were learned. I acknowledge there is a remaining curiosity to settle, as evidenced by many of you present on today’s call,” Hay said. “It’s time we turned things around at the foundation.”
Hay testified under oath Tuesday before the House Health Care Budget Subcommittee, which is closely scrutinizing the foundation’s receipt of $10 million as part of a $67 million legal settlement that Centene, Flori-
da’s largest Medicaid managed-care company, made last fall with the state Agency for Health Care Administration.
After receiving the money from the settlement, the foundation gave $5 million grants to Secure Florida’s Future, a nonprofit tied to the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and Save our Society from Drugs.
Those groups within days made contributions to Keep Florida Clean, a political committee headed by James Uthmeier, who was then Gov. Ron DeSantis’ chief of staff and is now state attorney general. Keep Florida Clean fought a proposed constitutional amendment in November that would have allowed recreational use of marijuana.
The House’s probe has fueled a feud between House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, and the governor, who traded barbs this week in an increasingly personal and unusually public clash.
“It doesn’t seem like the $10 million, and the way that it was funneled to different organizations, was done properly. That is my opinion,” Perez told reporters Wednesday.
DeSantis, meanwhile, painted Perez and the Republican House as “liberal leftists” and announced the expansion of the Hope Florida program — which operates across numerous state agencies — to state college campuses.
An ally of DeSantis identified as “Chris,” who was clad in a “Ron DeSantis for Governor” T-shirt, was
There were no media reports about comments related to "political threats".
How did Matlow know what was said during the TMH, FSU, and COT meeting?
Matlow’s Alignment with TMH
Since the beginning of the debate over the future relationship between TMH and the City of Tallahassee, media
TALLAHASSEE — Two people were killed and six others were injured Thursday after a shooter, the son of a Leon County sheriff’s deputy, opened fire around lunchtime at Florida State University.
The shooter, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, also was shot after confronting police officers, authorities said during a lateafternoon news conference. News reports identified Ikner as an FSU student.
Ikner is accused of using a handgun that was an old service weapon of his mother, a school-resource officer. Authorities did not immediately identify the victims but said the two people killed were not students.
Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said Ikner invoked his right not to speak to officers after being captured and didn’t indicate a motive. Authorities said they think Ikner acted alone.
FSU President Richard McCullough praised a massive response from law-enforcement officers to prevent the shooting
By Jim Saunders & Mike Exline The News Service of Florida
The Tallahassee City Commission addresses the ongoing issue related to the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital governance structure at the April 16th meeting.
Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) recently announced the Prime Meridian Healthcare Hero Award, a new colleague recognition made possible by a generous endowment gift from Prime Meridian Bank. The award honors TMH colleagues who consistently embody TMH’s ICARE values of Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence in their daily work.
The endowment will ensure that TMH colleagues will continue to be recognized for years to come. The press release states that the “gift reflects Prime Meridian Bank’s deep commitment to supporting the healthcare needs of the community and recognizing the invaluable role TMH colleagues play in delivering exceptional patient care.”
The Prime Merid-
ian HealthCare Hero Award will be presented quarterly to colleague(s) nominated by patients, colleagues or visitors for going above and beyond to provide high-quality, compassionate care. Award recipients will receive formal recognition from TMH leadership and a financial award.
league who enters the Laurie L. Dozier, Jr., MD Atrium.”
Eddrie Moore, a member of TMH’s Guest Services team, was recently recognized with the inaugural Prime Meridian HealthCare Hero Award after receiving multiple nominations celebrating “the compassion and kindness she shows every patient, visitor and col-
Grause
Tallahassee State College recently announced that Candice Grause, Vice President for Communications and Chief of Staff, has been selected as a recipient of the Distinguished College Administrator Award from Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for two-year colleges. The award recognizes college leaders who demonstrate exceptional support for student success.
Nominated by the highest-achieving students at TSC, Grause is being honored for her commitment to fostering student achievement and creating opportunities for academic and personal growth. Her leadership in commu-
Radiology Associates of Tallahassee recently announced the retirement of its long-time CEO, John Detelich, effective April 4, 2025.
John Detelich has been CEO for 20 years, leading the company through significant growth and innovation. Strategic decisions made under John’s leadership in the late 2000s played a crucial role in shaping the future of our organization. In November 2009, Radiology Associates and TMH acquired Tallahassee Diagnostic Imaging (TDI) and its CT business. These two transactions significantly transformed our operations, leading to remarkable growth of over 300% since 2009.
“Thank you all for your support during my tenure. I am so proud of all we have all accomplished. I am even more excited about the
“We are incredibly grateful to Prime Meridian Bank for their generous support and commitment to recognizing our exceptional colleagues like Eddrie,” said Nigel Allen, President and Chief Advancement Officer of the TMH Foundation. “This gift will not only honor the hard work
nications, marketing, and strategic initiatives has played a crucial role in shaping the student experience at TSC.
Grause, a TSC alumna and former PTK member, has dedicated more than a decade to the college. Since joining the President’s Executive Team in 2018, she has led major initiatives, including Hurricane Michael recovery efforts, Prosperity 32304, and the College’s rebranding to Tallahassee State College in 2024.
“Candice’s leadership has had a profound impact on our students and our institution,” said Dr. Jim Murdaugh, President of TSC. “Her dedication to
future for Radiology Associates of Tallahassee,” said John. “That is why it is with great confidence that I announce Brian Bender as the new CEO. I have no doubt that he will lead this organization to even greater heights,” he said.
Brian Bender brings a wealth of experience in operations at healthcare organizations. Effective immediately upon John’s departure, Brian Bender will assume the position of Chief Executive Officer.
“It is a privilege to assume the CEO position and continue to strengthen the remarkable culture John has built while introducing initiatives that will elevate the company’s success. My leadership will be grounded in values like trust, integrity, transparency, accountability, and empowerment,” said Brian.
and dedication of our colleagues but also inspire others to strive for excellence in their service to our patients and community. It means so much to our organization to know that community partners like Prime Meridian Bank value the work that we do every day.”
Sammie D. Dixon, Jr., Vice Chairman, President and CEO of Prime Meridian Bank, is the chairelect of the TMH Foundation Board of Trustees.
“Prime Meridian Bank is proud to partner with TMH in supporting their mission of providing world-class healthcare to our community,” he said. “We recognize the vital role every TMH colleague plays in delivering exceptional care, and we are honored to establish this award to celebrate their dedication and commitment. We cannot imagine a more worthy recipient of this award than Eddrie and are excited to recognize the individuals who provide the high quality, compassionate care patients and visitors expect when they visit TMH.”
the College is evident in everything she does. This recognition from Phi Theta Kappa is a testament to the positive influence she has on our students’ journeys.”
Beyond her role at TSC, Grause currently serves as Chair of Choose Tallahassee and was a member of the Tallahassee-Leon County Bicentennial Steering Committee. In 2024, she was named to the News Service of Florida’s 40 Under 40 for her contributions to politics and policy and was inducted into the TSC Alumni and Friends Hall of Fame.
Phi Theta Kappa will formally recognize Grause at its 2025 PTK Cata-
Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs (THF), a Top 200-ranked accounting firm by Inside Public Accounting, recently announced the promotion of Devin Masson to Manager within Assurance Services.
Since joining THF in 2021, Devin has provided assurance and consulting services to clients within insurance, not-for-profit, governmental, and for-profit organizations. Her experience includes conducting financial statement and compliance audits, audits of statutory financial statements, reinsurance accounting, compilations, preparing quarterly and annual financial statements based on statutory accounting, internal control evaluation and analysis, and agreedupon procedures. She is an active member of both the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
“Devin has consistently demonstrated the capabilities of an assur-
lyst Convention, where she will be celebrated alongside other distinguished administrators from across the country. For more information about Phi Theta Kappa and its Distinguished College Administrator Award, visit www.ptk.org.
ance manager,” said Managing Shareholder, Jeff Barbacci, CPA. “She effectively plans and supervises multiple engagements, serves as a key resource for technical questions, delivers high-quality client service, and takes full responsibility for engagement development prior to the next review level. Beyond her client work, Devin is a visible leader within the insurance industry group and actively contributes to the firm through initiatives such as synergy and community activities.”
Devin is a double alumna of the University of South Florida, holding a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Master of Accountancy degree.
Sammie Dixon, President, Prime Meridian Bank
On April 12, Leon County Government, in collaboration with the Children’s Services Council of Leon County (CSC Leon) and Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS), celebrated the opening of a new Family Resource Center (FRC) at the Leon County Fort Braden Community Center. This collaborative initiative brings essential family support services and resources directly to the Fort Braden community, providing a convenient, neighborhood hub for support.
“Families are more likely to seek the help they need when services are available where they live,” said Leon County Commission Chairman Brian Welch. “By bringing vital resources directly to the Fort Braden community, the Family Resource Center promotes and supports Leon County families.”
The Children’s Services Council of Leon County and Children’s Home
By Amy Farnum-Patronis FSU News
Florida State University announced
Thursday that Jason Trumbower, a 26-year veteran of the FSU Police Department, is its new chief of police following a national search. He starts in the new role immediately.
Trumbower has served as FSU’s Interim Chief of Police since January and as Interim Deputy Chief of Police during the previous 11 months.
Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration Kyle Clark said Trumbower’s operational knowledge and team-oriented approach are assets to the department.
“The safety of our students and the entire campus community is a top priority,” Clark said. “I am pleased that Chief Trumbower is stepping up to fill this role. His dedication to public safety, decades of experience and knowledge of the FSU and Tallahassee communities make him an excellent choice to lead the FSU Police Department.”
Trumbower graduated from FSU in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in criminology and played football for Coach Bobby Bowden in 1994-1995.
Society of Florida are focused on evolving to meet the community’s needs. Currently, the FRC offers access to parenting resources, mental health support, a computer lab, and connections to additional community services. It serves as a community-wide opportunity to connect with trained professionals dedicated to fostering family well-being.
“This new resource is an incredible benefit not just for the Fort Braden community, but for all of District 2,” said Leon County Commission Vice Chairman and District 2 Commissioner Christian Caban. “Having this level of support available right here in our community center is truly a gamechanger for local families.”
"Our charge is clear," explained Cecka Rose Green, CSC Leon Executive Director. "We listen, we lead, and we leverage resources to build a stronger,
In his role, Trumbower will oversee the FSU Police Department, a fully accredited law enforcement agency employing about 91 sworn officers in Tallahassee and Panama City. He is responsible for all law enforcement operations for FSU.
“As an FSU alumnus and former student-athlete for FSU, Chief Trumbower has a special commitment to the FSU community,” said Barbara O’Connor, assistant vice president for Public Safety. “He has done a tremendous job in his interim role, and I look forward to working with him in advancing the services FSU Police deliver to our community.” Trumbower will be responsible for managing the daily operations within the FSU Police Department, including Patrol, School Resource Officers, Security Staff, Dispatch, Accreditation, Training. Evidence, and Investigations. His duties will include establishing and managing relationships with local law enforcement agencies, university departments, news media representatives, social service agencies, and public special interest groups to provide information on crime prevention and criminal activity.
“I am incredibly honored to serve in
that empowers families and strengthens our entire community."
this role and look forward to moving FSUPD in the right direction,” Trumbower said. “We have an amazing team here at FSU, and there are a lot of wonderful people who have a hand in me working my way up to this position. Having grown up in Tallahassee and being a graduate of FSU, Florida State University means the world to me. I’m truly grateful to my family, my FSUPD team and professional network for all the support over the years.”
As Interim Chief and Interim Deputy Chief, Trumbower led efforts for a net gain in hires, decreasing vacancy rates for the first time since 2021; collaborated with FSU Athletics, Student Affairs, and the ticket office to reconfigure and adjust operations for a safer student section at FSU football games; increased the department’s Field Training Team by 30% which allowed for more candidates to be hired at once; and led efforts to implement the “Heads Up” Pedestrian Safety Campaign, working with University Communications, Student Affairs and the City of Tallahassee to raise awareness.
After joining FSUPD in 1999, Trum-
bower worked his way up the ranks from patrol officer to Captain of the Operations
Trumbower’s appointment
cludes
healthier future for Leon County’s children and families. By partnering with the right organizations to deliver the right services in the right places,
we are not just providing support—we are creating lasting change
By Staff
City Reports 40% Decline in Total Crime Incidents
The City of Tallahassee is reporting that as of February 2025, total crime incidents declined 40% when compared to the same period in 2024. This decline follows a 20.1% decline in violent crime incidents in 2024 relative to 2023.
The report on crime numbers was part of the city’s budget workshop scheduled for Wednesday, April 16th. The city reports that 20 additional officers are programmed in the FY26 budget.
The agenda item notes that the “City has successfully reduced violent crime through an investment strategy with significant allocations to curb violent crime. This strategy targets critical areas such as public safety and gun violence through proactive, immediate actions and generational interventions that divert pathways to crime. This investment yielded significant results, with a 20.1% reduction in violent crime
from 2023 to 2024, based on final validated results submitted to FDLE. As of February 2025, total crime incidents declined 40% when compared to the same period in 2024.”
In addition to resources for more officers and technology, the city highlighted the impact of investments put towards community programs on the crime.
The agenda item states that ” “In recent years, the City Commission has prioritized strategic investment in proactive, systemic, long-term solutions to strengthen the community’s safety, resiliency, and inclusivity. These efforts have included Tallahassee Engaged in Meaningful Productivity for Opportunity Youth (TEMPO), Tallahassee Future Leaders Academy (TFLA), Tallahassee Emergency Assessment Mobile unit (TEAM), neighborhood safety programs, gun violence mitigation, the Capital Region Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), and the Council on the Status of Men and Boys.”
The city highlighted the impact on crime of investments - detailed in the table above- put towards community programs.
TEMPO, TEAM, and TFLA are described as “wrap-around public safety programs that have demonstrated efficacy in enhancing community wellbeing and connecting individuals at the highest risk of being involved in or a victim of crime to schooling, employment, and mental health resources.”
According to the budget notes, “funding has been provided to establish and expand these programs over time within existing General Fund resourc-
City Votes 4-1 to Pursue an Eminent Domain Lawsuit Related to Circle K Project
By Steve Stewart
On Wednesday April 16th, the Tallahassee City Commission voted 4-1 to pursue an eminent domain lawsuit to acquire the private property owned by Circle K Stores, Inc., located in the Canopy development.
The vote comes after city staff recommended against such an action, stating in the agenda item that a “public necessity for the property has not been properly identified. As such, staff does not recommend initiating an eminent domain lawsuit to acquire the private property owned by Circle K Stores, Inc., located in the Canopy development.”
The proposed action seeks to acquire property from an owner who by all public accounts has abided by the zoning and permitting regulations. In addition, based on discussions during recent meetings, it was revealed that the city commission and the planning commission both voted to go ahead with the zoning rules in 2021 that allowed land uses compatible with conve-
nience stores.
However, the constant political pressure by residents who were surprised and outraged by the location of the convenience store after purchasing homes in the development seems to have had an impact on commissioners who have repeatedly voiced sympathy towards their concerns related to safety.
The city made efforts to purchase the property, but the owner was not interested in selling.
City officials noted that before a lawsuit if filed, the city will have to obtain two independent property appraisals and make an offer to purchase the property under a threat of condemnation.
The issue will be before the city commission again next month to formal approve an eminent domain lawsuit resolution.
City Commissioner Dianne WilliamsCox voted against moving forward with a lawsuit due to concerns related to setting a precedent in the use of eminent domain to address land use controversies.
Tallahassee City Commission Meeting Briefs: April 16, 2025
By Steve Stewart
Provided below are the news briefs from the Tallahassee City Commission meeting held on April 16, 2025.
Presentations
The City Commission presented four proclamations related to Days of Remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust, Hope Month for Mothers In Crisis, the Chain of Parks Art Festival, and the Landscape Architecture profession.
The City Commission approved 11 Consent items.
8.07: Consent item pulled for discussion. The Commission voted 5-0 to approve FAMU Way Pre-Suit Settlement Agreement related to the construction of a roundabout as part of the final segment of FAMU Way.
Introduction of Ordinances
11.01: Commission voted 5-0 for the introduction of Ordinance No. 25-Z-10: Amendment to the Official Zoning Map to Change the Zoning Classification from Residential Preservation 1 (RP-1) to Office Residential – 1 (OR-1) on .60 acres at the Intersection of Bradford Road and E Dellview Drive. The First and Only Public Hearing Scheduled for May 14, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers.
11.02 Commission voted 5-0 for the introductionof Ordinance No. 25-O-09: Adopting a Small-scale Map Amendment to the 2030 Tallahassee-Leon County Comprehensive Plan to Change the Future Land Use Map Designation from the Residential Preservation Land Use Category to Suburban Land Use Category on .60 acres at the Intersection of Bradford Road and E Dellview Drive. First and Only Public Hearing Scheduled for May 14, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers.
Policy Formation and Direction
12.01: Commission voted 5-0 to Remove Static Billboard Signs in Exchange for
Variable Message Billboard Sign Faces. Lamar Advertising requested that five existing double-faced static off-site advertising signs (billboards) be removed in exchange for a double-faced digital variable message sign. This will result in a net reduction of four billboard structures (eight sign faces).
12.02: Commission voted 5-0 toApprove Supplemental Appropriation of $215,000 from the State Law Enforcement Forfeiture Fund and Adjust Administrative Thresholds for the Delegated Approval of State and Federal Law Enforcement Forfeiture Funds. Provides funding to support drug and crime prevention and enforcement as well as additional training and equipment to enhance department capability and expertise.
12.03: Commission voted 5-0 to Rename Branch Street (from W Tharpe Street to West 10th Ave) to Best and Brightest Way.
12.04: Commission voted 5-0 to accept the Multimodal Transportation District History and Implementation Update.
12.05: Commission voted 4-1 to begin an eminent domain action related to the Circle K Property in the Canopy neighborhood. Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox voted no due to concerns about setting a precedent.
12.06: Commission voted 5-0 to ratify an Emergency Purchase related to Henderson Road repairs.
Public Hearings
16.01: Commission voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance 25-Z-05; Proposed Amendment to the Official Zoning Map for 3.92 Acres Located at 2748 Pecan Road to Change the Zoning Classification from Medium Density Residential (MR-1) to Urban Residential (R-4). Attachment.
16.02: Commission voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance No. 25-O-07, the Voluntary Annexation Petition for Parcel ID: 14-1821-000-0050 located on North Meridian Road between Summerbrooke Drive and Oak Grove Plantation Road.
es, totaling approximately $55 million since FY18. Continued investment has been crucial to meeting and exceeding Five-Year Strategic Plan targets. The FY26 budget assumes these programs will be maintained at current service levels.”
City Triage Turns Political
reports have noted that Matlow’s support of TMH has aligned him with individuals that have previous financially backed his opponents during contentious elections.
As during previous election campaigns, Matlow’s approach during this debate has been to attack Mayor Dailey and City Manager Reese Goad.
In addition to the recent confrontation with Goad, Matlow previously accused Mayor Dailey of engineering a "hostile takeover" of the hospital with FSU.
On Facebook, Matlow wrote "While commissioners and the hospital were kept in the dark, I learned this week that Mayor Dailey met with FSU weeks ago with a plan to 'deliver the hospital for Florida State.”
This approach was consistent with TMH's response to the City's initial agenda item related to TMH's request for a change in the
governance structure.
For example, during a public event, Ed Murray, immediate past chairman of TMH's Board of Directors who's been on the board for nine years, said the city's approach felt like a "hostile takeover."
"We were blindsided by the agenda item," said Murray.
While the identity of the person who caused the information to reach Matlow is not known, it would be logical to assume the person is supportive of TMH’s positions.
And beyond the substance of the comments shared by Matlow at the city commission meeting, the fact that high level officials responsible for resolving a complicated issue cannot rely on confidentiality when discussing sensitive topics is surely to have an impact on future negotiations.
Leon County Commission Meeting Briefs: April 8, 2025
By Steve Stewart
Below are the meeting briefs from the Leon County Commission meeting held on April 8, 2025. The Board approved Consent Items 1-12.
General Business
Item 13: The Board voted 7-0 to accept the update on recent enhancements to the County’s competitive solicitation process. The enhancements made to the County’s competitive solicitation process are anticipated to improve efficiency, increase responsiveness, and foster a more accessible and streamlined experience for bidders by removing redundant forms and incorporating digital confirmations. With the implementation of these enhancements, the County expects to further increase responsiveness and maintain a low rate of non-responsive bids.
Item 14: The Board voted 7-0 to direct staff to prepare a draft ordinance to implement a school zone automated speed enforcement program. Staff noted the recent adoption of a similar program by the Tallahassee City Commission. Preliminary estimates find the program would generate approximately $275,000 in annual collections from speeding violations with 60%, or $165,000, to be retained by the County to fund the program and other public safety initiatives. The remaining 40% would be disbursed in accordance with Florida Statutes.
Item 15: The Board voted 6 – 0 with Commissioner Minor abstaining from the vote to appoint two citizens, Eddie Gonzalez Loumiet and Reshaye Greenlee, to the At-Large seats on the Tallahassee-Leon County Minority, Women, and Small Business
Enterprise Citizen Advisory Committee for two-year terms ending April 30, 2027.
The Board voted 7-0 to appoint two citizens, Isabella Egloff and Brittany Christie, to the At-Large seats on the Tallahassee Sports Council for three-year terms ending April 30, 2028; and to waive Board Policy No. 03-15, Section 4(e) regarding term limits, and appoint Mr. Gregory Cowan to the Value Adjustment Board for a twoyear term ending April 30, 2027. Public Hearings
Item 16: The Board voted 7-0 to hold the First and Only Public Hearing to Consider Adopting a Resolution that Includes an Inventory List of Properties Appropriate for Affordable Housing. The action added six parcels to the inventory; two County-owned parcels received by escheatment and four parcels owned by dependent special districts.
Item 17: The Board voted 7-0 to hold the Second and Final Public Hearing on the Federal Fiscal Year 2024 Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Opportunity. The action authorized staff to submit a Federal Fiscal Year 2024 Small Cities Community Block Grant in the amount of $7.153 million for improvements to the Fort Braden Community Center.
Item 18: The Board voted 6-1 to hold the First and Only Public Hearing to Consider an Ordinance regarding the Safe Use of Public Rights-of-Way. The adopted Ordinance -amended the original proposal by a motion by Commissioner Maddox – prohibits the occupation of medians smaller than 6 feet wide and removed the criminal penalty and replaced it with a civil penalty, and reduced the fine amount from $500 to $250.
TMH, From Front Page
TMH,
City Budget Workshop Details 2026 Plans, Fire Service Fee Increase
By Steve Stewart
The City of Tallahassee held a budget workshop on Wednesday, April 16 in City Hall. Budget workshops are held each quarter to provide the status of the current budget compared to actual results and to provide the budget plan for the upcoming year. Based on staff analysis of key metrics and first-quarter results for revenues and expenditures, 13 operating funds are within budget expectations. In the Fire Fund, several developments have resulted in the need for an early review of the Fire Service Assessments and Fees. This review has already begun, and the recommendations will be
presented as part of the FY26 budget development process. The workshop documents state that a Fire Service Fund review will result in a 20-25% increase in the fire service fees.
Provided below are the FY2026 budget assumptions:
–No change in the 4.42 millage rate
–Employee raises – 4% for general employees and raises for Police and Fire per collective bargaining agreements.
–Fire Personnel – 50 new positions: 24 FTE’s for new Fire Station 17 and expansion at Station 15 and 26 FTE’s to improve the Insurance Ser-
vices Office rating
–Fire Services Fee Study: 20-25% estimated increase, IAFF agreement, ISO rating, Station construction costs, bad debt increase.
–Police – Prevention of Violent Crime: 20 new Officers per Strategic Plan goal of 5% increase for five years. Continue Wrap-around Services: TEMPO, TFLA, RTCC, TEAM.
–Parks and Recreation Personnel – 12 FTEs. Six for the new Senior Center and six for maintenance of 100 parks.
–CHSP – Second-year funding per Citizen Review teams of $2.9 million.
-Cost Recovery – updated fee schedules for Cemetery and other user fees.
According to the staff update, the development of the FY26 Budget for the 14 operating funds will incorporate the citywide assumptions listed above. Utility funds, which generate revenues based on the sale of services, will be balanced based on CPI increases to rates.
The preliminary projected deficit for the FY26 General Fund budget is between $3.5 to $5 million. The projected deficit reflects increases in healthcare costs, inflationary pressures, recent state legislation, and projected revenue estimates.
The city staff notes that based on the fiscal impact of efficiencies by departments and legislative changes, a balanced budget will be presented at the June workshop. In addition, revenues will be reviewed as updated state estimates for revenue sharing and preliminary property value estimates for ad valorem revenues become available in June and July.
Appeals Court Upholds Dismissal of Taylor Biro Lawsuit
LAWSUIT, From Front Page
April 9th, a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals unanimously sided with U.S. District Judge Allen Windsor.
The court’s opinion states, “Thus, we hold that the district court properly dismissed with prejudice Biro’s complaint for First Amendment retaliation because she failed to demonstrate that her free speech interest outweighs the City’s interest in the efficient and effective administration of government services.”
The controversy arose in late 2022 when Biro was using a coffee cup that had an “Abolish Police” sticker. Court documents indicate that “During her two years
SHOOTING, From Front Page
from being a “bigger tragedy” and said that he visited victims at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.
“Our hearts go out to our students and the victims of this terrible tragedy,” McCullough said during the news conference at the Augustus B. Turnbull Conference Center at FSU.
The university will be closed through Friday, with athletic events canceled through Sunday.
“Right now our top priority is safety and well-being for all the people on our campus,” McCullough said.
Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil called the shooting a “heinous crime” and said an investigation is underway to determine how Ikner, a member of the sheriff’s office youth advisory counsel, was able to get his mother’s
Charlie Ward Set to Coach Florida A&M’s Basketball Team
Former FSU star and 1993 Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward is set to become the men’s basketball coach at Florida A&M University. Ward is currently the coach of Florida High Seminoles. Under his leadership, Florida High won the 2022 FHSAA 3A State Championship, Ward’s hiring was supposed to become official during a board of trustees meeting Wednesday afternoon, but a nationwide Zoom outage forced the meeting to be postponed to a later date.
Media reports indicate that Ward and FAMU have a five-year, $975,000 contract in place that is pending board approval. Ward would earn $175,000 during the 2025-26 season and get a $10,000 raise annually. The contract runs through June 2030. Ward, 54, graduated from Florida State in 1994 and went on to have an 11-year NBA career, which included nineplus seasons with the New York Knicks as well as stints with San Antonio and Houston. He retired in 2005 and
of serving on the Board, Biro attended all meetings, bringing a cup with a sticker that says, “Abolish Police” that was “prominently displayed” in front of her. This cup was always placed on the table in front of Biro. “
Some claimed that this showed a clear bias against the police on an oversight committee created to build trust between law enforcement and the community.
The Big Bend Chapter of the Police Benevolent Association claimed that Biro was “promoting an inappropriate, incendiary, and anti-police message at a recent CPRB meeting.”
The Tallahassee City Com -
missioners reviewed the matter and voted 3-2 to remove Biro from the board. Commissioners Jack Porter and Jeremy Matlow voted against the removal.
Biro maintained that the city removed her from the CRPB because she doesn’t abide by conventional societal standards. Biro said, “I have never shied away from wearing my values on my sleeve, or on my cup, and that’s why I have that sticker on there.”
The CPRB members also released a statement saying they all supported Taylor Biro remaining on the board.
Biro filed a complaint against the city in early 2023.
A federal district court ruled that the CPRB was created “[t]o enhance trust between the Tallahassee Police Department and the community by creating an unbiased panel of volunteers” and dismissed the complaint. The court determined that Biro’s claim was invalid as it failed the Pickering test — a previous ruling that found government can allow an entity’s interests to take precedence over an individual’s interests if sufficient evidence is provided to pass the fourpart test. In other words, an employee’s right to express an opinion is not always absolute.
In a second complaint against the city, Biro claimed that she was terminated because she pushed back against police training that the Tallahassee Police Department participated in with ex-Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher. At the time of the training, Gallagher was facing murder and war crimes charges but was later acquitted. The city dismissed the complaint saying that Gallagher only observed the training along with other trainers. When both of these cases were dismissed, Biro went to the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
Two Killed in ‘Terrible Tragedy’ at FSU
firearm.
“This event is tragic in more ways than you people in the audience could ever fathom from a law-enforcement perspective,” McNeil said during the news conference. “But I will tell you this, we will make sure that we do everything we can to prosecute and make sure that we send a message to folks that this will never be tolerated here in Leon County.”
Ikner’s mother has been a deputy for 18 years, with McNeil describing her service as “exceptional.”
“Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons,” McNeil said. “That was one of the weapons that was found at the scene. We will continue that investigation into how that weapon was used and what other weapons, perhaps, he may
was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame the following year.
Ward served as an assistant coach for the Rockets (200507) for two seasons before embarking on a high school coaching career that started in Houston and eventually brought him back to Florida.
Leon County Commission Adopts Panhandling Ordinance
Leon County Commissioners voted Tuesday, April 8th, to make panhandling a civil violation. Occupying or making exchanges between pedestrians and drivers on medians smaller than six feet wide is now a civil violation. The ordinance applies to both pedestrians and drivers or passengers on all medians that divide parallel lanes of traffic on roads outside of Tallahassee city limits. By a 6-1 vote, with Commissioner David O’Keefe voting no, county commissioners lowered the fine from $500 to $250. Commissioners opted against a proposal for up to 60 days in jail.
O’Keefe stated, "We send the message that poverty is something we can punish or
have had access to.”
Authorities also found a shotgun with Ikner, but it was not immediately clear whether it was used.
Sam Swartz, an FSU senior, said students were running and screaming before he heard any shots.
“We were just like, ‘What’s going on?’ Then, about 10 gunshots happened and everybody was like, ‘Oh my God!’” Swartz said.
As students scrambled for the stairs and a maintenance elevator, Swartz said he joined others behind trash cans in a corner of the student union, making a “little fort out of plywood,” where they stayed for about five to 10 minutes until police arrived.
“Everyone had their hands up,” Swartz added.
Students were advised just
after 3 p.m. that “law enforcement has neutralized the threat.”
Still, students were advised to avoid the student union and some other campus buildings that were considered an active crime scene.
FSU sophomore Braden Tinch said he heard gunshots, but at first didn’t realize how close they were.
“Your body just kind of goes into fight or flight,” Tinch said. “I kind of thought about it, when I got to safety, about what just happened. It was crazy. I don’t think I’ll ever experience something like that again. It was insane.”
Lorenzo Santiago, another FSU sophomore, called the incident “definitely a nervewracking situation, for sure.”
“I am sorry for whoever was injured and affected by the situation. This is just hor-
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legislate out of you. I don't think that's who we are, so I'm voting no, and asking you all to vote no on any ordinance, and I'd like us to focus on helping people and treating everyone with the dignity they deserve."
Commissioner Nick Maddox introduced the idea to soften punishment while maintaining safety as his priority.
"I've seen children in the medians fundraising. That is not safe. I've seen adults in the medians fundraising. That is not safe. Homeless or not. I've seen firemen carry boots up and down the road, that is not safe."
Leon County Votes to Support Automated Speed Detection Program
At the April 8 Leon County Commission meeting, elected official, citing safety concerns, voted 7-0 to implement an automated speeding detection and enforcement programs within school zones. The approval directs staff to “initiate the program by drafting an ordinance for the Board’s consideration at a future public hearing.”
Several schools in Leon County are located near the
City’s jurisdictional boundaries and, as a result, the designated school zones for these schools include both City- and County-maintained roadways. The results of the County’s school zone speed study found that 23 of 32 school zones (schools often have more than one school zone) had high instances of speeding more than 10 miles an hour over the speed limit. The study identified 23,198 potential speeding violations within these zones over the course of one school day.
The Tallahassee Police Department recently reported that 574 tickets were issued during the first week of operation of the city’s program at two locations. The locations included Kerry Forest near Desoto Trail Elementary School and Tharpe Street near RAA Middle School.
Cobb Middle School Student Arrested for Bringing Multiple Weapons on Campus
On Wednesday, April 16, during a class transition at Cobb Middle School, an 8th grade student was found in possession of multiple weapons on campus. The incident occurred after the student was
rible,” Santiago said. “I don’t understand how things like this continue to happen. It’s just awful.”
Thursday’s shooting came a little more than a decade after a 31-year-old attorney with a semi-automatic handgun wounded three people before being shot to death at FSU’s Strozier Library. Beyond the campus Thursday, area schools were temporarily locked down and visitors to the Florida Capitol were briefly advised to shelter in place.
Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, said in an online post, “From our vantage point here in the Senate, we can see and hear many first responder vehicles rushing to FSU. Grateful for their courage. Praying for the entire FSU community.”
observed cutting another student’s backpack with an object described as being similar in size to a pencil.
School administrators immediately conducted a search of his backpack and discovered a mini stun gun and later located a blue case containing a craft carving kit, which the student admitted to using to cut the backpack. The kit held multiple razor blades of varying shapes and sizes, along with handles designed to hold them.
The student has been charged with 2 counts of Possession of Weapon on School Property and transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center.
LCSO noted in a press release that “Parents and guardians are urged to have open and candid discussions with their children regarding the importance of adhering to the district's zero tolerance policy for weapons on campus. Ensuring that students understand the gravity of this matter and the potential consequences is vital in maintaining a safe and secure school environment.”
Lawmakers Target Student Cell Phone Use
By Jim Turner & Tom Urban The News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE — An effort to keep students off cell phones throughout the school day passed the Florida House on Wednesday, though differences remain with a Senate proposal.
The House unanimously approved a bill (HB 949) that would expand a law that prohibits the use of wireless devices at schools during “instructional time.”
Bill sponsor Demi Busatta, R-Coral Gables, said “cell phones not only cause constant distractions to a student’s focus during the school day, which impedes their ability to learn, but it also has shown to increase bullying.”
Rep. Michelle Salzman, RPensacola, told reporters she doesn’t think kids should have phones in their hands at any given time.
“They can’t even interact on a personal basis. We are removing humanity from humankind,” Salzman said. “Any time that we can encourage the lack of technology, and more interaction, the better off we are going to be.”
The bill would prevent students from using phones during the school day, as opposed to during instructional time. But school districts would approve rules to allow phone use under certain circumstances. As an example, students with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, could use their wireless devices. Such students would have to provide doctors’ notes on the need for the devices.
Meanwhile Wednesday, the Senate Rules Committee approved a wider education bill that, in part, would require the education commissioner to craft a statewide policy about cell-phone use by the end of 2026.
Senate bill sponsor Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, said after the committee meeting there is still “time on the clock” to reach agreement with the House, as “this is a problematic situation in schools.” The legislative session is scheduled to end May 2.
“We’re just trying to see what might be the best approach to get there,” Burgess said. “I think the best way to do something is to get buy-in from the local districts and families and parents.”
The proposed statewide policy would be based on findings from six school districts that currently ban the use of cell phones and other devices during the school day or plan to do so during the 2025-2026 school year.
The commissioner would have to detail the effects of the bans on student achievement and behavior and outline a
Traditional School Enrollment to Decrease
The News Service of Florida
Enrollment in Florida’s traditional public schools is expected to decrease in the coming years while voucher programs expand, according to a new report from state economists.
The report, compiled by the state Education Estimating Conference, said enrollment in traditional public schools is projected to go from 2,805,298 in the 2025-2026 fiscal year to 2,742,162 in the 2029-2030 fiscal year. It is estimated to total 2,813,213 during the current year, an executive summary of the report said. The numbers are “full-time equivalent” students.
Meanwhile, enrollment in voucher programs, including assistance provided
to home-schooled students, is projected to go from 524,757 in the 2025-2026 fiscal year to 696,740 in the 2029-2030 fiscal year. The estimated total is 456,887 this year. Florida in recent years has dramatically expanded voucher programs to create what is often described as “universal” school choice.
FIU Police Supports Agreement with ICE; Faculty Disagree
By Jay Waagmeestter Florida Phoenix
Florida International University’s police chief believes the university community would be best served by the department signing an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, although the faculty is uneasy.
During a Faculty Senate special meeting Friday, interim President Jeanette Nuñez, the former lieutenant governor, and FIU Police Department Chief Alexander Casas fielded questions from faculty members about what a 287(g) agreement with ICE will mean for students and faculty, particularly ones fearing detainment.
Under the agreement, FIUPD officers could act as immigration enforcement officials to question and detain people they suspect are in the country without authorization.
“If we have to deliver someone, we’re the ones you want to do it, because it will be done in the most FIU way, the most Panther way, we can think of,” Casas said.
Casas signed the agreement with ICE, as have several other university police departments in the state, and is awaiting a response from the federal agency before officers can begin training. When it’s signed, Casas said, he will choose his “best officers” to be trained.
“If I don’t sign that agreement, we open the door for other agencies who are on this agreement, whether they’re federal agencies in power to do so or state agencies directed by our governor or local agencies that have agreed,” Casas said.
Casas told faculty he wants his department to have a say in how immigration enforcement goes at the South Florida institution.
“Once I deliver someone to Krome or turn them over to ICE, you’re right, I lose control. But, absent this agreement, I don’t even have input. At the very least, once they execute it, at least now I have input and my officers do have a little say in what could be the outcome,” Casas said.
“If it has to happen because there’s a warrant in the system, who do you want interacting with you? God, I hope you say it’s me,” Casas said.
Nuñez said she spoke at length with Faculty Senate Chair Noël Barengo earlier in the week after he reached out. She added that she wants to make sure she is “constantly addressing concerns.”
Faculty Senate members were not so convinced. Florida universities have made national news for signing the agreement with ICE.
Students live in fear for their ability to remain in the United States, faculty members said. One professor shared
about a student who is not a citizen who came to him worried after receiving a parking ticket.
Juan Gómez, director of the Carlos Costa Immigration Human Rights Clinic at FIU, said students have approached him to say they are afraid to look up items on their computer. Some, in abusive relationships, are afraid to call police.
“I don’t know the status of any of our students. PD does not have access to any of that information,” Casas said, adding that his department has to follow FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
Casas said he did not get a call from the governor encouraging him to seek a 287(g) agreement; instead, he approached Nuñez after conversations with other law enforcement convinced him it “really is with our best interest at heart.”
Faculty senators approved a resolution opposing the agreement, saying it “goes against the university’s values of truth in the pursuit, generation, dissemination, and application of knowledge, freedom of thought and expression, and respect for diversity and dignity of the individual.” The resolution called for the university to withdraw.
Well into the two-hour meeting, Philip Carter, an FIU professor, remained unconvinced.
“It’s been good to hear you,” Carter said. “I haven’t heard anything that convinces me that this is a good agreement. It still sounds like a really bad agreement. I still worry about the safety of our students on campus who fear for their status and their safety. I worry, frankly, about all of us, I worry about faculty, I worry that there’s a slippery slope beneath us.”
Nuñez stressed that visa revocations and ICE agreements are different but sometimes get conflated. FIU has no control over visa revocations, she said.
Earlier this week, FIU confirmed to the Phoenix that 18 students have had their visas revoked since Jan. 1. The University of Florida told the Phoenix that eight visas have been revoked; Florida State University, three.
Alana Greer, director of Community Justice Project, said the FIU 287(g) is “deeply unprecedented” and the “agenda behind relaunching these 287(g)’s is specifically engineered to break trust, to tear apart our communities and to get us to see our neighbors, our peers, our students as ‘other.’”
Greer referenced her involvement with a story the Phoenix reported on Thursday, when 20-year-old Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a U.S. citizen, was arrested by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper as an “unauthorized alien” and held for ICE.
“model policy” that could be used by other districts and charter schools.
In 2023, lawmakers prohibited students from using cell phones and other wireless devices during instructional time. The law prevents cellphone use during lessons unless “expressly directed by a teacher solely for educational purposes.”
Each school district was able to set its own rules on carrying out the law. Some districts prohibit student access to devices throughout the entire school day while others let students use phones during lunch and between classes.
Hope Florida Foundation OK’s Changes Amid Scrutiny
HOPE, From Front Page
among the speakers who joined the foundation board meeting Thursday to champion Hope Florida and denounce detractors of the governor and first lady. Casey DeSantis is being floated as a possible gubernatorial candidate next year.
all that.”
“It’s just sad to see that we have people that are attacking something that is helping so many people to get off of government assistance,” he said. “And there are people that appear to be doing this, or I know are doing this, for political reasons to go after the first lady because they possibly see her as a political threat.”
But House Health Care Budget Chairman Alex Andrade, a Pensacola Republican who has led the inquiry into the foundation, warned the board of directors on Thursday that the use of the grant money for the anti-marijuana campaign could jeopardize its status as a nonprofit organization known as a 501(c)(3). Andrade has suggested that Uthmeier improperly used the foundation to funnel money to the committee for political purposes.
“I believe, based on the information we received from Save Our Society from Drugs and from Secure Florida’s Future, that a fraud was committed on y’all in order to extract those two $5 million grants,” Andrade said.
Andrade encouraged the board “to strongly consider recouping those funds” from the grant recipients “because otherwise, I do believe that you will run afoul of IRS requirements for the use of your funds as a 501(c)(3).” which is a nonprofit organization that qualifies for certain state and federal tax exemptions.
After restarting the meeting following the delay, the board adopted bylaws; signed off on a federal tax form for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, known as a 990; approved other governance documents; and underwent a brief training from attorney Jeff Aaron on the state’s open-government laws, which apply to the foundation.
Hay said he was consulting with the foundation’s newly hired accounting firm about “monitoring procedures we can put in place going forward, and also from a retrospective standpoint, if there’s any illicit use of funds, the potential of
The documents approved Thursday show the foundation received more than $800,000 between its inception in August 2023 and June 30, 2024. The St. Joe Community Foundation, which gave $200,000 topped the donations. Other top donors included The Steven and Natalie Herring Family Foundation, which gave $100,000; Tampa Electric Co., which gave $123,408; Centene Management Company LLC, which contributed $95,223; and Simply Healthcare Plans, Inc., which gave $98,408.
The foundation distributed $40,000, with $10,000 grants going to Fort Myers-based Trailways Camp; Baby Basics of Collier, Inc., which provides diapers to families; the Pregnancy Crisis Center of Lake City, an anti-abortion resource center; and the Mount Sinai Medical Center, the records show. Hay, who is president and CEO of Indelible Solutions, on Thursday took at least part of the blame for the foundation’s shortcomings.
“Accountability matters, and as chairman, I take some responsibility for the control gaps that have emerged in our operations, but I also believe in redemption, resilience and recommitment,” Hay said.
Hay announced that his company — which has had more than 30 contracts totaling more than $119 million with state agencies, including the Department of Children and Families, since 2021 — was making a $25,000 donation to the foundation “with the purpose of direct benefit to individuals and families who need our support the most.”
Hay also addressed questions that were raised during his appearance at Andrade’s committee about Indelible’s contracts with the state.
“I am eager to fulfill the request of the Health Care Budget Subcommittee members so that they may get comfort that Indelible has not delivered or received any payments from the Hope Florida Foundation or the Hope Florida program or any agency supporting the deployment of Hope Florida navigators,” Hay said.
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Gadsden Court Case Threatens Survival of Family Business
By Steve Stewart
Often times successful family business owners grow accustomed to making all the right decisions and ignore issues they view as unimportant, like professional estate planning.
However, business owners who think prenuptial agreements or other standalone agreements may be an adequate approach to ensuring family business succession should think again.
A case before Judge David Frank in Gadsden County serves as an example of how an agreement – in place and unquestioned for over 15 years – is being challenged after one of the parties has died.
The outcome of the case threatens the viability of a 50-year-old family business.
The situation involves a business owner who was retired, no longer involved in
the operations of the business run by his children and who chose to marry at the age of 62.
Court records indicate that a prenuptial agreement was executed to protect the family business and to ensure assets - accumulated previous to the marriage - remained a part of the ongoing operations.
The agreement was signed by both parties, notarized and the record indicates the surviving party stated the relationship was “not about the money.”
Now those sentiments have changed, and the validity of the agreement is being questioned based on the court’s interpretation of events that led to the agreement’s execution.
Obviously, one party has no chance to rebut the various allegations related to the signing of the agreement.
After the initial hearing,
Commissioner Matlow: “I
Am Going to Run for Mayor…”
By Maddox Goodman
On April 6th, 2025, Tallahassee City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow appeared on The Sean Pittman Show, which airs every Sunday morning at 9:30 am on 96.1 JAMZ. During his appearance, Matlow confirmed that he plans to run for Tallahassee mayor in 2026. Commissioner Matlow stated his background as a small business owner largely drives his decision making and how he understands city government. He continued speaking on how his business experiences impact his decisions on the budget, always trying to find places to save money and ensuring lowincome employees are always being treated fairly.
Sean Pittman and Commissioner Matlow spoke for a majority of the show about affordable housing in Tallahassee. Commissioner Matlow grew up with a single mother on the southside of Tallahassee in poverty, and he describes this issue as one of the most important to him. He notes that there isn’t a market to build houses for the lowest wage individuals, but working with developers, giving them incentives and credits helps make new housing affordable.
Matlow also discussed how fastmoving things can be, “We can spend a year trying to create 100 affordable units, and 100 units can be unaffordable in a blink of an eye.”
Pressure on Harvard
President Donald Trump yesterday suggested he could revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status and classify it as a political entity after the university said it wouldn't comply with requests to overhaul its policies and programs. Trump's comments came a day after his administration said it would freeze $2.26B of Harvard’s multiyear funding, highlighting a broader conflict over academic independence and federal oversight.
On Monday, Harvard— America's oldest and wealthiest university—became the first institution to openly reject a series of changes from the Trump administration, which claims such measures are necessary to combat antisemitism on campuses. The changes include removing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, adopting meritbased admissions and hiring practices, and banning identity-covering masks during student protests. Harvard said the requests infringed upon its independence; read the school's response here.
The Trump administration has similarly pressured at least six other universities, including Columbia University, which conceded to a list of reforms last month. Harvard has the largest endowment in the nation at $53B—about 20% of which can be spent at the school's discretion.
Judge Frank ruled the agreement void.
The order stated, “the Court concludes that respondent has shown that her execution of the prenuptial agreement was not “voluntary.” It was directed by the decedent under circumstances which provided respondent no opportunity to negotiate any terms and no practical alternative but to sign.”
A motion for rehearing filed by the decedent's estate, argued the court's decision was "based on the erroneous determination that the Respondent was coerced into signing by the Decedent. While on first blush this matter appears to be a strictly personal matter, the trial court’s failure to enforce a validly executed contract entered into by an admittedly competent adult based upon her biased and uncorroborated testimony will destroy an established
Matlow noted that it is important to focus on what the city can do for extremely low incoming housing and avoiding forcing individuals to leave Tallahassee because there are no affordable housing choices. Their discussion then shifted to revitalizing Downtown Tallahassee, with Commissioner Matlow pointing out that Cascades Park is an amazing first step. He expressed interest in exploring different ways to expand the downtown into more than just an area that is vibrant during the legislative session and football season. Commissioner Matlow wants Downtown to be a destination for tourists.
Near the end of the show, Sean Pittman and Commissioner Matlow discussed Matlow’s future political plans. Pittman highlighted Matlow’s recent efforts to repair relationships damaged during bruising city commission election cycles. Pittman asked if he was doing this because he was running for mayor, Matlow responded, “I am going to run for Mayor, but I’m not doing it because I’m running for mayor.”
California Losing Another Refinery, Fuel Shortages Possible
local business with scores of employees and disrupt two generations of the family.”
Judge Frank granted a rehearing.
After the rehearing, Judge Frank did not move forward with a final order, rather he directed the parties to negotiate a settlement.
However, since the rehearing there are indications that the business is struggling due to the uncertainty surrounding the court case. Ongoing
operations are impacted due to the company’s inability to secure bid and performance bonds.
In addition, the current operator of the business is facing liability issues if the case drags on much longer.
The situation reveals the limits of contracts in today's litigious environment and the power of courts to put the survival of a small, familyowned business at risk.
TPD Arrests Father of Missing Juvenile Lori Paige
After a comprehensive and exhaustive 22-month investigation into the disappearance of 12-year-old Lori Paige, the Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) has arrested her father, 36-year-old Andrew Wiley, on charges of second-degree murder.
Since Lori's disappearance in June 2023, detectives have pursued hundreds of leads, conducted interviews across multiple states, examined digital evidence and searched extensively across North Florida and South Georgia. The case evolved significantly over time, with key developments ultimately leading to Wiley's arrest.
The following provides an overview of the timeline of events:
-June 3, 2023 - Lori Paige is reported missing by her father, Andrew Wiley. At the time, he claimed she left home with her backpack sometime overnight while he was at work.
-Summer 2023 to early 2024 - Detectives pursue hundreds of leads across state lines. Lori is never located, and the story provided by Wiley begins to show inconsistencies.
-February 2, 2024 - A phone is seized from Wiley's residence. A forensic analysis uncovers questionable internet searches
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about remote areas with bodies of water in Alabama and Georgia among other things.
-March 2024 - As more inconsistencies in Wiley's statements are identified and new information about his relationship with Lori emerges, detectives shift their focus more heavily toward Wiley.
-Early 2024 - Based on digital evidence, detectives begin searching a remote, brush-covered area of Thomas County, Georgia, known locally as a plantation. Multiple searches are conducted but yield no results.
-April 5, 2025 - Following a prescribed burn that cleared heavy brush in the area, detectives return to the plantation for another search. This time, they locate human remains.
-April 2025 - The remains are processed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and positively identified as those of Lori Paige.
"This case has deeply impacted our community for nearly two years," Chief Lawrence Revell said. "Lori deserved a safe home and a full life. While today's arrest will never bring her back, it does bring us one step closer to justice."
Credit Card Megamerger
With Valero announcing the pending closure of one of its two remaining California refineries, the state will lose at least 18% of its current refining capacity by the end of 2026.
Because California is an “energy island,” meeting demand for California and the parts of Nevada and Arizona that rely on its refineries will require costly imports of volatile fuel by emissions-heavy tanker ships.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has long blamed rising gas prices on refiners’ “price gouging,” but even though his own administration has said that it has found no evidence of such, he called a special legislative session last year to pass new refinery regulations that both Democratic and Republican governors of neighboring states warned would lead to price hikes and supply shortages.
Now, with the closure announcement, the warnings from the energy industry and regional leaders are coming to fruition.
These new regulations empower the state to determine when refineries are allowed to shut down for maintenance and set new inventory storage requirements that would require refineries to build vast new storage tanks to smooth out shortages.
A federal judge ruled that Google violated antitrust laws by illegally dominating online advertising markets with its technology. The decision paves the way for US prosecutors to seek a breakup of the $1.8T company's ad-tech business.
The court found Google unlawfully monopolized two parts of the online advertising market: publisher tools and the software connecting those publishers to advertisers. Google did so by forcing publishers to use both products together, making it difficult for rivals to compete.
A second hearing will determine what Google must do to restore competition. The ruling comes after a judge in a separate case in August said Google illegally dominated online search and text advertising. The remedy in this case still needs to be determined, though the government wants Google to divest its Chrome web browser.
In related news, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and former Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg testified this week in an antitrust trial on whether the Facebook owner monopolized personal social networking services by buying Instagram and WhatsApp in 2012 and 2014.
Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly announced yesterday that the pill form of its popular weightloss and diabetes injectables proved effective and safe in a clinical trial, pushing the company's shares up 14%. The industry has faced a surge in demand amid the popularity of drugs like Zepbound and Mounjaro and is seeking cheaper, easier-to-use alternatives to the weekly shot versions, which cost roughly $1,300 a month without insurance.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists mimic a gut hormone to activate insulin production and suppress appetite. Clinical trials and customer testimony have repeatedly indicated their efficacy, with the average user seeing weight loss of at least 10%.
Eli Lilly’s daily pill, known as orforglipron, resulted in average weight loss of nearly 8% over 40 weeks in hundreds of Type 2 diabetes patients, compared to a placebo decrease of 1.7%. Roughly 65% of patients also saw blood sugar levels reach a normal level. Orforglipron has no food and water restrictions, unlike Rybelsus from Novo Nordisk (the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy), which requires fasting.
US banking regulators have approved Capital One’s $35B acquisition of Discover Financial, clearing the last major hurdles for a deal that will create America's largest credit-card issuer by total loan volume (roughly $250B). The combined entity will also account for approximately 22% of the US credit card market. The deal is expected to close next month.
The Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency concluded the merger would not significantly harm competition. Their reasoning included that the combined entity wouldn't jeopardize the convenience and needs of the communities either of the banks serve. However, the approval comes with certain conditions: Capital One must address ongoing enforcement issues at Discover. In addition to approving the deal, the Fed fined Discover $100M for overcharging merchants certain fees between 2007 and 2023. Similarly, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. asked Discover to pay $1.2B in restitution and a $150M civil penalty.
The merger also gives Capital One access to Discover's credit card payment network. Currently, Visa and Mastercard are America's largest credit card payment networks, with American Express in third place ahead of Discover.
March Leon County Single-Family Permits Slightly Up, Values Down
According to filings with Leon County and the City of Tallahassee, the number of single-family new construction permits were up 4.5% in March 2025 when compared to March 2024. Permit values were down.
There were 46 permits issued in March 2025, down two permits from the 44 issued one year ago. There were 38 permits issued in February.
The value of the March 2025 permits was $11.3 million, down 18.1% from the $13.8 million re -
ported in March 2024.
The 3-Mnth Avg. data (Jan.-Mar.) –which smooths out the month-to-month volatility – shows a 7.7% decrease in the number of permits issued over the same 3-month period one year ago.
The 3-Mnth Avg. data show a 14.4% decrease in monthly average permit value during this period. The 3-month average permit values fell from $14.4 million in March 2024 to $12.3 million in March 2025.
The chart to the right shows the number of permits issued each month for the last 36-month period. A 12-Mnth Avg. line is also included.
February Median Single-Family Home Sales Prices Down
Reports show the median singlefamily sales price in the Tallahassee MSA fell 2.3% in February ($325K) when compared to the January median sales price ($332.5).
The chart below shows that median sales prices have declined 9.3% from the 12-month high of $358.5K recorded in May, 2024.
The table above lists the most re
cent single family home sales in the Killearn Estates neighborhood. The sales information is from the Leon County Property Appraiser. Killearn Estates is located in NE Tallahassee. There are approximately 3,800 homes in many uniquely characterized units with 11 parks or playgrounds, as well as miles of bridle trails for walking or jogging, lakes, and a private Golf & Country Club. The table above lists 15 recent transactions with sale prices ranging from a low of $225,000 to a high of $750,000. The average sales price for these transactions was calculat -
Reviewing another popular measure of home value, the dollar per square foot ($/SqFt) shows a range starting with a low of 135.0 $/SqFt to a high of 239.1 $/SqFt. The average $Sq/Ft was calculated to be 190.8$/SqFt.
Current homes listed for sale in Killearn Estates range from $369,000 to $699,000.
For more information on real estate sales in Leon county and overall economic conditions, visit TallahasseeReports.com
High School Sports
Chiles’
Tennis Teams Win Boys, Girls District Championships
By Robert Stewart
The FHSAA District 2-3A boys and girls tennis tournament took place at Tom Brown Park in Tallahassee from Apr. 14 – Apr. 15. There were six teams participating with three teams from Leon County including Chiles, Lincoln and Leon. The Timberwolves won both the boys and girls titles.
Chiles Boys Edge Leon in District Tournament, 18-17
In a tight competition, the Chiles boys tennis team won first place beating Leon by one match, 18-17.
Although Chiles won the overall competition, Leon took the first singles position with Senior Gabe Garcia beating Chiles’ Sebastian Roane (Sr.) in straight sets 6-0, 6-3. With this first-place finish, Garcia qualified for the FHSAA state tournament for singles.
Leon won two more single positions at the second position with Axton Boonswang (Fr.) winning in straight sets and at the fourth position with Miles Noel (Fr.) also winning in straight sets. The other two singles positions were both won by Chiles with Omar Mongerie (Fr.) winning the third position and Wesley Kuntz (Jr.) winning the fifth position.
The outcome of the tournament came down to the second day, which featured the doubles matches. Chiles’ top doubles team, Sebastian Roane and Evan Rodenberg (Fr.) got off to a good start beating Leon’s Gabe Garcia and Andy Lara (sr.) in the finals winning both sets 7-5 and claiming a bid for the FHSAA state tournament.
Shortly after the first doubles position finished, Chiles’ Michael Matarko (Jr.) and Omar Mongerie clinched the tournament district title with a win at the second doubles position against Leon with a final score of 11-9 in the third set tiebreaker.
The final standings where Chile (18), Leon (17), Arnold (7), Lincoln (5), Mosley (1) and Columbia (1).
Chiles Girls Defeat Leon 17-13
The Chiles girls tennis team captured the district title winning 17 matches with the runner up, Leon, winning 13 matches and Lincoln, winning 10.
The Timberwolves took the fourth and fifth singles position with Isabella Venclauskas (Jr.) and Hannah Staton (Sr.) both winning in straight sets.
Leon won the first two single positions including Abra Boonswang (Sr.) beating Chiles’ Lillian Zhang (Sr.) at the first position with a final score of 10-7 in a third set tie-breaker. This win qualified Abra Boonswang to play singles in the FHSAA state tournament.
The Lions also won the second single position with Molly Cohen beating Chiles’ Jennifer Egan in straight sets.
Lincoln found one of their two first place finishes at the third singles position with Alaina Mohammed (Sr.) beating Chiles’ Tova Krutchik (Sr.) 10-1 in a third set tiebreaker.
The first doubles position was won by Chiles’ Tova Krutchik and Lillian Zhang, beating Leon’s Abra Boonswang and Molly Cohen (Sr.) in 2 sets with set scores of 6-3, 6-2. With this win the Chiles pair qualified to play in the FHSAA state tournament.
At the second doubles position Lincoln won first place beating Chiles’ Aubrey Rodriguez (So.) and Isabella Venclauskas in a third set tiebreaker 10-8.
The 2025 FHSAA Regional tennis playoffs will be held on Tuesday, April 22 & Thursday, April 24.
Leon County High School Scoreboard
Leon County High School Scoreboard
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