Tallahassee
During the July 29th Leon County School Board meeting, officials voted to move forward with a $645 million tentative budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. P1
Seven months into 2025, crime incident data shows that total crime incidents have declined by 35.0% when compared to incident data from January thru July in 2024. P4
During the July 28th Leon County School Board agenda review, a polling expert told officials that 76% of Leon County voters would support a property tax increase. P5 Tallahassee City Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox recently gathered with supporters to celebrate her re-election campaign kick-off. P1
The latest information from the Tallahassee International Airport shows the June 2025 passenger traffic decreased 8.5% when compared to 2024. P9
Florida State University will host a Celebration of Life to pay tribute to President Emeritus John Thrasher at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. P4
Return of the Mile Run. The Presidential Fitness Test is returning to schools after a 12-year hiatus. P7
Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Names Michael Dalby as New President & CEO
By Steve Stewart
The Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce has named Michael Dalby to succeed longtime CEO Sue Dick. Dalby brings over twenty years of executive experience leading chambers of commerce and economic development organizations nationwide. Most recently, he served as Assistant VP for Innovation, Commercialization, and Economic Development at the University of Texas at El Paso.
City Commissioner Dianne WilliamsCox Kicks Off Re-election Campaign
By Steve Stewart
Tallahassee City Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox recently gathered with supporters to celebrate her birthday and her re-election campaign kick-off.
The event was held at The Monroe, a restaurant owned by local developer and supporter Bugra Demirel.
Joining Demirel at the event were City Commissioner Curtis Richardson, County Commissioner Carolyn Cummings and former city commission candidate David Bellamy.
Williams-Cox told TR that "During my previous two terms, I have focused on keeping our neighborhoods safe, investing in infrastructure to support smart growth, protecting our natural beauty, and driving job creation and talent retention. These same consistent decisions have earned us the prestigious 'All-America City' recognition. She added, "But our work isn’t done. Improving our quality of life will continue to be my top priority."
Williams-Cox was first elected to the Tallahassee City Commission in November, 2018, and was re-elected with 52% of vote in the primary held on August 23, 2022.
Williams-Cox has become part of
the 3-2 majority, voting with City Commissioner Curtis Richardson and Mayor John Dailey. This has caused a lot of friction between Williams-Cox and the progressive commissioners, Jeremy Matlow and Jack Porter. In fact, Matlow and Porter campaigned for her opponent during the last election cycle.
Williams-Cox is the first city commission incumbent to file for reelection. City Commissioner Matlow and Mayor Dailey are both up for re-election but have not formally filed. Matlow has indicated he will run for mayor and sources have told TR that Dailey is planning to seek re-election, setting up a meaningful race for the leadership mayor position.
State Targets Manatee Protection Case
By Jim Saunders The News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE — Describing the case as having “exceptional importance,” the Florida Department of Environmental Protection this week argued a federal appeals court should overturn decisions that required the agency to take a series of steps to protect manatees in the northern Indian River Lagoon.
The department filed a 56-page brief and an accompanying motion to “expedite” the case at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. It is fighting a ruling by U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza that the department violated the federal Endangered Species Act and an order that included a moratorium on constructing and installing septic systems around the northern Indian River Lagoon, which is primarily in Brevard County.
The brief disputes that the department, which in recent years gained permitting authority over septic systems, has violated the Endangered Species Act. Also, the brief contends the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission — not the Department of Environmental Protection — is constitutionally responsible for wildlife-related issues.
“This case is of exceptional importance because the district court’s injunction compels the wrong agency to create new government programs and commandeers that same agency to enforce federal law,” the brief said.
The environmental group Bear Warriors United in 2022 filed the lawsuit against the department, after Florida had a record 1,100 manatee deaths in 2021, with the largest number, 358, in Brevard County. The lawsuit argued, in part, that sewage discharges into the lagoon led to the demise of seagrass, a key food source for manatees, and resulted in starvation deaths and other harm to the animals.
Mendoza in April ruled the department violated the Endangered Species Act and followed in May with the order that included a moratorium on new septic tanks in the area and other measures, such as requiring establishment of biomedical-assessment and supplemental-feeding programs for manatees in the area. Septic tanks discharge nitrogen that can cause harmful algae blooms in waterways.
Also, Mendoza directed the state to seek what is known as an “incidental take” permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. That process would
Page 6 CHAMBER, Page 5
By JeffAsher & Steve Stewart
The FBI released its report on crime in the United States for 2024 on August 5 showing a 14.9 percent decline in murder with 4.4 percent and 8.1 percent drops in overall violent and property crime respectively.
The nation’s murder rate for 2024 was down 26 percent from 2020’s figure and roughly even — slightly lower, actually — relative to where it stood pre-pandemic. The nation’s reported violent and property crime rates stood at the lowest levels since the 1960's in 2024.
Crime fell in 2024 across every category and population group. Crime was down in all seven categories of crime across all 10 population groups that the FBI measures. There are a few standard data caveats to consider. Not every crime is reported to law enforcement and not every agency reports crime to the FBI every year. This point is driven home by the FBI changing the official name of this report from Crime in the Nation to Reported Crime in the Nation. Also, these are estimates
By Steve Stewart
During the July 29th Leon County School Board meeting, officials voted to move forward with a $645 million tentative budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
The board also scheduled a public hearing to adopt the final millage rates and adopt the final budget. The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Aquilina C. Howell Center, 3955 West Pensacola Street, Tallahassee, Florida.
The total millage rate is 5.366, which is advertised as an increase over the rollback rate due to rising property values, even though the millage rate itself is lower. This rate results in $156.5 million in 2025-26 tax revenue, $10.5 million more than last year.
The budget includes 3.118 mills for local effort (required for state funding), 0.748 discretionary mills, and 1.5 mills for capital outlay projects (e.g., construction, maintenance).
The tentative budget is 2.5% less than the previous year, with a total estimate of $645 million across all funds. A significant challenge is a $6 million decrease in special revenue funds due to the end of ESSER (federal relief) funding.
To balance the budget for the current
Fall Performances Announced for The Adderley Amphitheater
Gladys Knight and A John Williams Cinematic Celebration with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra
Leon County Government recently announced two standout performances coming this fall at the Adderley Amphitheater at Cascades Park: Gladys Knight on Friday, October 24, 2025, and “A John Williams Cinematic Celebration” with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra on Friday, November 7, 2025. Tickets for both concerts go on sale Friday, August 8, 2025, at noon.
On Friday, October 24, 2025, seven-time GRAMMY® Award-winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Gladys Knight will bring a legendary voice and decades of timeless hits to the Adderley Amphitheater stage. Known as the “Empress of Soul,” Knight has captivated audiences worldwide with iconic songs like “Midnight Train to Georgia,” “Neither One of Us,” and “Love Overboard.” With a career spanning over six decades and more than 38 albums, soulful performances continue to inspire and resonate across generations. Knight’s concert promises an unforgettable evening. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the concert set to begin at 7 p.m.
On Friday, November 7, 2025, the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Yaniv Dinur, will present “A John Williams Cinematic Celebration,” a stirring tribute to one of the most iconic composers in film history. With a career spanning over seven decades, John Williams has shaped the soundtrack of modern cinema with unforgettable scores for films such as “Star Wars,” “Jurassic Park,” “E.T.,” “Indiana Jones,” “Harry Potter,” “Jaws,” “Su-
perman,” and many more. Families, film lovers and music enthusiasts are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite character and enjoy the magic of live music under the stars. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the concert set to begin at 7:30 p.m.
Ticket Information
For the Gladys Knight event, General Admission seating is $64, P2 Reserved Seating is $88, and P1 Reserved Seating is $112.
For the “A John Williams Cinematic Celebration”
Tallahassee Memorial Animal Therapy Celebrates 40 Years of Service
Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of Animal Therapy in the Big Bend with the unveiling of a special mural at the TMH Animal Therapy Training Center (1301 E. Sixth Ave., Tallahassee, FL 32303).
Designed by local artist Nancy Upthegrove, the mural highlights the diverse types of animal volunteers that have made a profound impact on the community.
Animal Therapy teams provide therapeutic interventions that offer both physical and emotional support in a variety of settings, including medical rehabilitation, senior services, courtrooms and educational institutions. The mural features therapy animals working
in our community, including a cat, rabbit, horse, bird, guinea pig and dogs.
“We are incredibly proud to unveil this mural as a tribute to the animals and volunteers who have been the heart of our organization for 40 years,” said Stephanie Perkins, Director of Animal Therapy at TMH. “Every paw, tail and whisker represent the profound impact animals have had on those we serve. It’s an honor to witness this growth and see firsthand the positive change it brings to our community.”
The Animal Therapy Department at TMH is led by Director Stephanie Perkins, Manager Heather Gainey and Coordinator Heather Van Liere. Together, the team
continues to drive the Department’s development and impact, ensuring patients, families and the Big Bend community experience the healing power of animal therapy.
“Over the last four decades, Animal Therapy has grown tremendously thanks to the dedication of our volunteers, and the support of the community,” said Nigel Allen, President & Chief Advancement Officer of the TMH Foundation. “What started as a single human-animal team has grown to over 200 teams, serving more than 150 facilities across the region. We hope this mural will inspire future volunteers just as our current teams have inspired us for 40 years.”
This is the second event to celebrate Animal Therapy’s 40th anniversary. On July 12, TMH held a volunteer appreciation event at Goodwood
WFSU General Manager David Mullins Explains Funding Cuts and More
By Gina Jordan, WFSU
Listeners to WFSU have no doubt heard about state and federal funding cuts to public media. You’ve also heard a voice telling you that we are operating at reduced power and suggesting alternative ways to listen. Finally, you may have noticed crackling and humming noises that sound like interference.
These three issues are unrelated, according to WFSU Public Media General Manager David Mullins. "Our primary focus is on serving our community," Mullins said as he sat down to answer our questions. WFSU: Let's start with the reduced power situation. Why is that happening?
Mullins: We have a radio transmitter that has gotten quite old because we want to make sure when we purchase a piece of equipment like that, that we get as much out of it as we can throughout the years. So this radio transmitter is a good number of years old. We've only been able to produce
a certain amount of power out of that transmitter...
The further south you go from the transmitter, the harder it has been to receive WFSU on the radio. We then began the process of acquiring and purchasing, and then we will be in the coming weeks putting that transmitter online, putting it in place so that our signal will be back up to full power...
We've been really experiencing some hum and crackling, not just on WFSU but also on our classical station WFSQ. Our engineers have been baffled by this. In fact, they're in the operation center right now trying to figure out what is causing this so that we can eliminate that humming sound and that crackling sound. (Note: the issue has been fixed.) None of this has anything to do with the funding cuts.
WFSU: Let's move to these funding cuts. Let's start with what happened at the federal level. What have these federal policy makers done, and how does it impact WFSU?
Mullins: It has no immediate impact
on WFSU as far as what happened with the rescission package. What happened back in the spring was that there was an elimination of funding through the Department of Education for Ready to Learn efforts — PreK through first and second grade, which was a PBS and a Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) program.
WFSU has been one of the stations around the country for decades now that has participated in that and has provided funding for our education services to help teachers and families and students... We've made no changes staffing wise or anything with regards to that. We just have not been able to do all of the things that we've wanted to do.
The rescission package is eliminating funding from the CPB for future funding. We actually have the dollars that we've already received from the federal government through CPB for our current fiscal year budget, so no immediate impacts on our services at all... It will be eliminated for us for our
budget year next July...That is a little more than $2 million.
WFSU: The governor vetoed state funding, which was a surprise. How does that impact WFSU?
Mullins: The governor's veto was for funding for the current state fiscal year, July 1 to June 30. So we've made some adjustments to our planned operations budget. It's really premature for me to explain anything about how that really is impacting our services. We are making great efforts on the fundraising side to raise as many dollars as we can through our local support of donors and businesses, because that's in my mind how we're going to overcome and deal with certain reductions of funding.
WFSU: A rough count has us around little over 50 employees in this building. Does that sound right?
Mullins: That's about right. Programming costs and staffing costs are the two largest expenses in our budget.
Museum & Gardens, where over 100 volunteers gathered, many with their animal partners, to celebrate their collective contributions.
Total Crime Incidents Down 35%, Commercial Burglaries Down 54%
By Steve Stewart
Seven months into 2025, crime incident data published daily by the Tallahassee Police Department shows that total crime incidents have declined by 35.4% when compared to incident data from January thru July in 2024. The drop was driven by a 54.6% decline in commercial burglaries.
However, the data shows that while assault and battery incidents are down for the year, in July the 2025 numbers reached 2024 levels with approximately 70 reported incidents. Also, in 2025, sexual battery incidents are at
2024 levels, with approximately 200 incidents reported through July 31.
The Numbers
The incident data -tabulated by TR – show that property crime incidents are down 38.4% and violent crime incidents are down 29.0% during the 7-month period.
TPD Releases Annual Report, Highlights Accomplishments
By Staff
The Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) recently released its 2024 Annual Report, highlighting the year’s accomplishments.
“In 2024 and again this year, the Tallahassee Police Department has demonstrated outstanding leadership in community engagement, crime reduction, and the quick resolution of criminal cases,” said City Manager Reese Goad. “I am proud of Chief Revell along with all the men and women of the Tallahassee Police Department who continue to exemplify a strong commitment to excellence.”
The annual report highlighted several accomplishments which include:
• Welcoming 77 new team members, including a record 39 new officers
• Crime reduction across the
board
• Innovative improvements in forensic analysis, cutting evidence processing time from 10 months to just over 24 hours
• A 100% homicide and bank robbery clearance rate, alongside the resolution of a 48-year-old cold case
• Over 100 special events staffed and 644 community outreach efforts
“It is an honor to share these remarkable accomplishments with our community,” said Chief Lawrence Revell. “Every day, the men and women of this agency, whether in uniform or serving in vital support roles, give their very best, and this annual report is proof of their dedication and the incredible results they continue to deliver.”
Property crimes encompass burglaries, thefts, and incidents of vandalism. Violent incidents include aggravated assaults, armed robberies, and physical altercations.
A look at specific crimes (see table below) reveals the decrease in prop-
Florida State University will host a Celebration of Life to pay tribute to President Emeritus John Thrasher at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. Thrasher, who passed away May 30 at the age of 81, served as the university’s 15th president from 2014 to 2021.
The celebration is open to the campus community and members of the public. Doors will open at noon.
erty crime was driven by a 54.6% decrease in commercial burglaries and a 30.9% decrease in residential burglaries. The Auto Burglary & Theft category – which accounts for approximately 55% of all property crimes –was down 38.2%.
The violent crime data shows that robbery incidents were down 26.0%, while assault & battery incidents were down 27.3%.
Fatal Shootings
During this 7-month period, there have been 13 fatal shootings in 2025, compared to 16 fatal shooting deaths in 2024.
Parking will be available in the lots adjacent to the Westcott Building,
where Ruby Diamond Concert Hall is located.
By Steve Stewart
LCS Plans for New School in Welaunee Development
On Tuesday, July 29, the Leon County School Board voted unanimously to approve the Greenpoint/ Welaunee Heel Subdivision School Concurrency Agreement between the school board and GreenPointe Developers.
Under the agreement, the school board will receive 24 acres of property in the Welaunee area, including 8 acres designated for impervious surfaces like buildings and driveways. The agreement is valued at $6 million.
The agreement will aid the school board in addressing the projected increase in students as a
result of new development in the area. The analysis indicates the development will result in approximately 385 new elementary students and approximately 160 middle school students.
According to the agreement, Green Point retains an option to purchase the property back for approximately $5.9 million if the school district does not proceed with building a school by December 31, 2029.
Green Point will be responsible for installing infrastructure such as roads, sewer, and water lines within the right-of-way, while the school district will build driveways and
connect to these utilities.
A board member raised concerns about the potential negative impact on elementary schools due to the development and questioned whether the 24 acres would be sufficient for a K-8 school (as opposed to just an elementary school, which is currently specified in the contract).
It was confirmed that 24 acres is comparable to Montford Middle School’s acreage (~25 acres), making a K-8 school possible. The developer has no objection to a K-8 school being built on the property.
Leon County School Board Adopts $645M Balanced Budget, Schedules
year, the district implemented an “immediate stop-gap measure” by transferring $7.5 million from the capital outlay budget to the general fund (including $3 million for 2024-2025 and $4.5 million for 2025-2026 for items like bus driver salaries and benefits).
This is a one-time solution, described as a “card that can only be played once,” meaning funds for projects like renovations, roof replacements, and playground equipment are being put on hold or slowed down.
Other cost-saving mea -
LCS, From Front Page CHAMBER, From Front Page
sures include suspending district-wide travel, reducing district call center operating expenses by 10%, and freezing many vacant positions.
Superintendent Hanna stated that Florida school districts are facing a crisis due to a mere 0.7% increase from the legislature, making it difficult to sustain high-quality education and programs.
Tallahassee Reports has previously reported that the school board is considering a property tax increase to address these financial challenges.
Leon County Voters Overwhelmingly Support Property Tax Increase for Schools
During the July 28th Leon County School Board (LCSB) agenda review, Steve Vancore, with Clearview Research, told officials that a poll commissioned by the Leon County Teachers Association indicated that 76% of Leon County voters would support an increase in property taxes to fund expenses such as teacher salaries and school safety.
The current LCSB millage rate is 5.366 mills. This rate results in $156.5 million in 2025-26 tax revenue. A 0.5 mill increase in the property tax would raise an additional $13 million.
The poll also showed that 76% of voters would support an extension of the 1/2 penny sales tax which funds capital projects for the
district. The 1/2 penny sales tax raises approximately $31 million. The current 1/2 penny sales tax expires in 2027.
Vancore, who has completed similar polling projects across Florida, told the Board that he has “never seen” this strong of support for tax increases.
The discussion among officials indicated that the Board is considering addressing the 1/2 penny sales tax and a millage rate increase in 2026.
The talk about tax increases comes after Superintendent Hanna discussed budget shortfalls due to the loss of federal and state funds for the 2025-26 school year.
Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Names Michael Dalby as New President & CEO
Dalby will be introduced to members at the Chamber’s Annual Conference in August and will officially begin his new role on October 1, 2025, with Sue Dick remaining with the Chamber until December 2025.
The full press release is provided below.
TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Dalby as its new President & Chief Executive Officer, following a nationwide search for a dynamic, visionary leader to guide the organization into its next era of strategic growth and community impact.
Dalby brings over twenty years of executive experience leading chambers of commerce and economic
FSU Student Suspended After Harassing Jewish Student in Viral Video
A Florida State University (FSU) student has been suspended after appearing in a now-viral video for allegedly attacking a man wearing an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shirt at the gym. The female can be seen screaming at the man, saying "F*ck Israel, Free Palestine" before appearing to shove him and trying to knock a phone out of his hand.
FSU issued a statement confirming the suspension on Friday, saying it was "actively addressing" the incident between the students. The university also said both students were interviewed by the Florida State Police Department, and that the matter was being reviewed for possible criminal charges.
“While this process is underway, the student shown prominently in the video has been prohibited from returning to campus,” FSU said in a statement. “Our commitment to swiftly and effectively responding to incidents of hate is unwavering. We appreciate the prompt report of this incident, which allowed us to address this instance of antisemitism without delay.”
development organizations nationwide. Most recently, he served as Assistant VP for Innovation, Commercialization, and Economic Development at the University of Texas at El Paso. He has also served as President/CEO of the Greater Naples and Columbus (Ohio) Chambers of Commerce. A seasoned strategist, Dalby is recognized for driving business growth, fostering strong public-private partnerships, and advocating for probusiness policies that boost regional competitiveness.
“Michael Dalby is a visionary leader with a proven track record of driving business growth and fostering strong public-private partnerships,” said Sha’Ron James, chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and head of the CEO search committee. “His
extensive Chamber experience across multiple markets, leading Chambers in communities like ours aligns perfectly with the Chamber’s goal to be a catalyst for transformational change in our community by fostering strong economic growth and community prosperity. We are excited to welcome Michael as our next leader, building upon Sue Dick’s incredible legacy and ushering in a new era of growth and impact for our region.”
Dalby’s leadership style is rooted in community collaboration and strategic foresight. He has a long track record of successfully guiding complex organizations, developing high-performing teams, and implementing bold initiatives that position regions for long-term suc -
cess. As President & CEO, he will be responsible for advancing the Chamber’s mission to create a thriving business climate, grow and support existing industries, attract new economic opportunities, and enhance the quality of life for all residents in the Tallahassee region. Dalby will be introduced to members at the Chamber’s Annual Conference in August and will officially begin his new role on October 1, 2025, with Sue Dick remaining with the Chamber until December 2025 to ensure a smooth transition.”I’m honored and excited to join the Greater Tallahassee Chamber at such a pivotal time,” said Michael Dalby. “Tallahassee has all the ingredients for transformative economic success, and I look forward to partnering
Local News Briefs
FSU's statement also noted Florida law, which "protects Jewish students and employees from discrimination motivated by antisemitism, harassment, intimidation, and violence.”
"Our commitment to swiftly and effectively responding to incidents of hate are unwavering. We appreciate the prompt report of this incident, which allowed us to address this instance of antisemitism without delay," FSU said.
Alumna Jocelyn DopsonRodriguez Appointed to FAMU Board of Trustees Florida A&M University (FAMU) welcomed alumna Jocelyn Dopson-Rodriguez to the Board of Trustees, effective July 11 and ending January 6, 2026. Selected by Governor Ron DeSantis, the appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
“It is a pleasure to welcome alumna Jocelyn Dopson-Rodriguez to the FAMU Board of Trustees,” said FAMU Interim President Timothy L. Beard, Ph.D. “Since her days as a student ambassador in the FAMU College of Law, Jocelyn has worked tirelessly to defend to protect the rights of the accused and representing public and private entities in various
state and federal civil rights cases. We look forward to having her expertise on the Board.”
Dopson-Rodriguez is an attorney with Sammis Law Firm in Tampa. She earned her Bachelor of Science in legal studies from the University of Central Florida and her Juris Doctor from the Florida A&M University College of Law in Orlando.
The press release noted that, “as a proud alumna, she is honored to give back to the institution that shaped her legal career and personal mission. She has remained closely connected to FAMU through consistent mentorship of current law students, participation in alumni panels, and service to initiatives designed to uplift and support the next generation of Rattler attorneys.”
Trustee Dopson-Rodriguez replaces Trustee Kelvin Lawson who served on the board since March 2011. During his BOT tenure, he has served as board chair, chair of the Budget, Finance and Facilities Committee and chair of the Athletics Oversight Committee.
COT Utilities Recognized for Reliability and Leadership
The City of Tallahassee Electric & Gas Utility was recently honored by the Florida Municipal Power Agency for delivering enhanced reliability to its customers. The City received two Florida Public Power Reliability Awards, including the Momentum Award, which recognizes the utility with the greatest percentage decrease in annual average outage duration. Additionally, the City was recognized for achieving a reduction of 10% or more in annual outage duration.
“As Florida’s fourth largest municipal electric utility, we are proud to be recognized for our reliability,” City Manager Reese Goad said.
City of Tallahassee Electric & Gas General Manager Tony Guillen, who oversees more than 300 employees delivering essential services, was present to accept the awards. Guillen was also elected Vice President of the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) Board of Directors. FMEA represents 33 public power communities across Florida, serving more than 4 million residential and business customers statewide.
“It is a great honor to rep-
with local stakeholders to unlock new opportunities and drive sustainable growth that benefits the entire region.”
The Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce represents more than 55,000 employees across businesses and organizations committed to strengthening the local economy through workforce development, education, entrepreneurship, and public policy initiatives. Under Sue Dick’s leadership since 2000, the Chamber has launched signature programs including World Class Schools, Access Tallahassee, the Greater Tallahassee Chamber Foundation, Inc., and the North Florida Worlds of Work initiative, serving as the region’s catalyst for economic prosperity and talent development.
resent the City of Tallahassee and serve FMEA,” said Guillen.
Joe Bullard Back on the Airwaves
Tallahassee radio legend
Joe Bullard will soon be back on the airwaves. After his long-time employer Cumulus automated his air shift in June, Bullard found a new home at another Capital City station. He’s also picked up a consulting gig with Florida A&M University.
In a conversation with WFSU a few years ago, Bullard lovingly spoke about what had brought him from his Orlando hometown to Tallahassee in the first place.
"Florida A&M University! The year 1972, graduating from Jones High School in Orlando. In my class, more than 80 students came to FAMU at the same time."
Bullard would go on to become the city's top-rated afternoon air personality on the old WANM-AM. Now Bullard will be guiding the programming at FAMU's WANM-FM campus station. At the same time, he told a gathering of supporters last Thursday evening that he'll be going back on the air soon at Tallahassee's WQTL-106.1 "The Vibe."
State News
Group Eyes Redistricting ‘Domino Effect’
By Jim Saunders
The News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE — As Gov.
Ron DeSantis raises the possibility of holding an unusual mid-decade redistricting process in Florida, the group Common Cause said Tuesday there is a risk of a “domino effect” across the country as Texas Republicans seek to redraw congressional lines.
Common Cause, which has worked on redistricting issues in various states and supports independent redistricting commissions, held a media briefing that focused on the possibility Texas will redraw congressional districts to help elect more Republicans — and that California could counter by trying to revamp districts to send more Democrats to Washington.
The proposals have come as President Donald Trump and other Republicans try to find ways to help the GOP keep its slim control of the U.S. House. DeSantis last week said his administration was looking at another possible round of redistricting in Republican-controlled Florida, and similar ideas have emerged in states such as Illinois and New York, where
MANATEE, From Front Page
Democrats could look to add seats.
Dan Vicuna, senior policy director of voting and fair representation at Common Cause, said the group would file lawsuits to challenge new redistricting plans, regardless of whether they were drawn by Republicans or Democrats.
He said politicians in the past have paid “lip service” to community involvement in redistricting but now are “saying the quiet part out loud.”
“They care only about raw political power,” Vicuna said.
Redistricting is typically done after the once-a-decade U.S. census, with Florida lawmakers drawing new maps in 2022. DeSantis discussed the possibility of another round after the Florida Supreme Court this month upheld a 2022 congressional map that gave Republicans control of a North Florida district previously held by a Democrat.
“I think if you look at that Florida Supreme Court analysis, there may be more defects that need to be remedied, apart from what we’ve already done,” DeSantis said
last week.
“So, I do think it would be appropriate to do a redistricting here in the mid-decade,” DeSantis added. “So, we’re working through what that would look like.”
Florida’s congressional delegation has 20 Republicans and eight Democrats. The Legislature, which has Republican supermajorities, would have to approve any redistricting plan.
"They care only about raw political power.”
Dan Vicuna,
Common Cause
After DeSantis’ comments last week, state House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, derided the idea as a “dangerous abuse of power and an attempt to put Donald Trump’s agenda ahead of the people of Florida.”
“Redistricting is intended to occur once every 10 years — following the census — to reflect population changes, not
to serve as a political weapon whenever those in power fear losing their grip,” Driskell said in a statement.
Florida voters in 2010 passed what are known as the “Fair Districts” constitutional amendments to set standards for congressional and legislative redistricting. In part, the amendments say no “apportionment plan or individual district shall be drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or an incumbent.”
But the Florida Supreme Court ruling this month that DeSantis cited did not focus on the partisanship issue — though the 2022 map benefited Republicans.
The ruling centered on North Florida’s Congressional District 5, which in the past stretched from Jacksonville to west of Tallahassee and elected Black Democrat Al Lawson.
During the 2022 redistricting process, DeSantis argued that keeping such a district would be an unconstitutional racial gerrymander and successfully pressured lawmakers for an overhaul that included drawing District 5 in the Jacksonville area. White Re-
State Targets Manatee Protection Case
include the state developing a conservation plan, which could provide “permanent protection and management of habitat for the species,” according to information about such permits on the federal agency’s website.
The Department of Environmental Protection appealed to the Atlanta-based appellate court and unsuccessfully sought a stay that would have at least temporarily put Mendoza’s order on hold. It followed Monday with the 56page brief.
The brief raised a series of issues, including contending that Bear Warriors United did not have legal standing to pursue the case.
“Plaintiff’s theory of causa-
tion turns on a lengthy, convoluted and speculative chain of events in which DEP (the Department of Environmental Protection) issues permits for septic tanks, the tanks are installed and used by third parties, those septic tanks release excessive pollutants into the lagoon, the pollutants combine with preexisting legacy pollutants to harm manatees’ food sources, the manatees are injured or killed from emaciation, and plaintiff’s members then see the injured manatees and face injury to their recreational or business interests,” the department’s attorneys wrote. “This chain of causation far exceeds that of other ESA (Endangered Species Act) cases in which plaintiffs were
found to have standing.”
Also, the brief contended that factors other than septictank discharges contributed to pollution in the waterway.
“According to the allegations in the complaint (the lawsuit), significant amounts of nitrogen-containing untreated sewage have also been released within the past eight years as a result of Hurricanes Ian, Irma and others and from damaged sewer lines,” the brief said. “In each case, DEP took appropriate enforcement action against the municipalities responsible for those releases.”
But in ruling this spring, Mendoza said that under the agency’s regulations, it would take at least a decade for conditions in the northern
FSU Increases Out-of-State Student Costs
By The News Service of Florida
Florida State University on Thursday joined the University of Florida in approving plans to increase costs for out-of-state students during the upcoming academic year.
The FSU Board of Trustees approved 10 percent increases in fees that are charged to out-of-state students on top of the tuition charged to all students. The University of Florida Board of Trustees approved a similar proposal Wednesday. The increases will not affect students who are Florida residents. FSU officials said such fees and tuition have not been increased in more than a decade, while the costs of operating the university have risen.
tuition, many of these people are coming to Florida State at fractions of what their own in-state tuition is.”
“The bottom line is we have to figure out how to move the university forward,” Board of Trustees Chairman Peter Collins said. “And when you don’t raise tuition for 14 years and you’re doing more, and everything costs more, you know, there’s not a lot of levers we can pull. Everybody wants in-state tuition to be as affordable as possible. But on the out-of-state
The FSU and UF decisions came after the state university system’s Board of Governors last month approved allowing universities to increase out-of-state student fees. Kyle Clark, FSU’s senior vice president for finance and administration, said Florida A&M University, Florida International University, the University of South Florida and the University of Central Florida are considering similar increases.
Indian River Lagoon to start to recover.
“This is due to the previously and currently permitted discharge of legacy pollutants via wastewater into the north IRL (Indian River Lagoon),” Mendoza wrote. “These legacy pollutants caused the death of seagrasses — the manatee’s natural forage — and the proliferation of harmful macroalgae. Legacy pollutants, as their name suggests, persist in the environment and cause harmful effects long after they have entered the system.”
Mendoza added, “What all this means is that FDEP would have to reduce nutrients entering the IRL to a low enough level and for a long enough time for nutrients to cycle out
By The News Service of Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration and state Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia have signaled they will send auditors to Jacksonville on Aug. 7 and Aug. 8 as part of their “DOGE” scrutiny of local spending. Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan on Thursday released a request from the state, which was dated Monday, and a statement in response.
“They will find that our city finances have been managed responsibly and prudently, which is how we’ve held the number of non-public safety employees flat despite having one of the fastest growing populations in the country and the lowest millage rate by far of any major Florida city,” Deegan’s statement said.
DeSantis’ administration Thursday said officials from
publicans have won all North Florida congressional seats under the new map.
Rejecting arguments of voting-rights groups, the Supreme Court ruled that using a design similar to the old Lawson district would violate the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause because it would involve racial gerrymandering,
The Supreme Court reached the same conclusion as DeSantis about the old design of District 5, saying there “is no plausible, non-racial explanation for using a nearly 200-mile-long land bridge to connect the Black populations of Jacksonville and Tallahassee.”
“My guys are going through the court’s opinion, to look at different avenues,” DeSantis said last week of the potential for mid-decade redistricting.
But while addressing the Texas and California issues Tuesday, Common Cause officials said redistricting should be about fair representation for voters and communities. Vicuna pointed to a potential “domino effect” across the country, with leaders of both parties seeking partisan advantage.
of the system to allow seagrasses to return at significant levels. Conversely, if FDEP does not reduce nutrient levels, there will continue (to) be harmful algal blooms and, in turn, no seagrass recovery and more manatee takings.”
After the 1,100 manatee deaths in 2021, the state had 800 manatee deaths in 2022, before the number dropped to 555 in 2023 and 565 in 2024, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission data. As of July 18, 477 deaths had been reported this year, with the largest number, 95, in Brevard County. Manatees are classified by the federal government as a threatened species.
the Florida Department of Government Efficiency had arrived in Broward County and Gainesville as part of the effort. The administration said letters also have been sent to Hillsborough, Pinellas and Orange counties and Jacksonville to prepare for on-site visits. Broward and Orange counties and Gainesville are Democraticleaning areas, while Deegan is a Democrat. “We welcome any financial evaluation not driven by partisanship or political gamesmanship,” she said in the statement Thursday.
President/Publisher: Kathy Stewart
Editor: Steve Stewart
Contributing Writers: Steve Stewart, Maddox Goodman, Samuel Schaefer, Kate Stewart
FBI, From Front Page
that will be revised next year which is a totally normal part of the process.
Violent Crime
Overall violent crime (murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) fell 4.4 percent in 2024 with the nation’s violent crime rate reaching 359.1 per 100,000. That’s the lowest national violent crime rate recorded since 1969.
Of note, while murder, rape, and robbery have declined well below preCOVID levels, aggravated assault — which accounts for over 70 percent of UCR Part I violent crimes — fell only 3 percent in 2024 and remains stubbornly higher than it was pre-COVID. On the plus side, the Real-Time Crime Index shows a substantial drop in aggravated assault is in progress in 2025.
Murder
The nation’s murder rate in 2024 of 5 per 100,000 is the lowest recorded since 2015. Murder declined across every population group as reported by the FBI with a 19 percent drop in cities of 1 million or more and a 19 percent drop in cities under 10,000.
The 2024 data add con -
National & Analysis
FBI Releases 2024 Crime Numbers
fidence that 2025 will feature the lowest murder rate ever recorded. A decline of around 10 percent in 2025 would place this year even with 2014 as the lowest murder rate ever recorded. Any larger decline in 2025 would give this year the “record”.
Property Crime
Overall property crime (burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft) fell 8.1 percent in 2024 with the nation’s property crime rate reaching 1,760 per 100,000. That’s the lowest property crime rate recorded in the US since 1961. The 8.1 percent drop is the largest one-year decline ever recorded eclipsing the 7.4 percent decline recorded in 2020 (though the difference is minimal considering how these numbers can get revised).
A 19 percent drop in motor vehicle theft powered a fair amount of the decline in property crimes though these crimes remain more plentiful than they were in 2019. Still, the drop in motor vehicle thefts was the largest oneyear decline ever recorded, beating a 16.9 percent drop in 2009. Auto theft has been plunging since peaking at the end of 2023 with an even
larger drop apparently in store for 2025, so 2024’s record may be short-lived.
Tallahassee Comparison
Comparing 2024 incident reports, as tracked by Tallahassee Reports, to the national crime trends, reveals that Tallahassee’s 15-20% drop in violent crime incidents was far greater than the 4.4% drop reported nationally. This downward trend continues in Tallahassee in 2025.
As to property crime, the 8.8% drop reported nationally is greater than the 3,5% drop reported in Tallahassee in 2024. However, seven months into 2025, property crime incidents are down 38% in Tallahassee.
Comparing shooting fatalities with national murder trends reveals that Tallahassee numbers are above national numbers. The FBI reported a 15% drop in murders in 2024 with 5 murders per 100,000 people. Looking at the Tallahassee/Leon County shooting fatalities shows an increase from 23 fatalities in 2023 to 26 in 2024. This translates to approximately 8.6 shooting fatalities per 100,000 Leon county residents, well above the national murder rate.
Officers Killed
The FBI report shows that in 2024, 64 officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty. A total of 61 offenders were reported in connection with these felonious killings. Firearms were involved in 46 of the 64 felonious deaths. There 61 officers killed in 2023.
During the same year, 43 officers were accidentally killed while on duty, most of whom died due to motor vehicle-related injuries. Reported data from 2005 through 2024 shows more officers were feloniously killed in 2021 (73 officers) than in
any other year. More officers were feloniously killed in the 4-year period from 2021 to 2024 (258 officers) than any other 4-year period in the past 20 years. The number of officers feloniously killed from 2022 through 2024 have remained more consistent than any other 3-year period (61, 60, and 64, respectively). The only years with more officer felonious killings per year than in 2024 were in 2021 (73), 2011 (72), and 2016 (66)
In 2024, reported officer assaults, which include aggravated and simple assault offenses, reached a 10-year high with 85,730 officers assaulted in the line of duty.
Leon County School Board Meeting Briefs: July 29, 2025
Provided below are the news briefs from the July 29, 2025, Leon County School Board meeting. All votes on the items were unanimous.
Items Considered by the Board
Item 19.01: The Board voted to approve a Tentative Budget Hearing for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2026, to adopt the final millage rates and adopt the final budget. The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Aquilina C. Howell Center, 3955 West Pensacola Street, Tallahassee, Florida.
Item 19.02 Following a public hearing, the Board voted to amend Policy 1600, Classification Specifications effective July 30, 2025. The amendment created a new position and job description for Project man-
Autopilot Crash Award
Electric vehicle maker Tesla is liable for $243M in damages after a jury found Friday that the company's driver assistance technology was partly responsible for a fatal 2019 crash. Legal experts say the judgment, likely to be appealed, may set a significant precedent in cases involving self-driving technology.
In the accident in question, a Tesla Model S struck and killed 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and injured her boyfriend after running through a stop sign in Key Largo, Florida, at night. The driver said he had Tesla's Autopilot—a slimmed-down version of its full self-driving software, typically used on highways—engaged when he dropped his cellphone. The plaintiffs argued Tesla's claims about the feature's capabilities encouraged inattentive driving and that the company allows it to be used in areas the system is not designed for, such as rural roads.
Summer Jobs Slowdown
US employers added fewerthan-expected nonfarm jobs in July at 73,000, while the country's unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2% from 4.1% as expected, per government data released yesterday. Meanwhile, the number of jobs added in May and June was downgraded from over 140,000 jobs per month to fewer than 20,000 per month, indicating the labor market
ager, Roofing in Maintenance.
Items 19.03, 19.04 & 19.05:
Following a public hearing, the Board voted to amend polices 1419, 3419, & 4419 - Group Health Plans, effective July 30, 2025. The revisions to these policies include additional language regarding insurance eligibility, and Family and Medical Leave Act premiums.
Item 19.06: The Board voted to advertise amendments to Policy 5500.01 - Student Discipline Matrix, for a public hearing and adoption on September 9, 2025. The updates were recommended by the Discipline Matrix Review Committee that met throughout the school year.
Item 19.07: The Board approved revisions to the Leon County Schools (LCS) Elementary and Secondary Code of Conduct for LCS students.
Item 19.08: The Board approved Policy 7540.03 - Student Internet Safety and Acceptable Use and Policy 7540.04 - Staff Technology Acceptable Use and Safety, effective July 30, 2025.
Item 19.09: The Board approved the Lively Pre-K Program Relocation 5-Year Educational Plant Supplemental Survey for Leon County Schools Version 6.4
Item 19.10: The Board approved the Greenpoint/ Welaunee Heel Subdivision School Concurrency Agreement.
Item 19.11: The Board approved the Childers Construction Co. Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) Contract ($14,131,975) for Phase II New Gymnasium and Demolition of Buildings 9 and 10 Project Contract for RFQ 248-2024
Construction Manager Services for Griffin Middle School.
Item 19.12: The Board approved the 2025-2026 Parent Square Leon, FL – Remind to Parent Square Transition; Engage and Smart Sites and the Leon County School District Contract. The cost of the annual contract will not exceed $189,750.00.
Item 19.13: The Board approved the 2025-2026 Leon County Schools Mental Health Assistance Allocation Plan.
Item 19.14: The Board voted to nominate School Board Member Darryl Jones as the representative to the Children’s Service Council (CSC) of Leon County for a term of one year beginning with the first meeting of the CSC in August, 2025.
Item 19.15: The Board voted
National News Briefs
sales under contract.
is weaker than previously thought.
The jobs added in July is lower than economists' estimates of a gain of 100,000 but higher than the 19,000 and 14,000 downwardly revised jobs in May and June, respectively. Analysts say several headwinds, including President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on dozens of trading partners and stricter immigration policies, have increased business uncertainty, leading to cautious hiring amid federal workforce reductions. Trump yesterday also ordered the firing of the Senate-confirmed Department of Labor official who oversees the monthly jobs report, alleging the figures were manipulated (though there is no evidence supporting the claim).
Most of the jobs in July were added in healthcare (55,000), ambulatory healthcare services (34,000), and hospitals (16,000). Average hourly earnings rose 0.3% month over month, as expected, and 3.9% year over year, slightly higher than expected.
NAR: Pending Home Sales Down in June
Pending home sales decreased by 0.8% in June from the prior month and 2.8% year-over-year, according to the National Association of REALTORS® Pending Home Sales report. The Report provides the real estate ecosystem, including agents and homebuyers and sellers, with data on the level of home
Month-over-month and year-over-year pending sales declined in the Midwest, South, and West. In the Northeast, pending sales rose month-over-month but remained flat year-over-year.
The REALTORS® Confidence Index shows a 4% and 6% year-over-year increase in homebuyer and seller traffic, respectively.
"The data shows a continuation of small declines in contract signings despite inventory in the market increasing.
Pending sales in the Northeast increased incrementally even though home price growth in the region has been the strongest in the country," said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun.
Major Railway Merger
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern recently announced an $85B merger, creating the first coast-to-coast rail opera
tor in the US. The combined company, which will retain the Union Pacific name and have a projected value of $250B, will unite 52,000 miles of track across 43 states, linking Union Pacific’s western network to Norfolk Southern’s eastern system.
Company leaders said the merger will transform shipping and boost domestic manufacturing by streamlining logistics for goods ranging from grains to automobiles. They forecast $2.75B in annualized synergies through enhanced routes and increased intermodal ser-
vices—moving goods in one container using two or more transport types. The new company will be headquartered in Omaha, while Atlanta remains a key hub for technology and operations.
The railroads plan to file for regulatory approval within six months, with plans to close in early 2027, pending a decision from the Surface Transportation Board. Labor unions expressed concern about service disruption, higher rates, and potential job losses, though the companies said all union jobs will be preserved.
Emissions Rule Rollback?
The Environmental Protection Agency yesterday proposed repealing a 2009 "endangerment finding" that declared six key greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, to be a threat to public health and welfare. The regulation underpins a range of emissions standards affecting motor vehicles, power plants, and oil and gas operations.
The "endangerment finding" was established following a Supreme Court decision recognizing greenhouse gases as air pollutants under the Clean Air Act. The legal foundation enabled the EPA to set emissions restrictions, including a rule finalized last year that limits tailpipe emissions from passenger cars and light trucks. The transportation sector is the largest source of US greenhouse gases.
The proposal kicks off a 90day public comment period.
to approve out of county travel for School Board Member Alva Smith to attend the Annual Chamber Community Conference to be held in Amelia Island, Florida on August 14 – 17, 2025. Smith is NOT seeking reimbursement from School Board funds of any expenses incurred during travel. Board policy requires that all out of county travel be approved in advance by the School Board.
Item 19.16: PULLED
Item 19.17: The Board voted to reject-All RFP 103-2026 School Bus Infraction Detection System.
Item 19.18: The Board approved the 2025-2026 FINALSITE and the Leon County School District Contract. The cost of the six-month contract will not exceed $36,740.
Environmental advocates warn repealing the finding would undermine efforts to address climate change and increase risks to the environment by allowing higher pollution levels. Industry groups welcomed the proposed rollback, claiming annual consumer savings of up to $54B.
Return of the Mile Run
The Presidential Fitness Test is returning to schools after a 12-year hiatus, with President Donald Trump signing an executive order to restore and revamp the program late last week.
The test has its roots in the 1950s, when the so-called "father of sports medicine," Dr. Hans Kraus, coauthored a study finding American kids were 49.2% weaker than European counterparts on a series of physical fitness tests. For decades, public school students were regularly tested on drills like a timed mile run, pushups, pullups, and situps. Top scorers received the Presidential Physical Fitness Award.
Then-President Barack Obama phased out the system in the 2012-13 academic year, replacing it with a less competitive, opt-in system testing a student’s fitness over time. Trump says he will reinstate the standardized approach following a May report highlighting concerns about children’s physical inactivity.
© Scavenger hunts
NEWS & EVENTS
Ride Right, Stay Safe
ATVs belong on the trail, not in culverts or on county roads. ATVs are allowed only on marked off-road trails — it is illegal to ride on any Leon County public road, paved or unpaved, in the unincorporated area. Driving through culverts and drainage ditches not only damages the banks and can cause flooding, but it can also cause accidents resulting in serious injuries and fatalities, so keep out. Shoulders, sidewalks, and utility areas are meant for people and utilities, not off-road vehicles — load and unload only in spots marked for ATVs.
If you see an ATV where it shouldn’t be, note the location and call the Leon County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at (850) 606-5800.
Explore Leon County This Summer and Win Great Prizes
Become a tourism ambassador this summer and explore Beyond Your Block to support local businesses and attractions in different parts of our community. Now through August 24, you can use the County’s Visit Tallahassee mobile app to check in at participating locations in different parts of town for a chance to win prizes and be entered to win a Tallahassee-Leon County Staycation grand prize. Tune in to County Tourism’s social media pages as they showcase different “Blocks” and the shops, restaurants, trails, and attractions you can explore! On-site “Block Parties” with prizes, swag, and visitor information will occur throughout the program. Explore new parts of Leon County and “Think Outside the Block!”
For details, visit VisitTallahassee.com/Beyond-Your-Block.
What’s New in the 2025 TRIM Notice?
The Leon County Property Appraiser’s Office has redesigned the 2025 Notice of Proposed Property Taxes — commonly known as a TRIM notice, short for “Truth in Millage” — to make it easier for homeowners to understand their property value, tax estimates, and available exemptions. TRIM notices will be mailed to all Leon County property owners on August 18, 2025. Visit LeonPA.gov/TRIM-Information to learn more.
For Leon County news and information, please visit: LeonCountyFL.gov/News People Focused. Performance Driven.
Tallahassee Airport Traffic Falls 8.5% in June
The latest information from the Tallahassee International Airport shows the June 2025 passenger traffic decreased 8.5% when compared to traffic one year ago. The number of passengers was down 6,872 from the 81,323 reported during June 2024 to 74,451 in June 2025.
The calendar year-to-date comparison, January through June, shows passenger traffic is down 3.95% in 2025 when compared to 2024.
Relative to 2024, the Passenger Traffic Report shows year-over-year passenger counts in May were down 6.0% for American Airlines, up 7.6% for the Delta Group and down 48.2% for Silver Airways.
Jet Blue ended service in November 2024 and Silver Airways ended service in June 2025.
The graph to the right shows the annualized number of passengers for the last 37-months. The highlighted numbers on the graph indicate the annual traffic during the month of May over the last four years.
The annual rate of passengers at TIA in June 2025 – 948,372 – is up 3.10% when compared to one year ago (919,834). The annualized number of passengers is calculated by summing the previous 12 months of traffic.
Taxable Sales Down in May
The most recent sales tax data shows that consumer spending in the Tallahassee MSA-as measured by taxable sales- was down in May by $2.7 million when compared to spending one year ago. Taxable sales in May 2025 came in at $553.9 million, down from the $556.6 million reported one year ago. The annual rate of taxable sales in May 2025 was $6.655 billion, up 1.6% from one year ago and down 0.5% from April 2025.
Tallahassee Gas Prices Remain Below National, Florida Averages
The latest gas price information provided by gasbuddy.com indicates that Tallahassee gas prices remain below the national and Florida averages.
The information shows the national average cost of regular gas is approximately $3.12 per gallon compared to $2.94 in Tallahassee.
The Florida average cost per gallon is approximately $3.05
The 2025 Independence Day gas price forecast, provided by Gasbuddy. com, “projected the national average price of gas will fall to $3.15 per gallon on July 4, down nearly 35 cents from last year’s July 4 average to the lowest Independence Day price since 2021. ….As long as tensions don’t
escalate again in the Middle East and the U.S. isn’t threatened by a major hurricane, we could see the national average fall below $3 per gallon later this summer.”
Stay informed on LOCAL NEWS
On Monday, the local owners of the HTeaO franchise notified the Tallahassee community – via the Tallahassee Foodies Facebook group – that the business was closing effectively immediately.
The message stated:
To Our Beloved Tallahassee Community,
With heavy hearts, we are writing to share the news that we have closed the doors to our business. This is not a message we ever hoped to write. This business has been more than just a place of work for us—it has been a labor of love, a dream built with care, and a home to so many meaningful memories. We’ve poured everything into it, and to see it come to an end is heartbreaking. Unfortunately, this past year has brought a series of challenges that we simply could not overcome. Sales during the summer were lower than we’d hoped, the rising cost of prices for
our costs to purchase our products continued to put pressure on our business, and ongoing construction in the area made it harder for customers to reach us. After doing everything in our power to push forward, we have made the incredibly difficult decision to close.
To our employees— thank you. Your dedication, hard work, and heart never went unnoticed. You showed up every day with determination, and this business could not have run without you.
The franchise, which began in Amarillo, Texas, as a small family business, offers a “unique spin on Southern-style iced tea.” HTeaO was officially started in 2018 and operates in 14 states. The Tallahassee announcement comes only days after a location in Leesburg, Florida announced a similar fate.
Both stores had been open for about a year.
The table above lists the most recent single family home sales in the Bull Run neighborhood. The sales information is from the Leon County Property Appraiser.
Located at the intersection of Thomasville Road and Kerry Forest Parkway, just 7 miles north of downtown Tallahassee, Bull Run is a thoughtfully planned neighborhood on 428 acres of gentle rolling hills in northern Leon County.
The table above lists 15 recent transactions with sale prices ranging from a low of $435,000 to a high of $709,900. The average sales price for these transactions was calculated to be $524,360.
Reviewing another popular measure of home value, the dollar per square foot ($/SqFt) shows a range starting with a low of 202.6 $/SqFt to a high of 269.2 $/SqFt. The average $Sq/Ft was calculated to be 232.9$/SqFt.
Current homes listed for sale in Bull Run range from $450,000 to $875,000. For more information on real estate sales in Leon county and overall economic conditions, visit TallahasseeReports.com.
High School Fall Sports Preview: Golf
By Robert Stewart
Last year there were 6 golfers from Leon County schools that competed in the boys state tournament and four of them will be returning to their respective school to compete during the 2025-2026 season. Lincoln qualified for the state tournament as a team of five golfers and out of the five, Bryce Matthews, Chase Fleischer and William Young will return to play for the Trojans. Chiles had one golfer qualify for the state tournament as an individual in Alex Parker who will also be returning to play for the Timberwolves.
During the City Championship last year, Chiles edged out the Trojans in a very tight match claiming first place by only 2 strokes. Maclay and Florida High followed the Marauders placing third and fourth respectively. Chiles’ Alex Parker had the lowest round of the tournament recording a 68, followed by Lincoln’s Chase Fleischer who shot a 73.
Based on the rankings from the website iWannamaker, Chiles’ Alex Parker ranked first in Leon County with a 9-hole iWannamaker rating (IWR) of -2.567, which placed him 35th in the state of Florida for the 2024-2025 season. Following Parker were Lincoln golfers Calvin Edwards and Bryce Mathews. Edwards had a 9-hole IWR of -1.567 which placed him 83rd in the state and Mathews
had a 9-hole IWR of -1.333 which placed him 98th in the state. Although Edwards graduated, both Parker and Mathews will return to play for the Timberwolves and Trojans respectively for the upcoming 2025-2026 season.
Girls Golf
Last year, Leon County had one golfer compete in the Girls 1A FHSAA state tournament in Florida High rising Junior Peyton Johnson. Johnson will be a key element this upcoming season in the success of the Florida High girls golf team as they compete for the top spot in Leon County. Last season at the City Championship the Maclay girls golf team took first place beating the Timberwolves by 18 strokes. The Seminoles and Marauders were the only two schools to enter a full team of 5 players. Florida High golfer Peyton Johnson led the field with a round of 82 followed by Maclay golfer Reece Erwin who shot a 91.
Based on the rankings from the iwannamaker website for the 20242025 season, Florida High’s Peyton Johnson had the best rating in Leon County with a 9-hole IWR of 1.687. This rating ranked Johnson 83rd in the state. Following Johnson, Maclay’s Lily Smith had a 9-hole IWR of 9.952 which placed her 499th in the state and Chiles’ Beezy Wright had a 9-hole IWR of 10.241 which placed her 517th in the state.
By Robert Stewart
Last year five Leon County football teams played in the state tournament in their respective classes including Lincoln, Florida High, Godby, Maclay and St. JPII. The Trojans made the deepest run out of the Leon County teams making it to the regional finals in the 5A FHSAA football state championship, where they lost to Niceville 31-10.
Based on Maxpreps’ rankings, Lincoln finished at the top spot of the Leon County rankings for the 20242025 season with a record of 10-3.
Following the Trojans were the Florida High Seminoles at second with a record of 8-4 and the Godby Cougars in third with a record of 7-4.
With the new football season around the corner, it’s difficult to predict which team will claim the top spot in Leon County, especially with several players transferring schools and joining new rosters.
After the 2024-2025 season multiple players in Leon County at the quarterback position switched schools after having successful seasons..
JPII quarterback Gavin Ford joined the Chiles Timberwolves for the 20252026 season after their quarterback, Taylor Jacobs, joined the Lincoln football team for the upcoming season. Ford threw for 2,270 yards and 23 touchdowns last year with the
Panthers and plans to improve on these numbers in his senior year with the Timberwolves.
Lazarus Chambers was one of the best performing quarterbacks last year in Leon County with 2,633 passing yards and 32 total touchdowns. Although Chambers is coming off of a great 2024-2025 season with the Godby Cougars, he has decided to finish his high school career at Gadsden County. The Gadsden County quarterback for this past season, Landon Daugherty, has decided to trade spots with Chambers and play his junior year with Godby. Last year as the Gadsden County quarterback, Landon Daugherty threw for 2,151 yards and 27 touchdowns while leading his team to a State final appearance.
After playing is junior year with Chiles, Taylor Jacobs plans to play his senior year as the starting quarterback for the Lincoln Trojans. Last year, Jacobs threw for 1,320 passing yards and 15 touchdowns with the Timberwolves. After finishing 3-7 with the Timberwolves last year, Jacobs hopes to have more success while wearing green and gold.
The 2025–2026 football season kicks off with two highly anticipated matchups, including a rematch of last year’s 5A regional final as Lincoln hosts Niceville on Aug. 22, and Florida High opens at home against Godby on Aug. 14.
Alex Parker (Chiles), Bryce Mathews (Lincoln), & Peyton Johnson (Florida High) will hit the links this fall.