Tallahassee
Dailey Delivers Details
Mayor Highlights Tallahassee's Successes, Challenges at NEBA
Campaign documents indicate that a member of the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital Board of Directors made significant donations to City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow’s mayoral campaign. P1
Leon County Commission vote 5-2 to lobby for "common sense" gun control policies. P4
All three members of the Florida Cabinet are questioning the legality of the state voucher system that has steered taxpayerfunded scholarships to private Islamic schools.P7
Despite the year-todate declines, over the last three months violent crime incidents related to assaults are up 29% when compared to the same three-month period in 2024. P4
The median sales price of existing homes in the Tallahassee MSA creeped up 1.6% in September 2025. P9
Blueprint staff concludes funding fire station construction would require a substantial amendment to current project list. P4
Tallahassee is one step closer to turning Lewis Park into a downtown cultural destination after being named a national Levitt Foundation grant finalist. P3
LCS Renews Contract with Gun AI Detection Company
By Tristan Wood, FSU
Leon County Public Schools recently renewed its contract to use AI gun detection software on its cameras.
Sam Alaimo of ZeroEyes, the company contracted with the school system, told WFSU the technology helps look for signs of a firearm, then it alerts the company’s employees who verify it.
“The algorithm says, I think it's a gun. The human manually dispatches it. You get it. So in the real world, we do. This in about three to five seconds,” he said.
The employees, who are
By Steve Stewart
Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey addressed a number of issues during the Network of Entrepreneurs and Business Advocates’ monthly luncheon on October 28.
Dailey informed the crowd that Tallahassee is doing well and also addressed some challenges.
He cited the city’s tax rate, 4.4072 mills, as one of the lowest millage rates among 20 comparable cities in Florida. He also highlighted Tallahassee’s national recognition, noting that Money Incorporated magazine ranked Tallahassee as one of the top 50 most affordable places to live, work, and play in the U.S. and in June of the previous year, Tallahas-
see was named one of the top 20 best-run cities out of 17,500 in the U.S.
He reminded the crowd that Tallahassee was named an AllAmerican city last July and that the Tallahassee MSA was recognized by Area Development Magazine as one of the
Court Refuses to Block Chinese Property Law
By Jim Saunders The News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE — A divided federal appeals court Tuesday (Nov. 4) rejected a request to block key parts of a 2023 Florida law that restricts people from China from purchasing property in the state.
A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, said plaintiffs did not have legal standing to challenge one major issue in the law and ruled against the plaintiffs on two other issues. The overall effect was to reject the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction.
The case has focused heavily on part of the law that prevents people “domiciled” in China from purchasing property in Florida, with some exceptions. Under the law, such people are each allowed to purchase one residential property up to two acres if the property is not within five miles of a military base and they have non-tourist visas. Three of the plaintiffs are in the United States on visas, while one is seeking asylum.
But in Tuesday’s 63-page majority opinion, Judge Robert Luck said the plaintiffs did not have standing to challenge that part of the law because of reasons such as not being domiciled in China.
Luck, who was joined in the opinion by Judge Barbara Lagoa, detailed the circumstances of each of four individual plaintiffs. For example, he wrote that plaintiff Yifan Shen, who
has a work visa, has lived in Florida since 2019 and signed a contract in April 2023 to purchase a home in Orlando. The law applies to people who did not own “any interest” in property before July 1, 2023, the opinion said.
The opinion said “Shen is not domiciled in China” and is domiciled in Florida, which means the law doesn’t apply to her.
“According to Shen, she has lived in the United States since 2016 and in Florida since 2019, her employer is trying to obtain a permanent labor certification for her, she ‘plan(s) to apply for permanent residency in the United States,’ and she intends for the Orlando home to be her primary residence,” the opinion said. “Shen, therefore, is present in Florida and intends to remain indefinitely. The fact that Shen hasn’t obtained permanent immigration status doesn’t change the domicile analysis, because Florida law allows noncitizens subject to removal to establish Florida as their domicile.”
The lawsuit, filed in 2023 in federal
By Steve Stewart
Campaign documents indicate that an influential member of the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, Sally Bradshaw, made significant donations to City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow’s mayoral campaign during a time when TMH and Florida State University were negotiating a deal to create an academic medical center in the Tallahassee.
Matlow has been a vocal critic of the proposed deal from the beginning despite polling that indicates broad support for a change to the local healthcare delivery system. A Sachs Media poll found nearly 60% of Leon County residents believe the quality of care at TMH would improve under FSU Health leadership.
Campaign Donations
Campaign records show Bradshaw, a Florida company controlled by Bradshaw, and her husband donated a total of $3,000 to Matlow’s mayoral campaign on August 14, 2025.
Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey was the guest speaker at the October 28th NEBA luncheon.
HCA Florida Capital Hospital Names Dr. Jack Atwater to Chief Medical Officer Position
By Staff
HCA Florida Capital Hospital recently announced the appointment of Jack Atwater, MD, board-certified anesthesiologist/intensivist, to the position of chief medical officer.
“Dr. Atwater’s devotion to exceptional patient care, combined with his extensive clinical experience and operational expertise, are crucial to HCA Florida Capital Hospital as we continue to meet the community’s healthcare needs,” says Dale Neely, chief executive officer. “Working collaboratively with our esteemed medical staff and clinical teams, Dr. Atwater will continue to elevate the patient care experience while delivering the high-quality, compassionate healthcare that has become a staple of our hospital.”
Dr. Atwater joins HCA Florida Capital Hospital with more than 30
years of clinical experience. Since 2001, he has been a general anesthesiologist with Envision Healthcare, collaborating with nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologist assistants to provide anesthetic team care at two hospitals and three ambulatory surgical centers in Tallahassee. Dr. Atwater regularly provided anesthetic care for trauma, cardiac, neurosurgical, vascular, orthopedic, pediatric, obstetric, gynecologic, and general surgery cases.
In addition to his physician duties, Dr. Atwater has actively participated in medical staff leadership and governance as a member of the medical executive committee and as the physician advisor at HCA Florida Capital Hospital. Dr. Atwater was a member of the HCA Florida Capital Hospital board of trustees from 2012 to 2024 and served as the board chairman from 2020-2023 during the COVID crisis. He has also been chairman of
Tallahassee State College Named One of the Top 200 Community Colleges in the Nation
Tallahassee State College (TSC) has been named among the top 200 community colleges in the United States by the Aspen Institute and is now eligible to compete for the prestigious $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. This national distinction recognizes institutions with outstanding student outcomes in retention, completion, transfer, and attainment of bachelor’s degrees.
The Aspen Prize is regarded as the premier recognition of excellence in the nation’s community college sector. Nearly 1,000 public colleges across the U.S. are evaluated, and this ninth cycle marks the first time 200 colleges have been named eligible, reflecting a competitive and rigorous selection process.
“We are incredibly proud to be named among the top 200 community colleges in the nation,” said Dr. Jim Murdaugh, president of TSC. “It affirms the work hap
TSC continues to advance innovative workforce programs, high-demand bachelor’s pathways, and strong university transfer pipelines, including its Aspire and Ignite programs with Florida State University and Florida A&M University. According to the Aspen Institute, eligible colleges represent the breadth and diversity of the nation’s community colleges, serving students in urban, suburban, and rural communities. Those invited to apply undergo a rigorous review process over the next 20 months, which includes an examination of student outcomes, institutional practices, employment and earnings outcomes, and multi-day site visits for finalists.
The winner of the Aspen Prize will be announced in Spring 2027 in Washington, D.C.
both the utilization review and credentials committees.
Dr. Atwater has long had a keen interest in medical education in the Tallahassee community and has held an appointment as a clinical assistant professor at the Florida State University College of Medicine continuously since 2004.Dr. Atwater obtained his B.S. and M.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Florida. He subsequently earned his M.D. and completed his residency in anesthesiology at the University of Florida College of Medicine.
Dr. Atwater completed his fellowship in anesthesiology critical care at Wilford Hall United States Air Force (USAF) Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, and earned his USAF flight surgeon wings as a distinguished graduate of the aerospace medicine primary course at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas. He was qualified as a
flight surgeon aircrew member in C-130, C-21, and F-16 aircraft.
During his USAF service, Dr. Atwater gained extensive experience in operational medicine while working as a critical care aeromedical transport team leader performing multiple long-range air transfers of unstable and critically ill patients. He was also a member of the USAF mobile ophthalmologic surgical team providing anesthetic care during humanitarian cataract and eye misalignment surgeries performed in medically underserved areas located outside of the United States.
Capital City Bank Appoints Alicia Williams-Ronan Chief Retail Officer
Capital City Bank announced on November 4th that Alicia Williams-Ronan has assumed the role of chief retail officer. She succeeds Randy Lashua, who will retire on December 31 after 20 years of service. In this role, Williams-Ronan will oversee strategy and direct management for all retail sales, service and operations, leading 350 associates at 63 banking offices in Florida, Georgia and Alabama.
Williams-Ronan joined Capital City Bank in 2005 and has advanced through roles in client service, technology and senior operations leadership, gaining broad expertise in both bank operations and retail banking. In April, she was identified as Lashua’s successor and named senior vice president of the Retail Banking Division. Since then, she has worked closely with him to ensure a smooth transition of leadership.
“With her strong track record and deep industry knowledge, Alicia is the ideal choice to guide our Retail Banking Division into the future,” said Bill Smith,
Previously, WilliamsRonan served more than five years as Bank Operations Group manager, overseeing core departments including Deposit Services, Loan Servicing and Transactional Risk & Fraud Prevention. Her leadership in this role was instrumental in optimizing workflows, enhancing client satisfaction and mitigating risk to ensure the Bank remained resilient in a dynamic environment. Before joining the Capital City Bank team, Williams-Ronan spent more than 12 years at Publix Super Markets, where she gained extensive experience in various client service roles. She is a graduate of Flagler College, where she earned her
Tallahassee Named Finalist for National Arts and Music Grant
By Jada Stephens, The FAMUAN
Tallahassee is one step closer to turning Lewis Park into a downtown cultural destination after being named a national Levitt Foundation grant finalist.
If selected, the $90,000 to $120,000 award would support a free concert series over the next three years. The events would take place in Lewis Park, across from the Leon County Courthouse, and aim to create a vibrant space for community gathering and cultural expression.
Florida’s arts funding has taken big hits in recent years. The Council on Culture and Arts hopes the grant can help bring new energy to public arts programming in the city.
“This would be a big deal with a capital B.I.G.,” COCA Executive Director Kathleen Spehar said. “Arts
funding at the state level has been in a bit of a valley. This would help infuse more arts and cultural activity into downtown, especially Lewis Park.”
COCA previously partnered with the Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority to host a smaller music series called “Music Under the Oaks”. That program ended when funding ran out. The Levitt grant would allow them to expand the idea into a full concert series with up to seven shows each year between April and October, beginning in 2026.
The concert series would offer more than just live music. Themed nights could include jazz, funk, family-friendly performances and cultural showcases. The grant would cover artist fees, production costs and equipment, helping bring in local and national performers.
Spehar said the series could also
Tallahassee Veterans Take to the Skies as Dream Flights Honorees
By Tom Flanigan WFSU News
Some Tallahassee veterans were taking to the skies over their hometown on Friday, Oct. 31. They were part of the annual Dream Flights program. Dream Flights is dedicated to honoring military veterans and seniors with the adventure of a lifetime: a flight in a Boeing Stearman biplane.
The Blue Stearman plane was manufactured by Boeing in 1940. The plane was used by the Army and stationed in Sikeston, Missouri, Hemet, California, Oxnard, Califorrnia, Glendale, Arizona and Ontario, California. The original cost of the airplane was approximately $11,000 in 1940. The plane gave Dream Flights 1,000th Dream Flight in 2015 and the Foundation’s 2,000th Dream Flight in 2016.
Florida Healthcare Association
CEO Emmett Reed welcomed the veterans to Friday's Dream Flights happening.
"You ready to jump out of a plane today?" he quipped as the vets and family members laughed "Oh, we're not parachuting today! Except for this gentleman; how many jumps do you have under your belt?"
To which former Navy pilot Robin Hastings replied, "One-hundredthirty-seven."
"Well, how about that?" exclaimed Reed. "When I made that joke, he put me in my place real quick!"
Although, before he was wheeled out to the tarmac and the waiting aircraft, Hastings promised to stay safely strapped in the passenger seat.
"Why jump out of a perfectly good airplane that's going to land anyway?" he said with a twinkle in his eye.
He was one of the dozen or so veterans who got to ride in the World War II vintage biplane for a 15-minute flight over Tallahassee. Dream flight partners are the Florida Healthcare Association, Florida Department of Veterans Affairs and Florida Veterans Foundation.
bring in community partners.
“We’d love to work with other organizations like the Children’s Services Council for a family concert,” she said. “There’s so much potential to involve the broader community.”
Local musicians say the project could help fill a gap in performance opportunities. Tallahassee artist and music educator Mickey Abraham noted that venues for local performers are limited, and outdoor shows give people a chance to connect in person.
“When you’re actually in real life, like Lewis Park, people could have very different views on life, but they’re all laughing and dancing,” Abraham said. “People are a lot nicer in person.”
Free concerts would also mean a lot to neighborhood residents.
“I feel like that would bring a lot of people out here,” said Elijah Harris, a regular at Lewis Park. “The commu-
Robert W. Boyd died peacefully at his home on October 29, 2025. He was born November 27, 1933, in Dongola, Illinois to Wayne and Pauline (Ebbert) Boyd. He is survived by his wife Linda (Peterson) Boyd, his children Rebecca Boyd-Obarski, John (Jamie) Boyd, and Warner Boyd, his stepchildren Carey Mueller, Gina Menard, and Amy Mullins, and several grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents Wayne and Pauline, his son Robert (Bobby)W. Boyd, Jr., and his sister Anna Lee Smith.
Bob was raised in the small town of Manteno, Illinois, attended Murray State University on a basketball scholarship and served in the U.S. Army before graduating with a teaching degree. He began his career path as a science teacher and basketball coach in Bonfield, Illinois. He left teaching after a few years for a new career at Continental Bank in Chicago. While working at Continental he attended The John Marshall Law School. He began his law practice in Manteno and soon after accepted appointment as a circuit magistrate judge in Iroquois County. He later returned to private practice in Kankakee with Ackman, Marek & Boyd, Ltd. where he spent the rest of his career as an accomplished and well-respected litigator and appellate attorney.
Bob was active in the Kankakee Bar Association, the Kankakee Country Club, Easter Seals and the Bishop Mc-
nity would be more involved, meeting new people. It would be a good thing.”
The Levitt Foundation will announce its 2025 grantees on Nov. 18, the same day as COCA’s free community celebration at Goodwood Museum and Gardens.
The event will also mark COCA’s 40th anniversary. If selected for the grant, COCA said it will share its plans for the concert series during the celebration and begin planning right away.
“We’ve got our fingers crossed,” Spehar said. “We’re going to win this.”
Regardless of the outcome, she said COCA remains committed to making the arts more accessible to Tallahassee residents.
“This is about bringing concerts and community into the same place,” she said. “That’s the heart of what we do.”
Namara High School Huddle Club. He played golf with passion and enjoyed basketball and baseball at all levels. Bob and Linda retired to Tallahassee in 2001, in retirement he reclaimed his love of coaching, giving many hours as Coach Boyd, for the Maclay High School basketball team. He was part of the Maclay 2005 boys basketball team that was recently inducted into the Maclay School Athletic Hall of Fame. A visitation was held at Epiphany Lutheran Church, located at 8300 Deer Lake S, Tallahassee, FL 32312, on November 7, 2025, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. The funeral service followed at the same location from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Epiphany Lutheran Church.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 6 – 9 PM at ESPOSITO LAWN & GARDEN ALL PROCEEDS
Launch Tallahassee’s holiday season in a winter wonderland with fine food, libations, The Allie Cats, emcees Cash & Woody from the Morning Show, a live auction and more all to benefit ECHO.
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Get your tickets today. Scan this QR code or visit WinterFallEvent.com
By Steve Stewart
Through October, crime incident data published daily by the Tallahassee Police Department shows that total crime incidents have declined by 31.7% when compared to incident data from January thru October in 2024. The drop was driven by a 43.5% decline in commercial burglaries and a 34.3% decline auto related crime incidents.
Despite the year-to-date declines, over the last three months violent crime incidents related to assaults are up 29% when compared to the same three-month period in 2024. During
Recent Assaults Drive Up Violent Crime, YTD Incidents Down Dailey Addresses Pressing Issues at NEBA
construction projects within the city, including a new senior center, the Southside Transit Center, the new TPD headquarters, and various parks (Orange Avenue, Meridian Street, Market District).
He said that two major projects represent about 1.5 million square feet of construction: the Florida Department of Agricultural Facility and the new FSU academic health center.
Dailey said that permitting is moving strongly, noting that over 2,000 new residential units came online last year, comparable to the previous two years combined. Additionally, 2,800 units are actively under construction, and 1,200 are under permit review. The total valuation of all projects permitted last year alone exceeded $1 billion. Dailey also addressed some challenges.
Dailey said the latest proposal for the elimination of homesteaded property taxes would represent a $22.34 million hit, which is roughly 30%
By Steve Stewart
As directed by the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency Board of Directors, the Blueprint staff conducted an analysis to determine whether Blueprint Infrastructure Sales Surtax funds are available to support the expansion of Fire Station #15 and the construction of new Fire Station #17.
This analysis concludes that, under state law, Blueprint Infrastructure Sales Surtax funds could support the expansion of Fire Station #15 and the construction of Fire Station #17. However, while such projects are permissible, the analysis confirms that all existing Blueprint Infrastructure revenues are fully committed to currently approved projects. Redirecting existing Infrastructure Sales Surtax revenues to fund the Fire Stations would require significant reprioritization and result in insufficient funding to complete approved projects.
The Analysis
At the September 11, 2025, meeting, the IA Board directed Blueprint to bring back an analysis to determine whether a funding surplus exists within the Blueprint Infrastructure surtax that could support the expansion of Fire Station #15, located on Bannerman Road in North Leon County, and construction of a new Fire Station #17 on Lake Bradford Road.
The additional costs of funding the construction of Fire Station #17 on Lake Bradford Road and the expansion of Fire Station #15 on Bannerman Road exceed the projected funding capacity of the Blueprint Infrastructure
this period in 2024 there were 163 reported assaults, compared to 210 assaults in 2025.The YTD Numbers
The incident data -tabulated by TR – show that property crime incidents are down 38.0% and violent crime incidents are down 16.8% during the 9-month period.
Property crimes encompass burglar-
of the $75 million in property taxes the city collects in its budget. He said this was an important election issue and means future leaders must decide whether to cut services, raise other revenue, or change service delivery.
Dailey acknowledged resident concerns regarding congestion and safety due to lane reductions (e.g., on Gain Street and Pensacola Street for bike lanes). He noted that the College Town redevelopment strategy intends for Gain Street to be a mixed-use, walkable area, not just a throughfare.
On the airport, Dailey acknowledged that year-to-date passengers are slightly down, which the speaker attributes primarily to Spirit Airline declaring bankruptcy and pulling operations from multiple airports, including Tallahassee.
He noted that the city is continually seeking new partnerships to bring in new routes and airlines. He also highlighted the fact that Tallahassee will host Takeoff North America
ies, 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 property crime was driven by a 43.5% decrease in commercial burglaries
2025 (the largest North America airline industry conference) next week, bringing major airline decision-makers to the city and that the international processing facility is slated to open early next year. Once operational, it is estimated to have a $300 million annual economic impact and create over 1,600 jobs in the 11-county area by establishing a foreign trade zone.
Other Issues
On public safety, Mayor Dailey expressed pride in the community’s success regarding crime reduction and noted the success of the law enforcement collaboration between the Sheriff’s department, TPD, FSU police, FAMU police, and around 30 state agencies. He highlighted that Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) which combines law enforcement practices with expertise from the FSU School of Criminology and stated since the RTCC’s creation, over 300 violent offenders have been tracked down and arrested in
the larger MSA area.
and a 26.5% decrease in residential burglaries. The Auto Burglary & Theft category – which accounts for approximately 55% of all property crimes –was down 34.3%.
The violent crime data shows that robbery incidents were down 18.3%, while assault & battery incidents were down 14.1%.
Fatal Shootings
During this 10-month period, there have been 16 fatal shootings in 2025, compared to 21 fatal shooting deaths in 2024.
On the FSU Health and TMH Merger, the mayor voiced strong support for the proposed integration of the community hospital with FSU saying the creation of FSU Health and moving towards a university-based healthcare system is the “right direction to go” and an “incredible move”.
On the controversy related to fire services, Dailey stated that due to the county’s dissatisfaction with how the city was administering, billing, and paying for the service, the city commission formally put the county on three-year notice that the contract would not be renewed. The contract allows the county three years to prepare and potentially purchase city equipment and facilities located in the unincorporated area to start its own fire department. The mayor stated his primary responsibility is to the incorporated area and that city residents cannot be charged more than unincorporated residents for the same
Blueprint Staff: No Money for Fire Stations
program and would result in a shortfall impacting the approved Infrastructure projects. The estimated cost in 2025 to construct Fire Station #17, including all necessary equipment, is $34 million, and the estimated cost in 2023 of expansion of Fire Station #15 was $10 million. Any changes to the existing IA Board approved priorities will also require a substantial amendment.
STATUTORILY ALLOWABLE USE OF INFRASTRUCTURE SURTAX DOLLARS
In 2014, Leon County voters approved the extension of the Penny Sales Surtax to fund community infrastructure projects such as transportation improvements, flood prevention, water quality protection, parks, and economic development. Under Section 212.055(2), Florida Statutes, these funds may also be used for other eligible public facilities necessary to carry out governmental purposes—including fire stations, government buildings, and animal shelters—making improvements to Fire Station #15 and construction of Fire Station #17 permissible uses under state law.
However, a Fire Stations project is not included in the list of all approved Blueprint 2020 Infrastructure projects adopted by the IA Board and supported by voters in the Interlocal Agreement. The Interlocal Agreement governs how surtax revenues are programmed and allocated, and any project not listed in the Agreement must be added through a formal substantial amendment. Accordingly, while funding Fire
Stations with surtax revenues is permissible under Florida law, doing so would require a substantial amendment to add a Fire Stations project as a new Blueprint Infrastructure project.
SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT PROCESS
A substantial amendment, as defined in Section 10 of the Blueprint Interlocal Agreement, included as Attachment #2, is the formal process by which the IA Board may make major changes to the Blueprint 2020 Infrastructure Program. Such amendments would include the addition, removal, or significant modification of projects or programs listed in the Agreement. In this case, a proposed amendment would be required to add a new infrastructure project to fund the expansion of Fire Station #15 and the construction of Fire Station #17.
This process would require a supermajority vote of the IA Board after consideration of recommendations from the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), the Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC), and the Intergovernmental Management Committee (IMC). Before any vote is taken, two publicly noticed hearings must also be held to ensure public input. To add the Fire Stations project to the Blueprint Infrastructure project list, the Interlocal Agreement would need to be amended through this process.
Accordingly, staff recommended that the IA Board accept the analysis, which indicates that no surplus exists within the Blueprint Infrastructure Sales Surtax.
level of service.
On the possible sale of the Capital City Country Club, Dailey said that the property is protected in perpetuity as a golf course, regardless of whether a sale through. If sold, Dailey said that the city could pull in about $1.2 million and the land would onto the tax roll, providing an added benefit to citizens through property tax collection (as city-owned property is currently tax-exempt). Dailey said that all parties agree that due diligence must be done to properly recognize and honor the slave cemetery/graves located on the property, which is a common need in the southeastern U.S.
On the downtown Washington Square project, Dailey said he is “done playing” and is aggressively moving forward to foreclose on the property. The goal is to recoup all assessed fines and ensure the infrastructure is fixed. After foreclosure, the property is in a prime location for private sector development.
that could support improvements to Fire Station #15 and the construction of new Fire Station #17.
TPD Officer Recognized as Florida's Crime Prevention Practitioner of the Year
By Steve Stewart
The Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) recently announced that Officer Carl "Tony" Carlson has been selected as the Florida Crime Prevention Association's (FCPA) Crime Prevention Practitioner of the Year for 2025. The award, which will be presented during the annual FCPA Crime Prevention Conference, honors a Florida law enforcement professional
for outstanding performance and contributions in the field of crime prevention over the past year. Officer Carlson has dedicated 27 years of total service to the citizens of Tallahassee, including the last two years with TPD's Crime Prevention and Community Relations Unit. In his current role, he oversees crime prevention and neighborhood engagement activities for the Northwest District of Tallahassee,
coordinating with residents, community organizations and local businesses to foster safer communities. He serves as the head liaison for more than 20 neighborhood crime watch associations and over 50 homeowner's associations, providing security surveys, safety education and community support. Officer Carlson also leads several departmentwide initiatives, including the Child Safety Seat Installation
Program, Drug and Alcohol Awareness Presentations and the Blanket Trespass Warning Letter Program for local businesses and residents.
In addition, he is a certified Florida Crime Prevention Practitioner, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) specialist and a Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) instructor. "Officer Carlson's commitment to proactive policing and community partnership
reflects the very best of what we stand for at TPD and our motto: Here for You," said Chief Lawrence Revell. "His leadership in crime prevention and dedication to the safety of our neighborhoods exemplify the professionalism, service and excellence our officers bring to this city every day. We are incredibly proud to see his hard work recognized at the state level."
Leon County Commission Supports “Common Sense” Gun Reform Policies
By Casey Drayer
During the Leon County Commission meeting addressing state and federal legislative priorities, Commissioner O’Keefe moved to adopt four gun “common sense” reform policies, with Commissioner Proctor seconding the motion.
The first policy requires universal background checks, which would close loopholes that allow people to
purchase guns from unlicensed sellers without a background check. The second is secure gun storage laws, which would require the owner to secure the firearm in a place that unauthorized people cannot access. The implementation of extreme risk protection orders, or red flag laws, would allow a judge to temporarily restrict a person’s access to firearms if they present a high risk of harm. The final policy is to require gun owners to report lost
LCS Renews Contract with Gun AI Detection Company
LCS, From Front Page
largely former law enforcement and military personnel, review stills taken by the AI and decide whether to dispatch law enforcement. The footage does not constantly run.
“We don't want to invade privacy. We're veterans or patriots. We don't do facial recognition. We cannot store biometric data, and it's way easier to do that without streaming live feed,” Alaimo said. “There's also a practical application. When it comes down to scalability, we don't need to channel all that data in.”
He said his company trains the Artificial intelligence program to lean on the side of giving more false positives to then be verified by staff, so they don’t miss a potential gun.
“If it's not actually a gun, if it just looks perfectly like a gun, a lot of times, people will wear a shirt, like a white shirt with a black Uzi on it, or something. So, we're going to pick that up, because it looks like a gun, and we should pick it up. That's just
a false positive. We know it's not real because our human verifies it, but if it's real, we hit dispatch,” he said.
The use of AI for gun detection has been a topic of discussion in recent years by Florida lawmakers. A proposal last year would have limited its use to buildings like schools and government buildings but prohibit the technology from being used by the government on public cameras. Alaimo thinks the tech’s continued development and use is a vital tool in preventing gun deaths.
“When I frame it this way, do you or do you not want to know when there's an AK-47 in front of elementary school? No one's gonna say, I don't want to know. It's that simple. If they're, if they're, if they're actually dedicated to stopping mass shootings and gun violence. This is actual, workable, provable technology that they could deploy immediately,” he said.
ZeroEyes has clients in 42 states.
Leon County School Board Meeting Briefs: October 28, 2025
By Steve Stewart
Provided below are the news briefs from the October 28, 2025, Leon County School Board meeting. Items for Consideration -all votes were unanimous.
Item 19.01 Following a public hearing, the Board voted to approve amendments to Policy 5136 – Wireless Communication Devices, effective October 29, 2025. The revisions to this policy include updated language referencing allowable possession and use of WCD’s during noninstructional time. In addition, there is a section outlining exemptions.
Item 19.02 Following a public hearing, the Board voted to approve amendments to Policy 7510 – Use of District Facilities, effective October 29, 2025. The relevant revision states that eligible users of facilities include “any area resident of any age utilizing an open track, designated by the Superintendent, on a casual, nonscheduled basis for recreational or physical improvement at times when school is not in session or being used for scheduled activities (facilities use agreement not required). Individuals in this category shall be subject to the authority of the Principal.”
Item 19.03 Following a public hearing, the Board voted to approve amendments to Policy 8420 – Emergency Management, Emergency Preparedness, and Emergency Response Agencies, effective October 29, 2025. Revisions to this policy include language addressing the security of campus access points, defining exclusive and nonexclusive zones, and notifying substitutes of school safety protocols.
Item 19.04 Following a public hearing, the Board voted to approve amendments to Policy 9150 – School Visitors, effective October 29, 2025. Revisions to this policy include clarifying visitor identification badges.
Item 19.05 Following a public hearing, the Board voted to approve
amendments to Policy 8407 – SafeSchool Officers, effective October 29, 2025. Revisions to this policy establish a stand-alone section for Report to Florida Department of Law Enforcement and specifies school security guard training requirements.
Item 19.06 & 19.07 Following a public hearing, the Board voted to approve amendments to Policy 1121.01 & 4121.01 – Background Screening and Employment History Checks, effective October 29, 2025. Revisions to this policy include language addressing the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse.
Item 19.08 Following a public hearing, the Board voted to approve amendments to Policy 8470 – Registered Sexual Predators/Sex Offenders, effective October 29, 2025. Revisions to this policy include Sexual Predator and Sexual Offender Notification and a section addressing Presence of Individuals Convicted of Certain SexRelated Crimes on School Property.
Item 19.09 Following a public hearing, the Board voted to approve amendments to Policy 8475 – Criminal Background Checks for NonInstructional Contractors, effective October 29, 2025. Revisions to this policy include screening requirements for contractors having direct or indirect access to students.
Item 19.10 Following a public hearing, the Board voted to approve amendments to Policy 3121.01 –Background Screening and Employment History Checks, effective October 29, 2025. Revisions to this policy include language addressing the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse.
Item 19.11 The Board voted to approve the 2024-2025 Annual School Safety Compliance Report, as well as the 2025-2026 first quarter School Safety Compliance Report. The School Safety Specialist is required to annually, in accordance with Florida Statute, complete and submit a School Safety Compliance Report to the School Board and Superintendent.
and stolen guns to law enforcement.
Commissioner Brian Welch did not support the policies, as he claims, “We don’t have any ability to affect any meaningful change in this arena… we take actions like this and then the state just preempts us… “…I can say that right here in the microphone. I support common-sense gun safety reform”, said Welch.
Commissioner Nick Maddox followed by explaining, “Sometimes, we
do things and it’s just…an attempt to show we support, but we know it ain’t going to quite get done.”
Approving the policies, Commissioner Proctor responded by stating, “Silence is not our best and strongest response.” Emphasizing that change will not happen unless one “goes against the grain.”
The commonsense gun policies were passed 5-2, with Commissioner Welch and Caban in opposition.
TMH Board Member Donates to Matlow Campaign During TMH-FSU Negotiations
TMH-FSU, From Front Page
It is not unusual to see interested parties donate to politicians during debates over controversial issues, however, the timing of this donation by a high level TMH official to Matlow’s mayoral campaign during sensitive negotiations is noteworthy.
Bradshaw, in her capacity as Board Chair, TMH Inc., sent a letter to city manager Reese Goad back in March when news of a potential sale of city-owned hospital assets became public.
In addition, Bradshaw has spoken at city commission meetings representing TMH.
Matlow Continues to Criticize Deal
Matlow has been a vocal critic of the proposed deal from the beginning. He has accused individuals of unethical behavior and corrupt tactics, singling out Mayor John Dailey
and Goad.
After a negotiated deal and a signed Memorandum of Understanding was announced between the parties in the middle of September, Matlow stated: “This coerced “deal” is a nonstarter for the people of Tallahassee. Any conversations that involve “transferring” a billion-dollar asset to the State for anything below market value is a smash-and-grab display of political power.”
On October 22, 2025, the city commission voted 3-2 (Matlow, Porter voted no) to hold another public hearing after addressing the MOU and other issues. During the meeting, Matlow continued to oppose the agreement and accused Goad of improperly dealing with vendors related to the evaluation of city-owned hospital assets.
Tallahassee City Commission Meeting Briefs: October 22, 2025
By Steve Stewart
Provided below are the news briefs from the Tallahassee City Commission meeting held on October 22, 2025.
Presentations: The city commission presented proclamations related to Paralegal Week and Paralegal Day, The Office of Economic Vitality and Demirel International, The Office of Economic Vitality, Mega Ace Media, and the Black Business Expo Tallahassee, Big Bend Rebar and Patricia Bates Trotta, Dr. Melvin T. Stith, Mega Ace and Vaughn Wilson, Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, National Good Neighbor Day & Good Neighbor Week, John G. Riley Center & Museum Day, Fire Prevention Week, National Recovery Month, and Tallahassee Babe Ruth World Series Teams.
Consent Agenda Approval: The city commission voted unanimously to approve 11 consent items. Item 8.07 was pulled from consent & Item 8.11 was deleted.
Item 9.01: (PREVIOUSLY ITEM 8.07)
The city commission voted to market 4.54 Acres on Capital Circle NW for Sale Through Open Market Solicitation.
City Commission Appointments
Item 10.01: The city commission voted to ratify the City Manager’s appointment of Andrea Jones to Seat 10, Code Magistrates; Richard Darabi to Seat 14, Code Magistrates; and Frank Powell to Seat 15, Code Magistrates. Code Magistrate Ratification — James O. Cooke, IV, City Treasurer-Clerk.
Item 10.02
The city commission voted to reappoint Travis Diggs to Seat 6, on the City’s Environmental Board.
Item 10.03
The city commission voted to appoint Audrey Kidwell to the Commission on the Status of Women & Girls CSWG, City At-Large Seat 7. Policy Formation and Direction
Item 12.01: The city commission received an informational item on
the John G. Riley House featured as a destination on the Great Florida Road Trip.
Item 12.02: The city commission voted to approve the Construction Contract Award and 7.5% Project Contingency for the TLH Rental Car Quick Turnaround Service Facility Project at Tallahassee International Airport.
Item 12.03: The city commission voted to bring back more information related to the sale of the Capital City Golf Course to the Capital City Country Club.
Item 12.04: The city commission voted 3-2 (Matlow,Porter) to defeat a motion to end the city’s 287(g) agreement.
Item 16.01: The city commission voted 3-2(Matlow, Porter) to schedule another public hearing related to the FSU and TMH Memorandum of Understanding.
Item 16.02: The city commission voted to hold a public hearing related to an amendment to the Official Zoning Map for a 2.26-Acre Portion of a 6.59-Acre Parcel Located at the Southwest Corner of Orange Avenue and Springhill Road to Change the Zoning Classification from Light Industrial (M-1) to General Commercial (C-2).
Item 16.03: The city commission voted to hold a public hearing related to adopting a Small-Scale Map Amendment to the 2030 TallahasseeLeon County Comprehensive Plan to Change the Future Land Use Designation from the Heavy Industrial Land Use Category to the Suburban Land Use Category on 2.39 acres at 5411 Capital Circle SW.
Item 16.04: The city commission voted to hold a public hearing related to an amendment of the Official Zoning Map to Change the Zoning Classification from Industrial (I) to General Commercial (C-2) Concurrent with Small-Scale Map Amendment TMA2025 003 (5411 Capital Circle SW).
Leon County Commission Supports Caban Proposal Related to Convicted Sex Offenders
By Steve Stewart
During the Leon County Commission meeting on legislative priorities, Commissioner Christian Caban urged board members to discuss possible upcoming legislation targeting convicted criminals with crimes against children. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier held a conference over the summer, where he claimed he intended to propose legislation named “Missy’s Law” targeting these criminals.
"You are convicted, you're guilty,” Caban said, “I think it's time that we send a message that crimes against our children in our community are not going to be tolerated, period."
“It would basically be closing a loophole that removes judicial discretion, that if there’s a convicted sex offender, convicted is key, they’re guilty, convicted, that they have to be held in custody while they await sentencing.
By Jim Turner
The News Service of Florida
It’s our job as local leaders to protect our most vulnerable population, our children, from these monsters,” explained Caban.
On June 24, 2025, Attorney General James Uthmeier proposed Missy's Law, which will prevent judges from abusing their discretion to allow sexual offenders, sexual predators, and other violent criminals to stay out on bond pending sentencing after a guilty verdict.
On May 19th, 2025, Daniel Spencer brutally murdered 5-year-old Missy Mogle after Spencer was already adjudicated guilty of traveling to meet a minor. Judge Tiffany Baker allowed Spencer to remain out on bond, contrary to the local state attorney's recommendation, which contributed to Missy's murder.
"Missy died because Judge Baker didn't put Spencer behind bars where he belonged," said Attorney General James Uthmeier. "Judge Baker's abuse
of discretion should be sanctioned. We cannot allow these acts of evil to happen again, and I look forward to working with the Florida Legislature to pass Missy’s Law next session."
In February of 2024, Daniel Spencer was arrested for traveling to meet a minor who he knew to be 15 years old. Spencer was also under an active investigation for sexually abusing his 5-year-old stepdaughter, Missy. In April 2025, a jury found Spencer guilty of traveling to meet a minor, which classifies him as a sexual offender under Florida law.
After Judge Baker adjudicated Spencer's guilty verdict, she denied the local state attorney's request to revoke Spencer's bond.
On May 19th, 2025, Daniel Spencer brutally murdered Missy while he was out on the bond granted by Judge Baker. The Leon County commission unanimously agreed that if the law were created, the board would support it, and the staff would provide an agenda item to allow them to add more protections for children as a future legislative priority.
Growth Management Meetings Feature Five Projects
On Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 8:30 a.m., the Tallahassee Growth Management Department held a Type A & Pre-Submittal meeting.
The Type A & Pre-Submittal meetings allow applicants to receive detailed comments on their project proposals from all relevant departments. The goal is to identify potential problems & solutions early in process.
Listed below are the projects on the agenda.
TSP250058 – Proctor Subaru Redevelopment
MEETING TIME: 8:30 AM AGENT: Austin Cushing, (850) 848-9426
PROJECT LOCATION: 1707 CAPITAL CIR NE
(TAX ID# 1121204220000 & 1121530000020) ZONING DISTRICT: CP (Commercial Parkway)
ACRES: 14.39 acres
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Proposed is the 10,695 square foot addition to an existing car dealership and repair facility.
PROJECT COORDINATOR: Lance Jacobson, Principal Planner, Lance.Jacobson@talgov.com
TSP250062 – Bond Community Health Center
MEETING TIME: 9:00 AM AGENT: Moore Bass Consulting, (850) 222-5678
PROJECT LOCATION: (TAX ID# 4101204770000)
ZONING DISTRICT: CU-45 (Central Urban – 45) and within the Multi-Modal Transportation District (MMTD)
ACRES: 2.03 acres
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project proposes the construction of two buildings totaling 16,500 sq ft for a health clinic and a conference and amenities building.
PROJECT COORDINATOR: Taylor Jones, Senior Planner, Taylor.Jones@talgov.com Development Review Committee
On Monday November 10 at 9:00 a.m. the Tallahassee Development Review Committee (DRC) will address three projects.
DRC meetings are normally held twice a month, usually every other Monday in the Growth Management Conference Room, First Floor, Renaissance Building, 435 North Macomb Street.
The purpose of the meetings is for the Development Review Committee to review Type B site plan and Preliminary Plat subdivision applications for compliance with the applicable City ordinances. The DRC also reviews and makes recommendations on Type C site plan applications and Planned Unit Development applications. These meetings are open to the public, but are not formal public hearings, and public comment is received.
Below is the agenda for the next meeting.
TSP250037 – Taproot Solar and Community Canvas
AGENT: Cheryl Poole, Poole Engineering & Surveying, (850) 386-5117
PROJECT LOCATION: 903 RAILROAD AVE (TAX ID# 4101800000451)
ZONING DISTRICT: ASN-C (All Saints Zoning District-C) and is located within the Multi-Modal Transportation District’s (MMTD) Downtown Overlay ACRES: 0.25 acres
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The proposed site plan is for a parking area at the corner of Railroad Avenue and Saint Francis Street. The applicant is requesting four deviations: 1. Decrease the rear setback from 5 feet to 1.6 feet; 2. Provide parking in the first layer; 3. Locate a solid waste facility in the first layer; and 4.
Reduce the solid waste facility setback from 20 feet to 9 feet from a residential building.
PROJECT COORDINATOR: Lance Jacobson, Principal Planner, Lance.Jacobson@talgov.com This item was continued from the August 25, September 8, and October 13, 2025, DRC meetings.
TSP250044 – Weems Rd Storage
AGENT: Candace Lolley Ryan, (850) 879-0798
PROJECT LOCATION: (TAX ID# 1127202070020)
ZONING DISTRICT: CP (Commercial Parkway) ACRES: 1.20 acres
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The proposed project is for the construction of a 94,955 sq. ft. storage facility. The applicant is requesting one deviation to increase the maximum building height from 4 stories to 5 stories. PROJECT COORDINATOR: Taylor Jones, Senior Planner, Taylor.Jones@talgov.com This item was continued from the October 13, 2025, DRC meeting.
TSD250015 – 428/430 E College Avenue
AGENT: Moore Bass Consulting, Inc, (850) 2225678
PROJECT LOCATION: 428 E COLLEGE AVE (TAX ID# 2136250021025, 2136250021030, & 2136250021050)
ZONING DISTRICT: CC (Central Core) and is located within the Multi-Modal Transportation District’s (MMTD) Downtown Overlay
ACRES: 0.57 acres
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This project proposes the subdivision of thee existing parcels into 10 residential lots.
PROJECT COORDINATOR: Lance Jacobson, Principal Planner, Lance.Jacobson@talgov.com
Local News
Leon County Deputies Make Arrest in Fatal Shooting
A man has been arrested for a fatal shooting Wednesday around lunchtime on the west side. Leon County deputies say the victim was found in his car in the road along the 5700 block of Aenon Church Trail.
The sheriff’s office says the suspect, 34-year-old Trevon Cloud, fled and was caught in Gadsden County. Cloud was booked into the Leon County Detention Facility on seconddegree murder charges.
The press release from the Leon County Sheriff's Office: Wednesday, October 29th, at approximately 12:30 p.m., Leon County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the 5700 block of Aenon Church Trail following reports of gunfire.
When deputies arrived, they found a vehicle in the roadway in front of a residence with a male victim inside suffering from a gunshot wound. Deputies immediately attempted life-saving measures; however, the victim was pronounced deceased at approximately 12:48 p.m.
The suspect, 34-year-old Trevon Cloud, fled the scene but was later located in Gads-
den County with assistance from local authorities. Cloud was taken into custody and booked into the Leon County Detention Facility on seconddegree murder charges. -WFSU
City Commission Updates Settlement Policy
On October 22nd, the city commission unanimously approved updates to the settlement authority levels for managing third-party liability claims under the City’s self-insured general and automobile liability plan.
Policy 200, the Claim Settlement Policy, governs how third-party liability claims are managed under the City’s selfinsurance program. Adopted in 1986, it was recently renewed in 2020. However, it is recommended to update the settlement authority levels better to match the delegated limits in other City policies.
The requested approvals include increasing the Settlement Authority limits, with the Risk Manager's limit rising from $50,000 to $75,000 per claimant and the Liability Oversight Committee (LOC) limit increasing from $100,000 to $150,000 per claimant. The
risk management program encompasses third-party liability claims, including insurance and loss prevention. The LOC oversees and approves thirdparty liability claims exceeding a specified amount, currently $100,000.
Additionally, it was requested to remove the Workers’ Compensation Oversight Committee (WCOC) approval category and transfer authority over compensation claims to the Risk Management Division.
These updates aim to reflect rising injury verdicts and legal defense costs, anticipate an increase in sovereign immunity limits by the legislature, and recognize the delegation of authority to the LOC that aligns with other City policies.
Tallahassee Man Arrested for Threatening Mass Shooting
A Tallahassee man is behind bars after posting a threat to commit a mass shooting on his Instagram account last Friday, according to court documents. Derrick McMillian was arrested Thursday and is charged with making an electronic threat to commit a mass
shooting, arrest documents say.
He allegedly posted the threat in front of a bathroom mirror while holding an “AR-15 style” gun with a caption that said, “Finna shoot the club up,” per documents. The post also had a pin location of a restaurant in Railroad Square.
Meta flagged the post and sent it to the FBI, who then sent it to the Tallahassee Police Department, per court documents.
Arrest reports say there is no indication McMillian intended to carry out the threat, but TPD investigators said they believe he is capable of carrying it out, as officers saw him firing a handgun at the scene of a deadly shooting on South Adams Street in July.
According to court documents, he was detained at the scene but later released. That investigation remains “open and active,” according to law enforcement. – WCTV Blueprint Staff Seeks Use of Eminent Domain
At the next Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency meeting, elected officials will consider using eminent domain to acquire four parcels from two
private property owners for the construction of the Northeast Gateway Project. None of the acquisitions will require property owner relocation.
Three of the four parcels are in the southeast area of the future roundabout between Roberts Road and Centerville Road. Parcel 100(A), 3.8 acres, is a fee simple interest needed to construct the roadway improvements and a stormwater facility. Parcel 100(B), 0.13 acres, will be used to construct an outfall structure from a stormwater pond. Parcel 800, 0.46 acres, is a drainage easement used to carry water from the outfall structure to the natural low-lying area existing on the property. The outfall structure is designed to maintain the existing condition of the parcel. No building improvements are within the acquisition areas. The fourth parcel, Parcel 101, 0.52 acre, is located in the northeast area of the future roundabout between Centerville Road and Roberts Road. The need is for a fee simple interest for the purpose of constructing the intersection. The acquisition area does not include any building improvements.
FL Cabinet Questions Taxpayer Dollars Supporting Islamic Schools
By Mitch Perry Florida Phoenix
All three members of the Florida Cabinet are questioning the legality of the state voucher system that has steered taxpayer-funded scholarships to private Islamic schools that they contend undermine “Western” values.
Attorney General James Uthmeier, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, all Republicans and allies of the governor, are wondering whether Florida’s universal school voucher system allowing Floridians to attend certain private schools at discounted rates can be properly extended to the Hifz Academy and Bayaan Academy, Islamic schools in Tampa now accepting these scholarships.
The Cabinet, although powerful, lacks authority to set policy or stymie funding from the state to specific schools. That power resides with the Department of Education, which did not respond to a request for comment.
“Sharia law seeks to destroy and supplant the pillars of our republican form of government and is incompatible with the Western tradition,” said Uthmeier, who serves as Florida’s chief legal officer, on social media Monday. “The use of taxpayer-funded school vouchers to promote Sharia law likely contravenes Florida
law and undermines our national security.”
However, his office declined to say whether he’d pursue an investigation.
In a statement to the Phoenix, Ingoglia said his office is looking into these schools through a potential audit.
“We have the ability. We’re already looking into it,” said the Spring Hill Republican, who’s led a statewide program of searching through the finances of local governments for potential “waste, fraud, and abuse.”
Simpson, the former Florida Senate president who championed universal school choice, insisted in a statement to the Phoenix: “Schools that indoctrinate Sharia law should not be a part of our taxpayer-funded school voucher program.”
Of note, Florida’s school voucher program applies to 2,278 private schools, and 82% of participating students attend a religious school. Roman Catholic schools are the single largest religious recipients.
Cabinet members are elected statewide and independent of the governor.
DeSantis appointed Uthmeier and Ingoglia earlier this year to fill vacancies.
‘No place in the USA’ This wouldn’t be the first time Florida has nixed voucher funds for schools.
Most recently, DeSantis in 2023 directed the education
department to pull voucher funds from schools with alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Before that, the DOE in 2003 dropped voucher funds for Tampa’s Islamic Academy of Florida after two of its affiliates were charged (and later convicted) for terrorism ties.
The Republicans’ push to more closely examine the schools’ finances comes amid a broader push to crack down on Sharia Law, Islam’s legal system, derived from the Quran. This was largely sparked by the Oct. 7 massacre by the Islamic militant group Hamas on Israelis two years ago, which led to a war that has only just begun to wind down.
A Florida member of Congress has since filed a bill to outlaw enforcement of Shari’a Law in American systems, and a state representative months later filed nearly identical language in the Florida Legislature. Neither bill appeared to be based on any example of Sharia law in the U.S., but were described as preventative. Neither measure would apply to school voucher funding.
The governor’s office referred the Phoenix to a post by DeSantis in early October insisting that Sharia law “has no place in the USA” and is “incompatible” with the Constitution, and did not indicate that he would instruct DOE to pull their funding.
The word “Sharia” did not appear on the websites of either Hifz Academy nor Bayaan Academy. Where did the controversy come from?
The RAIR Foundation, a right-wing media organization dedicated to opposing communism and “Islamic Supremacy,” last week published a lengthy article and two videos claiming that Florida’s school choice vouchers are being used to build “Shariarun institutions” that “convert public dollars into permanent Islamic infrastructure.”
It pointed to two private Islamic schools in Tampa teaching both Islam and traditional school subjects at the K-12 level that accept school vouchers. Hifz was founded in 2011 and teaches 460 students at a rate of $9,600 per K-6th grader and $10,000 for every 7th-12th grader. Bayaan was founded in 2015 and teaches 200 students at a rate of $12,700 per K-5th grader, $14,700 per 6th-11th grader, and $7,350 per twelfth grader.
The article claims that Bayaan Academy’s principal, Magda Elkadi Saleh, is the daughter of the late Ahmed Elkadi, a founding member of the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood. South Florida congressmen earlier this year attempted to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization for allegedly supporting terrorist groups.
Such scholarships for reli-
State Defends Firing Over Kirk Post
gious schools were first made possible by a 1999 law under then-Gov. Jeb Bush for lowincome students searching outside the public school system. In 2023, the Legislature expanded the law to allow any Floridian, regardless of income, to apply for vouchers to go to private schools accepting these scholarships.
According to Step Up For Students, the nonprofit that administers most of the state’s scholarships, Florida’s school choice programs provide an average of between $7,700 and $8,500 to students attending non-public schools. More than 122,000 new students started using vouchers in the 2023-24 school year.
When asked for comment, the Council for AmericanIslamic Relations referred the Phoenix to a Huffington Post article on RAIR’s founder, Amy Mekelburg, documenting her controversial past; this includes calling former President Barack Obama a “jihadist,” attempting to free a man convicted of killing his girlfriend, and encouraging readers to follow a man known to praise Adolf Hitler. Step Up for Students has yet to get back to the Phoenix about how much money the Tampa schools received from the student voucher programs.
Doug Wheeler is the director of the George Gibbs Center for Economic Prosperity at The James Madison Institute.
By Jim Saunders
The News Service of Florida
Disputing allegations that they violated First Amendment rights, Florida wildlife officials Thursday argued that a federal judge should reject a request to reinstate a biologist who was fired because of a social-media post after the murder of conservative leader Charlie Kirk.
Attorneys for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Roger Young and Melissa Tucker, a division director, said the agency fired Brittney Brown on Sept. 15 to “prevent foreseeable disruption, reputational harm and loss of public trust. The agency did not police ideology; it protected credibility central to its mission.”
“The First Amendment does not shield public employees from the consequences of speech that undermines the effectiveness, credibility or public trust on which their agencies depend. … Even if the post had some political dimension, FWC’s (the agency’s) interest in maintaining credibility and
neutrality far outweighs any minimal expressive value,” the officials’ attorneys wrote.
Brown, who worked for the commission studying shorebirds and seabirds in the area of Tyndall Air Force Base in the Panhandle, filed a lawsuit Sept. 30 alleging that her firing violated First Amendment rights.
The lawsuit said Brown was fired after reposting on her personal Instagram account a post from an account called “@whalefact.” The post said, “the whales are deeply saddened to learn of the shooting of charlie kirk, haha just kidding, they care exactly as much as charlie kirk cared about children being shot in their classrooms, which is to say, not at all,” according to the lawsuit.
Brown’s attorneys on Oct. 3 filed a motion for a preliminary injunction that asked U.S. District Judge Mark Walker to reinstate her to her job and to prevent retaliation by the agency. In addition to alleging First Amendment violations, the motion said Brown’s post did not disrupt Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission operations.
“Plaintiff made her social media post
on her personal phone while she was on vacation,” the motion said. “That political post had nothing to do with plaintiff’s job responsibilities. After all, she is a wildlife biologist, not a public information officer. In addition, plaintiff did not identify herself as an FWC employee in her post; the post itself had nothing to do with FWC or its operations; and her Instagram profile made no reference to FWC as her employer or otherwise.”
The document filed Thursday by attorneys for Young and Tucker was a response to the motion for a preliminary injunction. Walker has scheduled a Nov. 10 hearing on the motion.
Kirk, who led the conservative group Turning Point USA, was assassinated Sept. 10 during an appearance at Utah Valley University. After Brown made
the repost on Sept. 14, Libs of TikTok, a conservative social-media account, shared a screenshot and called for her firing, according to the lawsuit. She was fired the next day. Brown worked for the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for about seven years, according to the lawsuit. A copy of her Sept. 15 termination letter included in the lawsuit indicated she had an “Other Personal Services” position, a classification that does not include some of the protections that other employees receive.
Court Refuses to Block Chinese Property Law
PROPERTY LAW From Front Page court in Tallahassee, contends that the restrictions violate constitutional equal-protection rights and the federal Fair Housing Act and are trumped by federal law. Other plaintiffs are Yongxin Liu, Zhiming Xu, Xinxi Wang and Multi-Choice Realty LLC, a real-estate broker.
Chief U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor in 2023 also refused to grant a preliminary injunction, though his ruling differed from the appeals court on the standing issue.
As they approved the law, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers pointed to a need to curb the influence of the Chinese government and Chinese Communist Party in Florida. But opponents said the law was discriminatory and improperly conflated people from China with the Chinese government. In a dissenting opinion Tuesday, Judge Charles Wilson described the law (SB 264) as “part of a modern resurgence of ‘alien land laws,’ which were prevalent in the early part of last century but fell out of favor around the same time as other laws restricting property ownership based on race or ancestry.”
While saying he had “doubts about the majority’s analysis regarding
plaintiffs’ standing to challenge SB 264’s purchase restriction,” Wilson focused his dissent on arguments about equal-protection rights and whether the federal government’s authority to screen foreign investments trumps the state law. That authority is carried out through what is known as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CIFUS.
“In sum, the CFIUS process — informed by this nation’s commerce, foreign policy, and national security experts — does not target identified countries or nationalities, conducts thorough risk review of individual transactions, and allows for negotiation with parties to mitigate risk while allowing safe transactions that strengthen our economy to proceed,” Wilson wrote. “Meanwhile, SB 264 — informed by state representatives and a governor without national security expertise — targets Chinese domiciliaries, blanketly bans all transactions which fall under its ambit, and fails to afford parties any flexibility, undermining national economic and diplomatic leverage. The power ‘to regulate foreign commerce’ has long been understood as ‘an obvious and essential branch of the federal administration,’ yet here Florida flouts these principles of feder-
alism.”
The plaintiffs also sought an injunction against parts of the law that require people who are domiciled in China to register information about property they own in Florida and require that all people buying property in Florida sign affidavits saying they are complying with the 2023 law.
The majority opinion, for example, rejected arguments that the requirements violate the federal Fair Housing Act because they are discriminatory.
“The registration requirement directs that property owners who are domiciled in China register their interests in Florida real estate; it does not restrict anyone from owning property, and it does not require or permit a person to refuse to sell to, rent to, or negotiate with anyone,” Luck wrote. “And the same is true of the affidavit requirement. It mandates that every purchaser of Florida real property sign an affidavit saying their purchase complies with SB 264.”
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The Darryl Jones Silence on Charlie Kirk Comments Speaks Volumes
By Preston Scott
“I Didn’t Like Kids”. Just one clue someone might not be fit for public education and children’s social work.
I am of the opinion Charlie Kirk was not assassinated so much because he was a Christian-conservative. Charlie was murdered because millions of young people listened to him.
In the days, now weeks, since his death I have often asked guests on my radio show the following question, “What’s was worse – the killing of Charlie Kirk or the celebration of it by so many?”
Each person answered my question with the latter. It is much more troubling so many rejoiced in Charlie Kirk’s death.
It’s troubling because those people truly did not, do not, have a clue as to who or what Charlie was all about. The sorry celebrants never, ever took the time to actually listen to an entire event Charlie hosted or spoke at, never engaged in any civil discourse
with him.
Charlie’s visits to campuses nationwide are all over YouTube. There are no excuses to not know better.
The effort to demean, slander, and libel Charlie Kirk has not subsided and it leads me to Leon County School Board member Darryl Jones.
Florida’s Education Commissioner Anastosios Kamoutsas posted on social media: “Teachers are held to a higher standard as public servants and must ensure their conduct does not undermine the trust of the students and families they serve. We will hold teachers who choose to make disgusting comments about the horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk accountable.”
In response, Jones made clear his feelings and wrote (in a now deleted post) that Kirk was a, “racist, misogynist, homophobic Klansman.”
Normally, this type of thing would be followed with a statement of regret, expressing sadness over the senseless
killing of someone for just engaging in civil debate. I mean a decent person would state something of the kind.
Not Darryl Jones. Instead, he simply took the post down and never apologized. I am told Turning Point USA is considering legal action against Jones.
Clearly, he believes what he wrote, he just did not have the courage to leave it posted.
What he wrote is contemptible and demonstrably false. It is almost equally contemptible that his colleagues on the Leon County School Board have sat silent, as has Superintendent Rocky Hanna.
Only current Chair Laurie Cox mustered some disdain offering a mild lecture on the matter without singling out Jones.
Which leads me to Jone’s place, not only as a Leon County School Board member, but as its appointed representative on the Children’s Services Council.
His views on Charlie Kirk reveal someone not best suit-
ed to serve in either of those roles. Voters will hopefully settle the former (though I am not holding my breath), while the School Board should remedy the latter – now. Oh, and then there’s this … In an interview published on YouTube, “Conversations with Nicole” March 9, 2016, Darryl Jones, when asked by Nicole Everett about his decision to not become an educator stated that as a student teacher, he learned teaching was not for him because, “I didn’t like kids.”
Quite a statement for a guy who decided to run for, and now sits on, the Leon County Schools Board and serves on the Children’s Services Council.
I wonder what Jones has to say to all of the students in our public schools who looked at Charlie Kirk as a big brother, as a mentor, as someone they admired.
I actually don’t have to guess because Jones, in his silence, by not issuing an apology, has spoken to students and parents alike.
Florida Must Lead on Securing Healthcare from China’s Influence
By Doug Wheeler The James Madison Institute
A growing yet largely overlooked threat is quietly taking root in America’s healthcare system: the widespread use of Chinese-manufactured medical devices. This threat comes from the very technology that patients trust to keep them alive. While the issue lacks the urgency of a breaking news crisis, it poses serious long-term risks to patient privacy, healthcare security, and U.S. economic independence.
Many of these devices — such as internet-connected monitors, pumps, and diagnostic tools — are now embedded in hospitals and clinics across the country, including in Florida. That integration has come with an invisible cost: dependence on companies that operate under the authority of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which can compel access to data or cooperation with espionage efforts at any time.
This is not speculation. Both the FDA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency have
warned that many of these devices are vulnerable to cyberattacks. In the wrong hands, even a basic hospital monitor could serve as a backdoor into critical care systems — exposing sensitive patient data or disrupting services during emergencies.
It’s a wake-up call for state policymakers: securing our healthcare system must include securing the supply chains behind it. And Florida is uniquely positioned to lead that effort.
Governor DeSantis has already taken bold action to push back against CCP influence—blocking land purchases near military bases, scrutinizing university partnerships, and strengthening consumer protections. Attorney General James Uthmeier has helped uncover foreign threats to our digital infrastructure. The next frontier must be protecting the integrity of Florida’s healthcare system.
The federal government has begun addressing supply chain risks, but progress is slow. States don’t have to wait. Florida should act now to ensure its healthcare dollars don’t underwrite foreign control.
State leaders can and should take the lead on solutions rooted in free-market principles and national security. Florida’s health agencies and procurement boards should only purchase medical devices that meet rigorous cybersecurity and supply chain transparency standards. Devices tied to companies influenced by the CCP should not be eligible for taxpayer-funded contracts. The Florida Legislature can condition Medicaid reimbursements and other healthcare funding on providers using secure, CCP-free medical equipment. Hospitals and clinics receiving public dollars must be accountable for the origin and integrity of the technology they rely on.
Rather than regulate from the top down, Florida should empower innovation. Strategic tax credits, targeted grants, and preference in state contracts can help build a stronger domestic manufacturing base. Supporting American-made medical devices strengthens both healthcare and economic resilience. President Trump’s call to revive American manufacturing aligns directly with this effort.
National News Briefs
Mamdani Wins NewYork Voters in several states cast ballots yesterday in closely watched off-year elections, including races for New York City mayor and governors in Virginia and New Jersey. In New York City, democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani (50.4%) defeated former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (41.6%)—a centrist Democrat who ran as an independent— and Republican Curtis Sliwa (7.1%). The 34-year-old Mamdani becomes the first Muslim mayor and Asian American mayor of the nation’s largest city. More than 2 million people voted in the election, surpassing total votes cast in any previous NYC mayoral race since 1969.
In Virginia’s gubernatorial race, Democrat and former US Rep. Abigail Spanberger beat Republican Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, becoming the first woman elected to the role. Spanberger held a 57.5%-42.3% lead with 97% of votes in as of this writing. Democrats also won the lieutenant governor’s seat and the state’s attorney general race. Meanwhile, in New Jersey, Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) beat Republican Jack Ciattarelli in a closely watched race that tightened in the final weeks in the polls but ended as a double-digit victory. The
tally early this morning stood at 56.2%-43.2%. In California, voters approved an amendment (64%36%) establishing a temporary new congressional map that could shift as many as five seats to Democrats in the US House in next year’s midterms.
NAR Pending Home Sales Report Shows No Change in September
Pending home sales in September showed no change from the prior month and fell 0.9% 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 sales under contract.
Month-over-month and year-over-year pending home sales rose in the Northeast and South but declined in the Midwest and West.
September's REALTORS® Confidence Index survey shows that 20% of NAR members expect an increase in buyer traffic over the next three months, up slightly from 19% last month and down slightly from 21% one year ago. Meanwhile, 19% expect an increase in seller traffic, unchanged from last month and down slightly from 20% in
September 2024.
"Contract signings matched the second-strongest pace of the year. However, signings have yet to fully reach the level needed for a healthy market despite mortgage rates reaching a one-year low," said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "A record-high stock market and growing housing wealth in September were not enough to offset a likely softening job market."
"Inventory has climbed to a five-year high, giving home buyers more options and room for price negotiation," Yun added. "Looking ahead, mortgage rates are trending toward three-year lows, which should further improve affordability, though the government shutdown could temporarily slow home sales activity."
Partial SNAP Funding
The Trump administration said it will partially fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program this month amid the federal government shutdown—now tied for the longest in US history. The update comes after funding for the program, colloquially known as food stamps, lapsed over the weekend.
The Agriculture Department will use $4.65B from SNAP's approximate $5B contingency fund to cover half of the estimated $8B in monthly
Additionally, Florida can set the standard for national reform by creating a voluntary certification system that identifies vendors meeting high cybersecurity and transparency benchmarks. Providers would remain free to choose, but the state can reward compliance with procurement advantages and incentives. This is not about economic isolationism; it’s about defending fair competition and security. Chinese medical device makers often benefit from state subsidies, forced technology transfer, and a lack of transparency. U.S. firms can compete, and win, on quality, innovation, and trust if the rules are enforced fairly. But Florida doesn’t need to wait for Washington. With smart, marketaligned policies, our state can lead the way in securing healthcare from foreign dependence. Every Floridian deserves confidence that the technology keeping them alive is safe, secure, and under American control. Let’s not hand a strategic advantage to a foreign adversary inside our own hospitals.
benefits for nearly 42 million Americans. Roughly $450M of the contingency fund will cover states' administrative costs, and $150M will aid food assistance programs in Puerto Rico and American Samoa.
The partial funding excludes new applicants, disaster assistance, and any financial buffer, as the contingency funds will be depleted.
Trump Warns Nigeria
President Donald Trump has threatened to end all aid to Nigeria and ordered the Pentagon to prepare for possible military action. The warning comes as Trump accuses the country of failing to protect its Christian population.
Since 2009, Islamist insurgency group Boko Haram has killed more than 35,000 civilians, largely in the country’s Muslim-majority north.
An ISIS-affiliated breakaway group has killed thousands more. While it is not publicly known what percentage of the groups’ victims are Christian, a 2012 estimate put the figure at one-third. In 2020, the Trump administration designated Nigeria a country of concern over religious freedom violations, a decision the Biden administration reversed. Trump redesignated Nigeria last week as the group continues to carry out attacks from its base in the Lake Chad region.
The US historically gives roughly $1B annually to Nigeria.
Nvidia Hits $5T
Nvidia yesterday became the first company to surpass $5T in market value, fueled by the artificial intelligence industry’s surging demand for its processing chips. The milestone came three months after Nvidia became the first $4T company and less than two years after it reached $3T.
The California-based company began creating graphics processing units for video games in the late 1990s. Capable of performing thousands of calculations simultaneously, these chips have become the backbone of cloud computing and, more recently, AI systems. Today, Nvidia controls roughly 80% of the market for GPUs used by AI models, eclipsing rivals Advanced Micro Devices, Google, Amazon, and Huawei. Nvidia's stock is responsible for nearly one-fifth of the S&P 500 Index’s 17% growth so far this year.
Nvidia's $5T market capitalization followed news of a $1B investment in Nokia to develop AI-centric cellular networks and a partnership with Uber to build a fleet of 100,000 autonomous vehicles.
Join Leon County Government and the American Legion SaulsBridges Post 13 for a community breakfast to honor our hometown heroes in celebration of Veterans Day. Breakfast will be served from 6:30 to 9 a.m. with a ceremony and program at 8 a.m.
Following Operation Thank You, the Veterans Day Parade will take place at 10:45 a.m. along Monroe Street. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2025 6:30-9 a.m.
Learn more at LeonCountyFL.gov/GetEngaged
Tickets are now on sale for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26 on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the Leon County Apalachee Regional Park, 7550 Apalachee Parkway. Tickets start at $10, with free admission for children 12 years and under.
Registration is also open for the World’s Fun Run: Florida Edition,
our native ecosystem through the Adopt-A-Tree Program, which provides unincorporated County residents the opportunity to have a tree planted on their property for free.
Echoes of the Land
Exploring Native American Music
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2025 • 6 P.M. LEON
In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, learn about the music and soundscapes of the Apalachee community at Mission San Luis and the musical traditions of 17th- and 18th-century Native Americans in Tallahassee with Florida State University professor of musicology Dr. Sarah Eyerly. DETAILS AT LeonCountyFL.gov/NativeAmericanHeritageMonth
NEWS & EVENTS
Seventh Annual Gingerbread House Competition
Sugar and spice and all things nice are in store during the Leon County Public Library's seventh annual Community Gingerbread House Competition! Put your design skills to the test in this family-friendly competition for a chance to win prizes. One winner from each division will be selected. The competition will take place on Saturday, December 6, from 1-4 p.m. at the downtown Main Library, 200 W. Park Ave.
Visit LeonCountyLibrary.org/Gingerbread for more information.
Hurricane Season Continues Through November
As Hurricane Melissa demonstrates, the Atlantic Hurricane Season continues through the end of November, and Leon County encourages residents to be Leon Ready.
Visit LeonReady.com to make a plan, build a disaster bucket, sign up to receive Leon County Emergency Alerts, and so much more.
Business News
Single-Family Construction Permits Up in October
According to filings with Leon County and the City of Tallahassee, the number of single-family new construction permits were up 2.1% in October 2025 when compared to October 2024. Permit values were down 17.1%.
There were 49 permits issued in October 2025, compared to 48 permits issued one year ago. There were 31 permits issued in September 2025. The value of the October 2025 permits was $9.7 million, down 17.1% from the $11.7 million reported in October 2024.
The 3-Mnth Avg. data (Aug. – Oct.) –which smooths out the month-to-month volatility – shows a 5.3% increase in the number of permits issued over the same 3-month period one year ago.
The 3-Mnth Avg. data show a 7.3% increase in monthly average permit value during this period. The 3-month average permit values increased from $9.6 million in October 2024 to $10.3 million in October 2025.
The chart to the right shows the number of permits issued each month for the last 36-month period. A 3-Month Ave. line is also included. The highlighted numbers relate to permits issued in the month of October to 2023.
Comparing the year-to-date numbers from 2025 (459) to 2024 (455) show roughly the same number of permits issued through October.
A Tallahassee Startup Creates Powerful Lithium Battery
By Tom Flanigan, WFSU
A handful of researchers at Tallahassee's Innovation Park has come up with what they hope could be the battery of the future. Members of the Piersica team gave a briefing to local business and government leaders on Tuesday, November 4.
The Piersica group has developed a lithium battery that they say is twice as powerful, half as heavy, fully fireproof and competitively priced. Making that possible are several new battery components, including a unique polymer that's critical for lithium batteries to work.
Piersica founder and CEO Claudiu Bucur told the group small scale pilot production was already being done at Florida State University's IGNITE business incubator at Innovation Park. The challenges now, said Chief Financial Officer Frank Jacobs, is obtaining financing to move the enterprise closer to the big decision; whether to go into full-scale battery production using Piersica's full menu of technological advancements, or license production of the all-important polymer to other companies. In any event, he said, Tallahassee provides an ideal location for his company's headquarters.
"We love this area. All of our people are here. So it does make a lot of sense to build a battery plant here. With the caveat IF we become a battery manufacturer. Either way we'll have a research group like this with a com-
pany that continues to develop this battery and then move on to other technologies and uses for the polymer and things like that."
Another major attraction, he said, was the fact Tallahassee is a relatively virgin territory when it comes to incubating an enterprise that could someday have an international footprint.
"It's great for everybody! This community appreciates it. It's not like there are 100 companies that are doing great things. This isn't Austin or Silicon Valley. We're in Tallahassee and that's a great opportunity. We feel the love from the community, which is fantastic."
Among the local business and government leaders on hand at Tuesday's info-session was a representative of Dow Chemical. Jacobs said that was an important indicator of the industry interest Piersica's innovations are attracting.
The median sales price of existing homes in the Tallahassee MSA creeped up 1.6% in September 2025 ($349,950) when compared to August 2025 ($344,500), according to the Florida Association of REALTORS®. The Tallahassee MSA includes Leon, Jefferson, Gadsden, and Wakulla counties. Leon county accounts for almost 90% of the MSA real estate transactions.
The September 2025 median sales price ($349,950) is up 5.7%
when compared to September 2024 ($331,00).
The number of transactions decreased from one year ago. There were 276 transactions in September 2025, down 3.7% from the 287 transactions recorded one year ago.
At the state level, Florida’s median sales price increased 0.2% when compared to one year ago. The Florida median sales price was $410,000 in September 2025. Transactions were down 12.3%.
Tallahassee MSA Median Sales Price, Single-Family Homes
Piersica Founder and CEO Claudiu Bucur (at left) and CFO Frank Jacobs (at right) teamed up to provide a corporate and technology overview at FSU's IGNITE incubator.
Maclay Girls Golf Team, Florida High’s Peyton Johnson Qualify for State Championship
By Robert Stewart
On November 3rd, the FHSAA
1A Region 1 girls golf tournament took place at Eagle Harbor Golf Club in Orange Park, FL with two Leon County teams competing in a field with nine other teams. The two Leon County teams, Florida High and Maclay, looked to extend their postseason runs by earning a bid to the state tournament. Both schools were successful with Maclay earning a team bid as they placed second overall in a field of 11 teams and Florida High’s Peyton Johnson earning an individual bid placing third in a field of 64 golfers.
Individual Results
Florida High’s Peyton Johnson (Jr.) had the best finish from a Leon County golfer while placing 3rd with a score of 70 (-2). Other notable Florida High performances included Kamryn Montgomery (So.) placing 28th shooting a 95 (+23) and Eva Castillo (7th) placing 32nd shooting a 97 (+25). Maclay had three golfers place in the top twenty with Mollie Sprague (So.) placing T9th shooting an 80 (+8), Tessa Cooper (Jr.) also placing T9th shooting an 80 (+8), and Trisha Patel (Fr.) placing T12 shooting an 82
Five Leon County Schools Qualify For XC Regional Meets
By Robert Stewart
On Nov. 4th, two high school cross country district meets took place involving seven schools from Leon County. Chiles, Lincoln, Leon and Rickards competed in the 3A District 1 meet while Maclay, Community Christian (CCS) and St. John Paull II (JPII) competed in the 1A District 2 meet.
According to the FHSAA manual, “The first eight placing teams and the top four placing individuals who are not members of an advancing team shall advance to the regional meet.”
3A District 1
(+10).
Team Results
Maclay placed 2nd with a team total of 334 (+46), placing 22 strokes back of first-place Bolles. With this finish, the Maclay girls golf team will advance to the FHSAA 1A State Championship. Florida High finished in 4th place with a total score of 363 (+75).
The Maclay golf team and Florida High’s Peyton Johnson will compete in the FHSAA 1A State championship at Mission Inn Golf Club located in Howey-In-The-Hills, FL on Nov. 14th-15th.
ing first with a time of 18:25.60, Chiles’ Chloe Molen (Jr.) placing fourth with a time of 19:34.90 and Chiles’ Madeline Brockmeier (Jr.) placing seventh with a time of 19:59.50
1A District 2
The 3A District 1 meet took place at Twin Oaks Park located in Niceville, Fl. Chiles, Lincoln, Leon and Rickards all advanced their boy’s teams to regionals while Chiles, Leon and Lincoln advanced their girls teams to regionals.
The Chiles boys cross country team placed second in a field of 13 teams with an average run time of 16:42. Following them in fourth place, the Lincoln cross country team had an average time of 17:27. Leon and Rickards finished fifth and seventh with average times of 17:45 and 19:05, respectively.
Notable Leon County performances from the boys meet included Chiles’ Joshua Hicks (Sr.) placing first with a time of 16:05.50, Chiles’ Jonathan Kiros (Jr.) placing second with a time of 16:06.10, and Rickards’ Jamarin Lane (Sr.) placing eighth with a time of 16:37.40.
On the girls side, Chiles placed first as a team with an average time of 19:36 while placing five runners in the top ten. Leon and Lincoln finished sixth and seventh with average times of 22:50 and 24:03, respectively.
Notable Leon County performances from the girls meet included Chiles’ Emma-Claire Tanenbaum (Fr.) plac-
The 1A District 2 meet took place at Alligator Lake located in Lake City, Fl. Maclay and CCS both advanced their boys team to regionals while Maclay advanced their girls team to regionals as well.
Maclay ‘s boys cross country team placed second overall out of a field of 15 teams with an average time of 16:36 while placing four runners in the top 15. Following Maclay, CCS placed sixth with an average time of 19:15 while having two runners in the top 15.
Notable Leon County performances from the boys meet included Maclay’s David Barton (Jr.) placing fifth with a time of 16:22.0, CCS’s Luke Meli placing eighth with a time of 16:58.7, and CCS’s Jeremey Collier (Sr.) placing 13th with a time of 17:19.6.
On the girls side Maclay placed eighth as a team with an average time of 23:54 while JPII came in tenth place with an average time of 25:18.
Notable Leon County performances from the girls meet included JPII’s Serafina Rietow (Sr.) placing 19th with a time of 7:03.4, Maclay’s Marguerite Miller (Jr.) placing 31st with a time of 7:22.08, and Maclay’s Nishi Bhanderi (Sr.) placing 33rd with a time of 7:23.6.
By Robert Stewart
Boys Golf Team Heads Back to State Tournament
On Nov. 4th, the FSHAA 2A Region 1 boys golf tournament took place at The Golf Club at Fleming Island in Orange Park, FL. As the only Leon County school competing at the event, the Lincoln Trojans placed second and won a bid to the state championships for the second year in a row.
The Lincoln boys golf team placed second in a field of twelve teams with a total stroke score of 303 (+19). Finishing 13 strokes behind first-place Fleming Island, the Trojans secured a state berth by holding off South Walton by two strokes, with only the top two teams from each regional moving on.
Lincolns best individual performance came from Bryce Matthews (Sr.), who placed T3rd with a round of 74 (+3). When asked about going back to the state championships, Matthews told TR “It really means a lot. Going back to states this year feels a little different because we’ve got a new group, but the energy and motivation are still the same. Everyone’s been working hard all season, and it’s awesome to see that pay off and get another shot at competing for a state title. Coming down the
stretch, I definitely knew it was going to be close with South Walton. I just tried to stay in the moment, focus on each shot, and not get ahead of myself. I reminded myself to stay composed and trust the preparation I’d put in all season. Finishing strong and knowing our team had battled all day made it a really special moment.”
Other Notable performances from the Trojans included Chase Fleischer (Jr.) who placed T10th with a round of 75 (+4), Brandon Hawkes (Sr.) who placed T14th with a round of 76 (+5), William young (Sr.) who placed T24 with a round of 78(+7) and Ethan Lafuria (Sr.) who placed 63rd with a round of 88 (+17).
Leon County Alumni: Micahi Danzy
By Robert Stewart
With FSU’s football team winning their first ACC matchup in about a year, there have been multiple emerging players that have made significant contributions during the 2025-2026 season. One of those players is Florida High alum, Micahi Danzy. Danzy was born and raised in Tallahassee and is a track star for the FSU Seminoles, who has recently been proven to be a weapon on the football field.
Because of his speed, Danzy was a running back in high school for Florida High. Redshirting his freshman year at FSU, Danzi switched positions from running back to wide receiver after the first game of the 2025-2026 season against Alabama. During the Alabama game Danzy had three carries for 56 yards with a touchdown.
Since the Alabama game Danzy has 503 yards receiving with two
receiving touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. In his most recent game against Wake Forest, Danzy had two catches for 67 yards with a long of 66.
While in high school Micahi Danzy played 3 years on the Florida High Varsity football team as a running back. In those three years he had a total of 3019 yards rushing on 353 carries with 39 touchdowns. His most successful year was his junior year when Danzy ran for 1809 yards on 191 carries with 19 touchdowns.
Danzy was highly recruited out of high school as a 4-star athlete who was ranked the 27th overall player in Florida by 247Sports.
Danzy is expected to play in FSU's sixth ACC matchup against Clemson in Death Valley on Nov. 8th.
Chiles Volleyball Keeps State Championship Run Alive with 5-Set Victory
By Robert Stewart
The Chiles Timberwolves relied on their talent, resilience, and experience to defeat the visiting Beachside Barracudas in the 5A FHSAA state championship regional finals for the second consecutive year. Chiles won in five-sets, 20-25, 25-9, 23-25, 2511, 15-9.
The rematch featured massive momentum shifts, but the defending 5A state champion Timberwolves responded convincingly when their backs were against the wall. After losing the first set (25-20) and finding themselves in an unfamiliar position, the Timberwolves responded with flawless execution and a 25-9 win in the second set.
In the third set, Beachside responded with better play and edged Chiles 25-23 in the most competitive set of the match.
Down 2 sets to 1, just one set from elimination, Chiles was down 4-2 early in the fourth set when Chiles challenged a call. There was a tenminute delay as the referees sorted out the challenge, which resulted in a reversal and made the score 3-3.
The Timberwolves responded with a 10-point run behind the serving of outside hitter Lindsay Smith. Down 13-3, Beachside managed to regain their composure at the end of set, losing 25-11.
Both teams began the fifth and final set with a high level of play trading points to reach 5-5. However, over the next three points Chiles junior middle blocker Logan Abernathy scored two blocks and a kill to secure an 8-5 lead. From there,
Chiles would close out the deciding set with a 7-4 run, winning 15-9.
Seniors Eva Goodson and Lindsay Smith carried the offensive load for the Timberwolves. Goodson, an Appalachian State commit, had 18 kills on 42 attempts and added 12 assists, while Smith, who is committed to Embry Riddle, added 18 kills on 49 attempts. Smith also added 5 aces on 41 service attempts (Chiles won 35 points on Smith’s 41 service attempts). Sophomore Sterling Carlile added 10 kills, while senior setter Natalie Gibson was credited with 39 assists.
On the defensive front, Chiles held Barracuda’s leading hitter Adraina Jeanpierre to 13 kills on 59 attempts. The defensive front was led by Abernathy who recorded 7 blocks. On the backline, senior Maddie Joiner led the defensive effort with 27 digs, followed by Goodson (20), Smith (20), Gibson (16) and Carlile (14). With the victory, the Chiles Timberwolves are on the verge of backto-back state championships and the expectations will be high. According to the MaxPreps ranking system, Beachside was the second best 5A team in the state of Florida, behind only Chiles. The 5A state semifinals will be held on the campus of Polk State College on November 7-8. Chiles (29-1), the top seed, will face Port Charlotte (1416) the fourth seed who won their region as the 8th seed, at 7 pm on November 7th. The other semifinal features Gainesville and Archbishop McCarthy.
