Daily
Pensacola
Thursday, May 8th, 2025
Good morning, Pensacola. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 8th of May.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Multiple community events are underway in our area as Flora-Bama’s 31st Super Chili Bowl cook-off raised over $14K for the American Cancer Society and a summer hygiene drive will benefit 300 Lincoln Park Elementary students through May 12. Free or low cost mammograms will be available on May 14 at the local health department while animal services plan a drive-through microchip clinic on May 9 and a pet adoption event on May 10 with reduced fees. Pensacola News Journal
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Pensacola International Airport announced an expanded partnership with Breeze Airways that will add nonstop flights to Bentonville-Fayetteville starting Sept. 4 on Thursdays and Sundays at fares from $49 one-way—nonstop flights to Memphis will begin Sept. 5 on Mondays and Fridays at fares from $39—following Breeze’s recent launch of service to Raleigh-Durham. WEAR-TV
CRIME NEWS
- ➤ Eugene Gligor pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a Maryland courtroom after DNA evidence linked him to the 2001 death of Pensacola native Leslie Preer and he will face up to 30 years at sentencing in August — the cold case was solved nearly 23 years later. WEAR-TV
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ The University of West Florida announced the new Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and Digital Media with a specialization in illustration on May 6 at the Darrell Gooden Center on its Pensacola campus. The program will launch as a stand-alone degree this fall—preparing students for roles like graphic, web and motion graphics designer. University of West Florida
- ➤ The University of West Florida announced Tuesday at its Pensacola campus that it is launching a new Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and Digital Media program with a focus on illustration—scheduled to begin this fall and designed to prepare students for roles like graphic, web, and motion design. The program, which requires 120 semester credit hours, also features cross-college collaboration using Anatomage Tables from the College of Health. WEAR-TV
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves will host a child care summit on May 28 (bringing together local and state representatives) to explore strategies for expanding access to quality child care for working families while the city reviews the potential use of $1.5 million (reportedly owed by the Children’s Trust) for new initiatives. The meeting marks the first phase in identifying local care gaps and building a plan with insights from providers in the field. Pensacola News Journal
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ The Yancy Spencer III Memorial Surf Contest will be held at 9 a.m. on May 10 at Pensacola Beach Pier with a backup date of May 17 due to weather & proceeds benefiting local Shawn Martin battling a rare kidney disease. The contest honors Spencer who founded Innerlight Surf & Skate and became known as the Father of Gulf Coast surfing. Pensacola News Journal
- ➤ Richard LaBounty retired as Pensacola Catholic’s baseball coach after 36 years—ending with three state titles and a national championship—and stepped down as athletic director in early March, with new athletic director Matt Adams now overseeing the program. His retirement was confirmed on May 6 through a school statement posted on social media. Pensacola News Journal
-
Hot Glass Cold Brew: Summer Fest
5-9 p.m. — First City Art Center — $30 members/$40 non-members — Kickoff summer with crafts, food trucks, and live glass art demonstrations.
-
Spring Bling Festival
12-7 p.m. — Vince J. Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park — Free entry — Enjoy an exciting day of 2000s music and vibrant vibes with local DJs and delicious cookout favorites.
-
Rise Up Lights Concert
6-10 p.m. — Handlebar — Check the local alt scene with an energetic performance by the diverse talent of Rise Up Lights.
-
Open House for Distinctive Custom-Built Home
11 AM - 1 PM — 1887 Brenda Ave, Pensacola, FL — Free entry — Explore a stunning 4-bedroom home with a screened-in pool, perfect for family gatherings.
-
Brit Floyd Concert
7-8:30 p.m. — Saenger Theatre Pensacola — Tickets from $149 — Enjoy the iconic sounds of Brit Floyd in a lively Pensacola setting.
-
Bands on the Bayou FREE concert
Join Bands on the Bayou for the first free, outdoor concert of our series! Local band Nobius will perform on the patio of the beautiful Bayview Park in East Hill; food vendors and family fun will make this a magical night of music!
-
Bike Commuting Workshop with Jon Spears
9:30-11 a.m. — Cafe Single Fin — Free entry — Learn how to convert your bicycle into a practical commuter bike while enjoying coffee and connecting with fellow enthusiasts.
-
Memorial Day Celebration
1-4 p.m. — Perfect Plain Brewing Co. — 15% off for military — Celebrate Memorial Day with live music, tasty food, and festive contests.
-
The Oz Escape: A Wicked Glitch
10 AM - 4 PM — Outdoor Escape Experience — $30 per team — Embark on a magical journey through the streets of Pensacola, solving puzzles and hunting for clues in a whimsical quest inspired by Oz.
-
Free Outdoor Yoga Class
9:30-10:30 a.m. — Bayview Park — Free entry — Enjoy a refreshing hour of yoga in nature led by certified instructors.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout Daily Pensacola
Daily Pensacola is a community newsletter sharing current events in Pensacola, Florida. Our mission is to make local news more accessible, highlight extraordinary people across the Pensacola community, and support local organizations. If you like Daily Pensacola, you can support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Pensacola.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Pensacola and across Florida. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to make local news more accessible and highlight extraordinary people across the Pensacola community.
We help people in Pensacola save time finding the news that matters most to them: local news in Pensacola, about Pensacola, curated especially for you on a daily basis—all for free.
Subscribe to Daily Pensacola
A free Pensacola community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most critical news for the community every day.
- No spam
- Daily emails, only news! We never sell your data.
© Daily Pensacola. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://dailypensacola.com/sitemap