Round-up, 11.05.09

A few items we wanted to highlight today:

Abortion clinic closing. The Community Healthcare Center, the sole abortion clinic located within the City limits, and one of only two in Escambia County, is closing its doors. Last month, during a routine inspection, the state Agency for Healthcare Administration found that the clinic’s laboratory license was expired by 413 days, and fined the clinic $413,000. Unable to pay the fine, the clinic has decided to close. The clinic, formerly known as the Ladies’ Center, was the site of the 1994 murders of Dr. John Britton and James Barrett by anti-abortion activist Paul Hill.

Pro-charter committee finances. The News Journal‘s Jamie Page has the scoop on the financial reports from pro-charter group Believe in a Better Pensacola. Donations to the committee total $38,724 and include $10,000 drops from Ray Russenberger, the Lewis Bear Company, and Doug and Nancy Halford. The full report is not yet online, but when it is, it will available here.

WEAR charter referendum coverage. Thanks to WEAR-TV for getting around to covering the charter referendum.

Pensacola Promise promise? During last night’s charter debate, pro-charter speaker Rick Outzen gave Maren DeWeese’s Pensacola Promise idea as an example of a Council idea that staff won’t put on the agenda. Mayor Mike Wiggins assured Mr. Outzen that it would be no problem to get it on the agenda. This morning, Rick’s Blog is reporting that Councilwoman DeWeese has asked it to be placed on the agenda in January.

Waterfront Rescue Mission update. The News Journal runs another piece on the Waterfront Rescue Mission’s failed attempt to relocate its homeless outreach operations to a Leonard Street building. The plan was cancelled after Englewood residents voiced strong opposition. It’s a shame the neighbourhood opposed the idea. The proposed facility was near the ECAT bus hub and other County offices and seemed like an ideal location.

Mathis announces retirement date. Pensacola Police Chief John Mathis has announced his retirement will take place in June 2010.

Anti-Crist ads. Conservative group Club for Growth is going on the air in Florida with political ads bashing Republican Governor Charlie Crist for accepting stimulus money from the Obama administration. The goal, presumably, is to further damage Governor Crist’s reputation among conservatives and bolster support for Crist’s opponent in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio.