Latest news with #tallahassee.com
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Site of new TPD headquarters still bare, but city says to expect 'verticality' soon
The construction site of the new Tallahassee Police Department headquarters is still barren, but City Manager Reese Goad said the cleared land will start to see activity soon. A 216,000 square-foot facility is slowly underway, and Goad said the city is expecting to see "verticality" in August or September. 'I can't wait," Goad said. The project was launched in 2018 and slated to finish this year, but progress on the project has been pushed back roughly a year with "substantial completion" expected to be sometime in late 2026. But once it's complete, it'll be a great asset to TPD, Goad said. The new headquarters will be fully equipped with a firearm training facility, classroom space, fleet storage and more. Building the foundation takes some time, he said, and work has been done to landscape the property and address stormwater facilities. Goad said the cost of the project has remained the same since the last time the price tag was hiked. Last April, estimated costs for the new facility it rose by about $75 million, totaling around $135 million – more than double the projected price from 2020. At the time, Goad attributed the rising cost of the new HQ to inflation and an expensive post-COVID construction market, as previously reported. The expensive facility has ruffled feathers in the community and local leadership as several commissioners feel taxpayer dollars are better spent elsewhere. During a May 1 town hall with both city and county commissioners present, City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow expressed his disapproval of the cost of TPD's new home. He said the city's investment priorities are out of sort by spending "nearly in excess of $160 million on a new police facility," instead of redirecting funds to help save the city's art district, Railroad Square, which was devastated by tornadoes last year. "I think that's exorbitant, and I think we need to scale that back and look at where we're investing in our neighborhoods, where we're investing in arts and where we're investing in culture that brings people to our community and keeps people in our community," he said. Local government watchdog reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@ Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: New Tallahassee Police headquarters expecting progress this fall
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Donna Adelson's defense lawyers try to disqualify judge presiding over Dan Markel cases
The defense lawyers for Donna Adelson, an alleged mastermind in the murder-for-hire of Dan Markel, tried to get the presiding judge kicked off the case. Adelson's attorneys, Jackie Fulford and Josh Zelman of Tallahassee, filed a motion under seal on April 11 asking Leon Circuit Judge Stephen Everett to be disqualified and replaced with a new judge. On April 14, Everett denied the motion in a terse, one-page order. 'The motion is legally insufficient and therefore denied,' he wrote. That same day, Adelson's lawyers filed a sealed amended motion again asking for Everett to be disqualified. He denied that order, too, on April 15. The defense's legal argument is unknown because its motions to disqualify are not open and the lawyers haven't commented. Everett did not go into any details about their requests in his orders, which became publicly available on the Clerk of Court's website April 21 after the Tallahassee Democrat inquired about why the records were marked confidential online. Donna Adelson is accused of plotting with her son, Charlie Adelson, to arrange the contract killing of Markel, their former in-law amid a bitter court battle with his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson. Markel, a Florida State University law professor, was fatally shot in the garage of his Betton Hills home on July 18, 2014. The request to remove Everett marked a twist in a case that has seen several of Donna Adelson's defense lawyers disqualified over conflicts of interest. Her first attorney, Dan Rashbaum of Miami, was forced to withdraw last year on the same day jury selection was to begin in her trial because of conflicts involving his previous representation of her son. Later, attorneys Alex Morris, who had worked with Rashbaum on the case, and Adam Komisar, both of Tallahassee, were disqualified. Charlie Adelson was convicted at trial in 2023 and sentenced to life in prison by Everett. He is serving his sentence at a South Dakota prison, where he was transferred over security concerns. Three others, including the two hit men, were convicted earlier in the case. Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@ or 850-599-2180. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Dan Markel murder: Donna Adelson lawyers try to disqualify judge
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Second victim killed in FSU mass shooting identified as South Carolina father of two
Attorneys representing the family of one of the two people killed in the March 17 mass shooting at Florida State identified the victim on Friday as an employee of a university vendor. The lawyers said Tiru Chabba, 45, of Greenville, South Carolina, was shot and killed while working for the vendor. Chabba's family hired national civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers of The Strom Law Firm and Jim Bannister to represent them. In a news release, the attorneys said they were hired 'to ensure that all those who bear responsibility for this senseless act of violence are held to account.' He is survived by his wife and two children. 'Tiru Chabba's family is going through the unimaginable now,' Sellers said. 'Instead of hiding Easter eggs and visiting with friends and family, they're living a nightmare where this loving father and devoted husband was stolen from them in an act of senseless and preventable violence.' The lawyers also asked the public to keep the family in their thoughts and prayers 'as we fight to ensure they see justice that honors the memories of Mr. Chabba and all the victims of Thursday's shooting.' Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@ or 850-599-2180. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Man killed in FSU mass shooting identified as South Carolina father of two
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Leon Supervisor of Elections encouraging voters to request vote-by-mail ballots
The 2026 elections are still months away but the Leon County Supervisor of Elections office is encouraging voters to request their vote-by-mail ballots now. "Although the 2024 General Election concluded only a few months ago ... I encourage voters to also start preparing by requesting your Vote-By-Mail ballot today. This way, you can ensure you will receive your ballot for the 2026 Primary and General Elections," Supervisor of Elections for Leon County Mark Earley said in a news release. A recent change in Florida law caused all vote-by-mail ballot requests to expire last year. That means any previous requests need to be renewed. Earley's office is doing everything it can to remind local voters to check their status, spokesperson Alexandra Mosca said: "The Elections Office will initially email these voters, then follow up with a physical letter to voters who did not respond to the email, or who could not be sent it due to having no email address on file. "This focused outreach ensures that voters who have shown an interest in voting by mail have the information they need to continue to do so." A single ballot request covers all elections through the end of 2026, so it will apply to any special elections that may occur between now and the 2026 Primary Election. To request a Vote-by-Mail ballot, use the online tool at Voters with questions can contact the Elections Office by email – Vote@ – or by phone, (850) 606-8683. Arianna Otero is the trending and breaking news reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact her via email at AOtero@ and follow her on X: @ari_v_otero. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Voting by mail? Here's how to request mail-in ballot in Leon County
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tallahassee utility customers stunned by high electric bills after rare Florida snowfall
The once-in-a-lifetime winter storm dazzled north Florida last month, but the awestruck wonder thawed almost as quickly as the snow did when Tallahassee residents received their monthly electric bill. Unaccustomed to the cold, many had their heaters working double time last month. Now, it's time to pay up. "During that week, we saw very, very different temperatures, abnormally cold temperatures," City Manager Reese Goad said during the city's latest budget hearing. "When we see that, usage goes up." Residents bantered back and forth on social media, mostly shocked about the steep increase. Many said their bills went up by $100 to $200. Some said theirs even doubled. "I about fell out of my chair when I got mine," one person said. "Mine is abnormally high every single month lol," another person said. Goad told the Tallahassee Democrat that the city saw around a 20% increase in usage last month due to the persistent, sub-freezing temperatures. Tallahassee utilities almost hit a "new all-time peak demand," he said, and would have done so had schools been in session. But even with the extreme weather, sales have remained fairly flat, Goad said. During the budget hearing, he told city commissioners that city staff is sensitive to the high bills and that they are working with customers if they need help. The city is creating payment plans with customers to soften the blow, and it works out, Goad said, because as winter turns into spring, usage starts to go back down, as will the bills. "Good news is, the weather's moderated, which goes back the other direction and overall consumption will start to balance," he said. But even with the warmer weather and some relief in sight, people are still in sticker shock. "My bill has never been this high ever," one person said. Local government watchdog reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@ Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee snow storm's bite lingers as customers get utility bills
