American Idol, wagyu steakhouse and more

Here’s a roundup of our top stories from the past week.

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Pensacola’s Old Confederate Monument site can pay for historical tourism

The heart of Florida Square, where Pensacola’s Confederate monument once stood, could become the source of funding for a permanent America’s first settlement trail.

The A1S Trail Foundation is seeking permission to sell engraved bricks on the grassy patch of land where the Confederate monument stood before it was removed in 2020.

Michael Caro, a commercial realtor in Pensacola and founder of the A1S Trail, told the Pensacola Parks and Recreation Board on Jan. 20 that the group is looking to raise funds to mark the entire three-mile trail with bricks instead of red paint.

Old Confederate Monument Site: Pensacola’s Old Confederate Monument site can pay for historical tourism

Pensacola native pioneer, Luke Bryan cries on ‘American Idol’

Pensacola-born and raised gospel singer Kelly Richardson landed the coveted golden ticket on “American Idol” after an emotional audition on Monday night’s season 24 premiere.

Richardson was able to audition in front of a celebrity panel of judges—Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood—with a soulful rendition of “Glitter in the Air” by P.nk that brought Bryan to tears. After three unanimous “yes” votes, the judges gave her the green light, clearing her path to Hollywood Week.

American Idol: Pensacola native pioneer, Luke Bryan cries on ‘American Idol’

Prime & Beyond is now open and turning heads with its tender wagyu steak

Prime & Beyond Wagyu Steakhouse is now open to the public at 650 E. Nine Mile Road.

Chef (and owner) Wayne Sumadi plans to open the doors to the glamorous new Pensacola restaurant slowly, but customers have been pouring in since last week’s soft opening to get their first taste of Sumadi’s famous, tender wagyu steak.

Services will start with dinner only but will expand over time to offer the same quality lunch menu at lower prices as the restaurant gets into its groove.

Pensdacola wagyu steakhouse: Prime & Beyond is now open and turning heads with its tender wagyu steak

Pensacola’s ‘Project MIVE’ gets an A-rating, plans for 2,000 jobs, $80K average. salary

Pensacola took a major first step toward securing a $76 million grant from Triumph Gulf Coast that will allow it to expand the Port of Pensacola to welcome an advanced shipbuilding facility with Burden’s southern headquarters. The board voted unanimously on Jan. 28 to approve the project concept.

A Triumph Gulf Coast economist evaluated the project, then known by the “A” grade codenamed “Project Myve,” concluding it would generate $33.60 in additional household income in Northwest Florida for every Triumph dollar spent on the project.

Project Maeve: Pensacola’s ‘Project MIVE’ gets an A-rating, plans for 2,000 jobs, $80K average. salary

Pensacola estimates that Project Maeve could bring 2,000 jobs to the Port of Pensacola with 1,437 people at an average annual salary of $68,000 and 563 at an average salary of $112,000.

Think Burden Planning Headquarters: ‘Project Mew’ $76M grant gets first approval from Triumph Name of ship builder

Council on Aging dines on ‘threats’ at Pensacola Cobb Center

Since August, senior residents of Pensacola’s Eastside Neighborhood have had to look elsewhere for a hot meal at their neighborhood community center.

For more than 20 years, the Council on Aging of West Florida has provided daily meals to senior citizens at the Cobb Resource Center in Pensacola, along with other programming, and sees about 60 people attend regularly — the most attended senior meal site at a city-owned center, according to city officials. But in August, the nonprofit pulled out of the center over what it called repeated and unaddressed “threats” by city staff.

Earlier this month, Pensacola resident Rosa Johnson spoke at a City Council meeting, demanding that something be done to bring the Council on Aging back to the Cobb Center.

Senior Meals: Council on Aging dines on ‘threats’ at Pensacola Cobb Center

This article originally appeared in the Pensacola News Journal: Top Pensacola News American Idol, Wagyu Steakhouses and More