Florida Gas Prices Decline 20 Cents, But Escambia County Trends Upward
April 13, 2026
The state average declined 20 cents per gallon over the past 10 days, according to AAA, but prices are still tending upward in Escambia County.
Sunday’s Florida average price of $4.03 per gallon is 17 cents less than a week ago, 32 cents more than a month ago, and 91 cents more than a year ago.
Escambia County’s average of $3.86 per gallon is four cents more than a week ago, 43 cents more than a month ago, and $1 more than one year ago. In North Escambia, a low of $3.79 was available over the weekend at station on Highway 29 and Muscogee Road in Cantonment.
The recent average drop in pump prices follows sharp declines in oil and gasoline markets late last week.
On Friday, West Texas Intermediate crude oil settled at $96.57 per barrel, down about 13 percent, or $14 per barrel, from the previous week. Prices fell sharply midweek amid early optimism surrounding a U.S.–Iran ceasefire, which briefly eased fears of major supply disruptions.
However, AAA said the relief proved short-lived. Crude oil prices rebounded Sunday night as markets reassessed risks in the Middle East. As of press time, WTI was trading above $104 per barrel, supported by continued uncertainty around oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which remains largely restricted.
Roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply typically moves through the Strait of Hormuz, and shipping traffic has yet to meaningfully return. That ongoing disruption continues to fuel volatility in oil and gasoline markets.
“This discount at the pump comes after price drops in both crude oil and gasoline futures last week,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “But it’s unclear how long this downward trend can last. Continued uncertainty surrounding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is already pushing oil prices higher, which could put upward pressure on gas prices again.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Here Are This Week’s Traffic Trouble Spots
April 13, 2026
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- State Road (S.R.) 296 (Brent Lane/Bayou Boulevard) Resurfacing, from Davis Highway (S.R. 291) to Baisden Road – Drivers may encounter the following traffic disruptions, Sunday, April 12 through Thursday, April 16, between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., for paving operations and placement of thermoplastic striping:
- Intermittent lane closures on Brent Lane/Bayou Boulevard, from Davis Highway to Baisden Road.
- On-street parking closures on Bayou Boulevard, between 12th Avenue and Baisden Road.
- S.R. 289 (Ninth Avenue) Resurfacing from S.R. 274 (Creighton Road) to Olive Road – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on Ninth Avenue, between Creighton Road and Olive Road, Sunday, April 12 through Thursday, April 16, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for placement of thermoplastic striping.
- S.R. 296 (Michigan Avenue) Resurfacing from Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) to North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) – The week of Sunday, April 12, drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on Michigan Avenue from Mobile Highway to North Palafox Street between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. for placement of thermoplastic striping.
- S.R. 292 (Gulf Beach Highway) from east of Bauer Road (County Road (C.R.) 293) to Manchester Street – The week of Sunday, April 12, drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on S.R. 292 from east of Bauer Road to Manchester Street, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for construction activities. Additionally, a new traffic configuration has been implemented on S.R. 292 between Mills Avenue and just east of Patton Drive, with travel lanes shifted to the outside of the roadway to provide space to construct a median traffic separator. Channelizing devices are in place to delineate the work zone. The speed limit has been reduced to 35 mph throughout the work zone.
- Business U.S. 98 (Garden Street) Construction from Pace Boulevard to the Interstate 110 (I- 110) ramp – The week of Sunday, April 12, drivers may encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- Garden Street, between Pace Boulevard and N. Donelson Street, is reduced to two travel lanes (one in each direction) as crews perform construction activities on the north side of the street. This temporary traffic configuration will be in place through late 2026.
- On-street parking is closed on Garden Street, between B Street and L Street.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Resurfacing from east of U.S. 29 to east of Davis Highway (S.R. 291) – Drivers may encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions Sunday, April 12 through Thursday, April 16, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for paving operations and guardrail installation:
- Intermittent lane closures on I-10 between mile markers 11 and 14.
- Intermittent lane closures on the I-10 ramps to access Interstate 110 (I-110) southbound (Exit 12) and Davis Highway (Exit 13).
- I-110 Resurfacing from I-10 to U.S. 98 – Drivers may encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions Sunday, April 12 through Thursday, April 16, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for paving operations and roadway lighting installation:
- Intermittent lane closures on the I-110 ramps to Brent Lane (S.R. 296) and Airport Boulevard (Exit 5).
- Intermittent I-110 lane closures near the Creighton Road overpass.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) Construction – Drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- Intermittent outside lane closures on I-10 westbound near the Nine Mile Road interchange, Sunday, April 12 through Thursday, April 16, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction between the I-10 ramps, Sunday, April 12 through Friday, April 17, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Law enforcement will be on site, and directional signage will be in place to guide drivers through the work zone.
- Temporary reconfiguration of the I-10 westbound ramps, which will remain in place through mid-2026.
- I-10 at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) Construction – The week of Sunday, April 12, drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- I-10 is reduced to two travel lanes in each direction between U.S. 29 and I-110.
- I-10 travel lanes are shifted away from the median area of the roadway, near the U.S. 29 interchange.
- The U.S. 29 southbound access to the I-10 eastbound on-ramp has been reduced.
- The U.S. 29 northbound ramp to I-10 eastbound is closed. U.S. 29 northbound drivers are being detoured to make a U-turn at Broad Street onto U.S. 29 southbound to access I-10 eastbound.
- S.R. 97 (Atmore Highway) Resurfacing from U.S. 29 to the Alabama State Line– Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Intermittent lane and shoulder closures are to be expected throughout the project limits on Monday, April 13 through Friday, April 17, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for median improvements.
- Lane closures are to be expected at S.R. 95 and S.R. 97 on Monday, April 13, through Friday, April 17, from 7 A.M. – 5 P.M. for median improvements.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive, Sunday, April 12 through Friday, April 17, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for paving operations.
- U.S. 90 Resurfacing from Escambia River Bridge to east of Woodbine Road (C.R. 197A) – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on U.S. 90, from Escambia River Bridge to Woodbine Road, Sunday, April 12 through Thursday, April 16, between 7 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., for guardrail installation. Additionally, the speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph through the work zone.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weathe
Mickey Sue ‘Susie’ Messick
April 13, 2026
Mickey Sue “Susie” Messick, born October 18, 1951, in Pensacola, Florida, passed away on April 10, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Charles “Chuck” Messick; her daughter, Christy Gardner (Jesse); her beloved granddaughter, Lileah Messick; and her triplet grandsons, Jase, Grant, and Reed Gardner. She is also survived by her sisters, Judy Regan, Katie O’Quinn (Buddy), Cathy Anderson (Terry), and Shirley Caro (Buddy), along with many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.
Susie was preceded in death by her son, Jason Messick, and her parents, W.C. and Thora Regan.
A graduate of Pensacola High School, Class of 1969, Susie had a special talent and passion for cooking and cake decorating. She created wedding cakes for her daughter, as well as for nieces, nephews, and many friends over the years—each one made with care and pride.
Above all, Susie’s greatest joy in life was her family, especially her grandchildren: Lileah, Jase, Grant and Reed, who brought her endless joy.
She found peace in traveling to the Smoky Mountains—especially Cades Cove—and loved her time at the beach at Fort Pickens. She was also a devoted fan of the Atlanta Braves and enjoyed cheering them on.
Susie lived her life with kindness, love, and a quiet faith, finding strength and comfort in the Lord. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
“And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:17–18
Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 20, 2026 at 2:00 pm at Faith Chapel North with Mary Taylor officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Warm And Dry Conditions Persist All Week
April 12, 2026
Conditions remain warm and throughout the week as North Escambia sees a stretch of mostly sunny skies with highs climbing into the mid-80s. While early morning patchy fog may slow things down through Monday, clear nights and light winds will dominate the region, providing dry conditions until at least next weekend.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night: Patchy fog after 3am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the evening.
Monday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 85.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Temporary Median Crossovers Under Construction At Highway 29 And Highway 97
April 12, 2026
Contractors are constructing temporary median crossovers on Highway 29 at Highway 97 in Molino.
It’s part of a $14 million project to resurface Highway 97 from Highway 29 in Molino to the Alabama state line at Atmore. The project also includes stormwater improvements at the Highway 29 intersection to alleviate historic flooding by installing an additional box culvert across the southern leg of the intersection and two additional cross drains on the northern leg of the intersection.
Drivers can expect intermittent lane and shoulder closures on Highway 29 at Highway 97 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Monday, April 13 through Friday, April 17, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
NorthEscambia.com photo and graphic, click to enlarge.
Eight Children, One Adult Displaced By Quintette Road Fire
April 12, 2026
One adult and eight children were reportedly displaced temporarily by a house fire in the Quintette community on Saturday.
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to the fire in the 100 block of West Quintette Road around 4:50 p.m. The fire was reportedly contained mostly to one bedroom. There was no immediate word on the cause of the fire.
There were no injuries reported. The American Red Cross is providing assistance to those displaced by the fire.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Tate High Beta Club Supports Domestic Violence Survivors
April 12, 2026
Tate High School’s Beta Club is making a powerful impact in the community through a donation drive supporting FavorHouse of Northwest Florida.
FavorHouse serves individuals and families affected by domestic violence, and Tate students are stepping up in a big way to help.
Through the initiative, Beta Club members are showing what it truly means to lead with compassion and serve with purpose. They are collecting essential items such as clothing, toiletries, and non-perishable food to support survivors who often have to leave their homes with very little. These donations provide comfort, stability, and dignity during some of life’s most difficult moments.
Nine Mile Costco Taking Applications as Construction Accelerates
April 12, 2026
As construction moves at a rapid pace, applications are being taken for a new Costco on West Nine Mile Road. Significant progress has been made on the building, parking lot, and outlying gas station, but an opening day has not yet been announced.
A variety of jobs are available at the Pensacola Costco, according to the company website. The jobs include tire installers, stockers, cashiers, pharmacy managers, cake decorators, deli clerks, food service, meat wrappers, and many more. Hourly employees begin at $20-$21 an hour, while some positions like pharmacy pay much more.
The nearest currently open Costco to Pensacola is in Mobile, Alabama.
How long does it take to build a Costco?
The architectural firm MG2, which has partnered with Costco for 30 years on over 780 locations, says it takes under four months to build a new store.
“Costco Wholesale has set the bar by creating and maintaining the platinum standard in optimized rollouts: It takes just 110 days from the time construction begins to the moment doors open to their members,” MG2 said.
But construction won’t start until the existing building is demolished, sometime after Planet Fitness moves.
What do the plans show?
Plans approved by Escambia County show the 172,580 square foot Costco retail store with a gas station and 830 parking spaces at 225 East Nine Mile Road, at the corner of East Nine Mile Road and Chemstrand Road. That was most recently the site of a now-demolished Planet Fitness and a former Kmart store. It’s several parcels totaling just under 22 acres.
How much is a Costco membership?
Membership is required for in-store shoppers at Costco. Members must be 16 or older to apply. The pharmacy is open to anyone, regardless of membership.
Costco offers two levels of membership for individuals or businesses:
Executive: $130 annually
- Annual 2% Reward
- Costco Services Discounts
- Shop Online and in Warehouses
- Includes 2 Membership Cards
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Gold Star: $65 annually
- Shop Online and in Warehouses
- Includes 2 Membership Cards
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Businesses can purchase either level to purchase items for resale or add additional people at $65 each.
Northview NJROTC Brings Home Multiple Medals from Gator Games
April 12, 2026
The Northview High School NROTC placed in several events on Saturday at the Gator Games at Escambia High School in Pensacola.
The Northview NJROTC placed first in sit-ups, second in push-ups, and third in the Australian trolley.
Australian trolley (pictured top), an official NJROTC athletic competition, is a team coordination exercise where cadets stand on two long wooden boards (the “trolley”) and must walk in unison using hand ropes.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Graduate Ethan McAnally Named Conference Baseball Player of the Week
April 12, 2026
Francis Marion University junior Ethan McAnally was recently named the Conference Carolinas Baseball Player of the Week.
McAnally, a Tate High graduate and native of Molino, posted a .500 batting average (8-for-16) with three extra-base hits, six runs batted in, five runs scored, and two stolen bases, as the Patriots posted a 3-1 mark. He registered a .813 slugging percentage and a .550 on-base percentage in 16 at-bats.
In a game last week, he finished 3-for-6 at the plate with one RBI, two runs scored, and one stolen base in a 14-10 comeback win over No. 1 Catawba College at a neutral site in Kannapolis, N.C.,
In a three-game series versus the University of Mount Olive, McAnally went 5-for-10 with a two-run homer, two doubles, five RBIs, three runs scored, three walks, and one stolen base, as Francis Marion took two of three games to take the series.
McAnally ranks seventh in NCAA Division II with 51 runs batted in, while sitting ninth overall with 49 runs scored and 101 total bases. He also ranks among the top 10 in the nation with 12 home runs this year.
McAnally is majoring in mechanical engineering.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
