UWF Announces Move To NCAA Division I Athletics
April 2, 2026
The University of West Florida announced in a press conference on Thursday morning that it will be transitioning its athletics programs to the NCAA Division I level. Beginning in Fall 2026, UWF will compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference as a full multi-sport member and the United Athletic Conference as a football-playing member.
“Our transition to Division I marks a historic step forward for UWF and reflects the momentum, ambition and excellence that define our community,” said UWF President Manny Diaz Jr. “This milestone is about more than athletics — it represents expanded opportunities for our students, greater national visibility, and a continued commitment to providing an outstanding educational experience. I am proud of the work that has brought us to this moment and excited for the future we are building together.”
The Argonauts Athletics program has a proven record of excellence competing at the NCAA Division II level, leading the Gulf South Conference in all-time championships and all-sports trophies. The University’s 15 varsity programs have earned 11 national and 136 conference championships while competing at the NCAA Division II level. Beyond athletic success, the program fosters leadership and academic achievement, with a cumulative Spring 2025 student-athlete GPA of 3.37.
“This transition represents the next chapter in the evolution of our athletics program and a testament to the dedication of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and supporters,” said Dave Scott, UWF Athletic Director. “As we prepare for Division I competition, we remain focused on building champions for life. We look forward to growing our tradition of success and welcoming our fans and partners to be part of this exciting journey.”
The Atlantic Sun Conference was founded in 1978 and is an NCAA Division I conference composed of eight institutions across the southeastern United States, including universities like Florida Gulf Coast University, University of North Florida and Lipscomb University.
The United Athletic Conference was established in 2023 as a single-sport football conference through a partnership between the ASUN and the Western Athletic Conference, which will expand to a full multi-sport conference and rebrand as the UAC on July 1, 2026.
The ASUN and the WAC (UAC) announced the formation of a strategic consortium beginning July 1, 2026. The alliance will support collaborative scheduling, shared operational efficiencies and expanded competition opportunities while maintaining independent conference structures and automatic qualification to NCAA Championships.
“This addition not only strengthens both conferences, but represents yet another growth milestone for the alliance between these two leagues,” said consortium Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bacon. “Since announcing our plans nearly a year ago, the excitement around what we will unveil on July 1 has been overwhelming, and with UWF on board, we have added significant fuel to the fire. Thank you to President Diaz and Director Scott for their tireless work to bring this moment to fruition. I am honored to welcome them to The Destination!”
During the three-year NCAA reclassification process, UWF athletics teams will compete at the Division I level but will not be eligible for NCAA postseason tournaments. However, they will be eligible to compete for ASUN and UAC conference championships. Full NCAA postseason eligibility will begin once the transition process is complete in 2029.
The transition to Division I aligns with the University’s continued growth in enrollment, research activity and regional engagement. The move will increase the institution’s visibility and expand opportunities for student recruitment while contributing to the overall campus experience.
By fiscal year 2027-2028, with the new Darrell Gooden Stadium fully operational and Division I competition underway, UWF Athletics is expected to see increases in game day attendance and expanded operational needs, including staffing, security, concessions and event management. According to an analysis conducted by the UWF Haas Center, UWF Athletics is projected to generate approximately $42 million in economic impact and support an estimated 280 jobs across the region.
Nine Months Late, Century Audit Shows ‘Deteriorating Financial Condition; $9.7 Million Shortfall
April 2, 2026
The annual financial audit for the Town of Century has finally been completed for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024. The newly released audit was due to the State of Florida by June 30, 2025, and had not been received and posted online by the Florida Auditor General as of April 1, 2026.
The report, prepared by HCT Certified Public Accountants & Consultants, LLC in Hollywood, Florida, highlights significant failures in internal controls and a “deteriorating financial condition” as defined in state statutes regarding a determination of financial emergency.
As of September 30, 2024, the town’s governmental activities faced a deficit of $2.0 million, while its unrestricted net position sat at a $9.7 million deficit.
Deteriorating Financial Condition
The audit, dated March 13, 2026, details a series of new and recurring “material weaknesses” and “significant deficiencies” that have plagued the town’s accounting for several years.
The audit found the town shows signs of “deteriorating financial condition” per Florida Statutes, including improper cash management, a lack of long-term planning, and a lack of analysis of existing tax rates and fee structures for proprietary operations (water, garbage, gas). The finding has been noted in town audits dating back to 2017.
At the end of 2023, the general fund owed the special revenue fund about $2.8 million, and the natural gas fund owed $212,000. In June 2018, the town council approved a repayment plan of $300 per month for the interfunds loans. The general fund and natural gas fund have deficit net positions at September 30, 2023, and operating losses were reported by by the natural gas and the water and sewer funds for the years.
In response ,the town has increased water and sewer rates, as well as increased the garbage rates. In addition, “there will be a natural gas rate study forthcoming.”
Why was the audit eight months late?
“We have not been able to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to provide a basis for an audit opinion on the financial statements,” the auditor noted.
HCT said they were “unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence… related to transactions recording, processing and financial statements reporting; as well as key controls in significant transactions cycles such as revenues, accounts receivables, cash and banks, collections, fixed assets, purchases, accounts payables; funds accounting and interfund balances.”
Town officials said on Tuesday night that they are beginning work on the next audit for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, which is due to the state by the end of June 2026.
Summary of Audit Findings and Town Responses
Auditors outlined several critical areas where the town lacks proper financial oversight:
New Fiscal Year 2024 Findings
- Bank Reconciliation Controls: The town lacks established controls to ensure bank reconciling items, such as checks and deposits, are cleared and recorded in a timely manner.
- Town Response: Officials acknowledged the lack of written controls and stated they will set up monthly monitoring procedures for items over 30 days old.
- Lack of Segregation of Duties: A “material weakness” was identified because the same personnel are involved in recording, processing, and reporting transactions like payroll and vendor payments.
- Town Response: The town noted that limited personnel makes segregation difficult but stated they would work to devise a system once a new clerk is hired.
- Payroll Processing Reconciliations: There are no established controls to ensure correct pay rates are applied or that manually input hours are reconciled before checks are issued.
- Town Response: The town described its current use of a time clock app and a two-signature requirement for checks.
- Inadequate Accounting Software: The town’s use of QuickBooks is deemed inadequate for producing entity-wide financial statements and lacks control over posting journal entries.
- Town Response: The town admitted personnel are currently not “capable or knowledgeable” of producing such statements with the software but do provide monthly reports to the Council.
- Vendor Management: There is a lack of oversight regarding who can add or modify vendor information, creating a risk of improper payments.
- Town Response: Management agreed and stated they would consider this when formalizing written duties and segregation roles.
- Depreciation Calculations: For years, the town has relied on external auditors to calculate annual depreciation rather than performing the task internally.
- Town Response: The town confirmed this dependency and stated they intend to contract this task out for future audits.
Repeated Prior-Year Findings
The auditors also pointed to several major issues from 2023 remain unresolved:
- Cash Management: The town failed to maintain adequate funds for customer deposits and debt service reserves, specifically in the Natural Gas Fund.
- Town Response: The town plans to open and fund separate deposit accounts once Council approval is obtained.
- Account Reconciliation: Significant audit adjustments were required because the town did not properly reconcile general ledger accounts, including grant revenue and interfund activity.
- Town Response: The town expects new “all-inclusive” software to eliminate the need for manual journal entries.
- Capital Asset Tracking: The town has not completed a physical inventory of its assets or consistently tagged them for tracking.
- Town Response: Management claimed assets were logged and accounted for at the end of the last fiscal year.
- Financial Condition: The town shows signs of “deteriorating financial condition” per Florida Statutes, including improper cash management and a lack of long-term planning.
- Town Response: Officials pointed to recent water and sewer rate increases and the installation of remote-read meters to ensure accurate billing.
- Audit Filings: The town failed to meet state-mandated deadlines for submitting its annual financial reports for the 2024 fiscal year.
- Town Response: Management is developing standard operating procedures and implementing software to help with the timeliness of financial processes.
Elected Or Appointed School Superintendent? It’s Headed Back To The Ballot
April 2, 2026
Should Escambia County have an elected or appointed superintendent? That question is headed back to the ballot for Escambia Voters to choose again.
The question will appear on the primary election ballot on August 18, 2026, as requested by the school board. The Escambia County School Board’s request for a countywide referendum ballot placement was approved 4-1 by the Escambia County Commission on Wednesday night. Procedure required the commission to approve the school board’s request.
Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May cast the dissenting vote. May’s opposition stemmed from the school board’s request for the primary ballot rather than the general election.
“That seems to be, you know, politically motivated to put it in the primary where we have the least amount of votes,” said May.
“I think that if there’s ever an opportunity to eliminate voter suppression, give every person an opportunity to vote, we should give it at the chance that allows for the most people to come out,” May said.
“Shall the superintendent of schools of Escambia County, Florida, be elected by the majority of the qualified electors of Escambia County, Florida?” will be the exact wording on the ballot — essentially will voters choose a school superintendent or will the office be appointed by the school board.
In November 2018, Escambia County citizens voted to move from an elected to an appointed superintendent.
“I feel very strongly about this,” District 5 School Board member Tom Harrell, who campaigned on a return to an elected superintendent, said when the school board approved the ballot request. “The county, I think, feels very strongly. There’s never anything wrong with letting the people decide. When you have a democracy, it’s all about people making decisions.”
“Deep down in my heart, having been here in this district for 60 years, that’s what the people of this district want,” Harrell added. “It’s the right time; it’s the right thing to do.”
Pictured: Current Escambia County School Superintendent Keith Leonard was appointed by the school board.
Escambia County Renews Head Start Lease At Molino Community Center
April 2, 2026
Wednesday, the Escambia County Commission voted to renew a lease with the Community Action Program Committee (CAPC) for a portion of the Molino Community Center that is used for the Head Start program.
The non-profit will pay $1 per year for the two-year renewal through April 28, 2028.
On April 22, 2024, the commission approved the first renewal of the lease agreement with CAPC for 3,755 square feet located at 6450 Highway 95A in the Molino Community Center.
Head Start and Early Head Start Programs provide comprehensive, developmental services for low-income pre-school children ages the birth to five and support services for their families. The purpose of the Head Start programs is to promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of health, educational, nutritional, socia, and other services. The cornerstone of the program is parent and community development.
The program has operated at the Molino Community Center since 2014.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ligon ‘Tim’ Fisher Of Cantonment Named National Merit Scholarship Finalist
April 2, 2026
Ligon “Tim” Fisher of Cantonment, a senior at Trinitas Christian School in Pensacola, has been named a 2026 National Merit Scholarship Finalist, one of the most prestigious academic honors awarded to high school students in the United States. The recognition places Fisher among an elite group of students nationwide who have demonstrated exceptional academic ability, leadership, and commitment to their communities.
The National Merit Scholarship Program recognizes students across the country for exceptional academic performance and potential. Finalists represent the highest-achieving students in the nation. National Merit Scholarships will be awarded later this year.
RELATED: Tate High Senior James Treick Named National Merit Scholarship Finalist
Sunny And Warm Into The Weekend
April 2, 2026
The next few days in the North Escambia area will feature a warm and spring-like pattern, with highs holding steady in the low 80s through Saturday. While the region will enjoy plenty of sunshine to end the work week, patchy overnight and early morning fog will become a recurring theme. The weather takes a turn late Saturday into Sunday as a cold front moves through, bringing a high probability of showers and thunderstorms followed by a noticeable dip in temperatures for early next week
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night: Patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 62. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southeast after midnight.
Friday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 4pm, then a slight chance of showers after 4pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Easter Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 74. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 53. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday: Cloudy, with a high near 67.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Road Construction Worker Struck By Pickup, Critically Injured In Beulah
April 2, 2026
A road maintenance worker was critically injured early Wednesday morning after being struck by a pickup on Beulah Road.
The collision occurred around 4 a.m. on Beulah Road just north of Helms Road. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a road maintenance crew was in the process of repainting lines on the roadway at the time of the accident.
The victim, a 68-year-old male from Sanford, Florida, was reportedly walking southbound in the northbound lane. FHP said the worker was wearing reflective safety gear when he was struck by a northbound blue pickup truck.
The driver of the truck, identified as a 21-year-old male from Pensacola, was wearing a seatbelt and did not report any injuries.
The investigation is continuing.
Unlucky 13: Northview Falls 3-1 To Milton
April 2, 2026
Thirteen was not a lucky number for the Northview Chiefs.
After 12 consecutive wins, the Chiefs lost an April Fool’s Day matchup to the Milton Panthers 3-1.
Grayson Burns took the loss for Northview in five and one-third innings, giving up three runs on one hit, walking three and striking out seven.
Luke Chavers went 1-2 with one RBI. Burns, Jase Portwood, and Grayden Sheffield each had one hit for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs will be back in action Thursday night as they host West Florida in Bratt.
Boil Water Notice Rescinded For For Stallion Road, Monica Lane Area
April 1, 2026
UPDATE…THIS BOIL WATER NOTICE WAS RESCINDED ON FRIDAY MORNING.
A boil water notice is in effect for residents in the area of Stallion Road south of West Roberts Road after a a planned water outage Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
The notice includes:
- Monica Lane
- The portion of Stallion Road that is south of West Roberts Road
- Colt Lane
- Pierce Road.
Residents located in the specified PBWN area are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use 8 drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water (let sit for 30 minutes), for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes. Bacteriological sampling has been initiated, and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible. This process routinely takes 48 hours.
ECUA crews completed the repair work and have flushed out the lines. Residents within the PBWN area and nearby are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the utility work, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at 850-476-0480 for assistance.
Century Water Rates Doubled Effective Today, Sewer Rates Increased
April 1, 2026
The Century Town Council gave final approval Tuesday night to nearly double the cost of water usage, alongside smaller increases for wastewater.
The rate hike was approved on a 3-2 vote, with John Bass and Henry Cunningham voting against. There was no discussion at a special meeting that lasted just four minutes with no citizens attending.
Effective April 1, the base rate for 2,000 gallons of water nearly doubled from $13.59 to $26.64. Usage tiers over 2,000 gallons a month almost doubled for up to 5,000 gallons (from $2.59 to $5.08) with other increases for additional usage.
The move came after the Florida Rural Water Association (FRWA) determined that the rate increases were necessary in order to remain financially viable and make payments on six outstanding loans.
Wastewater rates increased from $16.94 to $17.79 for 2,000 gallons, plus additional usage fees above 2,000 gallons.
For an average customer using 5,000 gallons of water per month, the water cost increased from $21.36 to $41.87, while the study said the total combined water and wastewater bill increased from $48.95 to $74.56 per month.
NorthEscambia.com photos and graphic, click to enlarge.
