Midday Crash Claims Life Of Century Man On Highway 29 At Highway 97 In Molino
June 30, 2026
A two-vehicle crash on Highway 29 at Highway 97 in Molino claimed the life of a 73-year-old Century man.
The man was driving a small Honda sedan when he rear-ended a stopped Dodge Ram pickup on northbound Highway 29 around noon. The Century man was pronounced deceased at the scene by Escambia County EMS. The driver of the Dodge truck, a 64-year-old Flomaton man, was not injured.
Northbound Highway 29 was completely closed by the crash and subsequent investigation.
Pictured: Northbound Highway 29 was completely shut down at midday Tuesday due to a fatal traffic crash. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Man Fatally Shot By Escambia (AL) Deputies Following Standoff Near Atmore
June 30, 2026
A man was fatally shot on Monday after a standoff with law enforcement north of Atmore.
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Atmosphere Road for a reported shots fired disturbance where deputies determined that the man had discharged a firearm and continued to make threats of violence towards neighbors and law enforcement.
The suspect had barricaded himself inside his residence with a firearm and refused to surrender to law enforcement, deputies said, and the ECSO SWAT team was activated, along with negotiators. The suspect continued to refuse to exit the home and surrender as he continued making threats. An armored vehicle was used to approach the front of the house after negotiations failed.
“The suspect exited the rear with a shotgun,” the ECSO said in a statement. “The suspect was ordered to surrender and the use of less-lethal equipment was unsuccessful. The suspect raised his firearm and pointed it at law enforcement, causing the suspect to be fatally injured by gunfire.”
“Life-saving measures were attempted with no success,” the department noted. The man’s name has not been released.
As is standard procedure, the shooting is under investigation by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation.
Atmosphere Road is north of Atmore, near Poarch and just north of I-65.
Mosquito Control To Spray Tonight In Part Of Cantonment
June 30, 2026
Escambia County’s Mosquito Control Division will conduct fogging missions portions of Cantonment.
Fogging will begin at sunset and will continue during the evening as weather conditions allow. The timing helps target mosquitoes when they are active while reducing impacts on other insects.
Click maps to enlarge.
To request mosquito control service, call (850) 937-2198 or email mosquitocontrol@myescambia.com.
DeSantis Slashes Over $3.4 Million In Funding For Escambia Public Safety, Century Wastewater
June 30, 2026
Gov. Ron DeSantis line-item vetoed items totaling $810 million when he signed Florida’s $117.6 billion Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget on Monday, including a wastewater project in Century and public safety for Escambia County.
DeSantis vetoed:
- Escambia County Hazardous Materials Regional Emergency Response Vehicle — $1.35 million. It was intended to be a regional response vehicle used across multiple counties.
- Escambia County Station Management System — $1.05 million. The advanced management system would have been used in all staffed fire stations.
- Escambia County 911 Dispatch Communication Improvements — $700,000. The project would have replaced outdated 911 dispatch consoles.
- Century Inflow and Infiltration Study — $315,000. The study was to be aimed at problem areas in the system to reduce wastewater flow at the town’s wastewater treatment plant.
Other Escambia County and Century funding requests never made the budget and were not funded:
- Escambia County Radio System Upgrade — $38 million. Escambia County requested $38 million to replace the county’s aging P25 UHF radio system with a modern 800 MHz trunked platform. The upgrade would have renewed all hardware and software for fire, EMS, law enforcement, transit, and public works, in addition to improving interoperability with regional partners during major incidents and planned events. “The 2012 system nears end-of-life in 2030, and failure may risk public safety,” the appropriations request stated.
- Century WWTP Motor Control — $1.061 million center. The Town of Century requested $1.061 million for a wastewater treatment plant motor control center (MCC) replacement. The town said parts on the current MCC routinely fail, and the age of the system makes it difficult to find replacement parts. The MCC replacement is a requirement set forth by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
RELATED: DeSantis Inks $117.6 Billion State Budget
NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Heat Advisory: Heat Index Values Soaring Near 110 Today; Storms Possible This Afternoon, Evening
June 30, 2026
A heat advisory is in effect for the entire area for Tuesday for heat index values up to 110 degrees. Hot and humid conditions will continue through the remainder of the week.
Showers and thunderstorms return to the forecast for Tuesday afternoon, with strong or severe storms possible during the afternoon and early evening hours.
Here is your North Escambia area forecast:
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 4pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 110. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers between 10pm and 1am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 75. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 105. East wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Independence Day: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 92.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
DeSantis Inks $117.6 Billion State Budget, Trims $810 Million With Vetoes
June 30, 2026
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a $117.6 billion state budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 on Monday, June 29, 2026, utilizing nearly $810 million in line-item vetoes to reduce overall spending.
According to the governor’s office, the final spending plan marks the fourth consecutive year of declining state spending while maintaining substantial funding for education, infrastructure, and environmental programs.
“The FY 2026-2027 Budget I signed today reflects the core priorities I laid out from the beginning,” DeSantis said in a statement. “This budget protects taxpayers’ interests, cuts spending for the fourth year in a row, and makes meaningful investments to build on Florida’s successes in education, public safety, environmental conservation, infrastructure, cancer research, and more.”
Key Spending and Allocations
- Education: The budget allocates a historic $30 billion for the K-12 public school system, raising per-student funding to $9,338—an increase of $150 over the previous year. It includes $1.56 billion designated for teacher and instructional personnel salary increases.
- Environment: A total of $1.2 billion is earmarked for Everglades restoration and water quality initiatives. This includes $665 million dedicated specifically to Everglades restoration projects and $396 million for targeted water quality improvements across local water systems.
- Infrastructure: The state transportation work program will receive $14.4 billion to construct and maintain Florida’s transit network, including $4.9 billion allocated for highway construction and maintenance.
Tax Relief Measures
The budget incorporates several targeted tax reductions, including a permanent Back-to-School tax holiday and permanent exemptions on disaster preparedness items.
Additionally, the plan institutes a second consecutive “Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday” running from September 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. The holiday applies to the retail sale of firearms, ammunition, camping supplies, and fishing equipment, and is projected to reduce state sales tax revenue by $40 million.
The budget also establishes a sales tax refund program of up to $500 per eligible residential property for impact-resistant windows and doors purchased between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2029, aimed at encouraging home hardening against severe weather.
DeSantis emphasized the administration’s fiscal approach, stating that the state has “delivered billions in tax relief to families while making historic investments in the priorities that matter most to Floridians.”
With the final approvals and line-item vetoes completed, the budget will take effect at the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.
Molino Mid-County Historical Society Presents Scholarships
June 30, 2026
The Molino Mid-County Historical Society recently presented four scholarships to graduating 2026 seniors.
The scholarships were presented to:
- Tucker Padgett — $1,000
- Brooke Holland — $1,000
- Aiden Crabtree — $500
- Kaylie Mitchell — $500
The scholarships were presented by Sarah Jenness, president of the Molino Mid-County Historical Society.
Pictured above: (L-R) Scholarship recipients Brooke Holland, Kaylie Mitchell, Aiden Crabtree, and Tucker Padgett with Sarah Jenness, president of Molino Mid-County Historical Society. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Reckless Murder Of 15-Year Old Brewton Girl
June 30, 2026
An 18-year-old East Brewton man has been charged with murdering a 15-year-old girl Sunday night in Brewton.
William Sanders, 18, of East Brewton, is charged with reckless murder for the death of 15-year-old Alexa Marky of Brewton.
Brewton Police responded to a residence on Evergreen Avenue around 7 p.m. for a gunshot victim.
Upon arrival, first responders began rendering aid to Marky, who had suffered a single gunshot wound to the neck. She was transported to D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased.
Sanders was detained at the scene and later charged with reckless murder. Additional details have not been released due to the ongoing investigation.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy that has deeply affected the Brewton community. On behalf of the Brewton Police Department, I extend our deepest condolences to Alexa’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. The Brewton Police Department remains committed to conducting a thorough investigation,” BPD Chief Matthew Jordan said.
Tractor-Trailer Crash Shuts Down Beulah Road Monday Afternoon
June 30, 2026
Traffic was blocked on Beulah Road Monday after a tractor-trailer overturned.
It happened just after noon when the tractor-trailer, driven by a 71-year-old Pensacola man, traveled off the east shoulder of the roadway, collided with a utility pole, and overturned onto its right side. There were no other vehicles involved.
Beulah Road was completely blocked by the incident.
The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
I-10 Southbound Ramp Lane To Highway 29 Closing Tuesday Night
June 30, 2026
The I-10 off-ramp inside lane to Highway 29 southbound will be closed overnight Tuesday night for drilled shaft operations, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. The outside lane will remain open.
The closure is scheduled for 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., weather permitting.
The $236 million I-10 at Highway 29 interchange improvement project is designed to increase capacity, enhance safety and improve mobility throughout this heavily traveled corridor. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2030.