New Traffic Pattern On I-10 Eastbound Near Highway 29 Exit
August 17, 2026
I-10 eastbound travel lanes have been shifted to provide a dedicated work zone just south of the interstate.
Here is a look at morning commuters using the new, temporary traffic configuration. This aerial view is looking westward towards the Highway 29 exit.
The traffic shift allows crews to perform construction activities for future interstate widening and realignment and the replacement of the North Palafox Street bridge.
This temporary traffic configuration is anticipated to remain in place through late 2026.
Drivers are reminded that the posted speed limit in this area has been reduced to 50 mph. Drivers are advised to slow down and use caution when traveling through the work zone. Speeding fines may be doubled when workers are present.
Construction for the I-10 at U.S. 29 interchange improvement project is scheduled for completion in 2030.
Several Escambia County Voting Precincts, Including Century, Have Moved
August 17, 2026
Several voting precincts have moved this year, including Century, according to Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender.
Precinct 22 voters in Century previously voted at the Century Town Hall, but the Century Precinct has permanently moved to the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century, the voting site for the 2025 special election. Bender said notices were mailed to Century Precinct voters.
Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18.
Polling Location Changes For 2026
Voters in the following precincts were mailed a notice of Permanent Polling Location Change and a new voter information card for the following locations:
Precinct 5 (Former Location – Wilde Lake Church): New Location – Klondike Church of Pensacola, 7201 Klondike Rd, Pensacola
Precinct 49 (Former Location – Grace Lutheran/CareerSource Escarosa): New Location – Asbury Place, 750 College Blvd, Pensacola
Precinct 77 (Former Location – Pensacola State College, Warrington): New Location – Lexington Terrace Community Center, 700 South Old Corry Field Rd, Pensacola
Precinct 98 (Former Location – St. John Divine Baptist Church): New Location – Bethel AME Church, 511 Woodland Dr, Pensacola
Precinct 101 (Former Location – Plainview Baptist Church): New Location – Hadji Temple, 800 West Nine Mile Rd, Pensacola
Precinct 106 (Former Location – Grace Lutheran/CareerSource Escarosa): New Location – Holy Cross Episcopal Church, 7979 North 9th Ave, Pensacola
Temporary Changes for 2026
Voters were mailed a notice of Temporary Polling Location Change at least 14 days before each election for the following locations:
Precinct 14 (Permanent Location – Fricker Resource Center): Temporary Location – Pensacola Main Library, 239 North Spring St, Pensacola
Precinct 70 (Permanent Location – Burgess Road Baptist Church): Temporary Location – The Gathering Place at Pensacola Christian College, 115 St. John St, Pensacola
Changes from 2025 Special Election
The following precincts were permanently changed during the 2025 Special Election:
Precinct 22 (Former Location – Century Town Hall): New Location – Billy G. Ward Century Courthouse, 7500 North Century Blvd, Century
Precinct 24 (Former Location – Warrington Church): New Location – St. John’s Episcopal Church, 401 Live Oak Ave, Pensacola
Returning to Precinct
After being at the Pensacola Main Library for the 2024 and 2025 Elections, Precinct 31 is returning to its permanent location at Christ Church.
Precinct 31: Christ Church Pensacola, 18 West Wright St, Pensacola
Pictured: Precinct 22 has been permanently moved from the Century Town Hall to the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century in 2025. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge
AAA: Florida Gas Prices Are Slightly Lower Than Last Week
August 17, 2026
Florida gas prices slipped lower last week, even as oil prices moved higher. The state average fell a penny per gallon, declining from $3.88 last Sunday to $3.87 this week.
Sunday’s state average of $3.87 per gallon is one cent less than last week, two cents less than Saturday, and 79 cents more than this time last year.
In Escambia County, Sunday’s average was $3.57, down from $3.63 a week ago and $3.72 a month ago, while higher than $2.89 a year ago.
Sunday night, a low of $3.39 in North Escambia at a station on Highway 29 in Cantonment. The Pensacola area low was $3.36 at the warehouse clubs and several other stations.
“Florida drivers saw a little relief at the pump last week, even as oil prices moved higher,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “That could limit how much further pump prices fall in the near term. If crude oil remains elevated, drivers could see renewed upward pressure at the pump.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Wahoos Complete Six-Game Sweep Of Biloxi
August 17, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos swept a six-game series for the first time since 2023 on Sunday night, beating the Biloxi Shuckers 6-3 to complete a perfect weeklong road trip against their division rival.
Brandon Compton launched a three-run homer over the right field videoboard in the third inning to give the Blue Wahoos an early lead that they would hold for the rest of the night. It was the 17th for Compton in a Blue Wahoos uniform this season, tying him with Dillon Lewis for the team lead despite not joining the club until June 30.
Joey Volini (W, 1-2) earned his first Double-A win and pitched efficiently to establish a new career high in innings pitched. The lefty, who had never pitched beyond 6.0 innings in his professional career, worked 7.0 innings of three-run ball on only 83 pitches and became the first Pensacola starter since Luis Palacios in 2023 to pitch into the eighth inning.
Shuckers starter Jaron DeBerry (L, 7-7) allowed four unearned runs over 5.0 innings, but had only himself to blame. In the third inning with the game still scoreless, Adrian Santana hit a comebacker that would have been an inning-ending double play. DeBerry sailed his throw up the front slope of the mound into center field, opening the floodgates to a four-run inning. Aiva Arquette followed with an RBI single before Compton’s tape-measure homer.
Andrew Fischer and Mike Boeve each hit solo homers against Volini, but an RBI single from Santana in the top of the seventh inning and a bases-loaded walk drawn by Compton in the ninth gave the Pensacola bullpen added insurance. Colby Martin retired all three batters he faced in the eighth inning, and Holt Jones (S, 5) remained perfect in save opportunities with a 1-2-3 ninth.
The series marked the first six-game sweep for the Blue Wahoos since September 2023, when they earned a road sweep in Rocket City. It also extended a miserable run for the Shuckers, who have now lost a franchise-record 11 in a row.
With the win, the Blue Wahoos remained 4.0 games ahead of the Montgomery Biscuits with 24 games remaining in the regular season as they pursue a second half South Division title and a date with the reeling Shuckers in the playoffs.
After an off day, the Blue Wahoos begin a six-game home series against the Knoxville Smokies, Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, on Tuesday night.
written by Erik Bremer
Flomaton Police Investigating After FPD Officer Accused Of ‘Road Rage’ Incident Near Tate High
August 16, 2026
The Flomaton Police Department is investigating after a social media post alleged one of its officers engaged in aggressive driving and a verbal confrontation outside Tate High School in Cantonment, Florida—more than 30 miles south of the department’s Alabama jurisdiction.
Flomaton Police Chief Justin Hetrick issued a statement late Saturday afternoon addressing the incident, confirming the department is looking into the claims.
“I am aware of a recent social media post regarding allegations involving an officer with the Flomaton Police Department,” Hetrick said. “This allegation will be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly to determine whether any department policies or procedures have been violated.”
fro
Hetrick added that he has contacted the complainant and explained the process for filing a formal complaint, emphasizing that the department remains “committed to addressing all complaints fairly, professionally, and appropriately.”
The investigation stems from a Facebook post by a parent who described heavy traffic outside the school Friday evening while picking up her 14-year-old daughter from band at Tate as a Kickoff Classic football game was underway.
According to the post, the driver was pulling out from Tate School Road onto Highway 29 when a vehicle rapidly approached from behind. The driver alleged that the motorist began continuously blowing the horn “like a madman,” pulled in front to brake-check her, and slowed down to roughly 20 mph in a 45-mph zone.
When both vehicles stopped next to each other at a red light, the driver reported discovering that the vehicle was a marked Flomaton Police Department cruiser. The woman stated the officer rolled down his passenger-side window and yelled at her before driving away.
“I proceeded to tell him I was just as shocked that a police officer was acting like this and that I had my 14-year-old daughter in the car and he should know better to behave like this in front of myself and my child,” the woman wrote. “It was my first time seeing a police officer with road rage like that I’ve never been scared of police officers, but that was my first time I actually had a fear of a police officer.”
“This officer looked like someone waiting to explode. He was very angry and it’s scary to know someone like this is able to pull anyone over,” she posted. “And to know he’s someone with authority and he’s out there driving with so much road rage. So please be aware of this officer because I got the feeling he’s full of a lot of anger and just waiting to explode.”
After calling the Flomaton Police Department to report the encounter, the woman said she was informed that an officer with the department resides in the Cantonment/Pensacola area.
NorthEscambia.com image, click to enlarge.
Triple-Digit Heat Indices Continue With Scattered Afternoon Thunderstorms
August 16, 2026
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 106. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 78. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 109. West wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers between 10pm and 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 78. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. West wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 94. West wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. West wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 94.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 93.
Voter Turnout Near 14% So Far In Escambia County Aug. 18 Primary Election
August 16, 2026
Voter turnout stood at 13.93% by the end of early voting on Saturday for the August 18 primary election.
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office reported 14,793 mail ballots received. During early voting, there were 14,793 ballots cast. Of those ballots, 15,635 were Republican, 10,033 were Democratic, 2,432 were No Party Affiliation and 356 were “other”.
The busiest early voting site was Asbury Place at Cokesbury Church on College Boulevard, and least busy was the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century. Early voters were able to choose from any of 10 locations.
The final early voting numbers were:
- Asbury Place: 2,896
- Bellview Branch Library: 2,647
- Escambia County Extension Office: 2,523
- Southwest Branch Library: 2,242
- Downtown Main Library: 1,937
- Molino Community Center: 832
- Supervisor of Elections Main Office: 651
- UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts: 548
- Brownsville Community Center: 440
- Billy G. Ward Courthouse: 93
Polls will be open on primary election day, Tuesday, August 18 rom 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Lathram Chapel UMC Donates School Supplies To Molino Park Elementary School
August 16, 2026
Lathram Chapel United Methodist Church on Jacks Branch Road recently donated school supplies for teachers, students, and bus drivers at Molino Park Elementary School. Pictured are Pastor Hugo Gardner and LCUMC members Bonnie and Craig Exner. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Election Official Warns Voters Against Florida Governor Race Overvotes
August 16, 2026
One race on primary ballots across the state is causing some confusion among voters.
Both the Democratic and Republican ballots say “Governor and Lieutenant Governor (Vote for One).”
Some voters are marking two choices, perhaps thinking one is for governor and the second is for lieutenant governor.
On the Democratic ballot, only David Jolly has picked a running mate for lieutenant governor, with Gwen Graham indented and listed under Jolly’s name. On the Republican ballot, there are no candidates named and listed for lieutenant governor.
If voters choose two on either ballot, it’s an “overvote,” and voting machines will alert on the error. Voters will be able to fill out a new ballot, or let it stand in which case the double vote for governor will not be counted but other races on the ballot will.
“We had about one or two per early voting site on the first day,” Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender said. Those voters were able to choose a replacement ballot. “The problem lies with the vote-by-mail ballots that will be marked as an overvote.”
Bender said voters should be aware that only one vote should be cast for the races labeled “Governor and Lieutenant Governor (Vote for One).” And he said that he does not believe it will be a big problem.
Sample ballot image.
It’s Not Yet Election Day, But Three Century Town Council Races Are Already Decided
August 16, 2026
Primary election day is not until Tuesday, but three Century Town Council members have already won reelection.
When qualifying for candidates for the municipal election cycle ended in June 2026, three incumbents were the only ones to qualify for three seats.
With no opposition, three Century Town Council members were automatically deemed elected to the nonpartisan seats.
- Seat 3: Incumbent Shelisa Abraham. She was first appointed as an interim council member in January 2023 and elected during a 2023 special election.
- Seat 4: Incumbent John Bass. He first won the election for a term that began in January 2025 after Alicia Johnson was appointed interim mayor.
- Seat 5: Incumbent Sparkie Harrison. She was first elected without opposition in June 2025 to fill a seat left vacant after the resignation of Sandra McMurray-Jackson.
All three will be sworn in for their new four-year terms in January 2027.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.