Florida Drivers Get Break From Road Construction For The Rest Of The 4th Weekend
July 5, 2026
Drivers in Florida are getting a break from road construction lane closures for the remainder of the Fourth of July weekend.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, there will be no contraction-related lane closures on Florida state roads through 11:59 p.m. Monday, July 6.
While there will be no active construction closures, existing work zones and reduced speed limits will remain in place.
File photo.
Rain Chances Increase Sunday; Rain Likely For Monday
July 5, 2026
A wet and unsettled summer weather pattern is moving into the region, bringing a high probability of daily showers and thunderstorms alongside intense afternoon heat. Sunday kicks off the stretch with heat index values climbing as high as 105 degrees before afternoon storms develop. Rain chances peak on Monday at a widespread 80 percent and remain high at 70 percent on Tuesday, offering slight relief from the heat with highs hovering near 90 degrees.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 105. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 7pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. High near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 76.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 76.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.
Thousands Endure Power Outages On Hot Fourth Of July Afternoon
July 5, 2026
Thousands of people endured a hot Fourth of July afternoon with no power, some for several hours.
FPL first reported over 4,000 customers without power in an area generally south of Nine Mile Road and north of Longleaf along Pine Forest Road, including Wilde Lake Boulevard and West Detroit Boulevard.
Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to multiple calls of people stuck in elevators at hotels, and someone stuck in a self-storage business because the door would not open. Several minor traffic crashes were reported at intersections with no power.
Power was restored to a larger portion of that area by about 3:15 p.m., but FPL reported nearly 7,000 customers without power on and north of Nine Mile Road to about West Roberts Road in Cantonment. A later outage of over 3,000 customers was reported in an area centered around Nine Mile Road and Milestone.
NorthEscambia.com readers across the outage area reported that their power would come back on briefly, only to go out a few minutes later.
Most customers had power restored by 5 p.m., according to FPL’s reporting system.
No reason was provided for the outages.
What Did Florida Include In America’s Time Capsule To Be Opened in 2276?
July 5, 2026
“America’s Time Capsule” was buried on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. It will be opened in 250 years — on July 4, 2276.
Inside the capsule are contributions from all three branches of the U.S. federal government, all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and five U.S. territories, America250 tentpole programs, as well as select national partners and institutions whose contributions reflect the people, places, ideas, and innovations shaping the United States at 250 years.
What did Florida include?
Set of Four Challenge Coins —A set of four challenge coins representing the Florida Attorney General, the Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight (FAFO), the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and Governor Ron DeSantis, Commander-in-Chief.
Pin and Letter — A Florida House of Representatives pin attached to a notecard to Americans from Daniel Perez, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, 2024-2026.
The Florida Senate Booklet — The Florida Senate Booklet 2024-2026, Ben Albritton, President of the Senate.
America250FL Booklet — America250FL Booklet highlighting Florida’s Semiquincentennial Celebration.
What about Alabama?
And if you are wondering about nearby Alabama, they contributed a book of poetry. America: A Quintet of Poems by James Matthew Wilson was written as a civic and educational offering to future generations.
Pictured: America’s Time Capsule, which was buried on July 4, 2026, will be opened on July 4, 2276. In the photo at page bottom, the actual time capsule is on the left, and a “bell jar cover”, which aids in waterproofing, is seen on the right. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Our Hometown Blue Angels Played Big Part In America 250 Celebration
July 5, 2026
Pensacola’s own U.S. Navy Blue Angels were a big part of the America 250 celebrations on July 4.
The Blues performed a flyover during Sail 250 festivities commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States and accompanied the Parade of Ships in New York Harbor.
Later in the afternoon, the Blue Angels flew over Washington, D.C.
The Blue Angels will be at home in Pensacola for Red, White, and Blues Week and the Pensacola Beach Air Show July 15-18.
U.S. Navy/U.S. Coast Guard photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Beulah Road Resurfacing Project Concludes
July 5, 2026
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has completed a $4.4 million project to resurface Beulah Road from Mobile Highway (S.R. 10A) to Issacs Lane, in Escambia County.
Additional improvements include:
- Construction of a 6-foot sidewalk on the west side of Beulah Road from the Beulah Academy of Science to Nine Mile Road.
- Sidewalk and crosswalk improvements, including Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades.
- Improvements at the Beulah Road at Nine Mile Road intersection.
- Stormwater management enhancements.
- Utility relocations.
- Guardrail installation.
- Signalization upgrades.
- New signing and pavement markings.
Despite Home Run Barrage, Wahoos Fall To Trash Pandas On Festive Fourth
July 5, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos hit four homers, including a pair from red-hot Cam Cannarella and a dramatic go-ahead shot in the eighth inning from Fenwick Trimble, but a bullpen blow-up cost the club in a 14-8 defeat to the Rocket City Trash Pandas on Saturday night.
The Trash Pandas rewarded their sellout holiday crowd of 7,219 by rallying for eight runs in the bottom of the eighth, spoiling Pensacola’s Independence Day heroics and sending the Blue Wahoos to their fourth loss in a row.
Brandon Compton opened the scoring for the Blue Wahoos with a solo homer in the second, his third long ball in five games since joining the club on Tuesday. Cannarella launched a solo homer of his own, his seventh of the season at Double-A, in the third as the Blue Wahoos and Trash Pandas exchanged volleys in the early innings.
Trailing 4-2 in the top of the fifth, the Blue Wahoos started a two-out rally with a pair of walks before Cristian Hernández laced an RBI double down the left field line. Juan Matheus followed with a grounder that would have ended the inning if not for a throwing error from Trash Pandas third baseman Jake Munroe, scoring a pair of runs to give the Blue Wahoos a 5-4 lead.
Holt Jones relieved Blue Wahoos starter Luis Moreno, escaping a threat in the bottom of the fifth but surrendering a pair of runs in the sixth to put the Trash Pandas back in front 6-5.
Cannarella evened the score in the seventh with another opposite-field homer, his second of the night, and Trimble put the Blue Wahoos in front 8-6 in the top of the eighth with a two-run homer.
Kenyon Yovan (W, 4-2) limited the damage after Trimble’s homer, stranding two Pensacola runners on base, and Jack Sellinger (L, 1-3) was unable to protect the late lead. Out for a second inning after a quick 1-2-3 seventh, the Blue Wahoos lefty walked the first two men he faced in the eighth before giving up an RBI single to Raudi Rodriguez and a game-tying RBI double to Munroe.
Tucker Flint, who had briefly put Rocket City in front with an RBI single in the sixth, gave them the lead for good in the eighth with a two-run single off reliever Livan Reinoso. Run-scoring hits from Jake Thompson and Juan Flores followed, ultimately adding up to an eight-run inning and a 14-8 lead. Yovan returned to the mound for the top of the ninth to seal the win for the Trash Pandas.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series, and their two-week road trip, against the Trash Pandas on Sunday afternoon.
written by Erik Bremer
Century And Flomaton Team Up For America 250 Celebration With Flyover, Fireworks (Gallery)
July 4, 2026
Hundreds of area residents celebrated America’s 250th and the Independence Day weekend on Friday in Century.
The event, a joint celebration presented by the towns of Century and Flomaton, was held at Anthony Pleasant Park and the adjacent Showalter Park. There were food trucks, arts and crafts vendors, and fireworks after dark.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Following the national anthem, the Commemorative Air Force performed a vintage aircraft flyover featuring a Soviet-built Yak and a Beechcraft T-34.
The celebration ended with a fireworks show.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fireworks Are Terrifying For Pets: Here Are Some Tips To Help; How To Locate Lost Pets
July 4, 2026
Fireworks can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for some pets. Pets may display unexpected behavior while trying to escape from the loud noises, including jumping a fence to find safety, running away or “flight from fright,” destruction of yard or household items, and biting.
Tips: Fireworks And Pets
- Do not take your pet to fireworks displays.
- Do not leave your pet in the car while you watch a fireworks display. In only a matter of minutes, the heat in a car can cause serious health problems or even death. A stressed animal can cause major damage to the interior of your car.
- Keep your dog off hot asphalt or sand. These surfaces can cause severe burns to the pads of their feet.
- Never leave pets unattended outside, not even in a fenced yard or on a chain, if you are near a fireworks display or if your neighbors are lighting small fireworks. They may try to run away or become tangled up in their chain.
- Keep pets indoors. Turn on the TV or radio as a distraction and close the curtains.
- Provide a pet bed or crate in a quiet place to create a small den-like atmosphere and a sense of security.
- If you must be outside with your pet, keep the pet on a leash or in a carrier at all times.
- Make sure your pet has proper identification tags with current information in case they run away.
- If your pet often becomes stressed during periods of loud noise like thunderstorms, check with your veterinarian to see if a sedative is appropriate foryour pet.
Shelters often see an increase in lost pets after fireworks displays. If your pet runs away, post and search for lost pets at myescambia.com/animalshelter or call the Escambia County Animal Shelter at (850) 595-3075. Rember, you will need proof of ownership to claim a lost pet from the shelter. Proof of ownership can include pictures of your pet, vaccination records, identifying marks on your pet, tags and/or microchips. If your pet is at the shelter you will need your state issued identification card or driver’s’ license in order to redeem.
Free Admission To Florida State Parks For The Independence Day Weekend
July 4, 2026
Admission is free to all state parks in Florida through Sunday to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary,
Florida’s award-winning state parks offer unrivaled outdoor recreation opportunities across a vast range of landscapes, from caverns to wetlands to springs to beaches. Visitors will find activities for everyone, including hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, swimming, paddling and horseback riding. Cultural and historical resources include forts, battlefields, archaeological sites and historic landmarks.
Parks with free admonishing in Northwest Florida include Yellow River Marsh Preserve State Park in Milton, Perdido Key State Park in Escambia County, Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park on Bauer Road, Big Lagoon State Park, Blackwater State Park, and Blackwater Heritage Trail.
“While every July 4th is special, we recognize this Independence Day is a significant moment in our nation’s history,” said FDEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “I invite all Floridians, their friends and their family to our state parks to enjoy the outdoors, make new memories and support our treasured public lands.”
Free admission applies to day-use only and excludes Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Skyway Fishing Pier State Park and Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. All other fees, including overnight accommodations, special events, concessions and rentals from park vendors, will remain in effect.
Pictured; Big Lagoon State Park at 12301 Gulf Beach Highway in Pensacola. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.