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Hot, Humid And Scattered Storms This Week

A hot day is on tap for Monday, with increasing rain and storm chances aas we head into the workweek. Any storms that develop will have the potential to produce strong wind gusts. Here is your official North Escambia area forecast: Monday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 105. Calm wind becoming west 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. Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 1am, then a chance of showers after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 7am and 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind. Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. High near 89. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Calm wind. Friday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.  Read More →

George Stone Offering GED Classes At Molino Community Center

Adults looking to earn a high school diploma have a local option in North Escambia as GED preparation classes are now underway at the Molino Branch Library. Offered through George Stone Technical College (GSTC) in partnership with the library, the program features open enrollment, allowing new students to register and begin classes at any time. Instruction will be led by new teacher Ken Marlin, combining traditional classroom lessons with individualized support to help students meet their educational goals. Classes at the Molino Library meet every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Earning a GED opens the door to improved employment prospects, higher earning potential, and access to trade programs or higher education. In addition to the Molino Library, GSTC provides GED prep courses across Escambia County, including: Blue Angels Elementary CareerSource Escarosa C.A. Weis Elementary GSTC Main Campus, 2400 Longleaf Drive Online classes featuring flexible scheduling and personalized instruction For more information or to enroll, contact Patricia Harrison by email at pharrison@ecsdfl.us or call (850) 786-6515. Additional details about available courses and technical programs can be found online at gstc.escambiaschools.org. Stock image.  Read More →

High School Football Week 1: Winners, Losers, And Lots Of Photos

Week one of North Escambia area football in Florida is in the books. The Northview Chiefs and Pensacola Catholic High Crusaders opened play on Thursday night, and walking away stong winners. The Tate Aggies, Jay Royals, Washington Wildcats, Central Jaguars, and Pace Patriots were the Florida winners, while West Florida, Pine Forest and Pensacola High lost. TATE AGGIES For a bonus photo gallery, from Tate with cheerleaders, Lil’ Aggies cheerleaders, Showband, and more, click here. For a Tate Aggies game recap and photos, click here. NORTHVIEW CHIEFS For a Northview gallery with the band, cheerleaders, fans, and more, click here. For a Northview game recap and action photos, click here. Complete scoreboard: FLORIDA Friday, August 21 Tate 40, Marianna 13 [Story, photos...] Jay 35, Baker 6 Walton 52, West Florida 7 South Walton 50, Gulf Breeze 0 Washington 27, Pine Forest 26 Fort Walton Beach 41, Pensacola 6 Central 37, Graceville 6 Pace 41, Fairhope 0 Florida High 37, Navarre 13 Thursday, August 20 Northview 40, Rocky Bayou 6 [Story, photos...] Pensacola Catholic 20, Milton 0 Pictured: NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.  Read More →

AAA: Gas Prices Hold Steady Despite Higher Old Prices, For Now

Florida gas prices remain relatively stable, despite rising oil and gasoline futures. The state average for regular unleaded gasoline is $3.86 per gallon, about the same as a week ago. Meanwhile, the national average edged slightly higher over the past week, rising from $4.07 to $4.10 per gallon. In the Escambia County area, the average was the lowest in the state at $3.79, while a low of $3.69 was available at stations in Cantonment. The price of crude oil rose during the week, going from $84.50 to $87.06 per barrel. At the same time, gasoline futures increased from $3.27 to $3.35 per gallon. Those gains typically put upward pressure on pump prices because fuel retailers pay more for the gasoline they purchase from suppliers. “Florida drivers didn’t see much movement at the pump last week, even though the cost of oil and gasoline futures moved higher,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “If wholesale fuel costs remain elevated, drivers could begin seeing more upward pressure on pump prices in the coming days.” Pictured: Regular unloaded gas at $3.69 on Sunday night in the North Escambia area. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.  Read More →

Clutch Plays Gets Wahoos To 4th Straight Win

They say timing is everything, and that was ever present on Sunday afternoon at Blue Wahoos Stadium. A well timed home run, a big time double play, and a home run robbery at just the right time were all ingredients in the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 4-3 win over the Knoxville Smokies. The scoring got started in the bottom of the second. After Brandon Compton extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a leadoff double to begin the frame, Ethan O’Donell took Dawson Netz (L, 6-4) deep for his fourth bomb of the year over the left field wall, his second homer in as many days. And while that was happening, Joey Volini (W, 2-2) was cruising, setting down the Smokies down in order in each of the first three innings. The Wahoos had a major threat in the bottom of the third, loading the bases with nobody out and the meat of their order coming up. Juan Matheus struck out on a ball in the dirt. Brandon Compton was able to bring home a run on a groundout to the pitcher, but Dillon Lewis went down swinging after. Though they were only able to scrape across one run, Pensacola was in a good place leading 3-0. After retiring the first two batters in the fourth, Voilini blinked for the first time, giving up a solo home run to Miguel Useche, ending his perfect game and shutout. Two innings later, the Smokies would tack on one more with Andy Garriola bringing home a run on a groundout to third and cutting the score to 3-2. Jaydenn Estanista took over after that and ending the 6th inning with the tying run on third. The bottom of the sixth brought on a very welcome sight, as Brandon Compton led off the inning with his team leading 19th homer of the year, putting the Wahoos up 4-2. The seventh inning, however, brought pressure. After retiring the first batter of the inning, Estanista allowed a first pitch single. He then proceeded to throw 12 straight pitches out of the zone to walk the bases full and eventually walk in a run, making it a 4-3 game. With the bases loaded, only one out, and the go-ahead run standing on second base, Nelson Prada called for Mason Vinyard out of the bullpen (S, 1). Vinyard had spent his last 22 games at High-A Jacksonville and was making his first appearance for the Wahoos since late May. With no room for error, he got Useche to ground into a 5-4-3 double play, ending the threat and maintaining the lead. The top of the eighth saw another threat from the Smokies. Andy Garriola led off with a single, which immediately brought the go-ahead run to the plate. Edgar Alvarez, who homered the night before, crushed a fly ball to right that died at the warning track. With one down, Ariel Armas dug in. And Armas hit his ball just a bit further. A ball with home run distance, bound for Pensacola Bay. And then Ethan O’Donnell rose up and snagged it out of the sky, robbing a home run that would’ve put the Smokies up by a run, receiving an ovation from every fan in the stands and every Wahoo on the field. Vinyard then struck Drew Bowser out looking to end the inning. In the ninth, the tying run got as far as third base, but Alex Ramirez grounded out to third, closing the game out in dramatic fashion. The 4-3 win was the Wahoos fourth straight win, and their 13th win in 15 games. They now sit at a 69-50 overall and 33-17 in the second half while the Smokies fell to 64-55 and 26-24. The magic number to clinch a playoff spot dropped to 14. The Blue Wahoos have a day off on Monday before heading to Montgomery for their final series against the Biscuits.  Read More →

Escambia County Unemployment Rate Holds Nearly Steady At 5.1%

The latest data released on Friday by the Florida Department of Commerce shows the Escambia County unemployment rate nearly steady over the previous month. The Escambia County unemployment rate stood at 5.1%, a slight increase from 5.0% one month ago. The net increase for the year stood at 700 jobs. The labor force was 241,625, down 1,808 (-0.7 percent) over the year. There were 12,276 unemployed residents in the region. The professional and business services (+1.2%); other services (+1.1%); and trade, transportation, and utilities (+0.3%) industries grew as fast or faster in the metro area than statewide over the year. Florida’s statewide unemployment stood at 4.6%. This reflects a 0.1% drop, with an estimated 515,000 out-of-work Floridians out of a labor force numbering 11.1 million.  Read More →

Bonus Gallery: Tate Cheerleaders, Lil’ Aggies, Showband, Fans, And More

High school football Week 1 was a big one Friday night at Tate High’s Pete Gindl Stadium with the cheerleaders, Lil’ Aggies cheerleaders, the Showband of the South, student section, fans and more. For a photo gallery, click here. For the game recap and action photos, click here. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.  Read More →

High School Open Houses Monday; Middle Schools On Thursday

Open house events will be held this week for all middle and high schools in Escambia County. Open house for all high schools will be held on Monday, August 24, from 6 to 7 p.m. Open house for all middle schools will be held on Thursday, August 27, from 6 to 7 p.m. Information from Escambia County Public Schools.  Read More →

Bonus Photos: Northview, Cheerleaders, Band, Fans, And More

Thursday night was the season opener at home for the Northview Chiefs. For a gallery with the band, cheerleaders, fans, and more, click here. For the game recap and action photos, click here. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.  Read More →

Weekly Roundup: Florida Voters Look For ‘Something Different’

Florida Weekly Roundup is a look back at last week in a Florida politics and government. There were few surprises from the voters out of the primary in Florida on Tuesday, but one stood out nationally and immediately put a new narrative on the midterms. Heads were scratched over Florida’s emergency management director’s 24-hour foray into politics which ended with a new emergency management director. Even more stunning, a one-time Capitol ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis was arrested and removed from office following his arrest on alleged sexual abuse charges. CUTTING THROUGH THE NOISE As most expected, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds fended off challenges from 10 other Republicans in Tuesday’s primary to carry his party’s nomination for governor into the general election, while former U.S. Rep. David Jolly, the former Republican, easily defeated five other Democrats. That wasn’t the case in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, where Alexander Vindman, who gained national prominence as the National Security Council official who served as a key witness in President Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial, spent the campaign looking towards incumbent U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Tampa. Instead, Democratic voters were more attuned to affordability message from state Rep. Angie Nixon, a Democratic socialist from Jacksonville, who landed a double-digit victory after being outspent by a roughly 10-to-1 margin. “They are ready for something different, and they all want the same thing,” Nixon said Wednesday during an appearance on News4JAX. “They want someone to cut through the noise, someone who is going to put forth a platform that can actually improve their quality of life.” Republicans quickly set out to paint every Democrat as a fellow traveler with the progressive Nixon, highlighting her taking to the House floor with a bullhorn this spring to decry the mid-decade redistricting of Congressional lines to help the GOP retain the U.S. House. State Sen. Joe Gruters, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, put out a statement calling Nixon “an unhinged nut job who shouldn’t be anywhere near a position of power.” And while Jolly already has a running mate, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, the GOP has already started labeling their opposition ticket ‘Jolly-Nixon.’ INCUMBENTS MOSTLY RULE At the state legislative and Congressional levels, the primary was a good night for Florida incumbents on the ballot. There was one notable exception: Republicans in District 7 ousted U.S. Rep. Cory Mills of New Smyrna Beach, who had a string of scandals, and elevated Ryan Elijah, a former TV newscaster. Trump posted on his Truth Social on Wednesday that he “told Congressman Cory Mills of Florida, a friend of mine, to get out of the Race, but he wouldn’t listen.” Discarding Mills is expected to ease concerns that the GOP could lose the seat in November. In South Florida, Democrats sent U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Jared Moskowitz into the general election. Wasserman-Schultz overcame challenges from four Black opponents, all of whom decried her move to the newly drawn District 20. Moskowitz defeated Oliver Larkin, a progressive challenger who hoped to build off insurgent campaign victories against establishment favorites in other states. RUNNING MATE TO HOOSIER Kevin Guthrie, who had been the director of emergency management since early 2021, was announced as Lt. Gov. Jay Collins’ running mate on Monday, a decision made apparently without DeSantis’ consent. Before the results were in that the Collins-Guthrie ticket would finish second to Donalds by nearly 23 percentage points, Guthrie was out of a job. “If people want to choose politics, more power to them,” DeSantis said at an event in Sarasota. DeSantis said he accepted Guthrie’s resignation, adding that he “probably would have advised him (Guthrie) to maybe handle it a little bit differently.” In a group text shared with members of the division, Guthrie acknowledged things didn’t go as planned. “I knew my choice was a gamble and even a long shot. But I never imagined that I would lose my job for being added,” Guthrie wrote. “Regardless, no one can change the past. My only regret is that I didn’t get to see the people.” Guthrie added that he already had a job lined up in Indiana. “So personally, I will be ok,” Guthrie wrote. DeSantis said Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue would become the Division of Emergency Management director while retaining his FDOT duties. LAWMAKER TO INMATE One year after being appointed by DeSantis as Palm Beach County clerk of the circuit court and comptroller, former state Rep. Mike Caruso was suspended from the job by the governor after being arrested Tuesday on five felony counts tied to alleged sexual abuse of a involving a child under 12 multiple times between November 2024 and August 2025. Entering a not guilty plea, Caruso said little during a brief hearing Thursday in an Orange County courtroom where he was denied bond. During an event in Sarasota on Tuesday, DeSantis noted that Florida has passed a law to reintroduce the death penalty for pedophiles. “I’m proud that I signed that into law, and I’m proud that we have very strong penalties for people that abuse children,” DeSantis said. “If he is convicted, he’s going to be in for a world of hurt,” DeSantis added. Prior to the appointment, Caruso, a Republican from Delray Beach, was a vocal supporter of DeSantis during clashes between the governor and House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, on issues such as immigration enforcement. STORY OF THE WEEK: Pumping life into the U.S. Senate general election contest, state Rep. Angie Nixon, a Democratic socialist from Jacksonville, upset the heavily financed campaign of Alex Vindman. QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Well, I’m definitely going to be doing state policy all the way till we turn the lights out.” — Gov Ron DeSantis, when asked Wednesday if he will campaign with candidates such as Republican gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds or continue to focus on state policy. by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida  Read More →

Wahoos Keep Rolling With 4-3 Win Over Smokies

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos squeaked one out against the Knoxville Smokies, winning 4-3 behind two home runs on Saturday night. Jacob Kisting got the start on Saturday night, making his third career start at Double-A. Knoxville utilized some small ball off of Kisting in the top of the first, with Kane Kepley drawing a leadoff walk, stealing second, and advancing to third on a groundout to the right side. With Miguel Useche batting, Kisting spiked a breaking ball that skipped just far enough away from Connor Caskenette to allow Kepley to score from third, giving the Smokies a 1-0 lead. Kisting, though allowing a base runner in each inning he pitched in, threw the following 3.0 innings scoreless, striking out four in the process. Pensacola knotted things up in the bottom of the fourth when, with Brandon Compton running on first, Dillon Lewis poked one down the right field line and into the corner, scoring Compton on Lewis’ fourth triple of the year. After a scoreless fifth from Gabe Bierman (W, 5-2), the Wahoos found their power stroke. Ethan O’Donnell led off the inning by taking Smokies starter Brooks Caple (L, 4-4) deep to dead center, his third big fly of the year. Two batters later, Fenwick Trimble sent a solo shot out to left, his 15th of the season and his second since coming off the injured list last week. But, the rally wasn’t finished. With two outs, Juan Matheus sent a double deep into left-center field and eventually came around to score thanks to a Brandon Compton single that gave the Wahoos a 4-1 lead. After issuing a leadoff walk in the sixth, Bierman was able to retire the following two hitters. However, Edgar Alvarez tagged him for a two-run bomb to right field, bringing the Smokies to within a run of Pensacola. After that, Holt Jones was able to lock down innings seven and eight, working around a walk and a single along the way. That left the ninth for Jack Sellinger (S, 7), who pitched a flawless 1-2-3 inning to lock down his seventh save of 2026 and secure the 4-3 win for the ‘Hoos. Juan Matheus extended his hitting streak to 10 games, a season high for him, while Brandon Compton brought his hitting streak to 13 games, the longest streak for a Wahoo this season. The win brought Pensacola to a 68-50 record overall and a 32-17 record in the second half. The Smokies dropped to 64-54 and 26-23. Pensacola is now a season high 18 games over .500 and hold a 5.5 game lead over both the Columbus Clingstones and Montgomery Biscuits. The Blue Wahoos magic number to clinch a playoff spot now sits at 15 with 19 games to play. The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Sunday after noon. written by Charlie Hobert  Read More →

Aggies Overpower Marianna 40-13 (With Photo Gallery)

The Tate Aggies dominated the Marianna Bulldogs 40-13 Friday night at home on Carl Madison Field, rolling to victory in the first meeting between the two programs in nearly six decades. Following a 30-minute lightning delay, the Aggie offense ignited immediately. Just three minutes into the opening frame, senior quarterback Cade Pierce—a transfer from Milton—connected with Efidarius Bryant to put Tate on the big video board. The Pierce-to-Bryant combination struck again minutes later on a long scoring strike to stretch the lead to 14-0. Tate kept its foot on the gas as Pierce found Brayden Allen for another aerial touchdown, building a commanding 21-0 cushion before the first quarter even wrapped up. For a game action photo gallery, click here. Look for galleries with cheerleaders, Lil’ Aggies cheerleaders, the Showband of the South, student section and fans by Monday. Marianna answered before the break with a short goal-line plunge to cut the deficit to 21-6 at halftime, but the Bulldogs could not halt Tate’s momentum as the Aggies pulled away to secure the 40-13 win. Next Friday night, Tate (1-0) hits the road for a matchup against the Milton Panthers (0-1). Milton enters the contest looking to rebound after suffering a 20-0 shutout loss at the hands of Pensacola Catholic on Friday night. Pictured above and first below: Brayden Allen with a reception and touchdown for the Aggies. Pictured second below: QB Cade Pierce with a pass. Pictured bottom: A Marianna interception at the goal line. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.  Read More →

Celebration Of Life Service Held For Century Murder Victim

A celebration of life service was held Saturday for Adarius Da’Shun Odom, the man shot and killed August 13 at Showalter Park in Century. Many friends and family members dressed in Flomaton Hurricane Green to honor Odom, nicknamed “Daily,” during a the funeral service in the Flomaton High Auditorium. Odom was a member of the 2018 Flomaton Hurricanes team that beat Piedmont 23-12 to win the Class 3A state championship in Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium, the first trip to a state championship game in nearly 100 years. Friday night, the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office arrested a 16-year-old in connection with the murder. Pictured: Adarius Da’Shun Odom with receptions for Flomaton as the Hurricanes won the 2018 Class 3A state championship in Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.  Read More →

U.S. Attorney, Sheriff Host Internet Safety Event On Nine Mile Road

United States Attorney John P. Heekin hosted a community outreach event on internet safety on Thursday evening at the Hadji Shriners Temple on Nine Mile Road. The presentation focused on raising awareness about the dangers children face online and providing parents and guardians with actionable steps to help protect their families. Heekin was joined by Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons, along with representatives from the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Gulf Coast Kids’ House, and more. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.  Read More →

Friday Night Football Scoreboard

Here are this week’s high school football scores from across the North Escambia area. FLORIDA Friday, August 21 Tate 40, Marianna 13 [Story, photos...] Jay 35, Baker 6 Walton 52, West Florida 7 South Walton 50, Gulf Breeze 0 Washington 27, Pine Forest 26 Fort Walton Beach 41, Pensacola 6 Central 37, Graceville 6 Pace 41, Fairhope 0 Florida High 37, Navarre 13 Thursday, August 20 Northview 40, Rocky Bayou 6 [Story, photos...] Pensacola Catholic 20, Milton 0 ALABAMA Flomaton 30 Sweetwater 0 Escambia County (Atmore) 60, Elberta 0 Orange Beach 24, T.R. Miller 14 Bullock County 27, W.S. Neal, 10 Pictured: The Tate Aggies beat Marianna 40-13 on Friday night at Tate. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.  Read More →

Four-Run Fifth Lifts Wahoos To Electric Win Over Knoxville

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos waited out another two-hour weather delay on Friday night, but rewarded their patient fans with a 6-3 victory over the Knoxville Smokies for their 11th win in their past 13 games. After enduring a suspended game on Tuesday, a rainout on Wednesday, and a two-hour delay on Thursday, weather got in the way once again. This time, the threat of lightning pushed the start time from 6:05 to 8:00. Once the game began, the Smokies jumped ahead 1-0 right away in the first against Orlando Ortiz-Mayr (W, 3-4) thanks to a leadoff walk and a bloop RBI single from Arial Armas. They scored two more in the fourth on an Edgar Alvarez RBI single and Carter Trice RBI double. The Blue Wahoos began their comeback in the bottom of the fourth with a Juan Matheus solo homer, and pounced on reliever Grayson Moore (L, 1-2) in the fifth. Colby Shade doubled, stole third, and scored on an Adrian Santana RBI infield single. After an Aiva Arquette single and a double steal, Brandon Compton put the Blue Wahoos ahead with a two-out, two-run double. Ethan O’Donnell then brought home Compton with an RBI single for a 5-3 lead. For Compton, the double marked his 11th in 17 August games, becoming just the fifth Blue Wahoos player in franchise history to hit that many two-baggers in a month and the first since Troy Johnston in July 2023. The hit also extended his hitting streak to 12 games, tying him with Cam Cannarella for the longest streak for the club this season. In the seventh, Santana reached on an error and scored on a well-placed safety squeeze bunt single from Matheus for a 6-3 lead. The Pensacola bullpen took things from there, with Logan Whitaker contributing 1.2 scoreless innings and Nigel Belgrave (S, getting the final seven outs to earn his team-leading eighth save. With the win, the Blue Wahoos remained 4.5 games ahead of the Montgomery Biscuits with 20 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. The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Saturday night. written by Erik Bremer  Read More →

Cox And Spectrum Finalize Merger: Here Is What It Means For Local Customers

Spectrum and Cox are merging and will operate under the Spectrum name. Charter Communications has officially completed its landmark transaction with Cox Communications alongside its acquisition of Liberty Broadband Corporation, creating the nation’s largest broadband and video provider across a combined 45-state footprint. While the corporate entity will undergo significant structural changes, the day-to-day experience for millions of subscribers will center on a unified brand and restructured product lineup. The Name on the Bill and the Box Consumers will not see the Cox name on their consumer services for long. Moving forward, all customer-facing internet, TV, home phone, and mobile services across all markets will operate strictly under the Spectrum brand. At the corporate level, however, the parent company will officially change its corporate name from Charter Communications to Cox Communications within the next year. The combined company will remain headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, while maintaining a significant corporate presence in Atlanta, Georgia. What It Means for Cox Customers The transition begins immediately, with major pricing and product rollouts scheduled for mid-September 2026: Free Mobile Promotion: Starting immediately, current Cox internet subscribers who do not already use Cox Mobile are eligible for one free line of Spectrum Mobile service for an entire year. New Pricing and Packaging: By mid-September, former Cox markets will transition to Spectrum’s simplified, transparent rate structures and packaging options. Streaming-Inclusive Video: Cox video customers transitioning to Spectrum TV Select plans will gain access to bundled, ad-supported streaming services at no additional cost, including Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Peacock, Paramount+, ESPN Unlimited, and Discovery+. Customer Service Overhaul: Spectrum is bringing its customer service commitments to Cox territories over the next 12 to 18 months, which includes 100% U.S.-based support available 24/7, automatic account credits for outages lasting longer than two hours, and same-day technician dispatch when service disruptions are reported before 5:00 p.m. What It Means for Spectrum Customers For existing Spectrum households, daily service and plans will remain consistent, but the expanded footprint extends key network perks: Broader Connectivity: Access to a combined nationwide network supported by roughly 45 million out-of-home Wi-Fi access points. Local News Growth: The company’s local news division, Spectrum Networks, will expand into former Cox television markets, adding localized regional news reporting. Enhanced Commercial Services: Business clients will see merged capabilities between Spectrum Business and Cox Business, integrating enterprise fiber provider Segra and cloud provider RapidScale. Summary of Deal and Leadership Under the terms of the closing, Cox Enterprises received approximately $4 billion in cash alongside common and convertible preferred units, giving it an approximate 26% fully diluted ownership stake in the combined entity. Alex Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Cox Enterprises, has taken over as chairman of the Board of Directors, while Chris Winfrey remains president and chief executive officer. Liberty Broadband was simultaneously acquired in an all-stock transaction, retiring 38.6 million Charter shares previously held by Liberty.  Read More →

Florida Executes Man Near 20 Years After He Shot His Estranged Wife

Nearly 20 years after he fatally shot his estranged wife at her mother’s Casselberry-area home, William Frances Silvia was executed by lethal injection this week at Florida State Prison. Silvia, 61, was pronounced dead at 6:11 p.m., according to the Department of Corrections. The execution was carried out hours after the U.S. Supreme Court denied his latest motion for a stay. In 2008, Silvia was convicted of first-degree murder of Patricia Silvia two years earlier and given a life sentence for the attempted first-degree murder of her mother, Betty Woodard. Silvia is the 13th execution conducted this year in Florida after a modern-era record 19 last year. Two more are already scheduled in the next three weeks. The pace of executions is desensitizing people to them, said Rev. Jeff Hood, Founder of the Execution Intervention Project and Silvia’s spiritual advisor. “So many killings are happening that it becomes a sort of afterthought, that people are being killed,” Hood said. “What we have consistently seen, again, is that with the next execution date and the next execution date and the execution date, people begin to be forgotten,” he added. After the Florida Supreme Court last Wednesday denied the motion for a stay by Silvia’s counsel, the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to commute the death warrant he signed July 17. The conference has made similar requests before other executions. DeSantis earlier this year defended his pace of death warrants, saying capital punishment is needed to “bring justice,” as “some of the victims’ families have been waiting a long time.” “We do owe it to them to do it,” DeSantis said during a July 28 appearance at the Florida Sheriffs Association Summer Conference at Trump National Doral. “And it doesn’t take away what happened,” he continued. “I don’t know if closure is the right word, because you’ll probably never get full closure. But at least knowing justice was served is something that was very important to a lot of people.” DeSantis also questioned the length of the appeals process. According to court records, on Sept. 22, 2006, Silvia went to Woodard’s home where the family was having a cookout. After attempting to reconcile with Patricia Silvia, he retrieved a Mossberg Persuader 12-gauge shotgun from his truck and shot Woodard in the face and Patricia Silvia in the head. Patricia Silvia died. Woodard, who was standing in front of her daughter, lost her left eye and the top portion of her nose. Silvia purchased the shotgun about five hours before the shooting. Video of the gun purchase showed him exhibiting “no bizarre, agitated, frenzied or panicked behavior,” according to the sentencing order. Silvia purchased four boxes of shells from another store. He was arrested the next day. Silvia reportedly told an officer driving him to jail that “my wife spent all my money. I placed the checking account in her name. She started re-dating her ex-husband. That is the reason I shot her.” The jury voted 11-1 to recommend the death penalty. The state is scheduled to execute Harold Gene Lucas, 74, on Sept. 1 for the death of his 16-year-old former girlfriend in Bonita Springs in 1976 and Daniel Owen Conahan Jr., 72, on Sept. 10 for the 1996 murder of a man in Charlotte County. by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida  Read More →

Chiefs Roll Past Rocky Bayou 40-6 In Season-Opening Blowout (With Gallery)

The Northview Chiefs kicked off the season in dominant fashion Thursday night, rolling to a 40-6 blowout victory over Niceville’s Rocky Bayou Christian Knights in Bratt. Northview took complete control early in a game that was delayed nearly 30 minutes lightning in the area. Starting the game light rain, but a welcomed cooler night, the Chiefs built a commanding 40-0 lead by halftime behind a three-touchdown performance from Tyson Phifer. For more photos, click here. (Look for cheerleader, fan and band photos over the weekend). Phifer opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 3-yard rushing touchdown, followed quickly by a 4-yard scoring run from Caleb Levins. The Chiefs broke the game wide open in the second quarter. Phifer found the end zone twice more on runs of 16 and 20 yards, while Levins connected with JJ Jacobs for an 18-yard touchdown pass. Jacobs also punched in a 2-yard touchdown run of his own. With the FHSAA running-clock mercy rule in effect for the entire second half, the game moved swiftly. Rocky Bayou’s lone highlight came as time expired, scoring on a 40-yard touchdown pass to avoid the shutout. The Chiefs (1-0) hit the road next Friday to face the McIntosh Demons in Washington County, Alabama, about 40 miles north of Mobile. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.  Read More →

Wahoos Win One of Two On Thursday Night

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos left Blue Wahoos Stadium with an extra win and loss on their record, after going 1-1 in what was essentially a twin-bill with the Knoxville Smokies. The day began with the continuation of the series opener that started on Tuesday. Luis Palacios (L, 4-2) pitched the lone inning played on Tuesday and gave up nine runs, a season worst for Pensacola pitching. The game picked up in the second inning on Thursday night and the Wahoos put up three runs in the third. Those runs came from Aiva Arquette and Juan Matheus hitting back-to-back doubles. Luis Moreno pitched the bulk of game one and got roughed up for 7 runs on 7 hits and four walks in 4.0 innings. Knoxville posted a five-spot in the fifth inning and added two more in the 6th, with Ariel Armas taking Moreno deep to begin the inning. Aiva Arquette launched his 8th homer of the year, a two-run blast in the 6th brought Pensacola its final runs of the night. Connor Schultz (W, 5-4) threw 5.0 innings and earned the win in a 16-5 final. Game two came up all Wahoos in a seven inning contest. Knoxville struck first in the top of the third when Karson Simas took Eliazar Dishmey (W, 4-1) deep to right-center field. It was the first homer Dishmey had given up since June 18th. Dishmey ended up completing 6.0 innings on a season high 93 pitches. He allowed just the one run on two hits and 8 Ks. Juan Matheus and Brandon Compton each grabbed RBIs in the bottom of the third, Matheus on a single and Compton on a double, his second of the game and third of the series. Up 2-1, Adrian Santana came to bat with the bases loaded and two down in the fourth. He tapped a squibber to the left side and Brody McCullough (L, 1-3) threw the ball up the first baseline and into right field. The throwing error cleared the bases with Santana ending up at second and the Wahoos grabbing a 5-1 lead. Brandon Compton cranked a solo bomb to straight away left in the fifth, to extend the lead to 6-1 before Jack Sellinger would slam the door shut in the 9th, sealing the win for Pensacola. The Wahoos improved their record to 65-50 overall and 30-17 in the second half, the first team to 30 second half wins. The Smokies fell to 64-52 and 26-20. The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Knoxville Smokies, Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, on Friday night. written by Charlie Hobert  Read More →

Primary Election Voter Turnout Tops 27% In Escambia County

More than 25,000 Escambia County residents voted in person on Tuesday, pushing the overall primary election voter turnout over 27%, according to the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections. Complete, but unofficial numbers show a 27.23% turnout of 55,619 voters. Of those, 25,562 (45.96%) voted in person on primary day. There were 15,209 (27.35%) ballots voted by mail and 14,793 (26.4%) cast during early voting at 10 sites. There were 35,521 Republican voters, 18,134 Democratic voters, 4,252 with no party affiliation and 712 “other.” Statewide, the primary turnout was just over 25% with 3.36 million votes cast out of 13.5 million registered voters. Pictured: North Escambia voting precincts on election day – Walnut Hill (top), International Paper (first below), Quintette Community Center (second below), Gonzalez Baptist Church (third below) and First Baptist Church of Bratt (bottom). NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds and Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.  Read More →

New Principal, Assistant Principal Confirmed For Kingsfield Elementary

The Escambia County School Board has confirmed a new principal and assistant principal for Kingsfield Elementary. Maureen Cowart, the former assistant principal, was named principal of Kingsfield Elementary. “Thank you so much for the opportunity to continue serving my community,” she said. Lisette Guttery was promoted from literacy coach to assistant principal at Kingsfield. “Together with our Kingsfield staff, we will work tirelessly to make Kingsfield a flagship school and set the standard for excellence that makes Escambia County proud,” she said. This week, the school board also confirmed: Caroline Carithers – Assistant Principal, O.J. Semmes Elementary School Casandra Manis – Workforce Education Specialist Kristen Sappington – Subject Area Specialist, Gifted/Exceptional Student Education Pictured top: Maureen Cowart, new Kingsfield Elementary School principal. Pictured below: Lisette Guttery, new assistant principal. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.  Read More →

Escambia Armed Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty To Federal Charges

A Homeland Security task force investigation led to a guilty plena by an Escambia County armed drug trafficker, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Marquis Dy’Monte Bethea 32, of Pensacola, pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. In September 2025, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop for an infraction. Bethea was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. After a drug detection K-9 positively alerted to the presence of narcotics, law enforcement searched the vehicle. During the search, deputies located a loaded pistol, $10,350 cash, and over 200 grams of methamphetamine, according to court documents. Bethea faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, on the drug distribution count, and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, for the firearm count, consecutive to the sentence imposed on the first count.  Read More →

Arrangements Announced For Former Century Mayor, Councilman Luis Gomez, Jr.

Celebration of life services for Luis Gomez, Jr., will be held Saturday, August 22, at 2:30 p.m. at Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church in Century, Florida. Viewing will be Friday, August 21, from 5 to 7 p.m., and the repass will be at the Century Community Center (Ag Building) following graveside services on Saturday. Flowers may be sent to Jackson-McMurray Funeral Services at 130 West Hecker Road. Arrangements have been announced for former Century mayor and councilman Luis Gomez, Jr. A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, August 22, at 2:30 p.m. at Pilgrim Lodge Missionary Baptist Church on Jefferson Avenue in Century. Viewing will be held Friday, August 21, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Jackson-McMurray Funeral Home in Century. The repass will be held at the Century Community Center on West Highway 4 (Ag Building) following graveside services on Saturday. RELATED: ‘An Honor And A Privilege’ – Former Century Mayor, Councilman Luis Gomez, Jr. Dies Gomez was appointed interim mayor in August 2023 after the resignation of then-mayor Ben Boutwell. He was later elected to the position with no opposition in 2023 in a special election to finish Boutwell’s term and again with no opposition in 2024 for another four-year term that started on January 1, 2025. He was first elected to the town council in 2017. Gomez was also known for community service, hosting events such as block parties for local youth.  Read More →

Wahoos, Smokies Washed Out Again On Wednesday

Wednesday’s scheduled contests between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Knoxville Smokies were postponed due to rain. Tuesday’s game, suspended in the top of the second inning with the Smokies leading 9-0, will be picked up on Thursday at 3:05 p.m. CT. Thursday’s regularly scheduled game will follow approximately 30 minutes after its conclusion. In accordance with MLB’s rules and regulations, the second game will be shortened to seven innings. The unplayed game scheduled for Wednesday will be rescheduled at a later date if deemed necessary by Major League Baseball. Fans with tickets to Thursday’s game will have admittance to both games in the seat listed on their ticket. Fans with tickets to Tuesday’s suspended game or Wednesday’s postponed game can exchange them for any remaining regular season game, subject to availability. Each ticket must be exchanged at the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Ticket Office for a ticket of equal or lesser value. Exchanges must be made in person and cannot be processed via telephone, e-mail or fax.  Read More →

Voters Reelect Three Incumbent Escambia School Board Members

Voters reelected three incumbent Escambia County School Board members in Tuesday’s primary election. School Board District 1 Kevin Adams 61.18% ✅ Erin Toler 38.82% School Board District 2 Paul Fetsko 66.01% ✅ Gerald Washington 33.99% School Board District 3 David Williams 59.21% ✅ Isaac Williams 40.79%  Read More →

Donalds, Jolly Win Governor Primaries, Will Face Off In General Election

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds fended off challenges from 10 other Republicans in Tuesday’s primary to carry his party’s nomination for governor into the general election. He’ll face former U.S. Rep. David Jolly, a former Republican who switched parties and easily defeated five other Democrats. Donalds called on Republicans to come together and immediately focused on Jolly. “Now is the time for the Republican Party to unite. By working together, we can make Florida more affordable and defend the Florida Dream for our families, seniors, and young people,” Donalds posted on X. “My Democrat (sic) opponent would raise taxes, make life more expensive, and bring the Democrats’ radical left agenda to the Sunshine State – Florida cannot afford Liberal David Jolly.” Donalds, 47, faced vocal opposition from Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former House Speaker Paul Renner and conservative activist James Fishback. As of Tuesday evening, Donalds had 48 percent of the vote, while Collins received 25 percent, Fishback had 10 percent and Renner had 9 percent. Jolly, 53, brushed aside his opposition, taking 62 percent of the vote. The next-largest vote-getter in the Democratic primary was Dayna Marie Foster, who received 15 percent, and state Rep. Dotie Joseph of North Miami garnered 10 percent. Jolly also was eager to pivot to the general election. “We’re a state gripped by an affordability crisis and exhausted by culture wars. People want change,” Jolly said in a video posted on X. Backed by an endorsement from President Donald Trump, Donalds dominated the field and easily outraised his opponents, raking in more than $110 million. Much of the money he spent in the primary was aimed at Jolly, with ads bashing him for supporting transgender issues, such as allowing transgender women in women’s bathrooms and to play in female sports. But Donalds bore the brunt of attacks from Collins and Renner, who accused him of being weak on crime, favoring data center construction and slammed him for refusing to debate them. At one point Collins sued to kick Fishback off the ballot, alleging his voting record in Washington D.C. in 2020 and the purchase of a primary residence there in 2021 showed he didn’t live for seven consecutive years in Florida as required by the state constitution. A Leon County judge, though, rejected the suit saying there wasn’t enough evidence. Collins campaigned heavily on his military background as a Green Beret who had his leg amputated due to injuries sustained in Iraq, as well as his appointment by DeSantis at lieutenant governor in August 2025. He even tapped DeSantis’ Director of Emergency Management, Kevin Guthrie, to be his running mate on Monday evening. But DeSantis never formally endorsed Collins or anyone else in the campaign, although he specifically criticized Donalds. After initially saying Renner’s decision to enter the race in 2025 was misguided, DeSantis this month said he would make a “good governor.” Renner touted his term as Speaker in 2022-2024 in which much of DeSantis’ conservative agenda was passed, including universal school vouchers, bans on transgender surgery for minors, eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion policies, and a bill allowing people to carry concealed weapons without a license. The efforts of Donalds’ opponents, however, ran into a wall of campaign ads and implicit trust in Trump among the GOP electorate. In the Democratic primary, Jolly waltzed to victory over Foster and Joseph, who got in the race at the end of qualifying, after Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings dropped out due to a cancer diagnosis. Joseph wanted to give Democrats an alternative to Jolly, a former Republican who moved away from the GOP as Trump rose to prominence. But she had minimal fundraising and low name recognition throughout the state. by Gray Rohrer, The News Service of Florida Pictured: Byron Donalds (left) and David Jolly.  Read More →

Patronis Wins Primary, Will Face Valimont In November

U.S. House District 1 incumbent Jimmy Patronis won the GOP primary on Tuesday to head to the general election. Patronis received 71.14% of the vote, easily defeating challengers John Frankman (19.51%) and Douglas Chico (9.35%). Patronis will face Democrat Gay Valimont in November.  Read More →

Meet The Ernest Ward Middle School ‘A Team’

The Ernest Ward Middle School “A Team” gathered for a group photo on Tuesday morning to celebrate the school’s ‘A’ grade. The teachers and staff wore matching “A School” t-shirts, sponsored by David’s Catfish in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.  Read More →

Tate Aggies Sweep Escambia Tuesday

The Tate High School Aggies made quick work of their road trip Tuesday evening, cruising to a decisive 3-0 straight-set victory over the Escambia High School Gators. Tate set the tone early in the opening set, controlling the net and capitalizing on service runs to build an insurmountable lead, closing out the frame 25-6. The momentum carried seamlessly into the second set, where the Aggies delivered their most dominant stretch of the night. Strong defense and relentless attacking kept the Gators out of system, resulting in a swift 25-4 set win. Escambia showed some fight in the third set, putting together a few rallies to reach nine points, but Tate’s offense remained too efficient to slow down. The Aggies sealed the sweep with a 25-9 victory to finish the match. Next up, the Aggies will travel to Navarre on Thursday.  Read More →