Florida Department Of Health Seeks To Drop Four Required School Vaccines
August 25, 2026
The state of Florida wants to remove four immunizations from entry requirements for PreK-12 public and private schools.
The Florida Department of Health is proposing a rule to remove Hepatitis B, varicella (chicken pox), Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines for public school attendance, a move that has been in play for almost a year after Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced his intent to get rid of all vaccine mandates in the state.
The rule, which was approved by Ladapo on Aug. 20, has a 21-day period for public input before final approval. DOH did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.
The proposed rule also expands religious vaccine exemptions to include moral and ethical beliefs and lets parents and college students opt out of having their records included in the state vaccine database.
Florida currently allows religious exemptions “if immunizations are in conflict with the religious tenets and practices of the child’s parent or guardian,” according to DOH.
Without an exemption, Florida law requires students to receive vaccinations for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), polio, diphtheria, rubeola and tetanus to attend K-12 public schools. But the immunizations considered for repeal by DOH are only an agency rule, not in state law, and can be repealed by the agency itself.
Last September, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Ladapo called on the Legislature to roll back all vaccine mandates in the state.
“Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery,” Ladapo said in Valrico, Hillsborough County, at the time.
“Who am I to tell you what your child should put in their body? I don’t have that right. Your body is a gift from God,” he added.
In response, American Academy of Pediatrics President Dr. Susan Kressly said the move will put children at risk of getting sick.
“The AAP believes every family should have access to immunizations to keep their community healthy,” Kressly said in a released statement. “Schools are an important part of that community. For many kids, the best part of school is being with friends — sharing space, playing on the playground and trading germs. Close contact makes it easy for contagious diseases to spread quickly.”
Even though the move to repeal all vaccine mandates was supported by DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis and then-Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas, no legislator filed a bill in any of the multiple legislative sessions in 2026 to remove those requirements from Florida law.
Multiple attempts at a “Medical Freedom” bill that would have expanded vaccine exemptions and mandated doctors to provide an alternate vaccine schedule passed the state Senate but failed to pass the state House.
In December 2025, DOH held an open meeting in Panama City to discuss changing the vaccination requirements for public schools, which Emma Spencer, a director within DOH, said was “grounded in policy based on considerations that favor parental rights and medical freedom.”
Parents’ rights advocates praised the state and also repeated false claims, such as vaccines cause autism, while doctors from around the state pleaded with DOH to reconsider and said it would turn back the clock on medical advancements.
Eehab Kenawy, a Panama City pediatrician, said religious exemptions already exist to allow parents and guardians to opt out of vaccinations for their children.
“You’re not forced. But sending a message to the general public that vaccines are not important, vaccines are not needed, is not the way to do it,” Kenawy said.
by The News Service of Florida
Cantonment Man Who Fled Traffic Stop And Hid In Air Duct Sentenced To Jail
August 25, 2026
A Cantonment man arrested earlier this year after hiding in an air duct following a traffic stop has been sentenced to jail time.
Kevin Jacob Moore, 36, entered a plea of no contest in Escambia County Circuit Court to possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, operating while driver’s license revoked as a habitual traffic offender, and a lesser offense of failure to obey a law enforcement officer.
Moore was originally charged with felony fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer with active lights and sirens, but prosecutors amended the charge down to the lesser offense of failure to obey.
Judge Amy P. Brodersen adjudicated Moore guilty on all three counts and sentenced him to 11 months and 15 days in the county jail on each count, to run concurrently, with credit for five days already served. His driver’s license was also revoked.
The charges stem from a February 15, 2026, incident when an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy initiated a traffic stop at Palafox Road and East Roberts Road after pacing Moore’s vehicle at 56 mph in a 45 mph zone. Moore refused to provide his identification and documentation before telling the deputy, “I’m out,” and speeding away through a red light at East Kingsfield Road.
Deputies tracked the vehicle to a residence on Turnberry Road in Cantonment. After receiving consent to search the home, deputies discovered Moore hiding inside an air duct in the hallway. A K9 search of the vehicle later alerted to narcotics, uncovering crack cocaine near the driver’s seat. A records check also revealed Moore had multiple previous convictions for driving with a suspended license.
DeSantis Announces New Restrictions On ‘Inappropriate’ Temporary Cash Assistance Purchases
August 25, 2026
Florida is set to become the first state in the nation to restrict how recipients spend state cash welfare benefits, banning the purchase of luxury, entertainment, and non-essential goods and services.
Governor Ron DeSantis announced Monday that the state will amend its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) State Plan to prohibit Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) funds from being used directly on items such as tobacco, video games, theme park tickets, and tattoos.
“Florida has become the first in the nation to set guardrails on our TANF State Plan to stop these taxpayer-funded benefits from being used to purchase inappropriate, luxury, and non-essential goods and services,” DeSantis said. “Taxpayer-funded assistance should help families put food on the table, keep the lights on, purchase clothing, provide for their children and overcome barriers on the path toward independence. We will continue supporting Floridians who genuinely need assistance, while working to improve accountability and transparency so that these programs operate as intended.”
- Under the revised state plan, TCA benefits cannot be used to purchase:
- Tobacco, nicotine, and vaping products
- Drugs and intoxicants
- Pornography
- Video games, entertainment tickets, theme park admissions, and streaming or entertainment subscriptions
- Tattoos, spa services, tanning, and other luxury personal care
- Psychic and fortune-telling services
TCA benefits are distributed via Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to help low-income families cover basic necessities, including food, housing, utilities, clothing, and household essentials. The average household enrolled in the program receives about $250 per month. Florida also directs TANF funding to its Relative Caregiver Program, which supports caregivers for more than 4,000 children statewide.
“Temporary Cash Assistance is designed to provide families with flexibility during times of need, and these commonsense changes preserve that flexibility while strengthening the integrity of the program,” said Department of Children and Families Interim Secretary Kate Williams. “Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida continues to ensure government assistance serves as a bridge to greater stability and independence while safeguarding taxpayer resources.”
Florida law already restricts EBT cards from being used for alcohol or processed at casinos, gaming facilities, adult entertainment venues, pari-mutuel betting sites, and bingo halls, with point-of-sale and ATM blocks managed by the state’s EBT vendor. The new policy broadens item- and category-level restrictions at authorized retailers.
State officials noted the policy also aligns with the state’s broader self-sufficiency and public assistance initiatives.
The changes follow recent nutritional restrictions under Florida’s Healthy SNAP initiative, which took effect in April 2026 to ban the use of SNAP benefits for soda, energy drinks, candy, and ultra-processed prepared desserts.
State officials said the new TCA spending restrictions will roll out in phases, starting with SNAP-authorized retailers before expanding item-level transaction controls across additional merchants and service providers.
Learn To Do Business With Escambia County At Upcoming Event
August 25, 2026
The Escambia County Office of Purchasing is hosting a free open house for current vendors and anyone interested in learning more about doing business with Escambia County on Wednesday, Septempber 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The open house will take place in the Escambia County Purchasing Office, located on the second floor at 213 Palafox Place.
Representatives from Escambia County, Apex Accelerator, and the Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce will be in attendance to meet with vendors and discuss services and upcoming projects. Purchasing staff will be available to answer questions about the procurement process, registering as a vendor, and more.
Attendees are encouraged to register prior to the event. Register here via Eventbrite.
For questions or more information, please contact the Office of Purchasing at 850-595-4980 or purchasing@myescambia.com.
Possible Infant Skull Found In Wooded Area Near Byrneville Prompts Investigation — But It Was A ‘Realistic Fake’
August 24, 2026
An investigation determined that a possible human skull found Sunday evening near Byrneville was, in fact, not human or primate.
The small skull, described as an old but realistic-looking, was located in a wooded area on the east side of Rains Road, less than a mile north of West Highway 4 before 6 p.m. by someone feeding cats. Concerned that the skull might be that of an infant, the person finding it called the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
At first glance, the “skull” pieces appeared to be real and belonged to an infant or even a primate like a monkey, according to the ECSO, which was attempting to locate an anthropologist for an opinion.
After further investigation, “the Medical Examiner determined that the “skull” is a realistic-looking fake,” Morgan Lewis, spokesperson for the ECSO said shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
George Stone Offering GED Classes At Molino Community Center
August 24, 2026
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.
No Serious Injuries Reported In Highway 97 Crash In Davisville
August 24, 2026
There were no serious injuries in a two-vehicle crash Sunday night on Highway 97 at Nokomis Road in Davisville.
The driver of a northbound Silverado pickup truck on Highway 97 apparently attempted to turn left into the Marathon Station parking lot and traveled into the path of a southbound passenger car on Highway 97. Both vehicles came to a stop in the parking lot.
The passenger and driver of the sedan were transported by Escambia County EMS to a freestanding emergency room on Nine Mile Road with injuries that were not considered severe.
For additional photos, click here.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
High School Football Week 1: Winners, Losers, And Lots Of Photos
August 24, 2026
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.
AAA: Gas Prices Hold Steady Despite Higher Oil Prices, For Now
August 24, 2026
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.
Clutch Plays Gets Wahoos To 4th Straight Win
August 24, 2026
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.