Nurse Practitioners Would Gain Recognition With Salzman Bill On Doctor Titles
January 15, 2026
Legislation filed by State Rep. Michelle Salzman (R-Pensacola) passed the House Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee today, its first stop in the 2026 legislative session. HB 237 would allow Nurse Practitioners (NPs) who have earned doctoral degrees to use the “Doctor” title in clinical practice, aligning Florida with national standards and recognizing the advanced training of these essential healthcare professionals.
The bill permits doctoral-prepared NPs – those with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or Ph.D.- to use the title when clearly identifying their professional role. Salzman’s legislation requires that NPs using “Dr.” also state their professional designation to maintain transparency for patients.
“If you’ve earned a doctorate in the medical field, you deserve to say so, just like in any other profession,” Salzman said. “This bill ensures patients understand the training behind their care while offering fairness and recognition to our Nurse Practitioners.”
Other states allow doctoral-level professionals, including pharmacists, physical therapists, audiologists, and psychologists, to use the “Doctor” title in clinical practice when properly identified. HB 237 brings Florida in line with that practice.
The bill promotes patient trust, recognizes rigorous education, and helps recruit and retain highly trained NPs, a growing part of Florida’s healthcare workforce amid physician shortages.
File image.
Suspect Now Charged In Scooter, E-bike Thefts On UWF Campus
January 15, 2026
A suspect has now been charged in connection with stealing e-bikes and scooters over a two-month period from the University of West Florida campus.
Blaine Earl Cunningham, 42, was charged with dealing and trafficking in stolen property. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond on the felony charge.
UWF Police said the case was solved with the help of surveillance video that showed a vehicle being used to transport the stolen e-bikes. Investigators tracked down the vehicle at a home, and that’s where they found the stolen property on Tuesday morning.
Police said over 20 e-bikes and scooters were recovered.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the University of West Florida Police Department and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fake Cop Reportedly Pulls Over Woman In Century, Searches Her Vehicle
January 15, 2026
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a report of a man impersonating a law enforcement officer and pulling over a woman in Century.
The incident occurred around 5 a.m. on January 5 in the 7400 block of North Century Boulevard — very near the ECSO Century Precinct.
A woman reported that a man in a dark-colored vehicle used two small blue lights in the center of his dash to pull her over. He approached the vehicle, displayed a badge**,** and asked for her driver’s license before asking for permission to search her vehicle. He then asked if she had any narcotics. She was unharmed and reported that nothing was missing from her vehicle after the 15-minute search.
She later became concerned and called the ECSO.
She told deputies that she did not recognize the badge, but stated that it was not a star like an ECSO badge, and she did not believe it was the Florida Highway Patrol. Deputies contacted other law enforcement agencies in the area.
The Sheriff’s Office said it appeared to be an “isolated incident” having received no additional reports.
Anyone with information on the incident or the possible impersonator is asked to call the ECSO (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
The ECSO said if a motorist is unsure if a law enforcement officer trying to pull them over is real, the driver can turn on their hazard lights, slow down, and call 911 or dispatch to verify the traffic stop.
NorthEscambia.com image is for illustrative purposes only and not the actual vehicle.
Beulah Regional Park To Close Next Week For Improvements
January 15, 2026
The Beulah Regional Park will temporarily close on January 20 for upgrades and addition of amenities throughout the park. The park is expected to reopen in mid-March, weather permitting.
Improvements to Beulah Regional Park will include four new pickleball courts, fencing, picnic table pavilions, and more. Several ADA upgrades will be made throughout the park, including the addition of two new ADA-compliant parking spaces, sidewalks to and from the parking lot, and improved connectivity to existing amenities. A splash pad is also planned, according to a county graphic.
Drainage enhancements are also planned throughout the park to minimize areas with standing water and improve overall park aesthetics.
Additional upgrades are also underway for the Beulah Senior Citizen Center, including a new basketball court, playground, and walking track resurfacing. The Beulah Senior Citizen Center will remain open while improvements are completed.
Beulah Regional Park is located at 7820 Mobile Highway, and the Beulah Senior Citizen Center is located at 7425 Woodside Road.
Lipscomb Elementary Fifth Graders Explore Roy Hyatt Science Environmental Center (Gallery)
January 15, 2026
Fifth grade students from Lipscomb Elementary School recently enjoyed a visit to the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center in Cantonment.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Issues Boil Water Notice For Part Of Hwy. 4A And All Of Backwoods Road
January 15, 2026
This boil water notice was lifted on Thursday afternoon, January 22.
The town of Century has issued a boil water notice for a portion of Highway 4A and Backwoods Road.
The notice for 662-1050 of Highway 4A and all of Backwoods Road.
The boil water notice was issued after a contractor struck a 6-inch water main.
As a precaution, the town advises that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative, bottled water may be used. Residents are also advised to take precautions when bathing, especially immunocompromised individuals, infants, or the elderly.
A loss in system pressure could cause back siphonage of contaminants, such as e. coli bacteria, into the water system. water containing E. coli bacteria can be considered safe for drinking and cooking after vigorously boiling the water. Disease symptoms caused by these bacteria may include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and possibly jaundice, and any associated headache and fatigue. EPA has set an enforceable drinking water standard for e. coli to reduce the risk of these adverse health effects. Under this standard all drinking water must be free of these bacteria.
The water system is currently collecting samples to determine if the presence of E. coli bacteria exists within the water system. This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
Anyone with question should call the Town of Century at (850) 256-3208.
This story will be updated when the boil water notice is lifted.
SOS Mode? No Service? Verizon Reports Major Outage
January 14, 2026
UPDATE: About 9:30 Wednesday night, Version said, “The outage has been resolved. If customers are still having an issue, we encourage them to restart their devices to reconnect to the network.”
Users across the North Escambia area reported that their phones were stuck in “SOS” or similar emergency modes with no service on Wednesday afternoon.
At our office in North Escambia, Verizon service was restored at about 1:40 p.m., and down again by 3 p.m.
Verizon reported a major outage across the nation, including portions of South Alabama and Northwest Florida.
“We are aware of an issue impacting wireless voice and data services for some customers. Our engineers are engaged and are working to identify and solve the issue quickly. We understand how important reliable connectivity is and apologize for the inconvenience,” Verizon said about 2 p.m. The company did not give an estimated time for service restoration.
If you still don’t have service, you can get back online or make a call by just connecting to a Wi-Fi network and making sure Wi-Fi calling is turned on. If you can’t connect to Wi-Fi, you can still make an emergency call to 911.
Cantonment Man Charged With Fleeing From Deputies At High Speed
January 14, 2026
A Cantonment man is facing multiple charges after allegedly fleeing from law enforcement at high speeds and running a red light
Lederrian Quamon Grandison, 28, was arrested recently on a warrant for fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, reckless driving, and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, a deputy was patrolling near the intersection of Highway 29 and Pinestead Road on New Year’s Eve when they observed a black Chevrolet Impala exiting the Regency Motel with no tag light. A records check revealed the tag was not assigned to that vehicle.
When the deputy activated emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle reportedly looped through the parking lot of Smyrna Baptist Church before accelerating back onto Highway 29 northbound. The vehicle then turned east onto Burgess Road, extinguished its headlights, and ran a red light at the intersection of Palafox Street while traveling at a high rate of speed.
Deputies were able to identify Grandison as the driver through a combination of motel surveillance footage and previous contact with him earlier that day at the Circle K on Kenmore Road and Highway 29. Records indicated that Grandison did not have a valid driver’s license and had a prior conviction for driving without a license in 2019.
Grandison was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $21,000 bond. As a special condition of his bond, a judge has ordered that he is not to drive or be behind the wheel of any motor vehicle.
A Growing Century Neighborhood Watch Group Holds Second Meeting
January 14, 2026
Monday evening, the new Century Neighborhood Watch group held its second meeting since its inception in December.
Among the guests were an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant and sergeant assigned to the ECSO Century Precinct. Two additional members of the public also joined the group.
Meetings are held at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of the month at the Soul Train Club, located at 150 East Pond Street. The next meeting will be held on February 9, and is open to any interested person, not just residents in the Century town limits or the surrounding area.
Pictured: The ECSO demonstrates a vehicle and emergency lighting Monday evening at a meeting of the Century Neighborhood Watch. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia District High School Graduation Rates Increase
January 14, 2026
The graduation rate in the Escambia County School District continues an upward trend, according to recently released data.
The district’s graduation rate for the 2024-2025 school year increased by 5.3% from 84.2% to 89.5%. Florida’s statewide graduation rate increased to 92.2%, an increase of 2.5% over the previous year.
Graduation rates by school for the 2024-2025 school year and compared to 2023-2024:
- Tate High School – 97.5%, up from 93.3%
- Northview High School – 95.4%, up from 92.3%
- West Florida High School – 99.7%, Up from 98.6%
- Pine Forest High School – 88.9%, up from 85.4%
- Escambia High School – 94.5%, , up from 94.1%
- Pensacola High School – 92.1%, up from 87.9%
- Washington High School – 92.8%, up from 86%
“Our hard-working students and our entire district team continue to reach new heights each and every day,” stated ECPS Superintendent Keith Leonard. “The increases in district graduation rates over the past several years serve as an example and a reminder of their hard work and dedication. I am both thankful for and amazed at their efforts.”
With 504 graduates, Tate High School had the largest graduating class in Escambia County for the 2024-2025 school year. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
