SNAP Benefits Now Exclude Soda, Candy, Energy Drinks, And More
April 22, 2026
A visit to the grocery is now a bit different for millions for Florida SNAP recipients, as some “unhealthy” options are off the list.
A new pilot program allows states, like Florida, to block the purchases under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that are generally considered unhealthy.
What is not allowed?
Candy, soda,energy drinks, and ultra-processed desserts can no longer be purchased with SNAP.
What is considered soda?
“Soda” refers to beverages made with carbonated water that are sweetened with added sugars or artificial sweeteners.
Examples include regular and diet sodas and zero sugars like: Coca-Cola, Sprite, Diet Coke, Mr. Pibb, Coke Zero, Sprite Zero, Pepsi, 7UP, Diet Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, and Canada Dry. This also includes store brand varieties of regular, diet, and zero sugar sodas.
SNAP benefits can still be used to purchase sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade, plain or naturally flavored sparkling waters such as LaCroix, Waterloo, Polar, and Bubly, or drinks that contain more than 50% juice or have less than 5 grams of added sugar per serving.
What is considered energy drinks?
“Energy drinks” are drinks that contain 65 milligrams or more of caffeine per 8 ounces and are marketed to boost energy or alertness. Examples include Monster™, Red Bull™, Celsius™, 5-Hour Energy, C4 Energy. This also includes store brand varieties of energy drinks.
Coffee, tea, and sports drinks like Gatorade or Powerade are not considered energy drinks and can still be purchased with SNAP benefits.
What is considered candy?
“Candy” includes products made from sugar or artificial sweeteners combined with chocolate, fruit, nuts, caramel, gummies, and hard candies or other ingredients or flavorings in the form of bars, drops, or pieces.
This includes bars like Hershey’s, Snickers, Nestle Crunch, Ferrero Rocher, and Milky Way, gummies like Haribo, Sour Patch Kids, Annie’s Fruit Snacks, and Twizzlers, hard candies like Jolly Ranchers, Lifesavers, and lollipops, candy pieces like M&M’s, Starburst, and Skittles, and items like chocolate-covered nuts, toffee, and mints. This also includes store brand varieties of candy.
Trail mix containing candy, as defined above, is considered candy and is not an allowable purchase.
Granola bars, breakfast toaster strudels, breakfast biscuits like BelVita, and breakfast toaster pastries like Pop-Tarts can still be purchased with SNAP benefits, even when they contain sweeteners or chocolate.
What is considered ultra-processed desserts?
“Ultra-processed prepared desserts” means a processed, shelf-stable, ready-to-eat, pre-packaged sweet food intended for immediate consumption without any further preparation. This would include foods mostly made out of “chemically” modified substances extracted from foods, along with additives to enhance taste, texture, appearance, and durability, with minimal whole foods.
This includes snack cakes like Twinkies, Ho Hos, and Swiss Rolls, packaged sweets like Sno Balls, Oatmeal Creme Pies, Market Pantry Golden Crème Cakes, and Baker’s Treat Cup Cakes. This includes cookies like Chips Ahoy!, Keebler Chips Deluxe, Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookies, Market Pantry Chocolate Chip Cookies, Oreos, Benton’s Original Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, and Great Value Twist & Shout Cookies. This also includes store brand varieties of prepared desserts that meet the defined restrictions.
Granola bars, breakfast toaster strudels, breakfast biscuits like Belvita, and breakfast toaster pastries like Pop-Tarts can still be purchased with SNAP benefits, even when they contain sweeteners or chocolate.
Freshly prepared baked goods can still be purchased with SNAP benefits.
Will benefit amounts be impacted?
No, excluding these items from being purchased with SNAP benefits will not change the amount of benefits received.
How will recipients know what can still be purchased?
SNAP recipients will also receive updates through their MyACCESS portal, text messages, and program materials. Additionally, SNAP-authorized retailers will be provided in-store flyers to help identify ineligible items, which will be automatically blocked for purchase with SNAP benefits at checkout.
What about other groceries?
SNAP recipients will still be able to purchase the same healthy, nutrient rich foods they always have, including fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, dairy, and other staples. Households with low income have access to adequate nutrition and better health, according to the program.
Randolph Powers Northview Lady Chiefs Over T.R. Miller
April 22, 2026
Randolph had four runs on three hits to lead the Northview Lady Chiefs 16-3 over T.R. Miller. She had a two-run double in the first and a two-run single in the third inning.
Kylee Langham also had three hits for the Lady Chiefs, while Peyton Womack, Riley Brooks, Addysen Bolen, and Aubrey Hadley each had multiple hits.
Womack went six innings in the circle for Northview, giving up six hits and three runs in six innings, walking one and striking out one. Randolph pitched one shutout inning, allowing no hits, striking out one and walking one.
Northview finished the regular season at 16-5 overall, 2-0 in the district.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Outslugged By Biscuits In 3-1 Loss
April 22, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped the opener of their seven-game road series in Montgomery on Tuesday night, falling 3-1 to the Biscuits.
Three of the four runs on the night came in via solo home runs, with Montgomery’s Brayden Taylor opening the score in the second inning with a solo shot off Blue Wahoos starter Jacob Miller (L, 0-2).
Jay Beshears provided the only jolt for Pensacola, briefly evening the score 1-1 in the third inning with a solo homer off Biscuits starter Michael Forret (W, 2-0). That would be all the damage done against Forret, who turned in a quality start with 6.0 innings of three-hit, one-run ball.
Jadher Areinamo put Montgomery back in front in the bottom of the third with a solo homer, and the Biscuits added another in the fourth thanks to a leadoff walk to Xavier Isaac and a two-out wild pitch from Miller.
Handed a 3-1 lead, Forret and the Biscuits bullpen kept the Blue Wahoos at bay. Pensacola was deprived of any opportunities with men in scoring position the entire game as Tommy McColllum and Owen Wild (S, 1) slammed the door in the final three innings.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Biscuits on Wednesday
written by Erik Bremer
Libraries Facing Potential $4 Million Hit, Branch Closures If Property Tax Cuts Pass
April 21, 2026
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has pushed for more than a year for a major overhaul of the Florida tax system, including letting voters decide on property taxes. If the proposal should move through the Legislature’s upcoming special session, and if voters choose to cut property taxes, it could have a far-reaching impact on the West Florida Libraries (WFPL) system with cutbacks that could include library branch closures.
State property tax cuts could cost the library system $4 million a year, Library Services Director Christal Bell-Rivera told the West Florida Libraries Board of Governance during a Tuesday afternoon meeting at the Century Branch Library.
“I tried to do a budget with (a cut of) $4 million; it’s not possible,” Bell-Rivera said. She said massive budget cuts would be needed.
“It would first start with a reduction of library operation hours, up to whatever the worst of the worst is,” she said. “My goal and agenda would be to ensure that we keep the most amount of locations open, and the most amount of people employed.”
But she acknowledged that branch cuts, or even closures, could become reality.
“I hope the public will make an educated decision,” she said of a potential property tax vote.
For now, Bell-Rivera said she’s looking at ways to save money now in case there are tax cuts approved, and hold onto as much of $8 million in library reserve funds as possible.
A planned library on Lillian Highway for Myrtle Grove is now on hold, the Library Services director said. It was going to cost $6.5 million of the library system’s $8 million reserve.
Five or six library book vending machines across the county that were being considered at over $100,000 each are also now off the table. Bell-Rivera said the WFPL might consider partnering with schools for much cheaper $7,000 machines, and might consider one of the more expensive vending machines as a stand-alone branch of sorts in a library-underserved community like Cantonment.
As for the pending potential property tax cut, she said it will be a “wait and see,” and begin planning, situation for the WFPL, as well as all county departments.
Pictured above: Library Services Director Christal Bell-Rivera during a WFPL Board of Governance meeting on Monday at the Century Library. Pictured first below: Board members Blaine Wall and Rachel Hendrix. Picture second below: Century Branch Manager Leigh Ann Helton and WFPL board member Joyce Hopson. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Did You Know Lipscomb Elementary Has Operating Rooms?
April 21, 2026
Did you know Lipscomb Elementary School has an operating room? Actually several operating rooms?
Fifth grade students at Lipscomb traded their pencils for surgical scrubs Monday during a hands-on medical day.
The school’s fifth grade classrooms were converted into a series of operating rooms where students wore surgical scrubs to review the parts of the human body. As part of the immersive science lesson, the young “surgeons” identified vital organs, bones, and body systems.
Activities included analyzing X-rays and ensuring their “patients” were healthy before the end of the lesson.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wednesday: Fresh Produce on Wheels From Millie Mobile Market In Molino
April 21, 2026
The Millie Mobile Market is scheduled to be in Molino on Wednesday with a variety of fresh produce.
Millie will be at the Molino Community Center (Molino Library) at 6450 North Highway 95A from noon until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22. Future visits are planned for April 29, May 6, and May 20.
During the Molino visits, Millie will offer a menu of fresh produce at discounted prices (see list below).
Millie travels routes throughout Feeding the Gulf Coast’s Florida service area, addressing pockets of low food access (food deserts) where supermarkets are scarce, to provide community members the opportunity to buy affordable fresh produce and other nutritious foods at a significantly discounted rate. Feeding the Gulf Coast collaborates with local farmers to purchase produce when available specifically for the Millie Mobile Market.
Only debit or credit cards (including tap-to-pay) are accepted at Millie; no cash.
Pictured: A previous Millie Mobile Market visit at the Molino Library. File photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
McAnnally Fans Seven As Northview Beats 5A Niceville 5-3
April 21, 2026
The Northview Lady Chiefs beat the 5A Niceville Eagles 5-3 on Monday in Bratt.
Mikayla McAnnally earned the win in the circle over seven innings for the Chiefs, surrendering seven hits and three runs, striking out seven and walking three.
At bat, Peyton Womack led Northview going 2-3 on the night with two RBIs, while Avery Stuckey was 1-3 with two RBIs.
For a photo gallery, click to enlarge.
Northview will close out its regular season on Tuesday at 6 p.m. with a road trip to T.R. Miller. A make-up game against Jay that was scheduled for Wednesday has been canceled.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gulf Breeze Stops The Tate Aggies In District Quarterfinal
April 21, 2026
The Gulf Breeze Dolphins defeated the Tate Aggies 7-0 on Monday evening in the 3A District 1 flag football quarterfinals.
Tate’s season ended at 6-8, while Gulf Breeze (9-4) will travel to Pace on Tuesday in the semifinals.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Gets Federal Prison Time For Threatening To Kill Police Detective
April 21, 2026
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to federal prison for threatening to kill a police detective.
Tamal W. Jenkins, 20, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for interstate threatening communication with intent to extort.
In July 2025, the Pensacola Police Department arrested suspects during a homicide investigation. Within days of the arrest, one of the responsible Pensacola Police Detectives received a text message threatening to kill the detective if she did not release the suspects who are now facing homicide charges. Through legal process and electronic investigative techniques, law enforcement identified Jenkins as the person who made the threat against the detective for acting in the course of her official duties.
“My office stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the brave men and women of law enforcement who are on the front lines in the fight against crime. They deserve our gratitude and respect for placing themselves in harm’s way every day to keep our communities safe. As this case demonstrates, anyone who harms or threatens to harm a law enforcement officer will be aggressively prosecuted by my office and held accountable,” said United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida John P. Heekin.
His sentenced will be followed by three years of federal supervised release. Jenkins also faces a violation of prior state-ordered probation for firearm and drug offenses.
Pensacola Police Chief Eric Winstrom said: “Threats of violence against those upholding the law cannot be tolerated. The Pensacola Police Department is grateful to our federal partners for recognizing the gravity of this incident and ensuring Mr. Jenkins is held accountable.”
This Is Who The Agros Will Face In UWF’s First Division I Football Game
April 21, 2026
The Division I era for University of West Florida football will kick off at home on Thursday, August 27 with the Argos hosting Southern Illinois in the first game of the season.
The newly scheduled game will be a historic moment for UWF as the university announced the move to NCAA Division I beginning in the fall of 2026 with the football team playing as an FCS member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC) and all other sports competing in the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN).
“We are excited to open up with a great team like Southern Illinois for our start on the FCS level,” said head coach Kaleb Nobles. “At UWF, we prepare for games like this, and we want to play the best teams around the country that we can. We look forward to a great start to the 2026 UWF Football season.”
The visiting Southern Illinois Salukis were set to play Samford on the road for their 2026 opening game before adding UWF to complete a 12-game schedule for the team. Last season, the Salukis finished 7-5 overall which included a win over No. 11 Illinois State in the final game of the regular season. UWF make a trip to Carbondale, Ill. in 2027 as part of the home and home series.
“This is going to be an exciting game to begin our first football season as members of the FCS,” said Dave Scott, Associate Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics. “We are thankful to Southern Illinois for adding us to their schedule. We want to encourage the Pensacola community to rally around this monumental game and come out to support the Argos.”
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m on August 27 at Pen Air Field. More information on season tickets, individual tickets and the game day experience is still to come as construction of Darrell Gooden Stadium is ongoing.
A full football schedule will be released in the coming weeks.