Trial Delayed For Cantonment Felon Indicted On Federal Weapons Charges
June 17, 2026
A Cantonment felon indicted on federal gun charges has been granted a trial continuance.
Jesse Allen Hudson, 43, was indicted for one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.
Hudson was originally scheduled to face a jury trial on June 15. However, U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II granted an uncontested defense motion to continue the trial to July 20 to allow defense counsel additional time to review discovery materials and consult with Hudson.
In January, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic disturbance on Winston Street in Cantonment. The victim reported that a rifle and pistol had been removed from the home.
Deputies first discovered a loaded AR-style magazine and an empty one on the ground near the back door, positioned next to a pile of Hudson’s clothing, according to an arrest report. A later search of the property revealed a loaded AR-style rifle with a round chambered, hidden inside a white laundry basket within a black trailer parked near the garage. A third loaded magazine was later recovered from another laundry basket inside the living room.
According to the report, Hudson was convicted in Florida of felony battery in 2012.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas S.P. Geeker.
Escambia County Felon Arrested for Child Sexual Abuse Material, Drugs, And Stolen Guns
June 17, 2026
An Escambia County convicted felon has been arrested by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on multiple counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and other charges.
Hershel Keith Cranford, 44, was charged with 20 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and one count each of promotion of CSAM, using a two-way communication device to commit a felony, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, and dealing in stolen property.
FDLE’s investigation began in May when agents identified a device that was using a peer-to-peer file-sharing platform to share files depicting the sexual abuse of children. Investigators linked the device to an IP address in Escambia County and identified the user as Cranford.
This week, FDLE agents, with the assistance of the Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement Division and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, executed a search warrant at Cranford’s residence. FDLE said the search warrant resulted in the seizure of an electronic device, methamphetamine, a Schedule I controlled substance, and multiple stolen firearms.
Cranford remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $80,000.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Five Years Later: Molino Cold Case Murder Remains Unsolved, Investigators Still Seeking Answers
June 16, 2026
It’s now been five years since a young man was shot in a Molino home, and the case remains unsolved.
At approximately 1:45 a.m. on June 15, 2021, Shyheim Smith was shot inside a family home in the 5500 block of Cedartown Road. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. At the time of his death, Smith’s girlfriend was pregnant with their son.
There were three adults in the room at the time of the shooting, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, but only Smith was struck by gunfire.
“We do not think it was random,” Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons told NorthEscambia.com shortly after the shooting. “We believe the shooter or shooters intentionally went to that residence, walked around to the side of the house and shot multiple rounds through the window.”
“We still have a number of investigators on the case,” Simmons added.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP or the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
Century Changing Yard Waste, Bulk Debris Collections After Council, Resident Outcry
June 16, 2026
After outcry from residents and town officials, Waste Pro is making changes to yard waste and bulk collections in Century.
At their most recent meeting, town council members expressed concern with the “black can.” It’s a green can with a black lid intended for yard waste, and they said it’s not practical to fit several tree limbs and other yard debris in the can.
Now, the Town of Century is removing the black lid cans and transitioning to a grapple truck collection of yard waste once per month. Waste Pro will collect organic debris smaller than 6 feet in diameter or 6 feet in length, placed in an area no larger than 6 x 6 feet square and 6 feet high. The collections will begin in July on a schedule to be announced, but household garbage, construction debris, treated lumber and large stumps will not be collected.
Bulk pick up for household items (furniture, mattresses, appliances and other large items) that will not fit inside the regular blue can will also begin in July. Areas on the west side of Highway 29, the “town hall side,” will be collected on July 7. The areas on the east side, the “Whataburger side”, of Highway 29 will be collected on July 14. Bulk items should be placed in an area no larger than 6 x 6 feet square and 6 feet high.
Bulk items, such as furniture and appliances, should be placed in a separate pile from organic material (such as limbs, leaves and grass clippings).
For additional details, click the graphic above to enlarge, or click here to download a printable pdf.
For other questions, call Century Town Hall at (850) 256-3208.
Graphic provided by the Town of Century for NorthEscambia.com.
West Bogia Road Open To Traffic; Paving Delayed By Forecasted Rain
June 16, 2026
West Bogia Road reopened Sunday afternoon, just two weeks after washing away during torrential rainfall and flooding, but work is not yet complete.
On May 31, an estimated six inches of rain fell in a three-hour window near McDavid. While Highway 29 at West Bogia Road was under several feet of water, West Bogia Road completely washed away and collapsed at a culvert intersection.
The Florida Department of Transportation quickly stepped in to handle the emergency repairs to the county road, replacing the failed 78-inch culvert pipe and rebuilding the crossing with solid concrete headwalls and new base materials.
For more photos of the opened road on Monday, click here.
For more photos of the damage and the road as it appeared last Saturday, click to enlarge.
While the vital corridor is now open to traffic—saving local residents from a significant daily detour—the $150,000 project is not quite finished. Final paving has been delayed for a few days due to rain in the forecast this week. According to FDOT, crews will complete the paving process as soon as the weather permits.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Florida AG Sues TikTok, Alleges Violation Of State Child Safety Law
June 16, 2026
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed suit again TikTok, alleging the popular social media platform committed a series of violations of Florida law by actively targeting and contracting with minors while deceiving parents about the dangers of the app.
TikTok’s success hinges on its ability to addict children and teenagers to the platform,” said Uthmeier. “TikTok knowingly deceives parents and allows children to be exposed to harmful and inappropriate content in direct violation of Florida law. We have zero tolerance for companies that prioritize profit over children’s safety. TikTok should expect to be held accountable.”
The complaint alleges that TikTok is in violation of House Bill 3, Florida’s online child protections law, which took effect on January 1, 2025. Specifically, TikTok is accused of letting children under 14 years old create accounts, and letting 15- and 16-year-olds do the same without parental consent. Both violate H.B. 3, which bans children under 14 years of age from social media platforms entirely and requires parental consent for 15 and 16-year-olds to create accounts.
The lawsuit also alleges that TikTok is violating the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act by deceiving parents about the safety and appropriateness of the content their children will have access to. TikTok advertises itself on the app store as being appropriate for children 13 years and older, and characterizes mature themes including sex content, drug content, profanity, self-harm or suicide, and eating disorders as “mild” and “infrequent” – a claim that is blatantly false. These themes are present very frequently on the app, and are often shown/discussed in graphic detail.
FDOT Completes $5.3 Million Resurfacing Project On Brent Lane, Bayou Boulevard
June 16, 2026
The Florida Department of Transportation has completed a $5.3 million project to resurface State Road 296 (Brent Lane/Bayou Boulevard), from Davis Highway to Baisden Road, in Escambia County.
Additional improvements include:
Sidewalk and crosswalk improvements, including Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades.
Signalization improvements.
Stormwater management enhancements.
New signing and pavement markings.
Britt Announces $1.25 Million To Combat Flooding In Atmore
June 16, 2026
The City of Atmore is set to receive a massive infrastructure boost following a major federal funding announcement on Monday.
U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security Appropriations, announced that she has directly secured $1.25 million for the City of Atmore in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Act.
This funding will support the repair and improvement of Atmore’s storm drainage system, part of more than $14.97 million for Alabama in FY26 Homeland Security appropriations funding.
“I’m proud to deliver $1.25 million in funding for the City of Atmore to upgrade its stormwater infrastructure,” said Britt. “As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I’m committed to returning taxpayer dollars right back to our communities. This critical funding will address longstanding drainage issues, reduce flooding risks, and better protect homes, businesses, and public safety. I’m eager to see the lasting impact this project will have in strengthening Atmore’s resilience for years to come.”
The project aims to address aging and insufficient stormwater infrastructure in Atmore to reduce flooding risks, protect public safety, and improve the community’s resilience to heavy rainfall events. The existing drainage system in the affected area has experienced frequent blockages, overflows, and erosion, resulting in property damage, road closures, and environmental degradation.
The funding is directed to support proactive disaster preparedness efforts aimed at reducing the need for post-disaster response and recovery.
“Senator Katie Britt has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the people of Atmore and to the future of our community,” said Atmore Mayor Shawn Lassiter. “We cannot thank the Senator enough for her tireless help and support in securing this transformative investment. Her leadership has made it possible for our city to take a bold step forward in protecting our residents, our businesses, and our infrastructure from the growing risks posed by natural hazards.”
Incoming Tate Senior Brooklyn Ray Commits To Southern Mississippi
June 16, 2026
Tate High School’s Brooklyn Ray has made an early commitment to continue her athletic and academic career at the University of Southern Mississippi. She is an incoming senior at Tate. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sen. Don Gaetz Explains Why He Backed Florida Homestead Property Tax Relief Measure
June 15, 2026
Earlier this month the Senate and the House voted to approve putting lower homestead property taxes on the November ballot.
The measure, a priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis, passed the House 75-26 and moved through the Senate on a 30-9 vote. Rep. Michelle Salzman, Rep. Alex Andrade and Sen. Don Gaetz all voted in favor.
In November, at least 60% of voters must approve the amendment.
In his most recent newsletter, Gaetz said, “I agree with the Governor that you shouldn’t have to pay to rent your homestead from the government. I also agree that local governments provide critical services all of us depend on. Those services require revenue.”
“The problem with property taxes as a revenue source is that property taxes are based on property values. Even local governments that have not raised their millage rates have still benefited from the boom in real estate values. However, most local governments have raised millage rates, meaning higher property values are multiplied by still higher millage rates to result in taxes that far exceed population growth and inflation. Property tax revenues collected by Florida local governments have increased by 70 percent in the last five years. Floridians on Social Security have seen their benefits increase approximately 23 percent while their property tax bills have gone up nearly three times higher. Northwest Florida cities and counties have almost always been good stewards of tax dollars. But they have had more tax dollars to spend than inflation and population growth required.”
“If the plan passes, cities and counties that rely on ad valorem property taxes will have to make budget cuts. Budget cuts mean tough, sometimes painful decisions,” he wrote. “Last year the Legislature cut spending by $3 billion compared to the prior year. This year the Senate and House cut the budget by another $4 billion less than last year. I voted for those budget cuts because I had to. Less income means there has to be less outgo to balance the budget. Families face hard choices as gas prices, utility rates, insurance and housing costs and, yes, property taxes combine to make Florida less affordable. Many families are spending less on wants in order to meet needs. Now it’s local governments’ turn to squeeze the dollars.”
He encouraged voters to talk to their local mayors, city council members and county commissioners and ask questions.
“Make your voice heard about what spending is less important and what services must be maintained,” Gaetz said.
Pictured: Sen. Don Gaetz during an Escambia County Legislative Delegation meeting in Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.