Escambia County Veterans Services Outreach In Molino On Thursday
July 1, 2026
The Escambia County Veterans Services Office will hold an outreach event in Molino on Thursday, July 2.
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Molino Community Center, located at 6450 Highway 95A.
Veterans Services Office staff members will be available to help with topics including reviewing VA benefits, filing a VA claim, and re-evaluating VA disability. Additional vendors include:
- Escambia County Property Appraiser
- Council on Aging of West Florida
- Legal Services of North Florida
- Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging
- Pensacola Vet Center
- United Way of West Florida
Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis at no charge. No appointment is required.
Pickup Hydroplanes During Heavy Thunderstorm, Crashes Into Flooded Ditch
July 1, 2026
A driver crashed into a flooded drainage ditch during a heavy thunderstorm in Walnut Hill Tuesday evening.
The man said he was traveling north on South Highway 99 near Morgan Road when he hydroplaned in deep water crossing the roadway during the storm. He lost control, with his GMC Sierra, and trailer landing in the deep ditch.
The man was not injured. The Florida Highway Patrol investigated.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NWE 13U Chiefs Bagging Groceries Today, Friday To Raise Funds
July 1, 2026
The NWE 13U Chiefs will be bagging groceries for donations at the Piggly Wiggly on Highway 97 in Davisville to raise funds for the upcoming regional baseball tournament in Monroe, Louisiana. They will be bagging on Wednesday, July 1, and Friday, July 3, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Oak Grove Garage Workshop Destroyed By Tuesday Afternoon Fire
July 1, 2026
Fire destroyed a large metal building and garage workshop at a home in Oak Grove Tuesday afternoon.
Explosions were reported from fuel tanks inside the structure just after 3 p.m., and arriving firefighters found the building heavily involved in fire on North Highway 99 near Mayhaw Road.
There was no immediate word on the exact cause of the fire, and no injuries were reported.
Responding agencies included the Walnut Hill, Molino and McDavid stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue, the Atmore Fire Department, and Escambia County EMS.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Blast Rocket City For Fourth Straight Win
July 1, 2026
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos continued to punish Southern League pitching on Tuesday night, opening up their six-game road series with a 9-2 win over the Rocket City Trash Pandas.
After scoring 12 runs in each of their past three games last weekend in Chattanooga, the Blue Wahoos didn’t quite live up to that pace. They did, however, add four more home runs and made a couple of stellar defensive plays to win their fourth game in a row.
Rocket City struck first in the bottom of the second, as Juan Flores lined an RBI double off the warning track in center field for a 1-0 Trash Pandas lead. The Blue Wahoos would counter in a big way in the top of the third, racking up four runs on six hits against Trash Pandas starter Eybersson Polanco (L, 3-4) to take the lead for good.
Payton Green led off with a double, and scored on a long two-run homer from Dylan Jasso. Cam Cannarella followed with a solo homer of his own, his sixth in the past week and a half, to give the Blue Wahoos a 3-1 lead. Consecutive singles from Juan Matheus, Fenwick Trimble and Brandon Compton added another for a 4-1 advantage.
Flores greeted Blue Wahoos reliever Holt Jones (W, 2-0) with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth, but that would be the extent of the damage against the Pensacola bullpen. Cannarella made a leaping catch at the right field wall to rob Mac McCroskey and end the fourth, and catcher Ryan Ignoffo picked off Nick Rodriguez straying too far from third base to end the fifth. The Trash Pandas collectively went 0-for-12 with men in scoring position on the night, leaving nine men on base.
Green added a solo homer in the sixth inning, and Compton capped a three-hit night in his Double-A debut with a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the eighth. With two walks and a hit batsman to load the bases, Juan Matheus contributed a finishing kick later in the inning with a two-run single for a 9-2 lead.
Jones, Kade Bragg and Livan Reinoso all protected the lead with effective relief for the Blue Wahoos before Huntsville native Christian MacLeod ended the game with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Trash Pandas on Wednesday night.
written by Erik Bremer
WSRE Ends Affiliation With PBS, Effective July 1
July 1, 2026
Sesame Street, Antiques Roadshow, NOVA, Masterpiece Theatre and other PBS favorites are now gone from WSRE-TV 23.
As of July 1, the station, operated by Pensacola State College, has ended its affiliation with PBS after several decades. Last year, President Donald Trump signe an excutive order to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), and PSC lost $1.5 million in state and federal funding.
Now, WSRE is replacing PBS shows with a wide variety of lineups, including educational, cultural, and musical content, Pensacola State College features, locally produced WSRE shows, and programming from the Florida Channel. The station’s subchannels—PBS World (23.2), Create (23.3), PBS Kids (23.4), and a dedicated Florida Channel (23.5)—have also been discontinued
There will be special programming this week for America’s 250th. The regular programming schedule is as follows:
Weekday Regular Programming
12:00 a.m. — Florida Channel
A full review of developments in state government, including Florida’s legislative, judicial, and executive branches.
6:00 a.m. — Albie’s Elevator
Step inside a fantastical elevator where Albie, an elevator operator with pizzazz, explores preschool problem-solving and discovers the arts with help from her neighbors.
6:30 a.m. — Skillsville
Discover the Skillsville universe, where viewers can learn about the series, play interactive games and activities, and receive updates on local events.
7:00 a.m. — Vegesaurs
Go back to an era dominated by the juiciest and crunchiest creatures ever to rule the planet: the mighty Vegesaurs. The series explores friendship, mealtimes, and sharing.
7:30 a.m. — The Zula Patrol
Join the Zula Patrol as a group of loveably wacky animated characters travels the galaxies while exploring and solving problems.
8:00 a.m. — Biz Kid$
Learn how financial lessons connect to kids’ everyday lives through stories of children and young adults founding and operating their own businesses.
8:30 a.m. — Dragonfly TV
Real kids do real science through hands-on projects that promote critical thinking, problem-solving, investigation, and discovery.
9:00 a.m. — Science Now
Explore topics ranging from space exploration and plant biology to the latest advances in high technology.
9:30 a.m. — Think Big
Kids acquire and showcase skills in creativity, science, innovation, marketing, design, and teamwork.
10:00 a.m. — Animal Rescue
Gain knowledge about the proper care of animals, along with safety tips for caring for creatures across the animal kingdom.
10:30 a.m. — America’s Heartland
Meet everyday Americans and their families as they share stories from across America’s heartland.
11:00 a.m. — Florida Frontiers
Explore a wide variety of topics relating to Florida history and culture.
11:30 a.m. — Florida Cross Roads
Explore the history, culture, and quirks that make Florida unique, with stories from cities and communities across the Sunshine State.
12:00 p.m. — Engage PSC: Highlights and Happenings
Take an inside look at events, programs, and student achievements at Pensacola State College.
2:00 p.m. — PSC 250th Lecture Series
Pensacola State College presents a captivating lineup of talks featuring expert speakers as we celebrate America250.
4:00 p.m. — Best of Pensacola State College Sports
Relive exciting moments from Pensacola State College athletics, including unforgettable plays and standout performances.
6:00 p.m. — Pensacola State Today
Watch highlights of remarkable people, programs, events, and achievements at Pensacola State College.
6:30 p.m. — Conversations with Jeff Weeks
Jeff Weeks talks with engaging personalities from sports, business, politics, science, entertainment, literature, and more.
8:00 p.m. — All-Star Orchestra / Classical Tahoe
Enjoy popular symphonic scores, exciting new works, and select performances from the annual Classical Tahoe outdoor festival.
9:00 p.m. — StudioAmped
Produced by WSRE, StudioAmped is a concert series featuring original material by regional artists across multiple genres.
10:00 p.m. — Nightmare Theatre
A minor demon, his masked wrestler manservant, and their pet werewolf host the best of the worst public-domain horror and sci-fi movies.
Saturday Regular Programming
12:00 p.m. — The Joy of Painting with Nicholas Hankins: Bob Ross’ Unfinished Season
Nicholas Hankins brings Bob Ross’ practice canvases to life in real time.
12:30 p.m. — Growing a Greener World
This Emmy Award-winning series features people making a positive impact on the planet through gardening and shares practical DIY information viewers can use at home.
1:00 p.m. — America’s Test Kitchen
Hosts Bridget Lancaster and Julia Collin Davison, along with the test kitchen team, share failproof recipes and equipment reviews.
1:30 p.m. — Volunteer Woodworker
Woodworker Charles Brock explores the heart of Tennessee while learning master craftsmanship from local artisans.
Sunday Regular Programming
12:00 p.m. — Family Travel with Colleen Kelly
Travel writer and seasoned guide Colleen Kelly explores must-see locations throughout the U.S. and abroad, sharing expert travel tips for family vacations.
12:30 p.m. — Curious Traveler
Emmy Award-winning journalist Christine van Blokland takes viewers on an entertaining field trip for grown-ups to curious destinations around the world.
1:00 p.m. — My World Too
This series explores innovative initiatives people, companies, and communities are using to make the planet a better place.
1:30 p.m. — Opportunity Knock$
Season 2 follows six families working through complex financial challenges with guidance from nationally known financial experts.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Midday Crash Claims Life Of Century Man On Highway 29 At Highway 97 In Molino
June 30, 2026
A two-vehicle crash on Highway 29 at Highway 97 in Molino claimed the life of a 73-year-old Century man.
The man was driving a small Honda sedan when he rear-ended a stopped Dodge Ram pickup on northbound Highway 29 around noon. The Century man was pronounced deceased at the scene by Escambia County EMS. The driver of the Dodge truck, a 64-year-old Flomaton man, was not injured.
Northbound Highway 29 was completely closed by the crash and subsequent investigation.
Pictured: Northbound Highway 29 was completely shut down at midday Tuesday due to a fatal traffic crash. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Man Fatally Shot By Escambia (AL) Deputies Following Standoff Near Atmore
June 30, 2026
A man was fatally shot on Monday after a standoff with law enforcement north of Atmore.
The Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Atmosphere Road for a reported shots fired disturbance where deputies determined that the man had discharged a firearm and continued to make threats of violence towards neighbors and law enforcement.
The suspect had barricaded himself inside his residence with a firearm and refused to surrender to law enforcement, deputies said, and the ECSO SWAT team was activated, along with negotiators. The suspect continued to refuse to exit the home and surrender as he continued making threats. An armored vehicle was used to approach the front of the house after negotiations failed.
“The suspect exited the rear with a shotgun,” the ECSO said in a statement. “The suspect was ordered to surrender and the use of less-lethal equipment was unsuccessful. The suspect raised his firearm and pointed it at law enforcement, causing the suspect to be fatally injured by gunfire.”
“Life-saving measures were attempted with no success,” the department noted. The man’s name has not been released.
As is standard procedure, the shooting is under investigation by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation.
Atmosphere Road is north of Atmore, near Poarch and just north of I-65.
DeSantis Slashes Over $3.4 Million In Funding For Escambia Public Safety, Century Wastewater
June 30, 2026
Gov. Ron DeSantis line-item vetoed items totaling $810 million when he signed Florida’s $117.6 billion Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget on Monday, including a wastewater project in Century and public safety for Escambia County.
DeSantis vetoed:
- Escambia County Hazardous Materials Regional Emergency Response Vehicle — $1.35 million. It was intended to be a regional response vehicle used across multiple counties.
- Escambia County Station Management System — $1.05 million. The advanced management system would have been used in all staffed fire stations.
- Escambia County 911 Dispatch Communication Improvements — $700,000. The project would have replaced outdated 911 dispatch consoles.
- Century Inflow and Infiltration Study — $315,000. The study was to be aimed at problem areas in the system to reduce wastewater flow at the town’s wastewater treatment plant.
Other Escambia County and Century funding requests never made the budget and were not funded:
- Escambia County Radio System Upgrade — $38 million. Escambia County requested $38 million to replace the county’s aging P25 UHF radio system with a modern 800 MHz trunked platform. The upgrade would have renewed all hardware and software for fire, EMS, law enforcement, transit, and public works, in addition to improving interoperability with regional partners during major incidents and planned events. “The 2012 system nears end-of-life in 2030, and failure may risk public safety,” the appropriations request stated.
- Century WWTP Motor Control — $1.061 million center. The Town of Century requested $1.061 million for a wastewater treatment plant motor control center (MCC) replacement. The town said parts on the current MCC routinely fail, and the age of the system makes it difficult to find replacement parts. The MCC replacement is a requirement set forth by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
RELATED: DeSantis Inks $117.6 Billion State Budget
NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
DeSantis Inks $117.6 Billion State Budget, Trims $810 Million With Vetoes
June 30, 2026
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a $117.6 billion state budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 on Monday, June 29, 2026, utilizing nearly $810 million in line-item vetoes to reduce overall spending.
According to the governor’s office, the final spending plan marks the fourth consecutive year of declining state spending while maintaining substantial funding for education, infrastructure, and environmental programs.
“The FY 2026-2027 Budget I signed today reflects the core priorities I laid out from the beginning,” DeSantis said in a statement. “This budget protects taxpayers’ interests, cuts spending for the fourth year in a row, and makes meaningful investments to build on Florida’s successes in education, public safety, environmental conservation, infrastructure, cancer research, and more.”
Key Spending and Allocations
- Education: The budget allocates a historic $30 billion for the K-12 public school system, raising per-student funding to $9,338—an increase of $150 over the previous year. It includes $1.56 billion designated for teacher and instructional personnel salary increases.
- Environment: A total of $1.2 billion is earmarked for Everglades restoration and water quality initiatives. This includes $665 million dedicated specifically to Everglades restoration projects and $396 million for targeted water quality improvements across local water systems.
- Infrastructure: The state transportation work program will receive $14.4 billion to construct and maintain Florida’s transit network, including $4.9 billion allocated for highway construction and maintenance.
Tax Relief Measures
The budget incorporates several targeted tax reductions, including a permanent Back-to-School tax holiday and permanent exemptions on disaster preparedness items.
Additionally, the plan institutes a second consecutive “Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday” running from September 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. The holiday applies to the retail sale of firearms, ammunition, camping supplies, and fishing equipment, and is projected to reduce state sales tax revenue by $40 million.
The budget also establishes a sales tax refund program of up to $500 per eligible residential property for impact-resistant windows and doors purchased between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2029, aimed at encouraging home hardening against severe weather.
DeSantis emphasized the administration’s fiscal approach, stating that the state has “delivered billions in tax relief to families while making historic investments in the priorities that matter most to Floridians.”
With the final approvals and line-item vetoes completed, the budget will take effect at the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.