Local News Updates

Pensacola Bay is hosting the 2026 Viper 640 North American Championship, drawing a strong fleet of one-design sailboats competing in close racing conditions. According to the championship's social media account, the competition has featured tight upwind battles, crowded mark roundings, and colorful spinnaker runs characteristic of competitive one-design racing. The event showcases the local waters as a premier sailing destination and continues Pensacola's tradition as a compe

Public television programming is making a comeback to Florida Panhandle counties, with the Levin Papantonio law firm playing a key role in the effort, according to reporting from WEAR-TV. Details on the specific nature of the legal action and timeline for full PBS service restoration were not immediately available in the social media post, but the development marks a significant step toward returning educational and cultural programming to the region.

The Pensacola Ice Flyers have added Swiss professional Kilian Bernasconi to their roster, according to Swiss Hockey News. Bernasconi joins the SPHL team as the organization continues building its lineup for the upcoming season. The Ice Flyers compete in the Southern Professional Hockey League, a tier-two minor league that serves as a talent pipeline for professional hockey across North America. Bernasconi's arrival adds international depth to the Pensacola squad. Further deta

A Pensacola man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for defrauding two local credit unions, according to reporting from Coral Springs News. The scheme netted him enough money to purchase two vehicles and a boat. Federal court records indicate the fraud targeted local financial institutions, though additional details about the specific methods used and the total amount involved were not immediately available. The sentencing marks the conclusion of a federal case

The regular Century Town Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, has been canceled, according to town officials. The decision was made because there was no time-sensitive pending business to address at this time. The next regular meeting of the Century Town Council will be held Tuesday, October 20, at Town Hall, located at 7665 North Century Boulevard.

Pensacola International Airport has launched a new program that lets approved visitors accompany passengers to the gate area—no plane ticket required. The initiative, called Gateside by TSA PreCheck, allows people with active TSA PreCheck memberships to clear security checkpoint screening without a boarding pass, according to reporting from North Escambia. The program is designed to give families and friends more time together before departure, eliminating the need for visito

Escambia County Master Gardeners held a workshop at the Molino Branch Library focused on hobby greenhouse management for local gardeners. The session covered practical strategies for setting up and maintaining backyard greenhouses on a budget, along with preparation tips as the region heads into cooler fall and winter months. The workshop provided attendees with guidance on economical approaches to hobby greenhouse gardening, a growing interest among home gardeners in Northwe

The entire Pensacola area is under a flash flood watch through Sunday evening as multiple rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected throughout the weekend. Forecasters warn that heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding in the region. Saturday's forecast calls for a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, becoming more likely after 10 a.m., with highs near 83 degrees. The wet pattern is expected to continue through Sunday evening, with additional round

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed his 19th death warrant this week, tying his record for executions signed in a single year, according to reporting from North Escambia. The warrant was issued for an inmate who killed his cellmate, with the motivation reportedly being to secure transfer to death row where he believed jailhouse conditions were more favorable. The specifics of the case, including the inmate's identity and execution timeline, were not detailed in the available reporting.

Public television programming will return to over-the-air broadcast in Northwest Florida starting November 1, transmitting from a tower in North Escambia County. WPAN television, licensed to Fort Walton Beach, operates the broadcast facility on Barrineau Park School Road in Barrineau Park, just west of Molino. The station will deliver PBS content to viewers across the region via traditional antenna reception.

Escambia County government has a busy week of public meetings and hearings lined up from Monday through Thursday, with a full roster of planning, development, and administrative sessions. Monday morning, the county will hold an IAFF Demand to Bargain session at 9 a.m. at the Public Safety building on North W Street. Tuesday features back-to-back Planning Board meetings starting at 8:30 a.m., along with hearings on affordable housing, environmental enforcement, and the Childre

The U.S. Postal Service unveiled its 2026 Christmas stamp Thursday, featuring a richly detailed 16th-century painting titled "The Virgin and Child Enthroned" from the collection of the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The oil-on-panel work, painted around 1500, depicts Mary in elaborate red garments trimmed with gold and jewels, holding the Christ child dressed in white. According to the USPS, the painting is distinctive for its intric