Cat Country 98.7 Wins Prestigious National Marconi Award

Cat Country 98.7, Pensacola's locally owned and operated radio station, has won the prestigious Radio Station of the Year Marconi Award, presented by the National Association of Broadcasters. The station was chosen among medium-sized market radio stations nationwide for the honor.

Station Owner and General Manager Mary Hoxeng accepted the award last night at the Marconi Radio Awards Ceremony at Edison Ballroom in New York City during the National Association of Broadcasters Show. The NAB Marconi Awards, established in 1989 and named after inventor and Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi, are given annually to radio stations that recognize excellence in broadcasting.

According to Hoxeng, the award specifically recognized the station's efforts during the historic snowstorm experienced in January 2025. "This award was specifically awarded due to our team's efforts during the historic snowstorm we experienced from January of 2025," Hoxeng said.

The station's commitment to community service during the weather emergency was exemplary. "With the important leadership of Morning Host Brent Lane, everyone pitched in and kept our communities informed 24/7," Hoxeng explained.

Hoxeng expressed her pride in the Cat Country 98.7 team's dedication and teamwork. "I could not be prouder of our Cat Country 98.7 team!" she said.

During the January snowstorm, the station maintained round-the-clock coverage to ensure residents had access to critical information about weather conditions, road closures, emergency services, and community resources. This commitment to serving the Pensacola community during a time of crisis exemplified the station's mission and values.

The Marconi Awards remain one of the most prestigious honors in the broadcasting industry, recognizing stations that demonstrate outstanding achievement and community impact. Cat Country 98.7's recognition adds to the station's reputation as a vital news and information source for the Pensacola area.

The award underscores the importance of local radio stations in times of emergency and their role in keeping communities connected and informed.

Dog trained to sniff out sewage pollution in Mobile Bay waters

Researchers at the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program are testing an unconventional but potentially powerful tool to protect regional waterways: a dog trained to detect human sewage contamination.

The canine detection program leverages what scientists have long known—that dogs can sense things far beyond human ability. In this case, the specially trained dog is being deployed to help environmental teams identify pollution hotspots in local waters, according to WKRG News 5.

The initiative represents a novel approach to water quality monitoring in the Mobile Bay area, giving investigators a faster and potentially more cost-effective way to pinpoint sewage pollution before it spreads or causes environmental damage. The program is still in the exploration phase, but early results suggest canine detection could become a standard part of estuary protection efforts.

Both westbound I-10 lanes closed at Mile Marker 35 in Santa Rosa County

Both westbound lanes of Interstate 10 are closed at mile marker 35, east of Exit 31 (State Road 87), due to an accident, according to Santa Rosa County Communications & Media Relations.

The closure was reported Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m., with no immediate timeline for reopening. Drivers traveling westbound in the area should expect significant delays and use extreme caution.

Real-time traffic updates are available through the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles incident tracking system at trafficincidents.flhsmv.gov or through FL511.com. Commuters are urged to seek alternate routes if possible.