Power Restoration Ongoing in Century After Nearly Week-Long Outage

Utility linemen continue working to restore electricity to homes and businesses in Century, Florida, after residents endured nearly a week without power, according to WKRG News 5.

Mayor Benjamin Boutwell told the station that the outage affected the entire town, with some areas still waiting for service to be fully restored. While some businesses have begun reopening, many remain offline as crews work through the restoration effort.

The scope and cause of the outage were not immediately detailed in the available reporting. Residents and business owners in the affected area are urged to monitor updates from local utilities and city officials for restoration timelines.

DeSantis Unveils Christopher Columbus Statue in Naples

Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled a statue of Christopher Columbus in Naples on Wednesday as part of Florida's America250 initiative marking the nation's 250th anniversary. The Italian explorer's likeness was installed in a city that shares its name with the Italian metropolitan area, creating what state officials say is a fitting connection to Columbus's heritage.

The statue commemorates Columbus's voyages beginning in 1492, which opened transatlantic exploration and eventually led to European settlement of the Americas, including Florida. State officials noted that Columbus's expeditions inspired subsequent explorers who shaped early Florida, including Juan Ponce de León and Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, who founded St. Augustine in 1565.

"Columbus remains an important figure in Italian-American heritage and a prominent part of the history of Western exploration," the Governor's office said in a statement. Michele Mistò, Consul General of Italy in Miami, called the unveiling an important recognition during Italian-American Heritage Month, noting Italy's ongoing contributions to Florida's economy and culture.

The Naples monument is part of DeSantis's broader effort to preserve American history through the America250 initiative. In February 2025, the Governor announced plans to install additional statues honoring the Founding Fathers, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, James Monroe, and Alexander Hamilton.

Pensacola Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Postponed for Hurricane Recovery

The Parks and Recreation Board has canceled its scheduled October 20 meeting to allow staff to focus on ongoing hurricane recovery efforts, according to the City of Pensacola. The next regular board meeting will take place Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

The cancellation reflects the city's resource allocation priorities in the weeks following hurricane impact. The board typically handles matters related to city parks, recreation programming, and facilities management.