Daily editionThursday, July 30th, 2026
Good morning, Pensacola.
The Daily Pensacola Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 30th of July.
Culture
The historic 1877 Tall Ship Elissa will dock at Palafox Pier from Aug. 7 to 9, hosting free deck tours and ticketed events as part of its final stop on the national Sail250 voyage.
Visitors can explore the vessel's rich maritime history, which includes previous visits in 1886 and 2018.
Local PulseRead more
Executive Chef Alex McPhail at Restaurant Iron showed how natural gas gives precise heat while he prepared a signature dish of fresh Gulf redfish and shrimp plus a Florida citrus and fennel salad for Pensacola Energy's new chef series.
The feature highlights local flavors and skilled technique.
Local PulseRead more
Economy
Grocery prices remain high as Pensacola shoppers turn to apps for coupons, surprise bag deals, and cash back rewards.
Services like Too Good To Go and Publix help local businesses (Bagelheads, Dirty Dough Cookies) offer special savings today.
Pensacola News JournalRead more
Education
Teacher Melanie Hendrix — with 33 years of experience — from Booker T. Washington High School was named the 2026 Florida History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute and will receive a $1,000 honorarium and educational materials at a local ceremony.
WEAR-TVRead more
Jubilee Church will host a free back-to-school event tomorrow from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 5910 North W. Street — local families can receive backpacks, school supplies, haircuts, food, and music until supplies run out.
WEAR-TVRead more
Rick Outzen, publisher of Pensacola Inweekly, has applied to be president of Pensacola State College with his application due by July 31.
He says his 25+ years of running a local news operation and covering education policies make him a unique candidate.
Rick's BlogRead more
Health
The CDC update shows over 6,700 cyclospora cases nationwide (423 hospitalizations), while Florida recorded 158 cases since May 1.
Local health officials say these numbers match the seasonal norm, and updated local figures are expected today.
Pensacola News JournalRead more
Real Estate
The City of Pensacola is boosting affordable housing using the SHIP program to rebuild homes and plan new affordable apartments—one project on the former Motor Lodge site is set to close by September.
City staff restored a home for a family of eight and will hold a public forum on Aug. 6 at Lakeview Activity Center to gather input on replacing the old Baptist hospital.
WEAR-TVRead more
Sports
Jason Libbert (a veteran in the local sports scene) is named president and CEO of Pensacola Sports today.
He served 12 years as Director of Events and will lead the organization to boost local sports tourism and community initiatives.
Local PulseRead more
During a record heat wave, Pensacola high school football coaches used the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature to decide if practice could continue according to FHSAA rules that call for breaks and gear changes when readings are high — teams started with helmets only before adding shoulder pads.
Pensacola News JournalRead more
Readers can now vote for the Pensacola area's best high school running back, with eight candidates from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Voting will run until 11 a.m. CT on Aug. 4 and does not affect the official end-of-season awards.
Pensacola News JournalRead more
Pensacola Events
Pensacola Comedy Stand-up Night
Saturday, August 1st, 2026 · 7:30-9:30 p.m. — Genie's Coffee Shop — Free parking — Bring friends and prepare for laughter with comedy crafted from your suggestions.