Good morning, Pensacola.

Nine local nonprofits are competing for five $25,000 grants as Sunday’s Child announced nine finalists.

Voting members will select the winners at an Oct. 18 meeting to award a total of $125,000.

Pensacola International Airport launched its free Gateside by TSA PreCheck program Friday—allowing eligible visitors to accompany flyers through security to the gates, restaurants, and shops without a ticket.

Visitors must request a pass one to three days in advance.

Photos capture moments from recent days: on Oct.

2, the Patriots scored a 6–0 lead at Pace High School and Chocolate House opened on 9 Mile Road with a strawberry cheesecake crepe, while Oct. 1 images show hopeful moments at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital and officials testing election machines in Escambia County.

Pensacola will host VoteNik 2026, an early voting block party organized by Hale Morrissette on Sunday, Oct.

25 from noon to 5 p.m. at 1918 W. Cervantes St., featuring local DJs, artists plus shuttles to nearby polling locations.

Emerald Coast PBS will launch on Nov.

1, restoring trusted PBS and PBS KIDS programming to the Panhandle. Operating from downtown Pensacola in a space donated by the Levin Papantonio Law Firm, the nonprofit will serve Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties — boosting educational outreach and local storytelling.

Escambia Children's Trust will allocate up to $3.5M for Bright Beginnings, a countywide initiative to boost school readiness from prenatal stages to kindergarten.

Its board will decide on funding at an Oct. 13 meeting, with the three-year program running from Dec. 1.

Escambia County school officials preemptively closed Warrington and Lincoln Park elementary schools amid a 20 percent enrollment decline, and a citizen panel (eight members) meeting every other week since Sept.

24 must decide where students will be reassigned by December.

West Florida Public Libraries offers diverse workshops and resources at Pensacola Library on Spring Street—featuring STEAM classes, fiber arts makerspace and quiet reading areas—where community members can explore hands-on learning in a welcoming space.

FPL will offer home energy surveys for Pensacola residents whose high power bills may stem from issues like faulty A/C or a misdirected meter, said spokesperson Shelley Ragsdale.

A past survey (which uncovered a neighbor’s meter error) has led FPL to urge residents to call the number on their bill or use the online energy manager tool.

Pensacola residents are invited to vote on two playground design options for the Fricker Center as part of a $9.5 million renovation project.

The poll runs from Oct. 2 to Oct. 23 on the project website and includes options for an ADA-friendly upgrade.

Miracle League of Pensacola offers a sports league where physically and mentally challenged athletes currently compete and thrive.

The program celebrates teamwork and individual achievement in a supportive local environment.

The Pensacola News Journal has opened voting for its September Team of the Month featuring local high school teams in football, volleyball, cross country and golf; votes will be accepted until 12 p.m. CT on Oct.

9.