Inweekly July 30 2026 Issue

End of Summer To-Do List

Independent News | July 30, 2026 | Volume 27 | Number 30

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winners & losers

outtakes

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5

news 6

There's still hope.

feature

buzz

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8

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publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Joshua Encinias, Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Dakota Parks, C.S. Satterwhite, Tom St. Myer

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winners

losers

MARK PROCTOR The Levin Papantonio

shareholder celebrates 45 years with the law firm he helped shape through his leadership. He served as president of the firm for 24 years before becoming chairman, guiding Levin Papantonio through decades of growth while building a reputation as a trusted attorney, mentor and advocate for clients nationwide. Throughout his career, Proctor has played a key role in significant litigation, including representing employees of the EPA and helping lead the BP Deepwater Horizon litigation. He is also the cofounder of Mass Torts Made Perfect, the biannual legal conference that has helped launch and advance many of the nation's most significant mass tort cases.

MARCIE LOWE The City of Pensacola's public

engagement coordinator steps away after helping downtown businesses through construction of the New Palafox project. Lowe brought to the job more than two decades of experience as a quality assurance specialist. For six months, Lowe handled on-the-ground communication with downtown businesses and the work crews.

Adrianne Walker, the City's strategic initiatives project officer, said, "Marcie took on a new role … and rose to the occasion, embracing every challenge with a smile and becoming an invaluable member of the team and a key contributor to the project's success."

CITY OF PENSACOLA LinkedIn ranked the City of Pensacola no. 7 on its annual list of Cities on the Rise, which highlights 25 emerging U.S. metros where the job market is gaining momentum. Twothirds of professionals today say they work to live and not the other way around, according to recent LinkedIn survey data, reflecting a focus on balancing career ambition with overall quality of life.

That shift is reshaping where people choose to put down roots, making smaller cities with vibrant job markets and strong communities more attractive. The metro is building on its longstanding defense, aerospace and aviation roots with new initiatives such as Project Maeve, a $76 million ship manufacturing investment expected to create upwards of 2,000 jobs.

DR. CLIFFORD HUMPHREY Though he was

ousted this spring as University of West Florida President Manny Diaz Jr.'s chief of staff and retained as VP for strategic initiatives, Humphrey continues stacking campus speaker lineups with conservative voices, raising fresh questions about his judgment and UWF's compliance with state law. Next month, Humphrey is bringing Bob Luddy, his former boss at Thales College, to keynote the "America at 250" symposium. An internal review by faculty group Concerned Argos found UWF's Office of Public Policy Events may violate Florida's viewpoint diversity statute: 71% of last school year's speakers held conservative affiliations, and 67% of events featured no opposing viewpoint at all. A third had ties to Hillsdale College, Humphrey's alma mater.

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

With six months left in office, Gov. Ron DeSantis finally appointed an academic with a Ph.D. and who has actually taught university courses as his Education Commissioner. Dr. Henry Mack won unanimous approval from the Florida Board of Education on July 22. Since December 2018, DeSantis has chosen his cronies and political hacks to lead the state's public education system—Richard Corcoran, Manny Diaz Jr. and Anastasios Kamoutsas. Under their leadership, parents have pulled their students out of public education in droves.

Statewide K-12 public education enrollment has decreased by about 53,700 students, dropping from roughly 2.84 million in the 2018-19 school year to 2.79 million, according to recent data.

U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT The Justice

Department withdrew grand jury subpoenas seeking testimony from three New York Times reporters about their sources for stories on President Trump's Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet, following sharp criticism from U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian. The judge said the subpoenas violated rules requiring they be a last resort and threatened sanctions against government lawyers. DOJ attorney Sean Buckley called related errors, including subpoenas for phone records of a reporter's mother and two journalists' spouses, unintentional. inweekly.net

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

PLAYING CHICKEN WITH TAX DOLLARS Watching last week's Escambia County budget workshop, I kept coming back to one number: four. That's how many votes it now takes to hold the millage rate steady for fiscal year 2027.

Three votes get you the rollback rate. Four gets you stability. And that single-digit difference has handed Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger a lever that she seems all too willing to pull.

What's on the table? The community support fund, also known as the discretionary fund, is $211,000 in a proposed county budget totaling over $890 million. It funds veterans' outreach, youth programs and nonprofits that fill gaps in services.

The millage rate is the tax rate local governments use to calculate property taxes. One mill equals $1 in tax for every $1,000 of a property's taxable value. The rollback rate adjusts the millage rate downward to the level that would generate the same total property tax revenue as the previous year.

Is the sponsorship mechanism worth reforming? Maybe. Commissioner Steve Stroberger's argument, that individual commissioner sponsorship creates a perception of favoritism, isn't unreasonable, but that's a governance question. It is not a hostage situation.

Hofberger made it one in a single sentence: "I won't vote to support this budget if we have discretionary dollars in there. And Commissioner Stroberger, if you don't want it to pass, I believe you should hold out on that too, because it's going to take four of us to pass that."

POTENTIAL COLLATERAL DAMAGE If Hof-

berger and Stroberger refuse to vote for current millage rate unless the community grants program is eliminated, they don't need to win the argument on the merits. They just need to withhold two votes out of five. The other three commissioners—Lumon May, Mike Kohler and Steven Barry—can defend the fund all they want, but if the board can't reach four votes, the rate rolls back by default, forcing cuts in vital services.

Every other line item in the budget is at risk of becoming collateral damage in a dispute that has as much to do with personal friction as fiscal policy. For the record, Stroberger didn't say that he would join Hofberger in her power play.

July 30, 2026

Meanwhile, County Attorney Alison Rogers tried to steer commissioners away from discussing the pending lawsuit over how community support funds have been distributed, the same lawsuit that gives May his strongest argument against eliminating the fund mid-litigation.

The funding mechanism cannot be fully discussed while a legal challenge over the community grants is still active. Rushing to kill the fund now, under threat of a stalled millage vote, looks less like reform and more like an attempt to moot the lawsuit by eliminating the thing being litigated.

PERSONAL FRICTION However, stopping a

discussion of the community support fund didn't keep the personal friction between commissioners from bubbling to the surface. Hofberger has openly said she doesn't enjoy working with Kohler and has accused him of bringing "a lot of drama."

During her 2025 campaign, she weaponized an opponent's friendship with May to win Republican support. Kohler has called out Hofberger and her former aide, Melanie Luna, for smearing a library services director candidate during an important hiring process.

Those smoldering feelings popped up during the workshop debate. Hofberger insinuated that the government helping individuals was socialism.

Kohler brought up Hofberger's office furniture order. May accused colleagues of political theater while defending funding for the county's most vulnerable kids.

The commissioners' jabs displayed the dysfunction that makes residents tune out of local government entirely, right when they most need to be paying attention.

Escambia County residents deserve a budget process built on public deliberation. If Hofberger believes the community support fund should end, she should make that case publicly, not just twist Stroberger's arm to join her. Tying her support for the entire millage rate to a $211,000 line item is not fiscal discipline. It's brinkmanship, and it risks real financial consequences.

The first public hearing is Sept. 8. Residents should show up and ask a simple question: is this really about $211,000, or is it about who controls the votes? {in} rick@inweekly.net

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ANONYMOUS UWF WATCHDOG SPEAKS OUT

By Rick Outzen Inweekly isn't the only outlet pressing the University of West Florida for answers. For months, an anonymous social media account called Argodillo For All has been asking its own questions of President Manny Diaz Jr., his administrators and the Board of Trustees. The findings go up on Instagram, Facebook and Reddit.

The account, run by a self-described UWF alum and donor, operates anonymously and has built a following by tracking public records requests, board meeting omissions and the growing distance between what UWF says publicly and what the paper trail shows. Its name is a portmanteau of "Argonaut" (an official UWF symbol) and "armadillo" (beloved campus resident and informal animal mascot). We reached out to Argodillo For All with five questions of our own.

Argodillo For All says the account actually launched in early April, as UWF's Founders Week approached and the mood on campus noticeably soured. Students were showing up at Board of Trustees meetings and open forums with President Diaz to raise concerns about the treatment of LGBTQ+ students and a proposal—later a flashpoint—to strip Juneteenth of its status as a university holiday.

The founder says their goal was twofold: keep pressure on Diaz and Trustee Zack Smith, and make sure the students raising those concerns knew they weren't shouting into a void.

In April, Inweekly pointed out that Diaz had stopped uploading supporting documents for Board of Trustees agenda items—documents which had previously been uploaded to the Board's website, and which covered many of Argodillo For All's concerns. The newspaper made a public record request for the documents and was given one option: drive to the university to read them.

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WATCHED BY UWF

Inweekly asked Argodillo For All whether UWF has engaged with the account, and the answer is blunt: not really. But the university clearly pays attention. When the account ran an Instagram poll asking whether followers wanted free Argodillo For All stickers, it pulled in hundreds of "yes" votes. It also got one "no" from UWF's official Instagram account.

The pattern shows up in public records requests, too. In April, before the account had much of a following, its request about the university's logo redesign and decision-making process came back quickly. The account received the UWF Institutional Logo Stakeholder Perception Survey within 72 hours.

The turnaround time has since changed.

Argodillo for All filed a follow-up request July 1, asking for records about the project's cost, how the Moore Agency of Tallahassee was selected for the rebrand and whether the agency provided proof of progress to demonstrate the use of original, human work—or if the agency disclosed the use of AI-generated material. The request went unanswered for a week, then for weeks. A July 9 reply promised a response "shortly."

Finally, after this interview was published on ricksblog.biz on July 20, Argodillo For All received information on how much UWF paid for its rebrand. The account promptly posted these new findings on Instagram.

The Moore Agency has been paid $237,200: categories included Brand Audit Research ($41,625), Brand Refresh Phase 2 video development ($48,500), Presidential Thought Leadership Strategic Counsel ($18,500) and 2026 Brand Refresh Service ($128,575).

Argodillo For All pointed out that $237,000 is the equivalent of four to five academic advisors' yearly salaries, or one year's tuition for 46

students. It is roughly a third of President Diaz's annual base salary.

NAUTILUS LOYALTY

Perhaps the account's most pointed message is aimed less at Diaz personally, and more towards his administration and its impact on alumni goodwill. Argodillo For All says messages and Reddit threads are full of alumni and donors saying they're pulling back financial support, frustrated that their opinions were never sought before an undisclosed sum was spent replacing the logo most tied to UWF's identity.

Dozens of comments cited by the account say people "only went to UWF because of the nautilus." The nautilus shell has been UWF's official emblem since the university's founding, chosen by founding president Harold Crosby, inspired by Oliver Wendell Holmes' poem "The Chambered Nautilus." It has appeared on the presidential seal and symbolizes the university's history and its push toward continued growth and evolution.

Argodillo For All says, "Art, biology and anthropology students especially see this move as a complete erasure of the incredible research and work they are doing to preserve our history and connect with the community."

The account says Diaz's "Year in Review" video cut a line about the "phenomenal rebrand" from the version posted to social media, though the line remains in the full YouTube upload. Commenters have argued that the enrollment gains touted in that video were already underway before Diaz arrived and would likely have continued regardless of his leadership.

LEADERSHIP QUESTIONED

Argodillo For All says its criticism of President Diaz isn't a knee-jerk reaction to change.

The account acknowledges the former educa-

tion commissioner and state lawmaker's outside connections could benefit UWF's internship and business partnership pipeline. But alumni and students said that during the presidential search, they emphasized wanting someone approachable who preserves the university's "small campus" feel and "who values their staff and their exceptional contributions." Diaz simply doesn't fit the bill.

Argodillo For All says, "Diaz's record shows that he often skips faculty and staff senate meetings, which representatives have called him out for in public forums. It truly appears that he dodges accountability at every opportunity, and it can only go on for so long."

The sharpest words in the interview are reserved for Trustee Zack Smith, whom the account says has refused to engage in person, by email or on Instagram, except to like comments dismissing the account's founder as "just a hater."

Argodillo For All says it has personally asked Smith, face-to-face, why he declined to support amending UWF's presidential search criteria to require a graduate degree and prefer a terminal degree for future candidates. Smith, the account says, never answered.

The message to Smith: "You choose not to respond, which suggests to me that you recognize your own lack of integrity. You let UWF organizations and students defend you, while you sit back and reap the benefits of systematically dismantling both UWF and Florida higher education as a whole."

The account points out what it sees as the hypocrisy of the UWF's current leadership. "If these 'leaders' won't hold themselves accountable or respond to direct questions, what choice do we have but to try our very best to get UWF students, staff and alumni to unite, keep a close eye on this nonsense and demand better?"

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The account frames its mission as forcing accountability where the university's own channels have failed to provide it, flagging Presidential Reports that are left off Board of Trustees agendas but surface in meeting videos. It's also highlighting what it describes as coordination between UWF leadership and charter school advocates uninterested in public education.

Argodillo For All says, "It's about letting Diaz and his devotees know that someone sees you. I see you."

Asked who's behind the account, Argodillo For All describes itself as a UWF alum who has also worked at the university as an instructor, staff member, donor and volunteer—someone who says the goal isn't to tear UWF down, but to preserve the version of the university it says drew people there in the first place: one built on inclusion, academic excellence and a "Great College to Work For" reputation increasingly at odds, in the account's telling, with how the campus is being run today.

Argodillo For All can be followed on Instagram (@argodilloforall), Facebook and Reddit (u/argodilloforall). The full interview can be found on ricksblog.biz. {in} inweekly.net

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Photo Courtesy of jjr.vote

MEET MR. RODRIGUEZ Democratic Attor-

ney General candidate José Javier Rodríguez visited Pensacola last week, pitching Northwest Florida voters on a campaign built around what he calls fighting the "three Cs:" crime, cost and corruption.

Rodríguez, a Cuban-American attorney and former state senator who represented Miami from 2016 to 2020, is a Harvard Law graduate and 20-year trial attorney who has spent his career, in his words, "fighting for the little guy"—workers, low-income homeowners and consumers. He most recently served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training under the Biden administration.

In an interview with Inweekly, Rodríguez said his run is about restoring the Attorney General's office to its historic role as a consumer watchdog rather than what he described as a political extension of the governor's office. He pointed to former AG Bob Butterworth as his model, recalling an era when Florida "led the way" on consumer protection instead of, as he put it, "squandering" resources on national political theater.

"The agenda I have is crime, costs, corruption," Rodríguez said, "focusing on public safety, not all this political theater. We're squandering massive amounts on things that are not keeping us safe, all of it just for entertainment in D.C." On cost, he pledged to target utility companies, insurance practices and corporate landlords he says are driving up rents and rates, including new scrutiny of data centers, which he 88

argued fits the same pattern of rising electric bills and rising Tallahassee profits. He also cited local control over data center regulation and water protection as priorities.

Rodríguez leaned heavily on the 2020 "ghost candidate" scandal, in which Florida Power & Light secretly backed a spoiler candidate against him. "The CEO personally wrote an email saying, 'Make JJR's life a living hell,'" Rodríguez said. "And so when I launched my campaign a little over a year ago, I said, 'Well, we're gonna give them hell right back,' because that's exactly what we need in Tallahassee."

Rodríguez reserved his sharpest criticism for incumbent Attorney General James Uthmeier, accusing him of running a "weak cabinet position" that follows the governor's lead rather than checking it. "With Uthmeier, he's doing the opposite of what the job commands," Rodríguez said. "He was literally put there by the governor to cover up his administration's corruption … He's literally the corruption. He isn't rooting it out. He's the root of it."

Rodríguez said he's drawing some Republican support from voters who disagree with him on policy but want an Attorney General who understands the office's proper role rather than one chasing headlines. To learn about his campaign, visit jjr.vote.

DATA CENTERS BANNED On July 23, the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to declare largescale data centers an impermissible use under

the county's current Land Development Code, then scheduled an Aug. 6 public hearing at 5:31 p.m. to formalize the prohibition through a standalone ordinance.

The 5-0 vote covered two actions. The first was a resolution stating that data center facilities "are not permitted under the county's Land Development Code and are not an appropriate form of development within the unincorporated area of Escambia County." County Attorney Alison Rogers told commissioners that language takes effect immediately. The second action ratified scheduling a public hearing on an ordinance that would codify the ban and allow for further language changes.

Commissioners debated whether to instead pursue a moratorium similar to one recently passed by the City of Pensacola. Commissioner Mike Kohler initially favored that approach to present a unified front with the city. Commissioner Lumon May argued the resolution already accomplishes a ban and does not need to be paired with a moratorium, though he said he would support both actions if colleagues preferred. Commissioner Steve Stroberger noted the county cannot permanently bind future boards through the resolution, comparing it to an executive order that a later commission could reverse.

Commissioners cited several reasons for opposing the facilities, including limited permanent job creation (estimated at 10 to 15 positions per site), high water and electricity demands and concerns about strain on the county's aquifer. Commissioner May also linked the issue to the county's history with contamination tied to the Superfund-designated relocation on Palafox Street and in the Wedgewood community, arguing data centers nationally tend to be sited in lower-income areas.

Commissioner Steven Barry, who represents District 5, said no developer or builder has approached him about a data center project in his district despite his frequent contact with the development community. He said he wanted to be clear no such proposal was being pursued "underhanded" or out of public view.

Rogers said the prohibition applies to data centers as a principal use and does not affect accessory server infrastructure operated by hospitals, banks or universities, citing Navy Federal Credit Union and the University of West Florida as examples of protected accessory uses. She said the state's definition of a large-scale data center, 50 megawatts or larger, has been incorporated into the county's current approach, though commissioners indicated they want the eventual ordinance to address facilities of any size.

The Aug. 6 hearing will give commissioners an opportunity to amend the ordinance's language, including a possible provision distinguishing AI-driven data centers from smaller commercial data operations already located in the county.

HIRING FREEZE Mayor D.C. Reeves outlined his proposed 2026-27 city budget at a July 22

press conference, telling reporters the general fund will be $256,400 smaller than last year despite a 5.3% increase in property tax revenue, as sales tax revenue and franchise fees flatten and the city continues a reduced transfer from Pensacola Energy at the city council's request. The millage rate will remain unchanged, as it has since 2011.

Reeves is proposing a staggered cost-of-living adjustment rather than an across-the-board raise. Employees earning under $75,000 would receive a 2.5% COLA, those earning $75,000 to $125,000 would get 2% and employees above $125,000 would see 1%. Averaged across the city's roughly 875 employees, the raise comes out to about 2%, down from the administration's traditional 3%. Reeves said the tiered approach is meant to protect lower-paid workers amid rising costs. The increase applies to non-union employees; those covered by union contracts, including police and fire, will receive raises as spelled out in their agreements.

Starting Sept. 1, city departments will face new requirements to justify refilling vacant positions to the city administrator, though Reeves said director-level positions will continue to be filled as needed. The city is also freezing nonmandated overtime for full-time and temporary employees. Reeves said the city routinely reviews and eliminates positions vacant for more than a year as part of its budget process, and some longer-vacant positions have already been cut from this year's proposal.

Most departmental operating budgets will remain flat year over year, with two exceptions: facilities maintenance and public safety.

Reeves pointed to a newly centralized facilities department working to get ahead of costly repairs, such as aging HVAC systems, before they become emergencies. Rising fuel and vehicle repair costs are driving a $200,000 increase for the police department and a $45,000 increase for fire department vehicle repairs, while community center repairs and renovations are up $206,000.

Reeves emphasized that all figures presented are proposals subject to change during the council's budget workshop and public hearings, and that the council has final authority to adopt the budget.

CURFEW PREVIEW At the same press conference, Mayor Reeves outlined the first details of a draft ordinance that would establish a curfew for unaccompanied minors 17 and under, telling reporters he hopes to bring the measure before city council as soon as August.

Reeves emphasized the proposal does not apply to adults. "This is not a curfew," he said.

"We're not asking grown adults to not be out at night at 11 p.m. or at midnight."

As drafted, the ordinance would use a stair-step enforcement model. A first offense would result in a warning. A first or second violation could involve officers taking a minor to a local police department to contact their parents. A second offense would bring a civil citation, with an increased citation for repeat inweekly.net

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YOUR VOICE, YOUR VOTE — BE HEARD, BE COUNTED.

violations. The draft also includes language addressing potential consequences for parents, reflecting what Reeves called a need for parental accountability.

"Our city is not your babysitter," Reeves said. "I don't think it's reasonable that the streets of the city be determined as the babysitter for the night for unaccompanied minors."

"I don't think it's reasonable that the streets of the city be determined as the babysitter for the night for unaccompanied minors." D.C. Reeves The mayor said several exemptions are built into the draft, including minors accompanied by someone 21 or older, those traveling to or from work, those commuting home by vehicle and those on private property, such as at a neighbor's house.

Proposed curfew hours would mirror Florida's state statute: 11 p.m. on weeknights, and midnight or 1 a.m. on weekends.

The most significant unresolved question is whether the curfew would apply citywide or only in specific areas. A reporter noted the current draft contains no geographic boundaries and applies citywide as written. Reeves confirmed that is accurate for now but said he must still consult the city's legal department on whether the ordinance can legally be limited to certain corridors or neighborhoods. He said that question will be central to his upcoming conversations with council members representing different parts of the city.

Reeves said the draft, which he received within the last 48 hours, has already undergone an initial legal review. His next step is gathering input from council members before the ordinance advances to a vote.

"If we can make it in August, making sure that we've got the feedback from council members, that legal is okay with it, I'll move it in August," Reeves said, adding that September would be the latest he expects the ordinance to reach council.

UAC NOT IMPRESSED The University of

West Florida football program received its firstever preseason ranking in the United Athletic Conference last week, checking in at No. 8, last place, in the league's 2026 coaches' poll as the Argonauts prepare for their debut season as a UAC member.

Abilene Christian and Tarleton State shared the top spot, each pulling three first-place votes and finishing tied at 65 points. Austin Peay took the final two first-place votes and landed at No. 3 with 62 points, followed by Eastern Kentucky (48), Central Arkansas (43), West Georgia (39) and North Alabama (37). West Florida rounded out the eight-team poll with 33 points.

The conference also announced its preseason awards and All-UAC teams. Austin Peay redshirt junior quarterback Chris Parson was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year July 30, 2026

after leading the UAC and ranking third nationally in total offense in 2025. Eastern Kentucky linebacker Kaden Smith was a unanimous selection for Preseason Defensive Player of the Year after totaling 77 tackles during the 2025 season.

A total of 26 players were named to the AllConference preseason teams, with Abilene Christian leading all schools with eight selections, followed by Tarleton State with five. No UWF players made the squads. For more on the conference, visit uacsports.com.

DISTRICT TWO FORUM Escambia County

District 2 Commissioner Mike Kohler and challenger Glenn Dorsey faced off at a July 21 candidate forum sponsored by the Northwest Florida Chapter of NAIOP, ABC North Florida and the Home Builders Association of West Florida.

The Republicans face off in the Aug. 19 primary. Moderated by Inweekly publisher Rick Outzen, the discussion focused on infrastructure, government structure and fiscal oversight.

Kohler highlighted his record. "Four years ago, I came here, and I ran on infrastructure.

I ran on public safety, roads and parks. Everything I ran on, I accomplished, except one thing, and that was Sorrento Road, which is a complicated situation."

Dorsey argued that the west side of the county is suffering. "I am running to return us back to the basics. I live on the west side of town, and what I see are roads that are deteriorating, appearances that are deteriorating, and I'm committed to cleaning that up."

When asked about the lawsuit in which the county has joined the two nonprofits suing Clerk Pam Childers over community grants, Kohler argued that the Florida Constitution grants the county commission the authority to decide "public purpose." He expressed concern about a single person having the power to veto the decisions of five elected commissioners.

Dorsey defended Childers as a necessary "stopgap" and safeguard against illegitimate spending, citing her successful litigation against the commission's previous retirement program.

In their closing arguments, Kohler positioned himself as a "straight talker" with a proven track record of results, specifically citing the removal of derelict vessels, the demolition of blighted commercial buildings and extensive road resurfacing in District 2.

Dorsey presented himself as a fiscal conservative and a "change" candidate. He criticized the 32.6% increase in the county budget over the last four years and argued that basic county services should not require the direct intervention of a commissioner to function.

FILL THE OVAL CORRECTLY

CLEARLY INDICATE YOUR CHOICE

When marking your ballot, completely fill in the oval next to your choice. A properly completed oval allows the voting system to accurately read your selection.

Avoid using check marks, X marks, circles or partially filled ovals, as these markings may not clearly indicate your choice.

REVIEW YOUR BALLOT

The Correct Way to Mark Your Ballot Correct

 Incorrect  Incorrect  Incorrect 

Take a moment to review your ballot before submitting it. Confirm that each selection is marked with a fully filled oval and that you have followed all instructions provided on the ballot.

A few extra seconds of review can help ensure your vote is counted.

Robert D. Bender, Supervisor of Elections Phone: (850) 595-3900 Fax: (850) 595-3914 Email: soe@escambiavotes.gov

EscambiaVotes.gov

SUPPORTING NPR Readers have asked how

they can let the University of West Florida Board of Trustees know about their support for WUWF maintaining its affiliation with the National Public Radio (NPR). Emails can be sent to bot@uwf.edu before the board's meeting on Aug. 18. Letters can be sent to UWF Board of Trustees, 11000 University Parkway, Building 10, Room 234, Pensacola, FL 32514. {in} 9

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End of Summer To-Do List

The sun is relentless, the pavement is lava and everyone's AC is working overtime, but summer isn't over yet. If you've been hibernating indoors, this one's for you. From can't-miss concerts to classic films on the big screen, we rounded up some of the best ways to peel yourself off the couch before summer slips away. {in}

Follow the local music scene with DIY Pensacola's new show calendar @diypensacola, diypensacola.com

And Phoebe Bridgers' "Lost Weekend" when it drops Friday, Aug. 14 @phoebebridgers, phoebebridgers.com

Laugh it up and still get to bed on time with Improvable Cause's new earlier 8:30 p.m. showtime Saturday, Aug. 1 @improvablecause, improvablecause.com

Plan a matinee movie date with a pre-show organ performance at the Saenger Theatre pensacolasaenger.com/classic-movies

Grab a bite at the new Chickpea House location on Pace Boulevard chickpeahouse.com

Cross your fingers we actually get to see "Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma" sometime this August mubi.com/en/campmiasma

Treat your taste buds to something new during Great Southern Restaurants' Summer Restaurant Week Aug. 10-16 greatsouthernrestaurants.com Listen to Syd's new album "Beard" @syd, syds.world

July 30, 2026

Give back and find your next favorite read with volunteer opportunities at Open Books @openbookspcola Call your crushes, exes and queer besties for Sapphic Saturday at Betty's on Belmont Saturday, Aug. 15 @bettys_on_belmont Don't miss Girls Trip Pensacola featuring DeJ Loaf, Tay Money, Bianca Clarke, Blaqué and more Saturday, Aug. 8 vinylmusichall.com Grab a sandwich and say congrats on their Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand feature at A Mano Panino amanopanino.com

Throw some dollars and holler at the Drag-Lesque Revue show Saturday, Aug. 22 @jayjay_duvay_king, @thehandlebar850

Sweat it out on the dance floor at Lady Fest Aug. 27-29 @lady_fest_pensacola

Find your next karaoke anthem every Thursday and Sunday at Dorothy's @dorothyspensacola

Chill out with some soft serve that's now made from scratch in-house at Nolita's Parlor and Eatery @nolitas_softserve

Start planning your fall by saving the dates for Foo Foo Festival Oct. 29-Nov. 9 foofoofest.com

And Stamped Film Festival Nov. 12-15 @stampedfilmfestival 11

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inweekly.net

WEEK OF JULY 30-AUGUST 5

Arts & Entertainment art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...

A New Era for Strive

By Dakota Parks

Indigo Lett / Courtesy Photo

Indigo Lett never set out to become a trans activist. Most days, they're busy shelving books at the public library, devouring graphic novels, cheering on their favorite soccer teams, longboarding or livestreaming video games on TikTok. But they always make time for trans people in need.

After a decade of involvement with Strive, serving as secretary, treasurer and social media coordinator, Lett has recently stepped into the role of president. They succeed longtime president Devin Cole, steering one of the Gulf Coast's only transgender advocacy organizations.

Lett leads with intersectionality at the forefront, drawing on their lived experience as a Black, nonbinary, asexual and aromantic trans person. They hope to build on Strive's existing work while also strengthening partnerships with disability organizations and communities of color.

"I never really thought much about organizing," they said, remembering a time before joining Strive. "Back around 2015, I had just recently come out, and I was still trying to figure myself out. When you're out of the closet, you're kind of your own activist anyway, because you have July 30, 2026

to constantly retell people who you are, and sometimes even hide it depending on your job and housing situations."

While coming out made Lett an advocate in their everyday life, they said their commitment to organizing was rooted in a lifetime of witnessing racial injustice.

"In the Black community, we've had so many issues with police brutality and vigilante violence," Lett said. "I grew up seeing how deeply things like Rodney King affected my parents, and later, the killings of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown made me want to organize. Then coming out as trans added another layer. The more intersections you have, the more you begin to see how many people are affected by very similar struggles."

That perspective now shapes Lett's vision for Strive.

Founded as a mutual aid organization, Strive has grown into one of Northwest Florida's primary support networks for transgender people. Alongside advocacy and education, the organization helps connect people with affirming healthcare providers, emergency housing, transportation and financial assistance.

"If people need financial support or help find-

ing doctors or just having a place to air their grievances and meet other people, we want to be able to help," Lett said. "We also want to constantly have conversations with people from different backgrounds and make sure we're not overlooking any marginalized communities."

Unlike many nonprofit organizations, Strive's grassroots structure also gives organizers freedom to speak openly about politics.

"We know that we say and do things as an organization that I don't think the government would like," Lett said. "We often speak out about inconsistencies in both the Republican and Democratic parties, but we can actually just say it, and I think that's important. I think it keeps us honest. People know they can give us donations, and they can directly see the impact in our local trans community."

Strive's approach to mutual aid has evolved significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic.

What once relied on email lists and emergency text messages has expanded into an online Discord community of more than 100 members, where people regularly share housing leads, job opportunities and emergency support.

"Before, we were kind of scrambling," Lett said. "It was just a small team of us responding to messages. We had an email list of people who could provide emergency housing, and that was amazing in itself that we had over 20 people willing to help homeless trans people at the drop of a hat. But now, if someone says, 'I got kicked out,' or 'I need a place to stay,' there are people who can respond almost immediately."

While Strive continues to provide emergency assistance, the nature of those requests has shifted.

"It's mainly healthcare obstacles and the current political situation," they said. "With trans people being targets of the Republican party and everything happening nationally, people feel a sort of defeatism, overall apathy or they withdraw completely. But, they're still reaching out looking for hope and community."

Lett said these challenges are compounded by the discrimination many transgender people continue to experience in the workplace and housing. While anti-discrimination policies have become more common, they said, they don't always protect workers and tenants from subtle harassment or exclusion.

"A lot of people don't want to go through the legal process," Lett said. "It costs money to get a lawyer and try to sue a company because they discriminated against you, and it's exhausting. So instead, they just go find another job. Or they just find a new place to live, and the discrimination continues."

As president, Lett hopes to expand Strive's outreach beyond the organization's existing networks.

"There are a lot of Black and brown people who may not even know we're here," they said.

"In the Black community, we often don't see ourselves represented in a lot of spaces, and I want people to know there's a community for them.

Even within the trans and queer community, people often get overlooked, including disabled, intersex, asexual and aromantic people. That's why I would love to host a Disability Pride Month event in the future."

Despite the challenges facing transgender people across the nation, Lett refuses to surrender to hopelessness.

Each year, Strive commemorates Transgender Day of Remembrance by reading the names of transgender people whose lives have been lost to violence. The weight of that grief can feel overwhelming, Lett said, but it also reinforces why the work matters.

"It's easy to spiral into darkness, especially when you read out the names of trans people killed every year, year after year. But you have to slowly remind yourself that you're still here and as long as you're still here, there's still a fight to happen," Lett said. "There's still hope. There's still something you can do to help your community."

They no longer expect their generation to solve every injustice. Instead, they see activism as planting seeds whose shade future generations will enjoy.

"We're still here. We're still organizing.

We're not going anywhere."

Indigo Lett "If we continue with the mindset that nothing's ever going to change, that's just allowing them to win," Lett said. "We may not be the generation that causes the full overarching, galvanizing change, but we'll be a step along the way. It's a slow revolution, kind of like rolling a ball down a hill, where it may start slow, and it may look like it's going to crash—but it will eventually roll, gaining steam, and take out the people it needs to take out."

For Lett, that work begins close to home.

As Strive enters a new chapter under their leadership, they hope every person who attends a meeting, stops by an event or reaches out for help leaves with one message: "You're not alone," Lett said. "We're still here. We're still organizing. We're not going anywhere."

For those looking to get involved or seek support, Strive meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Black Café and Bookstore, 3498 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Learn more at strivepensacola.com or follow @strivepensacola on Instagram and Strive on Facebook. {in} 13

a&e happenings tic Pizza," March 18-19 and "Legally Blonde—The Musical," April 29-30.

DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID

Pensacola Little Theatre presents the classic fairytale. Performances are 7 p.m. Thursday, July 30; Friday, July 31; Thursday, Aug. 6 and Friday, Aug. 7; and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1; Sunday, Aug. 2; Saturday, Aug. 8 and Sunday, Aug. 9. Tickets are $15 and up. Thursday performances are half-price for adult tickets. Details available at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

SAENGER THEATRE SUMMER MOVIE SERIES The historic Saenger

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

BENEFIT SHOW/CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR THE FAMILY OF ALEKA ASH ELLISCHAMBERS Join 309 Punk House for a fun-

draiser show for the family of Aleka Ash EllisChambers 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8 at 309 N. Sixth Ave. If you cannot make it to the show, you can donate at this link: gofundme.com/f/support-foraleka-ash-ellischambers-family.

ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Beef 'O' Brady's, 1 New Market St., Cantonment (on Nine Mile Road near Pine Forest Road).

The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.

ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN ADOPTION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every

first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.

CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD DRIVE The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing

Ministry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens 10 a.m. and also has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women, as well as sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details.

ARTS & CULTURE

BROADWAY IN PENSACOLA 2026-2027

Season subscriptions to Broadway in Pensacola are available now at broadwayinpensacola.com.

Performances will take place at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. The 2026-2027 season includes "Waitress" Oct. 26-27; "The Wiz," Jan. 12-13; "Mys414 1

Theatre has announced the lineup for the summer movie series. Its theme is "The Sound and the Story: Five Decades of Steven Spielberg and John Williams." Screenings are 3 p.m. at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets are $7 per person. Full concessions are available at each screening.

Dates are: "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" on Saturday, Aug. 1; "Jurassic Park" on Sunday, Aug. 9; "Catch Me If You Can" on Sunday, Aug. 16 and "Lincoln" on Sunday, Aug. 23.

Details available at pensacolasaenger.com.

READ PENSACOLA BOOK CLUB Join the Read Pensacola Book Club for upcoming book discussions. On Aug. 4 the discussion will be "I Who Have Never Known Men" by Jacqueline Harpman. Book club takes place 5-6 p.m. at Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. Details available at instagram.com/readpensacola.

SPEED FRIENDING AT ODD COLONY

Head to Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. for a laid-back evening making new friends 6-8 p.m.

Thursday, July 30. Details available at facebook.com/oddcolony.

TAROT CLUB Game night at Golden Hour Tea

House, 2950 N. 12th Ave. 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, July 31. Details available at goldenhourpensacola.org.

WATERCOLOR PAINT + SIP Painting class

with The Traveling Painter is 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Details and ticket information available at facebook.com/garysbrew.

HOT WAX VINYL FAIR Shop for vinyl trea-

sures 12-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. There will be live DJs. Details available at facebook.com/oddcolony.

HANDS-ON BONSAI CLASS Event hosted by

Zen Den Bonsai Workshop at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Event is 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5. Get tickets at zendenbonsai.com.

A VERY SPECIAL SCREENING WITH WHITMER THOMAS Enjoy live comedy and music.

Event is 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.

ANIMATION CELEBRATION Join Pensacola

Museum of Art for an exclusive evening 6-8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 8 at the Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. Event is inspired by Enchanted Drawings: Magic of Animation. Attendees can view original artwork, enjoy live music and entertainment from Milan the Magician, food and drink and more. Purchase tickets at pensacolamuseum.org/event/animation-celebration.

PORTRAIT SESSIONS WITH ASHA DORE

Sign up to have your likeness added to Asha Dore's animated film, which will be screened on Aug. 15 at 309 Punk House. Portrait sessions are 6-9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, Monday, Aug. 10 and 6-9 p.m. and Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 309 N. Sixth Ave. Details available at facebook.com/309punkproject.

ROAD TO REVOLUTION EXHIBIT AT PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF HISTORY "Road to

Revolution: Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the American War for Independence" highlights how Pensacola helped shape the outcome of the American Revolution. Developed in partnership with America250, the exhibit explores how a Gulf Coast port played a pivotal role in a global conflict. The exhibit is on display through May 2027. The museum is located at 330 S. Jefferson St. For more information about the UWF Historic Trust, visit historicpensacola.org.

BLACK AND WHITE SHOW AT ARTEL GALLERY Currently on view at the Artel Gallery until July 31. Exhibit also features works by Man Stanly at the Vault, Stephanie Nowlin at the Pandora Room, Kris Billhorn at the Backroom and Bruce Men Ne at the Award Alcove. Location is 223 S. Palafox St. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, visit facebook.com/artelpensacola.

THE POETICS OF PAINTING: A CELEBRATION OF THE LINEAGE AND LEGACY OF JOHN MARKOWITZ Pensacola Museum of Art

exhibit features more than 50 works of art created by Markowitz's mentors and students on view through Aug. 4. The Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

THE ART OF ANIMATION Pensacola Museum of Art exhibit featuring illustrations from the Gerald and Vicki Adcox collection. On view through Sept. 6. Visit the museum at 407 S. Jefferson St. Find more details and museum hours at pensacolamuseum.org.

Bowles and Russell Douglas. Details available at talktothemooncomedyclub.com.

FIRST FRIDAY AT BLUE MORNING GALLERY Visit Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S.

Palafox St., 5:30 p.m. every first Friday of the month for a reception with wine, live music and occasional artist demonstrations. Visit bluemorninggallery.com for details.

MOVIE NIGHTS AT MUGS & JUGS Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway, hosts monthly movie nights. Watch their website for dates and movie announcements at mugsjugsbar.com. All movies are screened 9 p.m. on select Saturdays.

CLUB 27 COMEDY SHOW Visit Lili Marlene's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. on the first and third Sundays of the month for a night of comedy. Doors open at 6 p.m. show starts at 7 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for details.

PENSACOLA HERITAGE FOUNDATION LECTURES Learn Pensacola and Northwest

Florida history through interesting, informal lectures every other Tuesday at The Wright Place, 80 E. Wright St. Doors open at 11 a.m., and lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. The lecture starts at noon and lasts one hour. Lecture cost is $5 for non-members and is free to members. Lunches are $12. For reservations, call (850) 380-7759.

PENSACOLA CINEMA ART FILM SCREENINGS Pensacola Cinema Art will screen films se-

lect weekends during the summer season at 220 W. Garden St. Tickets are $10, and payment is cash only. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for their complete schedule.

PENSACOLA ROSE SOCIETY Monthly meetings are normally 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Pensacola Garden Center, 1850 N. Ninth Ave. Visit pensacolarosesociety.org for more information.

BTB COMEDY Watch live stand-up comedy in open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates.

SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little

Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers every second Saturday of the month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.

HUMANISTS OF WEST FLORIDA MONTHLY MEETING The Humanists of West Florida

PALAFOX MARKET Palafox Market is 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox Streets at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook.com/ downtownpensacola.

WEST GARDEN DISTRICT ARTISAN MARKET Shop local vendors and artisans 1-6

SUNDAY MARKET ON PALAFOX Rain-orshine market is Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Located in downtown Pensacola, between Chase and Gregory Streets in the MLK Plaza.

Market features handmade crafts, art, baked goods, international cuisine and fresh produce.

Visit smopalafox.com for details.

meet at the Ever'man Education Center, 351 W. Garden St. 10:15 a.m. every second Sunday of the month. For more information, visit facebook.com/ humanistsofwestflorida.

p.m. Fridays starting May 1 at Del Mar Plaza, 1617 W. Garden St. For more information, contact info@ub-pensacola.com.

TALK TO THE MOON COMEDY CLUB OPEN MIC Weekly comedy open mic is 7 p.m. Wednes-

days at Mathison Brewing Co., 500 E. Heinberg St. Signup starts at 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Adam

CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193 Don't miss Cabaret inweekly.net

a&e happenings PENSACOLA UNPLUGGED: JERRY SALLEY

SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pensac-

Aug. 1 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at vinylmusichall.com.

ola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling (850) 941-4321.

AFTER DARK: SEVILLE QUARTER GHOSTS, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY TOUR AND DINNER After Dark Para-

normal Investigation and Dinner happens inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with real ghost-hunting equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more related to Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. After your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations are required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.

LIVE MUSIC

BANDS ON THE BEACH The weekly concert

series takes place 7-9 p.m. every Tuesday through Oct. 27 at the Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach. Free to attend. Upcoming dates: The New Cahoots on Aug. 4 and 9th Avenue Brass Band on Aug. 11. For more information, call the SRIA at (850) 932-2257 or go to visitpensacolabeach.com for the latest updates.

LIVE MUSIC AT FIVE SISTERS BLUES CAFÉ

Enjoy live music Thursdays through Sundays at Five Sisters, 421 W. Belmont St. Upcoming dates: The Glenn Parker Band 6-10 p.m. Saturdays; Curt Bol Quintet 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays; and John Wheeler 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays.

PENSACOLA SONGWRITER ROUNDS SERIES Show is 6 p.m. Thursday, July 30 at The

Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.

BANDS ON THE BAYOU Bay Kings Bang will

perform at Bands on the Bayou 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Friday, July 31 at Bayview Park, 2001 E. Lloyd St. The event will benefit Warrington Emergency Aid Center and A Place of Hope Small Dog Rescue.

Details available at bandsonthebayou.com.

LIVERPOOL LEGENDS: THE COMPLETE BEATLES EXPERIENCE! Show is 7:30 p.m.

Friday, July 31 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.

BLACKSMITH Show is 7 p.m. Friday, July 31 at

The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.

TWIN FIN Show is 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.

July 30, 2026

The next Pensacola Unplugged will be 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1 at the Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. featuring Jerry Salley.

COWBOY MOUTH Show is 7 p.m. Saturday,

THE WALLFLOWERS: BRINGING DOWN THE HORSE TOUR Show is 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug.

2 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.

Medical Society present free concerts on the first Wednesday of the month in the cafeteria of Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola, 5151 N. Ninth Ave. from 1:30-3:30 p.m. For more information, visit jazzpensacola.com.

ROSIE O'GRADY'S DUELING PIANO SHOW Watch the famous dueling piano show 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at Rosie O' Grady's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Doors open at 7 p.m.

NOCHE TROPICAL: LATIN NIGHT AT SEVILLE QUARTER Presented by Latin Flavor En-

TRHÄ Show is 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4 at The

Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.

tertainment every Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Phineas Phogg's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.

WUWF PRESENTS RADIOLIVE The next Ra-

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT GARY'S BREWERY

dioLive is 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6 in the Museum of Commerce, 201 Zaragoza St. Featured artists are Of a Feather, Red and Revelers and Abe Partridge.

Tickets are $10. Reserve yours at radiolive.org.

Open mic night is hosted by Renee Amelia 6 p.m. every other Wednesday at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for details.

THE CONSTELLATIONS Show is 7 p.m. Fri-

VIBE IRIE REGGAE: LIVE IN THE COURTYARD Enjoy Vibe Irie Reggae band 4-10 p.m.

day, Aug. 7 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.

GIRLS TRIP PENSACOLA WITH DEJ LOAD AND TAY MONEY A night of female entertain-

Sundays at the End O' the Alley Courtyard at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St.

LIVE MUSIC AT CALVERT'S Listen to live mu-

ers and artists 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at vinylmusichall.com.

sic 5-8 p.m. Sundays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. Visit facebook.com/calvertsintheheights for details.

RAQ BABY Show is 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9 at The

FOOD + DRINKS

Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.

OPEN MIC AT ALGA BEER CO. Country

Club is hosted by Brett Patterson of Snake and the Rabbit every Monday night. Sign-ups start at 6 p.m. and music starts at 6:30 p.m. All ages welcome. Visit facebook.com/algabeerco for more details.

MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER The Blues Society of Northwest Florida brings blues to Florida 7 p.m. Mondays at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Food and drink specials start at 8 p.m. Details are at sevillequarter.com.

PENSACOLA PICK NIGHT AT ODD COLONY Music pickers of all levels are invited to play

7-9 p.m. every last Monday of the month at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Bring your acoustic instrument and jam. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.

LIVE MUSIC NIGHTLY AT THE DISTRICT

Enjoy music and fine dining at The District: Seville Steak & Seafood, 123 E. Government St., every Tuesday through Thursday starting at 6 p.m. Their regular weekly schedule is Tuesday Night Jazz with Love Brynnevere, Wednesdays with Platinum Bones and Thursdays Dan Lovelock on the piano.

They also have live music on Fridays and Saturdays during happy hour starting at 4 p.m. Visit facebook. com/districtsteaks for details and updates.

MUSIC RX: JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED Jazz Pensacola and Escambia County

Sneak Peek event on

Aug 8 10a-5p

Aug 14 –16 Fri & Sat 10a-5p Sun 12p-4p

To preview ALL of the 2026 Parade of Homes go to

paradeofhomespensacola.com

FAMILY CAMP: CRAVIN' ASIAN Cooking

class is 5-8 p.m. Thursday, July 30 and Friday, July 31 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave., Ste. C. Cost is $210 per person and includes all three days. Details and tickets available at pensacolacooks.com.

26

Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m.

For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.

You’re Invited

BOUQUETS AND BELLINIS Join Wendy from Aliff Farms for a hands-on bouquet-building class 6-9 p.m. Thursday, July 30 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $99.49 and available at eventbrite.com.

BACK TO SCHOOL: LUNCH BOX LAB Get ready to pack a tasty school lunch with Bodacious.

Class is 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at eventbrite.com.

ATLAS BEVERAGE CLASS: ASESINATO TEQUILA The next Atlas Beverage Classes

are 5 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6 at 600 S. Barracks St. Cost is $30 and includes beverage tasting paired with appetizers. RSVP required. Call (850)287-0200 or email taylor@goodgrits.com to reserve a spot.

RED CARPET HOLLYWOOD MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATRE Going Noir Myster-

ies and dinner from Chef Rusty Strain. Event is 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.

AUGUST SUPPER CLUB AT THE WELL Event is 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9 at The Well, 42 E. Garden St. Details and registration is available at ticketsilver.com/perfectplain.

15

a&e happenings DOWNTOWN HAPPY HOUR AT SEVILLE QUARTER Drink specials and laid-back vibes are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. every weekday throughout the entire Seville Quarter complex with $2 off all liquor drinks and $1 off all beer and wine. Must be 21 or older. Visit sevillequarter.com for details.

MARTINI MONDAYS AT DOROTHY'S Mar-

tini menu with specialty prices at Dorothy's, 309 S. Reus St. Visit dorothyspensacola.com for details.

MEN'S NIGHT AT WISTERIA From 3 p.m. to

close Mondays, guys can play free darts and enjoy $6 craft tallboys. There are more than 150 craft beers to choose from at Wisteria, 3803 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

BAR BINGO AT SEVILLE QUARTER Bar

Bingo is 8 p.m. Mondays at Apple Annie's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Bingo is free to play with prizes, giveaways and bar tabs up for grabs for winners. Visit sevillequarter.com for details.

FIGHTER GAME NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Gamers unite 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

BINGO NIGHT AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS Play a game (or two) of bingo 6-8 p.m.

Mondays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.

616 1

MONDAY NIGHT SPAGHETTI SESSIONS

Visit V. Paul's Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox St., 5-9 p.m. Mondays for live music and spaghetti and meatballs from the Monday night menu.

MARTINI NIGHT AT THE KENNEDY Every

Tuesday, The Kennedy, 1 S. Palafox St., hosts Martini Night, featuring all martinis from the menu for $10 from open to close (4-11 p.m.).

TRIVIA AT DOROTHY'S Play trivia 8 p.m.

Tuesdays at Dorothy's, 309 S. Reus St. It's free to play, and prizes are up for grabs. Visit dorothyspensacola.com for details.

MUSIC BINGO Test your music knowledge 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Wisteria, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Take part in half-price bottles of wine and $5 canned cocktails. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

POKER NIGHT AND BINGO AT O'RILEY'S

Visit O'Riley's Irish Pub for poker at 6:30 p.m. and bar bingo 8-10 p.m. Tacos are on special Tuesdays at 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

LUNCH AT THE DISTRICT The District Steakhouse, 130 E. Government St., is open for special lunch seatings the third Friday of the month. Enjoy a $5 martini or house wine. Seatings are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Reservations are accepted but not necessary.

Details are available at districtsteaks.com.

TUESDAY TRIVIA AT PERFECT PLAIN Visit

Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for trivia nights 7-9 p.m.

Tuesdays at 50 E. Garden St. Visit perfectplain.com/upcoming-events for details.

SERVICE INDUSTRY NIGHT AT DOROTHY'S Reverse happy hour from 9 p.m.-mid-

night with other specials Wednesdays at Dorothy's, 309 S. Reus St. Visit dorothyspensacola.com for details.

LATIN NIGHT AT SEVILLE QUARTER Get

at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.

KARAOKE AT DOROTHY'S Karaoke begins 8 p.m. Thursdays at Dorothy's, 309 S. Reus St. Visit dorothyspensacola.com for details.

COLLEGE NIGHT AT SEVILLE QUARTER

on your feet with a social Latin dance—no partner required—and Latin music 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays at Phineas Phogg's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Drink specials and music from DJ DavidC continue after the dancing. Details are at sevillequarter.com.

College night is 8 p.m. Thursdays at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Ages 18 and older are welcome. Free beer pong tournament begins at 10 p.m. Drink specials include $2 bar drinks, $3.50 Fireball shots for ages 21 and older. Cover is $5 for ages 21 and older and $10 for ages 18-20. Details are at sevillequarter.com.

TRIVIA WITH JAY AT O'RILEY'S Test your

TAVERN TRIVIA Trivia is 9 p.m. Thursdays at

COLLEGE NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Specials with

WEEKLY SINGO AT PERFECT PLAIN BREWING CO. Music Bingo Thursdays is 7-9 p.m. at Per-

trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Wednesdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

your college ID and music from live DJs. 8 p.m.midnight. Thursdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

KARAOKE THURSDAY AT SIR RICHARD'S Karaoke is 9 p.m. Thursdays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

TRIVIA AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS

Take part in trivia nights 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays

O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.

fect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. Details are at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.

TRIVIA UNDER THE TREES Trivia is 6 p.m.

Thursdays at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT

Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back by popular demand 7-9 p.m. Thursdays at 208 Newman Ave. Test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine.

inweekly.net

a&e happenings Arrive early to grab a spot. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.

THEMED DANCE PARTIES Visit Dorothy's,

309 S. Reus St. Fridays for themed dance parties with DJ Brody P 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Visit dorothyspensacola.com for details.

FRIDAY HAPPY HOUR AT SEVILLE QUARTER Visit Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government

Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St., with soup and a salad bar, a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar, mimosas and champagne specials. Details are at sevillequarter.com.

SUNDAY BILLIARDS Rack 'em up in Fast Eddie's Billiards Room at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St., with drink specials and a laid-back, air-conditioned atmosphere.

St., on Fridays for cold drinks, hot food and great vibes in the End O' the Alley Courtyard at Seville Quarter. Happy hour begins 11 a.m. Fridays with drink and food specials.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AND KARAOKE O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St., hosts brunch 10 a.m.2 p.m. Sundays. Karaoke begins at 9 p.m. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

SEVILLE QUARTER'S FLIP MY QUARTER

LADIES NIGHT KARAOKE AT SIR RICHARD'S Ladies Night is 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Mondays at

Seville Quarter is flipping the script—and a few quarters—with its brand-new happy hour promotion, Flip My Quarter, 6-8 p.m. Fridays throughout the Seville Quarter entertainment complex.

When you order a domestic draft beer, well liquor cocktail or house wine, tell the bartender to "flip my quarter." When they flip it, call it in the air. If you call it right, your drink is free.

FISH FRY FRIDAYS Fish and chips featured 11

a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

JAMESON SPECIAL Enjoy $5 Jameson Irish

Whiskey all night Saturdays at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St.

MEMBERSHIP APPRECIATION NIGHT AT SEVILLE QUARTER From 8 p.m.-midnight Saturdays, members enjoy $3.50 Crown & Drown cocktails at Phineas Phogg's inside Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Details are at sevillequarter.com.

WEEKLY SATURDAY BRUNCH Brunch is 10

a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Enjoy a $10 bottle of champagne with food purchase. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

LIVE DJ AT O'RILEY'S Dance to live DJ 10

p.m.-2 a.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

B.A.R.E. NIGHT (BAR AND RESTAURANT EMPLOYEE NIGHT) Sunday nights at Seville

Quarter belong to hospitality industry. Head to End O' the Alley at Seville Quarter 7 p.m. Sundays for B.A.R.E. Night. Not a member yet? Stop by and sign up for your B.A.R.E. Card, and start enjoying the benefits immediately.

FREE POOL AND BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S TAVERN Enjoy free pool all day and play bar bingo 8 p.m. Sundays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT CAFÉ SINGLE FIN

Partake in brunch specials, full café menu, espressos and bottomless mimosas until 1 p.m.

Sundays at Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. Live music begins at 10 a.m. Visit cafesinglefin.com for details.

SEVILLE SUNDAY BRUNCH Sunday brunch is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Palace Café and Courtyard inside July 30, 2026

Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

FREE POOL Free pool all day Mondays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

ON AIR LIVE BAND KARAOKE Live out your rockstar dreams 8 p.m. Tuesdays at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St., hosted

by Craig Stahl. Details are at sevillequarter.com.

KARAOKE AT O'RILEY'S UPTOWN Karaoke is 9 p.m. Tuesdays at O'Riley's Uptown, 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.

COLLEGE NIGHT AT MUGS & JUGS Food trucks, specials with college ID 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway.

Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

KING AND QUEENS TUESDAY KARAOKE

Karaoke is 9 p.m. with drink specials. Tuesdays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

KARAOKE AT SEVILLE QUARTER Karaoke is nightly Wednesday-Sunday at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Enjoy drink specials and a no-judgement zone, where everyone is welcome to the mic. Details are at sevillequarter.com.

KARAOKE AT THE HANDLEBAR Karaoke

starts 9 p.m. Wednesdays at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Visit thehandlebar850.com for details.

KARAOKE AT WISTERIA Karaoke starts 7

p.m. Wednesdays at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Details are at wisteriatavern.com.

COLLEGE NIGHT Drink specials with college ID, food truck and live DJ 8 p.m.-midnights on Wednesdays at O'Riley's Uptown Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details at orileystavern.com.

WHISKEY WEDNESDAY KARAOKE Karaoke starts 8 p.m.-midnight. Wednesdays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

for more listings visit inweekly.net 17

free will astrology WEEK OF JULY 30 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Aries artist Vincent van Gogh lived in Arles, France, for 15 months in 1888 and 1889. It was the most prolific time of his career. His buoyant genius overflowed, pouring out over 200 paintings, including the lavish Sunflowers series. I suspect you will enjoy your own surge of splashy productivity in the coming months. It may not be as manically generative as van Gogh, though. I think your creativity will be rather relaxed and deeply healing.

Start planning now for how you want to channel all this imaginative exuberance.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): I invite you

to clear out every fixed idea your mind carries about where you are "supposed" to be. Once you have made that inner space wide and uncluttered, begin a fresh inquiry into the nature of your real home. Use questions like these to navigate: 1. What's the first place you think of when you come across the word "sanctuary"? 2. Which environments reliably bring out your brightest, truest qualities? 3. Do you have what you would call power spots? If so, how do they make you feel in your body and psyche? 4. Which locations on Earth fascinate you, even if you have never visited them? 5. Could there be a future dwelling that offers a more peak-level experience of home than the familiar place where tradition now soothes you?

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): The brain

doesn't literally multitask. It rapidly shifts attention between tasks, creating the illusion of simultaneity. For many people, each interchange costs mental energy and reduces efficiency. But some brains can switch faster with a lower energy cost, making them better at sustained task-switching. I'm sure you can guess the identity of the zodiac's number one task-switcher: you, of course!

And the good news is that in the coming weeks, you will be even more adept than usual in wielding your superpower. One implication is that you will know when not to overdo it and when not to use it trivially. You will be a master of seamless, effective and meaningful transitions.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Astronomers know that many stars don't travel alone. Binary stars orbit each other for eons, their mutual

By Rob Brezsny

gravity shaping each partner's destiny. I propose we make this your featured metaphor in the coming months. It will be a favorable time to de-emphasize the notion that strength and creative power require complete autonomy. I suspect that flexible, spirited interdependence will generate far better results than lonely self-sufficiency. Which alliances and relationships will expand your orbit rather than shrink it? Invest in them.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Neurologists say

that when you vividly imagine performing an action like shooting a basketball or playing piano, your brain activates many of the same networks it uses in real practice. In other words, mental rehearsal can measurably improve your actual performance. Many athletes use this trick. But here's an interesting twist: such visualizations work for emotional and social skills too. We can enhance our resilience and better regulate our moods if we practice doing so in the privacy of our imaginations. I bring this to your attention, Leo, because you're in a period when your fantasy life has extra-robust practical power. I invite you to rehearse being who you want to be in the theater of your mind.

Which alliances and relationships will expand your orbit rather than shrink it?

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Your assignment: compose a vigorous prayer in which you ask life for something you fear you don't deserve or are not supposed to want. What is the blessing, healing or freedom that feels "too much," "too selfish," "too late," or "too impossible" for you to yearn for? Name this prize and how you imagine it might allow you to give more, love more or live more honestly. You could begin your appeal with these words: "Dear Great Mystery, I'm nervous about asking for this, but I will ask anyway," and then let your heart speak without editing. Do this at least once every day for ten days.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): In 1848, a Li-

bra-born carpenter named James Marshall dis-

covered a few glittering flakes of gold floating on the American River in California. His find ignited the Gold Rush, drawing hundreds of thousands of people westward. Alas, Marshall himself never became rich from the discovery, though many other people did. I'm hoping and predicting a different outcome when you locate treasure in the coming weeks, Libra. In this instance, you will share in the spoils.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): The lyrebird

can imitate almost any sound, including chainsaws, car alarms, camera shutters and other birds' songs. But they don't just mimic sounds randomly. They compose elaborate performances, weaving a variety of imitations into complex acoustic tapestries. In a sense, they are remix artists. During the coming weeks, Scorpio, I hope you give yourself permission to resemble a lyrebird. Sample freely from everything you've absorbed. Weave your influences into new configurations. Express your imaginative concoctions of repurposed ideas and enchantments. The voice isn't less yours because it borrows from other voices. Originality is in part about arrangement, not just source material.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Astronauts who have orbited Earth describe the "overview effect." Viewing the entire globe from high above triggers rich epiphanies and cognitive shifts, providing a visceral sense of the planet's fragility and unity. Borders dissolve. Conflicts seem absurd. I surmise you are ripe for a similar blessing, Sagittarius. You'll be able to see your current dramas from expansive vantage points that make their true scale and significance obvious. Armed with these perspectives, you will naturally clarify your priorities and allow petty concerns to fade away.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): You are

the result of an ancestral crowd: two parents, four grandparents and eight great-grandparents. Without these 14 lives weaving together in the precise ways they did, your unique destiny would never have taken shape. Their choices and challenges helped sculpt your gifts and your rough edges, your cravings and your turn-offs.

The coming weeks will be a ripe astrological moment to get more intimate with this lineage.

As you delve into your family's stories, you may

uncover vital clues for refreshing your views on dilemmas that have dragged on for a while. Are you daring enough to let your sense of "where I come from" evolve—and, with it, your sense of what kind of future you want to create?

Originality is in part about arrangement, not just source material.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): According to my investigations, there's a place you need to go, but fear or timidity is holding you back. Where is it? Is it a physical location, a creative risk, a complicated conversation or a spiritual threshold?

Visualize it. Who would you be if you appeared there in your full glory? What do you worry might happen if you do? What interesting future might never bloom if you don't? I hope you formulate a feisty plan. To begin, write these words: "If I decide to go there anyway, acknowledging my fear but not being controlled by it, what first step will I take and what help will I seek?"

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Professional

athletes sometimes talk about "winning ugly."

That's when they achieve a victory even though they haven't played their very best. I foresee you using that phrase for yourself soon, after you notch a less-than-pretty but undeniably real success. There's another expression you might also exemplify, too: "ugly ripe." Officially, it's the name of luscious heirloom tomatoes whose lumpy, offbeat forms contrast with the smooth, bland specimens stacked in most supermarket bins. In the coming weeks, it will describe the nonstandard yet succulent flavor of your life.

HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: What was the pain that healed you most? {in}

freewillastrology.com

tinyurl.com/w3w3w3w freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com BrezsnyAstrology@gmail.com © 2026 Rob Brezsny

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news of the weird DOO THE DEW In his quest to retrieve a bottle of Mountain Dew, a Kansas City, Missouri, man fell into a portable restroom toilet tank and was stuck there for eight hours—with the lid closed!—before being rescued. According to Fox 4 News, on July 14, a driver with Patriot Portable Restrooms was trying to collect the structures that had been set up for a World Cup watch party when he encountered the trapped occupant. The driver flagged down a nearby police officer, who helped him unlock the door. "When we opened the door and didn't see anybody, we honestly thought we were talking to a ghost, and then his head popped up out of the tank like a game of whack-a-mole, or Oscar the Grouch coming out of his can," a company representative said. KCFD had to cut the man out of the toilet and then blasted him with the fire hose to rinse him off. "In the portable restroom business, you kind of expect the unexpected," the representative said.

"But in six years, I never thought I'd find someone alive inside one of our units." [FOX4, 7/17/26] IN THE HEIGHTS In Wilmington, Illinois, a man was rescued after being stuck in a gas station sign for several hours on July 21. The man, a maintenance worker, used a special lift to get up to the 130-foot-tall sign to do some work on it. The lift, however, would not come down, leaving the man stranded until emergency personnel were able to procure a crane from nearby Joliet. ABC7 reported that the man appeared to be in good spirits and refused medical treatment. [ABC7, 7/21/26] CLOTHING OPTIONAL Witnesses in northeastern Colorado were met with a startling image on July 16—a man surfing a moving Union Pacific locomotive ... while in the buff. Daniel Ray Ballance of Arizona allegedly broke a window to get into the train and climbed to the top while it was moving, Fox News reported. Ballance faces misdemeanor and felony charges, and authorities have not released a motivation for Ballance's antics or whether anyone was injured in the process. "Daniel is spending some time at an all-expenses-paid stay in jail, where he is presumed innocent until proven guilty," the Sedgwick County Sherriff's Office said in a social media post. [Fox News, 7/18/26] •Authorities in Ellisville, Mississippi, are also stumped as to why Katelyn Maxwell, 22, was operating a vehicle—in this case, a 2017 Dodge Challenger—while wholly unclothed. The Smoking Gun reported that on July 12, Maxwell was pulled over during a traffic stop after officers observed the car driving erratically; police reported that she appeared to be inebriated and that the vehicle smelled strongly of pot. They also discovered five firearms and a bag of marijuana. Maxwell faces felony and misdemeanor charges and is in jail on a $35,000 bond. [The Smoking Gun, 7/17/26] EYEWITNESS NEWS An Odessa, Texas, man is reeling after learning that the odor that had been emitting for weeks from a clothes donation box in his neighborhood belonged to a dead body. "I never knew where it came from, I just smelled it," Juan Enriquez said. "But I thought it was a trashcan, you know how it smells during the summer-

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

time." KOSA reported that police found the body on July 17 and are working to identify the deceased, but authorities say there is no evidence of foul play. [KOSA, 7/20/26] POLICE REPORT During a traffic stop, police in St. Petersburg, Florida, arrested the driver for a window tint violation ... and the passenger for several bags of fentanyl that kept falling from her person. The Smoking Gun reported on July 17 that when Yoneshe Smith, 26, stepped out of the passenger side of the car, officers noted baggies on the seat and near the ground. Then, while walking to the police van, another bag "fell from her buttocks area," according to the police report. But wait, there's more—while Smith was being booked into custody, officers confiscated two more baggies "from the defendant's vaginal cavity ... and right breast area." Smith faces charges of drug trafficking and possession of a controlled substance in a detention facility.

[The Smoking Gun, 7/17/26] THE TECH REVOLUTION Humanoid robot surgeons have successfully completed two gallbladder removals on large animals, paving the way for human surgeries to be performed by robots.

Metro News UK reported on July 14 that engineers and surgeons at the University of California San Diego performed the procedures—during one, a human surgeon was assisted by a robotic one, and in the other, two robot surgeons made up the surgical team. The humanlike robots are about 5 feet tall; they also weigh less and take up less space than current robotic surgery machines.

"Remotely operated and autonomous humanoid robots have real potential for expanding access to critical surgeries that patients would otherwise not receive," Professor Michael Yip, one of the researchers, said. [Metro UK, 7/14/26] SMALL WORLD It sounds like the plot of a psychological thriller: You go on vacation and stay at a rental where you've never been before. Inside, you admire a framed beach photo on the wall ... only to recognize yourself and several family members in the picture. That's what happened to Utah sisters Libby Birrell and Aubrey Birrell, who were visiting Oceanside, California, with extended family for their grandfather's 80th birthday, Fox News reported on July 18. "I will say we were creeped out," Aubrey, 26, said. "Did they know we were coming?" The sisters posted a video to social media, and the host informed them that the decorator of the rental is a local photographer who sells aerial beach prints to vacation rental hosts; when the sisters' video went viral, several commenters agreed that they had seen the same photo in different rentals. Judging by their swimsuit styles in the photo, the family believes the picture was snapped during a trip they took about 10 years ago to a nearby beach. Now the sisters find the incident funny and are working to obtain a print from the photographer. [Fox News, 7/18/26] {in}

From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2026 Andrews McMeel

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com July 30, 2026

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Independent News | July 30, 2026 | inweekly.net