This week’s top news stories included a controversial hire in the town of Jay, more lawsuits against Escambia County over an alleged whistleblower complaint, the long-awaited entry of Raising Cane’s in the Pensacola market and an analysis of what makes the incoming Costco so special.
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Town of Jay poised to hire registered sex offender
The rural Panhandle town of Jay, Florida, has made a controversial pick to replace its outgoing town manager: a registered sex offender who was convicted of sex crimes involving minors.
April Watson, Jay’s operations manager, is poised to take over the role of Jay town manager when current Town Manager Eric Seib officially retires July 3.
Watson pleaded no contest in 2010 to three charges of engaging in unlawful sexual activity with minors when she was a teacher and is a registered Florida sex offender.
Nonetheless, Jay Mayor Shon Owens said the crimes happened “a long, long, long time ago,” that people change, that Watson is the best person for the job, and that there is “a great deal of confidence within the community in her ability to do the job.”
Whistleblower claims he was forced to resign
A former Escambia County employee is suing the county, alleging it violated the Florida Whistleblower’s Act by forcing him to resign after reporting his boss for “gross mismanagement.”
The case is now at a point where the County Commission will have to decide in a closed-door meeting how the county will move forward.
Former Waste Services Engineer and Environmental Manager Nicolas Howard filed a civil lawsuit in May 2025 alleging the county retaliated against him when he brought concerns that the previous Waste Services Director, Donald Seitz, had misrepresented the Perdido Landfill’s capacity, which Howard had projected would be out of space by August 2026.
Howard’s lawsuit also alleges that the former director told him not to raise concerns about groundwater monitor wells around the closed Klondike Landfill, which is now an archery park, that had been destroyed in a local development project, stating, “the developers are paying the Commissioners.”
Costco’s dominance shows why its Pensacola debut matters
When it comes to warehouse clubs, for many, Costco reigns supreme.
It’s the big dog — in what has been described as essentially a three-dog race against rivals Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale. Beginning June 25 when Costco opens in Pensacola, they city will have all three. Pensacola’s first-ever Costco is set to open at 8 a.m. at E. Nine Mile Road.
As of late 2025, Costco maintained its commanding lead in the U.S. warehouse club industry. Its market share has been estimated at more than 60%.
Over the last few decades, Costco has grown alongside America, with more than 630 locations across the country, capitalizing on the rise in consumerism and catering to value-conscious shoppers.
Billings murder mastermind wants off dead row
Leonard Gonzalez Jr. has been on Florida’s death row for over 15 years for masterminding a plot to kill and rob Byrd and Melanie Billings in 2009, but the decision on whether he remains there will likely be pushed further into 2027.
Gonzalez and four of his seven co-conspirators broke into the Billings’ home and killed the Pensacola philanthropists — who had 17 children, of which 13 were adopted and had various disabilities — in an effort to steal a safe they believed held $13 million.
After his 2011 conviction on two counts of first-degree premeditated murder and one count of home invasion robbery with a firearm, a jury recommended by a 10-2 vote that Gonzalez be sentenced to death. Former Judge Nickolas Geeker agreed with the recommendation and sentenced Gonzalez to death. Gonzalez’s postconviction motion for a new penalty phase was granted in 2017, but the trial has been delayed multiple times.
Raising Cane’s finally opens
Pensacola’s first Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is now open after holding its long-awaited grand opening June 16 at 5110 N. Ninth Ave., just outside Cordova Mall.
The fast-casual restaurant held “an all-out celebration,” offering Free Cane’s for a Year to some lucky customers, hosting community givebacks and more.
Several hundred people lined up outside the new restaurant. Despite it being overcast and, at times, dreary outside, people were still dancing and mingling as music blasted over loudspeakers, giving the event the atmosphere of a festival.
Raising Cane’s is beloved for its cooked-to-order chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries and its top-secret addictive Cane’s sauce.
Plan to make MLK Jr. Drive and Davis Highway two-way streets is dead
A plan to convert the one-way portions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and Davis Highway that run parallel to Interstate 110 in Pensacola into two-way roads is dead.
City officials informed the City Council on June 15 that the Florida Department of Transportation withdrew its support for the idea while the city was in the middle of designing the concept and found that the project’s cost would have continued to rise.
Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves said on June 17 that the city had already committed to designing the project, but FDOT said the city would have had to fund a likely $6 million project and then take over maintenance of the two streets.
The streets are part of State Road 291, so FDOT is responsible for maintaining and managing traffic on them.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Controversial hire in Jay, whistleblower lawsuit among top stories of week
Reporting by Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal | USA TODAY Network
