Escambia

Florida man formally charged with double murder of elderly grandparents by Escambia County grand jury

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PENSACOLA, Fla. – A man from Escambia County in Florida has been indicted by a grand jury for the murder of his grandparents. This tragic incident has shocked the community and leaves many questioning the motive behind such a heinous act. The accused, whose identity has yet to be revealed, allegedly committed the crime in the home he shared with his grandparents. The motive for the murder remains unclear, as investigators work tirelessly to gather more evidence and shed light on this devastating event. Local authorities were alerted to the crime when concerned family members … Read more

Federal Judge Refuses to Dismiss Lawsuit Accusing Escambia County School District of Violating Free Speech by Removing Library Books

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PENSACOLA, Fla. — A federal judge has denied a motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit alleging that the Escambia County School District violated free speech by removing and restricting library books. U.S. District Judge Kent Wetherell made the ruling in the lawsuit against the Escambia County School Board. The lawsuit, filed by Penguin Random House, PEN America, and several individuals, claims that the school district violated the First Amendment by removing or limiting access to books discussing race, racism, and LGBTQ identities. This was done against the recommendations of the district review committee responsible for … Read more

Federal Judge Upholds First Amendment Rights in Lawsuit Against Escambia County School District’s Book Ban

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Pensacola, Florida – A federal judge in Pensacola has rejected a plea from the Escambia County School District to dismiss a lawsuit challenging its removal of several books from its shelves. The books in question include “The Bluest Eye,” “Slaughterhouse-Five,” and “The Kite Runner.” U.S. District Judge Kent Wetherell issued a terse order on Wednesday, allowing claims of viewpoint discrimination and denial of the right to receive information under the First Amendment. However, he did reject an equal-protection claim. The lawsuit, filed by PEN America, Penguin Random House, authors whose books were affected, and parents … Read more

Federal Judge Allows Lawsuit Against Escambia County School District’s Book Ban to Continue, Protecting Free Speech Rights

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Pensacola, Florida – A federal judge has denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit that claims the Escambia County school district violated free speech rights by removing and restricting books in school libraries. The lawsuit, filed by PEN America, Penguin Random House, five authors, and seven parents, seeks the return of all challenged and banned library books to the shelves. During a hearing at the federal courthouse in Pensacola, U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II listened to arguments from both sides regarding the dismissal of the case. Wetherell ultimately decided to move the case … Read more