Amtrak, Tara Sykes and the Florida Judges

Here’s a roundup of our top stories from the past week.

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Report: 10-year-old was ‘terrified’ Tara Sykes would kill her if she didn’t kill the child

Now that Pensacola woman Tara Sykes was arrested for allegedly trying to make a ten-year-old girl kill a two-month-old girl. A report shows the child obeyed Sykes out of fear she would be killed.

Sykes is currently charged with attempted murder while dealing with aggravated battery child abuse after the Department of Children and Families discovered that she allegedly used the chat feature in the online game Roblox to convince a 10-year-old girl to drown, burn and drop the 2-month-old girl to death. Escambia County sheriff’s deputies were notified Oct. 17 when the child was having a forensic interview at the Gulf Coast Kid’s House.

When the 10-year-old spoke to investigators, she told them “she was terrified” of Sykes and “felt that if she didn’t follow instructions, Sykes would harm or kill her too.” Sykes also instructed the girl to kill the 10-year-old’s two temporary guardians and their adult daughter by “slitting their throats” and setting the sheets on fire to burn down the house, the report said.

Keep reading: Report: 10-year-old was ‘terrified’ Tara Sykes would kill her if she didn’t kill the child

Amtrak brings passenger rail to Mobile, could Pensacola be next?

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg received an enthusiastic welcome Tuesday afternoon in Mobile, Alabama, as he arrived to help break ground on a train platform needed to accommodate Amtrak passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast from Alabama to Louisiana.

Buttigieg and others who spoke before throwing the shovel in the trash talked about the high level of multi-entity collaboration required to bring together a project that has since been discussed Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast nearly twenty years ago. When service between Mobile and New Orleans resumes, possibly as soon as early next year, it will be the first time since 2005.

“We have so much to celebrate today,” Buttigieg said, crediting the Biden-Harris administration with creating an infrastructure spending package that could set aside $178 million to fund tri-state rail transit.

He said $70 million of the money has been allocated for expenses in downtown Mobile for the planned platform, track work, signage and improvements to existing infrastructure.

Keep reading: Amtrak brings passenger rail to Mobile, could Pensacola be next?

Pensacola and Gulf Breeze bakers compete in the Prime Video series Killer Cakes. Look how they did it

Pensacolians might notice a few familiar faces in Prime Video’s new baking miniseries: “Killer cakes”, which started streaming for free for Prime members this month.

Among the eight hopeful bakers competing for a $20,000 cash prize was Shanelle Long, executive cake artist at J’s bakery and café, at 2014 N. 12 Ave., and her baking partner, Eszter Summerlin, a cottage baker and owner of Eszti’s custom cakes formerly located in Gulf Breeze.

The fast-paced competition, created by Blumhouse Television and High Noon Entertainment, the makers of “Cake Boss,” pits four teams of two against each other to create “cakes so disgusting, so disturbing and so realistic, they’ll be a nightmare.” is’. of impressing (and scaring) the judges. Matthew Lillard, known for his roles in such creepy films as “Scream,” “Five Nights at Freddy’s” and “Scooby-Doo,” hosted the contest.

Keep reading: Pensacola and Gulf Breeze bakers compete in the Prime Video series Killer Cakes. Look how they did it

Erosion sweeps away beach, property in Pensacola Beach neighborhood. What is being done

A neighborhood on the water Santa Rosa Island with a small, public beach popular with families losing ground due to erosion and the problem is expected to get worse unless efforts are made to alleviate it. The board of the Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) is consider multiple options to tackle ongoing erosion.

According to the science and coastal engineering firm Foth/Olsen, Sharp Point’s west flank has eroded significantly since the 1990s.

Keep reading: Erosion sweeps away beach, property in Pensacola Beach neighborhood. What is being done

Should Florida Supreme Court Justices Francis, Sasso be retained? What you need to know about them

Much of the excitement surrounding Florida’s vote in the Nov. 5 general election is happening around election two six constitutional amendments: amendment 3, which aims to do this legalize marijuana for recreational purposesAnd Amendment 4which would limit government interference in abortion rights.

Before voters answer these questions moodthey will be asked whether they think two Florida Supreme Court justices should keep their seats.

Both judges are newly appointed, meaning they will have to stand as candidates to retain their seats in the general election that will take place just over a year after their appointment.

If they keep their seats, the two judges… Renata Franciscus And Meredith Sassowould each serve another six-year term.

Keep reading: Should Florida Supreme Court Justices Francis, Sasso be retained? What you need to know about them