Top stories of the week include Tiger King, restaurant inspections and fine dining deals

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

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Pam Childers wins lawsuit over Escambia Commissioner's retirement pay

An Okaloosa County Circuit Court judge ruled that Escambia County's local option retirement plan for county commissioners was unlawful compensation.

Judge William Stone upheld Escambia County Clerk and Comptroller Pam Childers' decision to withhold payments in an order issued Wednesday morning.

Stone said it was not lawful for elected officers like county commissioners to participate in the county's local plan and that compensation to county commissioners under the plan constitutes unlawful compensation.

Milton eatery closed over 168 rodent droppings

Here's the breakdown of recent restaurant inspections in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties for the week of March 25-31. Florida's restaurant owners are not required to post restaurant inspection results where guests can see them. So, every week, we provide that information for you.

During the latest round of inspections from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, two restaurants were temporarily closed, one restaurant received at least one high priority violation and 17 restaurants passed their first inspection with zero violations.

Joe Exotic says he's fighting cancer, meeting fans and enjoying the food in Santa Rosa Jail

Joe Maldonado, or as he is more commonly known, “Tiger King” or “Joe Exotic,” is making the most of his time at the Santa Rosa County Jail in Milton to advocate for his freedom and get some good eats.

The infamous star of the Netflix documentary series, "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness," is in Northwest Florida while he awaits a hearing on a civil lawsuit he filed over trademark infringement.

Maldonado launched a civil lawsuit against musician Vince Johnson and several businesses over alleged copyright infringement and breaches of confidentially agreements related to "musical compositions that contractually belong to Maldonado."

“I'll never get a dime out of him, but I want a judgment to prove to the world that he was full of crap, and these are my songs, and that is me performing,” Maldonado explained about why he filed.

While he waits for his hearing on April 23, the 61-year-old celebrity has plenty of people to keep him company.

2024 solar eclipse in Pensacola: Where to watch, find eclipse glasses

We are days away from seeing what some are calling the astronomical event of the decade. On April 8, millions of Americans will travel or step outside to witness a total eclipse of the sun.

Those not within the eclipse’s path of totality won’t experience the same complete darkness, but we’re not totally out of luck either. Pensacola will be one of the best places in Florida to watch the eclipse, as the sun will see about 76% coverage and clear skies are forecasted.

Not sure what all of the hype is about? Here’s everything you need to know about the April 2024 solar eclipse.

Pensacola fine dining deals: 5 specials to eat great without breaking the bank

If you're torn between treating yourself a little in the new year or finally sticking to a budget, it turns out that you don’t have to choose.

Plenty of Pensacola’s nicest restaurants have budget-friendly menus if you know where to look for them. We're here to help you feel a little fancy this year without breaking the bank.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola top stories include Tiger King, restaurant inspections, more