Republican Jimmy Patronis has won the special election to succeed former GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz in Florida’s 1st Congressional District. Patronis, the outgoing chief financial officer of Florida, defeated Democrat Gay Valimont in the race for the seat that borders Alabama on the Gulf Coast in the westernmost part of the Florida panhandle.

Here's a roundup of our top stories from the past week. With a subscription to the Pensacola News Journal, you will receive full access to the work done by our journalists and photographers as they head out every day to help inform and explain the important issues affecting your community.

Florida’s Republican chief financial officer Jimmy Patronis has fended off a tougher-than-expected challenge in a special election for Florida's 1st Congressional District.