Fatal Shooting Under Investigation in Mary Esther
Deputies found a woman dead inside a Kanuha Drive home after a late-night 9-1-1 call. Investigators are working to determine what happened.
Palmer Seeks Public Input on Holiday Isle Park
Commissioner Palmer invites Okaloosa residents to a Dec. 30 town hall to give input on a new 4-acre Holiday Isle waterfront park.
Hope in the Cold: How Local Leaders Protect the Unhoused
When winter temperatures drop below 40 degrees in Fort Walton Beach, a coordinated effort between One Hopeful Place and the Fort Walton Beach Police Department springs into action to protect people experiencing homelessness from dangerous conditions.
CCA Florida and Okaloosa County Team Up for Redfish Release
Destin-Fort Walton Beach and CCA Florida released 25,000 juvenile redfish into Cinco Bayou to boost declining populations, improve ecosystems, and support local anglers.
Deputies Probe Possible Link Between Fort Walton Shootings
Deputies Probe Possible Link Between Fort Walton Shootings Staff Reports December 16, 2025 5:24 pm Crime, Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa County In Brief: Deputies responded to a shooting on Fenwick Drive, where multiple rounds were fired at a pedestrian who was not located. Several nearby homes and properties were struck by gunfire during the incident. […]
Gunfire Erupts on Dates Avenue, Two Injured Inside Fort Walton Beach Home
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an early morning shooting on Dates Avenue in Fort Walton Beach after unknown suspects fired multiple rounds into a home, injuring two people inside.
FWB High’s Lindsey Smith Named Florida’s Top Administrator for 2026
Fort Walton Beach High Principal Lindsey Smith is honored as the 2026 Bill Montford Administrator of the Year for her leadership in advancing STEM education.
Deputies: Woman Arrested Years After Alleged Walmart Credit Card Fraud Spree
Deputies say a woman allegedly used another person’s credit cards during six transactions at two Okaloosa County Walmart locations.
Choctawhatchee High Students Learn Real-World Budgeting at Reality Check Event
About 80 Choctawhatchee High School students stepped into the world of adulthood during the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation’s annual Reality Check event, a hands-on financial literacy simulation that challenged them to budget, prioritize expenses, and navigate real-life choices with the help of community partners.
Shocking Child Abuse Case in Fort Walton Beach
Deputies say a Fort Walton Beach–area woman intentionally burned the hands of two young children in her care and failed to seek medical help afterward. The 3- and 5-year-old victims were taken to Destin–Fort Walton Beach Hospital late Tuesday before being transferred to a specialized burn center in Mobile. The suspect, 52-year-old Jeny Soto Duenas, is now being held without bond at the Okaloosa County Jail.
