GALLERY: Christmas 2025 on the Emerald Coast (Send in your photos NOW!)
Merry Christmas to all from Mid Bay News! Here are the photo highlights of the season from around Northwest Florida and the Emerald Coast!
Patronis Demands Answers on Special Operations Relocation
Florida Congressman Jimmy Patronis and Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody are pressing Pentagon leaders for answers after the Air Force finalized its plan to move the 492nd Special Operations Wing from Northwest Florida to Arizona. In a sharply worded letter, the lawmakers warn the relocation could slow U.S. response times to growing threats in Venezuela and the Caribbean and question why the Air Force relied on Biden-era climate considerations instead of current national security priorities.
‘Minutes Matter’: Hurlburt Commander says traffic and housing now threaten U.S. Special Operations
Col. Mark Hamilton didn’t mince words. In a briefing to Okaloosa County Commissioners, the new 1st Special Operations Wing commander said traffic, housing costs, childcare shortages, and mental-health access are now affecting the wing’s ability to launch global missions on short notice.
LiveOak Fiber, Fort Walton Beach Chamber Team Up to Support Military Families During Shutdown
LiveOak Fiber and the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce are providing 10,000 pounds of groceries to military families at Hurlburt Field on October 15, 2025, amid the federal government shutdown. Eligible DoD-affiliated families can pick up food in a drive-through distribution.
New Commander takes the helm over Hurlburt Field’s 1st Special Operations Wing
A new chapter begins at Hurlburt Field — and it’s led by a veteran Air Commando with two decades of experience and a mission to carry the 1st Special Operations Wing into the future.
Okaloosa Schools Release Bus Schedules for 2025-6 School Year
Okaloosa County School District has released their bus schedules for the upcoming school year.
Okaloosa County to host public meeting on West 98 Collector Road project
Traffic relief may be on the horizon for residents near Hurlburt Field — but county officials want to hear from you first.
