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.
Okaloosa NAACP Blasts Plan to Redo 2020 Census

Okaloosa NAACP Blasts Plan to Redo 2020 Census Staff Reports December 10, 2025 4:50 pm Government, Okaloosa County, State Government In Brief: The Okaloosa County NAACP strongly opposes Florida’s proposal to redo the 2020 Census, calling it unconstitutional and politically motivated. President Sabu Williams says the effort would weaponize the census process to boost Republican […]
Okaloosa approves millions more for SS United States reef project

The amendment brings the project budget to $10.18 million — but officials say no local tax dollars will be used as remediation nears completion in Mobile.
Okaloosa County launches full opposition to Alabama CO₂ Injection Project citing aquifer threat

Okaloosa County is launching a full-scale fight against a proposed Alabama CO₂ storage project commissioners say threatens Florida’s drinking water and river systems.
Okaloosa County Commissioners freeze transit deal after scathing oversight audit

A scathing audit forced Okaloosa County to pause a new transit contract with MV Transportation as commissioners confront years of oversight failures and nearly $1 million in overpayments.
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.
Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested for Alleged Domestic Battery in Crestview

An Okaloosa County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested after allegedly pushing the victim twice during a domestic incident at a Crestview home.
Niceville High Launches Future Ready Program for Teens

Niceville High’s Future Ready program, created by Allison Aiken, helps students learn real-world skills like finances, college prep, jobs, and stress management.
Deputies Arrest Driver Accused of DUI, Hit-and-Run, and Child Neglect on Okaloosa Island

A Destin traffic stop ended Saturday night with the arrest of 25-year-old Luis Montoya after deputies say he fled two hit-and-run crashes, drove intoxicated with a child onboard, and resisted officers, who were tracking him down using Flock camera data after a collision on Okaloosa Island.
Mayor Whitten Joins National Foreign Policy Summit

Crestview Mayor JB Whitten joined more than 30 mayors from across the country in Washington, D.C., for the Mayors Foreign Policy Summit, a two-day event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations and the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. Whitten said the meetings with national policymakers and members of Congress offered valuable insight into how global issues directly affect Crestview and provided an opportunity to voice the city’s concerns at the federal level.