Petition of man convicted of 2022 Niceville murder fails
One of the men convicted in a 2022 Niceville double homicide failed in his attempt to appeal his conviction through a motion for post-conviction relief. Isaiah Lamar Luna, 23, filed the motion from Graceville Correctional Facility following his conviction for third-degree felony murder with a firearm.
Bob Sikes was the most important person in Emerald Coast history. Here’s why:
On September 28, 1994, Northwest Florida Congressman Bob Sikes passed away. Often called the single person most responsible for the modern Emerald Coast, Sikes spent over 30 years in Congress securing billions for regional military bases. His legacy remains deeply embedded in the region’s military-based economy and local infrastructure.
Eglin AFB officials name victim discovered in mysterious range death
Eglin Air Force Base officials released the name of the person found dead in a burned-out car earlier this week. Here’s what we know:
HISTORY: Hurricane Eloise devastates the Emerald Coast after killing dozens
In 1975, Hurricane Eloise struck the Emerald Coast as a powerful category three storm, causing widespread destruction. From wiping out the newly built Okaloosa Island Pier to destroying buildings as far inland as Niceville, the storm left a lasting impact. Explore the history of this devastating event and its aftermath.
Trial of former deputy charged in the killing of Hurlburt airman may start Monday. This is what’s happened so far:
The manslaughter trial of former Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputy Eddie Duran is expected to begin following two years of legal delays, procedural motions, and emotional testimony. Duran faces charges in the fatal May 2024 shooting of Senior Airman Roger Fortson inside Fortson’s Fort Walton Beach apartment.
Foundation Awards First-Ever Grant to Help Freeport Woman Keep Her Home
The Shine Forward Foundation, a Freeport-based 501(c)(3) public charity, has awarded its inaugural $1,000 grant to assist a local woman on the verge of losing her home. Selected from 20 applicants facing housing insecurity, the grant provided critical financial assistance, bridging the gap to help keep her family safely housed.
HISTORY: 1898 fire ignites new future for DeFuniak Springs
In 1898, a devastating fire swept through downtown DeFuniak Springs, charring 22 wooden structures on Baldwin Avenue. Yet, this catastrophe sparked transformation. Forced to rebuild, merchants turned to durable brick, creating the safer, denser downtown we recognize today. This shift helped solidify the town’s future, leading to official incorporation and essential new municipal services.
Showdown on Hollywood: County orders Fort Walton Beach to rip down unpermitted speed cameras
A months-long title search determined two Fort Walton Beach school-zone speed cameras on Hollywood Boulevard were installed in Okaloosa County’s right of way without permits. County commissioners voted unanimously to order their removal within a week and authorized road transfer negotiations strictly conditioned on a permanent prohibition of speed-zone cameras
HISTORY: Drought-stricken, Floridians win a pyrrhic victory at Munfordville
On September 17, 1862, 16,000 Confederate troops surrounded a Union garrison at Munfordville, Kentucky, securing a tactical victory that stood as the largest surrender of American forces at the time. Yet, for the exhausted men of the First and Third Florida Regiments, this hollow triumph merely presaged the campaign’s ultimate, bloody decline.
Niceville Fire Department pushes in sleek new black fire truck
The Niceville Fire Department welcomed its newest fire engine during a traditional push-in ceremony on Thursday. The distinctive black engine is the first of three new vehicles acquired after city leaders opted for a $1 million engine, rescue truck, and brush truck instead of a single $2.2 million tower truck.
