Destin Launches DOGE Efficiency Initiative, Identifies $625,000 in City Savings
Destin city leaders outlined a new citywide efficiency initiative that has already identified roughly $625,000 in savings, aiming to modernize operations, reduce waste, and strengthen public trust amid growing fiscal pressures and state oversight.
Fort Walton Beach voters to decide on charter amendments in March 2025
Fort Walton Beach City Council has approved six charter-related ordinances that will go before voters in a March 10, 2026, referendum, asking residents to decide on changes to city elections, governance rules, elected official compensation, administrative language, and budget limits.
Fort Walton Beach recommends elevated flyover option for “Around the Mound” project
With billions in traffic, military access, and downtown development on the line, Fort Walton Beach leaders say this may be their one shot to get the U.S. 98 reroute right.
Mid Bay News ranks the top ten football games from the 2025 season
Overtime stunners, last-second field goals, and championship dreams , these are the high school football games fans will be talking about for years.
Florida Property Tax Proposals Draw Sharp Warnings from Okaloosa Officials
Should Florida eliminate property taxes? Okaloosa County mayors and managers told state lawmakers that doing so would destabilize city budgets, threaten police and fire services, and shift control away from local voters. A new statewide study supports their warning.
Walton County Sheriff rebukes Kyle Rittenhouse’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ claims in DeFuniak Springs shooting
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office is pushing back hard after Kyle Rittenhouse claimed a DeFuniak Springs shooting was lawful self-defense. Sheriff Michael Adkinson says the victim was unarmed on his own property and calls the commentary “wildly irresponsible.”
Business leaders urge Okaloosa County to renew half-cent infrastructure surtax
Okaloosa’s business community is pushing to renew the county’s half-cent surtax — a tax they say has fueled more than $136 million in improvements and unlocked nearly $300 million in grants. Commissioners say voters now have something they didn’t in 2018: results.
Okaloosa County approves concept plans for new youth sports complex in Baker
The Okaloosa County Commission approved a conceptual plan for a new multipurpose athletic complex in Baker, expanding recreational opportunities for youth sports.
Okaloosa County allocates $5M to cap remaining dirt roads in “50 in 5” project
Big news for Okaloosa County roads! Commissioners approved $5 million to cap the final 52 miles of stabilized dirt roads, finishing a project that has already upgraded nearly 200 miles.
Okaloosa Superintendent recommends closing Mary Esther and Longwood Elementary Schools amid sharp enrollment declines
Superintendent Marcus Chambers is recommending the closure of Mary Esther and Longwood Elementary Schools due to declining enrollment and budget pressures. Families will have a chance to weigh in at a public hearing in February.
