Kristen Shell named Okaloosa County’s next Growth Management Director

Kristen Shell, a veteran planner with over two decades of experience in Northwest Florida, has been unanimously confirmed as Okaloosa County’s new Growth Management Director.
DeSantis Appoints Three To NWFSC Board of Trustees

Gov. DeSantis just made three key picks for the Northwest Florida State College Board—meet the leaders shaping the future of local higher education.
Choctawhatchee Senior Receives P.E.O. STAR Scholarship

Choctawhatchee Senior Receives P.E.O. STAR Scholarship Staff Reports May 22, 2025 11:43 am Charities and Nonprofits, Okaloosa County, Schools and Education In Brief: 🎓 Julissa Lopez, a senior at Choctawhatchee High School, has received a $2,500 STAR Scholarship from the P.E.O. Sisterhood’s Fort Walton Beach chapter. 🏆 The competitive scholarship honors high-achieving young women for […]
“I had no clue what to do” — Former Niceville Eagle was just feet away from a campus shooting at FSU.

“I had never once been told what to do in the case of an emergency here,” A Niceville alum and current student at FSU talks about the reaction to the April 17 shooting on campus.
FDLE Commissioner and NWFSC Alumnus Mark Glass to Deliver Commencement Address

FDLE Commissioner and NWFSC alumnus Mark Glass will deliver the Spring 2025 commencement address at his alma mater during ceremonies scheduled for May 9 in Niceville.
General Gary Luck -“Father of America’s Joint Force” Dies

Retired Army General Gary Luck, a distinguished military leader and mentor, passed away at 87, with a memorial service to be held on September 19.
Florida’s Experts Make Their Hurricane Predictions For 2024

Florida State University experts have warned of an exceptionally active hurricane season in 2024, predicting 50% more named storms and multiple major hurricanes. This forecast, supported by Colorado State University’s models and NOAA’s predictions, reflects a significant increase from historical averages. Factors such as the La Niña phase and record-high sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic are driving this anticipated surge in hurricane activity.