Photo gallery | Scenes from the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias
Staff photographer Casey Drayer shares photos from the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias and cleanup efforts around Okaloosa County.
Hurricane Isaias | So you’ve been ordered to evacuate— Now what?
Hurricane Isaias is expected to make landfall in the Florida Panhandle Friday. Here’s what Okaloosa County residents need to know about evacuations, shelters, safety and recovery resources.
Isaias: The Atlantic’s First Hurricane of 2026?
We are four months into the 2026 hurricane season, and not a single one has yet to form. But with a storm building on the horizon, will the quiet come to an end? It is the beginning of October, and the Atlantic Coast has yet to produce a hurricane. The first time in 112 years. […]
Hurricane Opal – the start of the legal battle for Emerald Coast Beaches
Hurricane Opal’s 1995 landfall remains a defining moment for Okaloosa County, exposing critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and reshaping the Emerald Coast. From the rapid intensification that caught residents by surprise to the long-term legal battles over coastal restoration, this historical review examines the storm’s enduring impact on our community.
HISTORY: Hurricane Opal Makes Landfall in Navarre
When Hurricane Opal rapidly escalated into a Category 4 storm overnight in October 1995, it caught Northwest Florida off guard. The storm caused massive traffic gridlock, over $1.2 billion in destruction, severe coastal erosion, and sparked decades of legal battles over beach restoration across Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties.
LIVE UPDATES: Jury deliberating in Eddie Duran manslaughter trial
The manslaughter trial of former Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputy Eddie Duran began with opening statements, witness testimony and bodycam footage from the 2024 shooting death of Senior Airman Roger Fortson. Prosecutors presented evidence about the events leading up to the shooting, while the defense maintains Duran acted in self-defense.
Hospital claims low screening rates, offers free mammograms.
Ascension Sacred Heart wants to address low local screening rates for breast cancer, offering free donor-funded mammograms for uninsured women 40+. Here’s how you can sign up:
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.
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
