New Traffic Plan Aims to Stop Crashes on Beal
Fort Walton Beach is restricting turns at the Beal Parkway and First Street intersection after dozens of crashes raised safety concerns.
Stuff the Bus Drive Gives Hope to Families in Need
The annual Stuff the Bus campaign returns Aug. 1, collecting school supplies at Walmart stores across Okaloosa County to help students start the year ready to learn.
$183,000 in Fines, One Big Question: Who Owns Hollywood Boulevard?
Fort Walton Beach leaders voted unanimously to reject a request for broader school-zone camera refunds, saying citations were legally issued despite an unresolved ownership dispute over Hollywood Boulevard.
New Perry Avenue Restrictions Aim to Protect Neighborhoods
Fort Walton Beach will close northbound Perry Avenue on weekends through Labor Day in an effort to reduce neighborhood cut-through traffic.
Urgent Boil-Water Warning: E. Coli Found in South Okaloosa Well
Residents in parts of South Okaloosa are being urged to boil their water after a raw sample from Hawkins Well tested positive for E. coli, prompting a precautionary advisory.
Cox Employees Empower Students Through Innovative Grants
Six Gulf Coast nonprofits received $60,000 in employee-funded Cox Charities grants to support STEM education, environmental learning and youth programs.
JD Peacock believes he’s the right guy for Okaloosa School Board. Here’s Why:
Former Okaloosa County Clerk of Court and longtime sheriff’s office leader JD Peacock explains why he’s running for Okaloosa County School Board District 1, outlining his priorities of student safety, stronger fiscal oversight, and better support for teachers. In this interview, he addresses teacher pay gaps with Walton County, the closure of Longwood and Mary Esther Elementary, school choice and competition, and how the district should plan for growth in Crestview.
Cocaine, Pills Found in a Car Carrying an Unrestrained Child
An Okaloosa County traffic stop led to cocaine trafficking and child abuse charges after deputies reportedly found drugs and an unsecured child inside a vehicle.
Pirates, Fireworks, and Treasure: Billy Bowlegs Returns in Full Force
Pirates, fireworks, and parades return to Fort Walton Beach as the Billy Bowlegs Festival celebrates 70 years of Emerald Coast tradition and family fun.
Sturdy offensive line bolsters this tenacious 2026 Crestview Bulldog team
Crestview Head Coach Thomas Grant views the upcoming spring game as a critical evaluation tool and the next step in the Bulldogs’ deliberate march toward a program-first state championship. The 2026 squad will feature a new starting quarterback, Brock Spears, and rely on an experienced, physical offensive line and a run-first mentality. Grant believes the defense has the potential to be one of the most elite units of his era. The team will face a “brutal” schedule, including multiple out-of-state powers, which Grant designed to battle-test the team for the tough Class 5A competition.
