Florida Delegation Warns Trump: Drilling Threatens Military Ops
Florida Congressman Jimmy Patronis and a group of fellow House members are urging President Donald Trump to remove several drilling blocks from an upcoming federal lease sale in the Gulf, warning that oil exploration in the Eastern Gulf Test and Training Range could disrupt military testing, threaten Northwest Florida’s economy, and undercut the region’s tourism industry.
Patronis Demands Answers on Special Operations Relocation
Florida Congressman Jimmy Patronis and Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody are pressing Pentagon leaders for answers after the Air Force finalized its plan to move the 492nd Special Operations Wing from Northwest Florida to Arizona. In a sharply worded letter, the lawmakers warn the relocation could slow U.S. response times to growing threats in Venezuela and the Caribbean and question why the Air Force relied on Biden-era climate considerations instead of current national security priorities.
‘Minutes Matter’: Hurlburt Commander says traffic and housing now threaten U.S. Special Operations
Col. Mark Hamilton didn’t mince words. In a briefing to Okaloosa County Commissioners, the new 1st Special Operations Wing commander said traffic, housing costs, childcare shortages, and mental-health access are now affecting the wing’s ability to launch global missions on short notice.
In Photos: Veterans Day in Okaloosa County
Photo Gallery: Veterans Day celebrations in Okaloosa County
Active-Duty EOD Technician Honors Vietnam Veteran with Bedside Salute on Veterans Day
On Veterans Day, Senior Airman Justin Hart honored Vietnam veteran and former EOD technician Irv Duvall with a bedside salute at Shoal Creek River Rehab, recognizing his decades of service and sacrifice.
Duke Field aircraft crashes near Oklahoma City; crew walks away
A training flight from Duke Field’s 492nd Special Operations Wing ended in a crash near Oklahoma City on Thursday — but both crew members, an airman and a civilian contractor, escaped without injury.
Okaloosa County: Highway 98 connector, Santa Rosa Boulevard improvements, new ambulances
Big moves in Okaloosa County this week: commissioners voted to partner with Santa Rosa County on a regional road study that could create a new east-west corridor off Highway 98 — plus approved a $1 million grant to upgrade Santa Rosa Boulevard on Okaloosa Island.
LiveOak Fiber, Fort Walton Beach Chamber Team Up to Support Military Families During Shutdown
LiveOak Fiber and the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce are providing 10,000 pounds of groceries to military families at Hurlburt Field on October 15, 2025, amid the federal government shutdown. Eligible DoD-affiliated families can pick up food in a drive-through distribution.
New Commander takes the helm over Hurlburt Field’s 1st Special Operations Wing
A new chapter begins at Hurlburt Field — and it’s led by a veteran Air Commando with two decades of experience and a mission to carry the 1st Special Operations Wing into the future.
Government shutdown looms, what will be impacted in Northwest Florida.
At 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, the U.S. government runs out of money. From Eglin to TSA checkpoints, thousands of Northwest Florida workers could see furloughs, delayed pay, or closed gates. Here’s what you need to know about how the shutdown will hit our community.
