Is This The 30A Tourism Recession in South Walton?

Tourism revenues are slipping in Walton County—now leaders must decide how to respond as they plan for storms, traffic, and the future of the local economy.
What Is Williams International? And What Does Their $1 Billion Investment Mean for Okaloosa?

A secret project no more — a billion-dollar jet engine facility is landing in Crestview. Williams International is launching a new era of industry at Shoal River Ranch.
Destin Considers Legalizing Beach Bonfires

Destin Considers Legalizing Beach Bonfires Collin Bestor June 4, 2025 12:55 pm Destin, News, Uncategorized In Brief: Destin City Council is exploring an ordinance that could legalize beach bonfires on city-owned property. The proposed permit program is modeled after Walton County’s and aims to raise revenue without taxing residents. Key hurdles include determining which beachfront […]
Eglin Federal Credit Union Opens New Operations Center

Eglin Federal Credit Union Opens New Operations Center Staff Reports May 26, 2025 9:31 am Business, News, Okaloosa County, Walton County In Brief: Eglin Federal Credit Union has opened a 100,000-square-foot Operations Center in Fort Walton Beach. The building will support 400 employees, strengthen digital services, and help the credit union expand across Northwest Florida […]
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 […]
Okaloosa County Launches Mosquito Spraying Map Tool

Okaloosa County Launches Mosquito Spraying Map Tool Staff Reports May 22, 2025 9:20 am News, Okaloosa County, Public Safety, Wildlife In Brief: 🦟 Okaloosa County has launched an interactive mosquito spraying map to help residents track when their neighborhood will be treated. 📍 Spraying began Monday and continues each evening, starting an hour before sunset. […]
Okaloosa County Begins Nightly Summer Mosquito Spraying

Okaloosa County Begins Nightly Summer Mosquito Spraying Staff Reports May 20, 2025 9:25 am News, Okaloosa County In Brief: 🦟 Okaloosa County has begun nightly mosquito spraying operations to combat seasonal mosquito populations and reduce disease risk 🗓️ Spraying begins one hour before sunset and follows a rotating schedule by region. Residents can check their […]
Walton County Sheriff’s Office Investigates Inmate Death at Jail

An inmate held in confinement at the Walton County Jail was found unresponsive early Sunday morning and later pronounced dead, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. Jessie Raby, who was being housed in Holmes County while awaiting trial for the 2024 murders of his mother and brother, was found on the floor of his […]
Red Cross Northwest Florida Urges Residents to Prepare For Hurricane Season

With the 2025 hurricane season beginning June 1, the American Red Cross Northwest Florida Chapter is stepping up its readiness efforts and calling on residents to do the same during Hurricane Preparedness Week. Executive Director Terri Jenkins said the chapter has been working behind the scenes for months to prepare shelters, stock supplies, and train […]
Governor Appoints Zack Smith to UWF Board of Trustees

Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed Pensacola native Zack Smith to the University of West Florida Board of Trustees, providing the board with local legal expertise. Smith serves as Senior Legal Fellow and Manager of the Supreme Court and Appellate Advocacy Program at The Heritage Foundation, an American conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C. He also serves as a […]