Inside Okaloosa County’s plans for the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Rigdon Center
Okaloosa County officials hope that with a little bit of time and effort now, the fairgrounds will be a place families can enjoy for decades to come.
Okaloosa County Commission approves $17.7M for SR 85 widening, new sheriff’s office evidence facility
The Okaloosa County Commission approved major surtax investments for a State Road 85 widening project and a new sheriff’s office evidence facility as part of a long-term strategy to address growth, congestion and public safety without raising property taxes.
Okaloosa County Commission explores paid parking for non-county residents at beaches, parks
Okaloosa County leaders are taking the first steps toward paid parking at beaches and parks as officials look for new revenue sources to fund maintenance and offset potential state funding changes.
NAACP calls Gap Creek flooding an environmental justice crisis as local leaders emand Action in Fort Walton Beach
How long should a neighborhood live with flooding, mold, and contaminated water?
The NAACP says the answer for Sylvania Heights has been decades, and that’s unacceptable.
Audit fallout and director’s resignation leave Okaloosa County Transit at a crossroads
With an audit exposing years of oversight failures and the transit director announcing his resignation, Okaloosa County leaders are racing to stabilize a system facing financial questions, leadership turnover and an uncertain future.
Business leaders urge Okaloosa County to renew half-cent infrastructure surtax
Okaloosa’s business community is pushing to renew the county’s half-cent surtax — a tax they say has fueled more than $136 million in improvements and unlocked nearly $300 million in grants. Commissioners say voters now have something they didn’t in 2018: results.
Okaloosa County launches full opposition to Alabama CO₂ Injection Project citing aquifer threat
Okaloosa County is launching a full-scale fight against a proposed Alabama CO₂ storage project commissioners say threatens Florida’s drinking water and river systems.
Okaloosa County Commissioners freeze transit deal after scathing oversight audit
A scathing audit forced Okaloosa County to pause a new transit contract with MV Transportation as commissioners confront years of oversight failures and nearly $1 million in overpayments.
‘I don’t want to get a call that my son is gone’: Family fears Okaloosa inmate’s health is spiraling
The family of 33-year-old Robert Riddle says he’s growing weaker every month inside the Okaloosa County Jail, where he has lived with severe sickle cell disease since 2024. Advocates argue that essential treatments have been withheld, while county officials maintain he is receiving appropriate care.
Okaloosa County opposes Gulf drilling, citing national security and tourism risks
Okaloosa County Commissioners just took a firm stand against any effort to resume drilling in the eastern Gulf, saying it would threaten Eglin’s mission and the region’s multibillion-dollar tourism economy.
