What is happening in Okaloosa County and along the Emerald Coast. Every story is briefed in our own words, with links to everyone who reported it.
The EOD Warrior Foundation will hold two events on Sept. 12 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks and honor those killed that day and during the subsequent War on Terror. The foundation is marking the milestone with ceremonies dedicated to first responders and military personnel who lost their lives.
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Okaloosa County School District will introduce Stopfinder on September 1st, a mobile application that allows parents to monitor their student's school bus location and receive estimated arrival times. The app will send location-based alerts and transportation updates to families with active Focus Parent Portal accounts.
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Governor Ron DeSantis announced Friday that Nicholas Patronis, vice president of Captain Anderson's Restaurant, will continue serving on the Northwest Florida Water Management District's governing board. The reappointment requires Florida Senate confirmation.
The region's football teams take the field Thursday night with several competitive contests, including undefeated Destin visiting winless Baker and a pair of 1-0 teams meeting at Fort Walton Beach. Niceville dominated West Florida 41-14 the previous evening to start the week.
The Florida Department of Transportation will shift westbound traffic on U.S. 98 onto the eastbound side of Brooks Bridge starting Sunday, Aug. 30, reducing the roadway to one lane nightly from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. The temporary configuration supports construction on the $171 million Brooks Bridge Replacement Project, which will expand the 1966 bridge from four to six lanes.
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The city will break ground September 4 on a comprehensive infrastructure project in the Azalea neighborhood that includes replacing water and sewer lines, repaving streets, improving sidewalks and enhancing stormwater drainage. The work addresses aging utilities and road conditions across the residential area.
Destin defeated Pryor 18-0 in their season opener on Aug. 27, with the Marlins' defense limiting the Pirates to 59 yards of total offense. The game was complicated when starting quarterback Joseph Cope suffered an injury on the third offensive play, forcing Destin to adjust its game plan, but backup Brantley Adams and running back Amaree Claridy led the offense to 275 yards.
Niceville Fire Department deployed one engine and a battalion chief to assist with large wildfires in Texas. The department said the deployment will not affect service to Niceville residents. Destin firefighters were also sent to help with the fires.
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The Fort Walton Beach Police Department is organizing a 3.2-mile community bike ride through the Elliotts Point neighborhood on Aug. 29, starting at 9 a.m. from the Fort Walton Beach Landing. The event welcomes riders of all ages and abilities.
Andrew Kindle, an EMS community paramedic in Okaloosa County, has been named the 2026 National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians Community Paramedic of the Year. Kindle helped build the county's Community Paramedicine Team, which has led Florida in reducing overdose deaths and unnecessary emergency room visits.
The Fort Walton Beach Lowe's will partner with Sleep in Heavenly Peace on Sept. 12 to construct 50 beds for local children as part of the national Bunks Across America initiative. No carpentry experience is required, and volunteers can register through the organization's website or donate bedding supplies.
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Fort Walton Beach police recovered cash sent by a victim who fell for scammers posing as Navy Federal Credit Union employees. Officers tracked and intercepted the overnight package at a FedEx facility in Mossy Head after the victim became suspicious and reported the fraud the same day.
The Crestview City Council unanimously approved three ordinances on first reading that would raise utility bills for customers. The measures advance toward final passage following the Aug. 24 vote.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Williams, wounded by explosions during deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, received a debt-free home in Crestview on Thursday through Building Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit that has now provided over 1,100 homes to veterans since partnering with JPMorgan Chase in 2012.
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The city council voted 4-3 to postpone a decision on whether to allow home-based food businesses to operate outdoor carts and stands, pushing the vote to mid-October while suspending code enforcement on existing stands. A councilman cited concerns about a state law restricting how strictly cities can regulate land use through 2027, saying the council needed more time to gather community input.
A 73-year-old Mississippi woman was discovered dead in the driver's seat of a disabled vehicle on Interstate 10 west near mile marker 55 Sunday morning. Florida Highway Patrol says the death does not appear to be criminal in nature.
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The city's Code Enforcement Department will conduct a compliance sweep Thursday morning in the Ferry Park neighborhood as part of its Cleanest City initiative. Officers will focus on common violations including abandoned vehicles, overgrown vegetation, and unpermitted construction, with the goal of encouraging voluntary compliance before issuing citations.
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The Take Stock in Children Okaloosa County program received the Luminary Award at the national conference, achieving a perfect score across all evaluation categories including mentoring, college readiness, program data and compliance standards. The recognition reflects the efforts of staff, mentors, students, families and community partners working to prepare students for post-secondary success.
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The Geographic Information System and My Government Online portal will be unavailable Thursday and Friday for scheduled maintenance work. New permit applications will be delayed until the updates are complete.
Okaloosa County commissioners unanimously approved a $24.7 million contract to transform the county's transit system from daily fixed-route operations to an application-based, on-demand service starting Sept. 1. The shift represents a significant restructuring of how residents access public transportation.
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Local firefighters will gather with community members at Beach Weekend Coffee on Aug. 19 for an informal conversation session. The event, running from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the downtown location, offers residents a chance to ask questions and connect with first responders without formal presentations.
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Electricity was restored to the City Hall complex Wednesday afternoon following an outage that forced the building to close. Normal operations are expected to resume Thursday.
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Fort Walton Beach shut down its City Hall complex on Wednesday, Aug. 19, affecting Customer Service, Growth Management, the City Clerk's office and Human Resources. The power loss forced the closure for the remainder of the day.
A 13-year-old on a bicycle was struck by a school bus Wednesday morning at the intersection of Ninth Avenue and a crosswalk in Crestview. The bus was turning right when it entered the crosswalk where the child was crossing, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The child sustained serious injuries but is expected to make a full recovery.
The city of Crestview and Okaloosa County Commission approved a joint agreement on Aug. 18 to split animal control and sheltering expenses equally, consolidating services under a county program officials say will reduce costs for both parties.
Twenty-six restaurants across Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Crestview and surrounding areas earned perfect scores during state health inspections the week of Aug. 17-23, though some establishments faced high-priority violations including improper food storage and temperature control issues. The inspections represent routine oversight by Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
School Board Chairman Linda Evanchyk secured a third term in District 3, defeating challenger Mitch Reed with 51.48% of the vote. In District 5, appointed member Brett Hinely won his first election, capturing 59.45% against Cynthia West, earning a full four-year term.
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The Fort Walton Beach Golf Club has begun laying TifEagle grass sprigs across all greens on its Pines Course after removing old sod and preparing the base. The course will remain closed to play until September 1 to allow the grass to mature and enable staff to complete additional improvements including fairway redefinition and tee box work.
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Fort Walton Beach officials inaugurated a new fitness court and five pickleball courts at Ferry Park, with local police and fire department personnel demonstrating the equipment during the ceremony. The project is part of the National Fitness Campaign initiative.
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The Fort Walton Beach Fire Department unveiled a 2025 Pierce Saber fire engine at Station 7 on Thursday, replacing a vehicle that served the city for a decade. The new engine was dedicated to retired Firefighter Calvin "P-Nut" Pina, who spent 32 years with the department before retiring in 2008.
Headlines and briefings are written by Emerald Coast Connected. Full articles remain with the publishers linked under each story.