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 Florida Department of Transportation revoked all permits for automated license plate readers on state roads, ordering local law enforcement agencies to remove the devices within 30 days. The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office will comply by removing its Flock cameras from both state and county rights-of-way, citing FDOT's concerns about data privacy and misuse.
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Governor DeSantis awarded the Niceville-based college funding to build a 4,000-square-foot facility offering composite fabrication and industrial pipefitting programs. The center will serve regional shipbuilding, defense and aerospace employers near Eglin Air Force Base and other military installations.
Madeline Haner, 24, was stopped by Oklahoma Highway Patrol last week and found with a homemade explosive device and firearms in her vehicle. Haner is the wife of Antonio Haner, a Crestview man killed during a SWAT incident earlier this month, and Okaloosa County has issued a warrant charging her with manufacturing an explosive device with intent to cause harm or death.
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Fort Walton Beach is shifting its monthly Coffee with the City Manager session to 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., with the next gathering scheduled for Sept. 3 at the Public Library. The informal event, held the first Thursday of each month, gives residents a chance to discuss city issues directly with City Manager Jason Davis.
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The city is hosting eight weeks of free Friday night concerts at the newly renovated Landing park starting Sept. 4, running through Oct. 23. The series features rock, country, blues and funk bands performing from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the downtown waterfront venue.
Kyra McKelvey, a former Navarre High School volleyball player, was named the Southland Conference Player of the Year in 2025 while playing for Southeastern Louisiana University. The standout is positioned to build on that success in the upcoming season.
Tropical Storm Bertha wiped out loggerhead sea turtle nests on Navarre Beach, eliminating what had been a promising breeding season. The beach had hosted 17 loggerhead nests before the storm struck.
Bennett C. Russell, who led Santa Rosa County District Schools, is commemorated through numerous community landmarks including a school, stadium, park and highway section bearing his name. Russell is remembered by those who knew him as a principled leader dedicated to public service.
Walton County commissioners unanimously approved removing FLOCK automatic license plate readers from county roads, while Santa Rosa County leaders indicated they would retain the surveillance technology.
A chain-reaction crash involving 11 vehicles occurred Sunday afternoon on Interstate 10 near mile marker 46 when a driver lost control in heavy rainfall and struck a guardrail and another vehicle. Six people were hospitalized with minor injuries, and westbound lanes were closed for three and a half hours.
Running back Michael Carter, who has ties to Navarre, was cut by the Tennessee Titans on Sunday as the team reduced its roster to the NFL's 53-player limit before the 2026 season begins.
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A teenage girl was arrested Sunday after investigators traced a threatening TikTok post directed at Pryor and Bruner middle schools. Authorities determined the suspect had no access to weapons and deemed the threat not credible.
Baker High School defeated Destin 35-13 on Friday in the Gators' first victory after an opening-week loss to Jay. The win came after the team had extra preparation time during the week.
The Crestview football team lost to Enterprise, Alabama last Friday in a matchup against one of the state's top programs. After keeping the game competitive through halftime, second-half mistakes led to the lopsided defeat.
The Choctaw Indians lost 31-21 to Alabama's sixth-ranked Auburn Tigers on Friday night, showing improvement from their previous game but unable to overcome the higher-ranked opponent. Quarterback Isaiah Collins performed well in the second half and will remain the starter as Choctaw prepares for upcoming matchups against Pace, Escambia and Niceville.
South Walton defeated Fort Walton Beach 35-0 Friday night to improve to 2-0, with the Seahawks' defense allowing no points through two games while the offense has scored 85 total points. Quarterback JD Brown connected with receivers Treiy Crenshaw and Carter Hawk for first-quarter touchdowns, while running back Max Madden added two rushing scores in the second half to trigger running clock.
The Argos defeated nationally ranked Southern Illinois 34-31 in their first game as a Division I FCS program, drawing a crowd exceeding 6,000 to Darrell Gooden Stadium on Thursday night.
QuionJay "KiKi" Lesaun Monique Gunter of Fort Walton Beach died August 26 at age 33. A gathering of friends and military honors service are scheduled for September 1 at Emerald Coast Funeral Home.
Crestview's swim team competed in the Choctaw Freestyle Invitational in Destin on Aug. 22, finishing eighth out of 11 teams despite limited practice time due to weather conditions.
The Crestview Bulldogs lost to visiting Niceville 3-0 on Thursday night, ending their winning streak after a 3-1 victory over Bozeman earlier in the week.
Baker's boys' and girls' golf teams competed in their season opener Tuesday at Blackwater Golf Course, facing off against Jay and Central in the first high school golf event of the year.
The Crestview Bulldogs lost their first match of the season to Niceville at Blackwater Golf Course, shooting 189 after limited practice time due to recent rain.
Students at Navarre High School decorated their parking spots with painted characters and messages before the start of the school year. The artistic displays transformed the student lot into a gallery of colorful designs.
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A Fort Walton Beach resident lost $20,200 after receiving calls from people claiming to represent Navy Federal Credit Union, who directed her to send money via Cash App and overnight mail. Police tracked and intercepted the $19,000 package at a FedEx facility in Mossy Head before it reached its intended destination in Fort Pierce.
The Navarre Raiders lost to the Booker T. Washington Wildcats on Friday night, with running back Brody Powers scoring two touchdowns in the effort.
The Florida Department of Transportation will close lanes near the Mid-Bay Bridge toll plaza from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3 for milling and paving work during overnight hours. Drivers will experience alternating one-lane traffic Aug. 30-Sept. 1 with tolls waived, while inside lanes close north of the plaza Sept. 2-3.
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.
Destin firefighters are heading to Texas as part of an Engine Strike Team to assist with ongoing wildfire suppression efforts. The department joins regional teams being mobilized to support firefighting operations in the state.
The Navarre Raider volleyball team celebrated their first victory after a serve by Lacey McDevitt went unreturned, capping an emotional moment for the squad.
The Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation distributed over $3 million to 15 Northwest Florida children's charities and announced a $5 million endowment gift from the Ocoee Foundation, the largest single donation in the organization's history. The permanent endowment will help ensure the foundation's long-term sustainability after two decades of giving more than $42 million to children's causes.
Niceville defeated West Florida 41-14 Thursday night in the inaugural game under new head coach Adron Robinson. Quarterback Deagan McCoy threw four touchdown passes as the Eagles held their opponent scoreless in the second half.
Headlines and briefings are written by Emerald Coast Connected. Full articles remain with the publishers linked under each story.