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.
Multiple highways across Escambia County will experience intermittent lane closures and traffic disruptions through Sept. 24 as crews conduct paving, resurfacing and infrastructure work. Most nighttime closures run between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., though daytime work on U.S. 90A and ongoing Garden Street construction will also affect drivers.
More than 60 volunteers at Navarre United Methodist Church assembled beds on Sept. 5 through cutting, sanding and frame construction as part of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit that provides sleeping furniture to children in need.
Christian Alexander Russaw, 25, was arrested on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after firing multiple rounds into ceiling areas during an argument with a woman at a Crestview residence. No one was injured in the incident, though investigators documented bullet holes in the living room and bedroom.
A 29-year-old woman was seriously injured Saturday morning when her SUV ran off State Road 85 near General Bond Boulevard, struck trees and overturned. The single-vehicle crash occurred around 5:45 a.m., and the driver was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.
A domestic violence argument over a phone at a Crestview home escalated into violence Friday, with a 45-year-old man striking three women, including an 80-year-old he knocked to the ground. Okaloosa County deputies arrested Delairius Leshaun Watts on battery charges and also arrested Charles Tucker at the scene for possessing a defaced short-barreled shotgun and narcotics.
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The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County issued a water quality advisory for Cinco Bayou after tests found Enterococcus bacteria exceeding state safety standards. Residents are advised to avoid water activities at the location until bacteria levels return to acceptable ranges.
The City of Crestview held its fourth annual Skate Jam on Saturday at Eglin Federal Credit Union Skate Park, featuring trick competitions divided into four age brackets, live music from a New Orleans band, and food vendors. Winners received trophies and $350 in cash prizes across best trick and best line categories.
The Crestview High School football team suffered a 47-6 defeat to Coffee County last Friday in their fifth game of the season. Despite the heavy loss, the Bulldogs see the remainder of the schedule as an opportunity to improve heading into the final stretch of play.
Okaloosa County commissioners voted unanimously to move the Okaloosa Lane Realignment and Improvements Project into the construction engineering and inspection phase. The decision, made at a Sept. 16 meeting, clears the way for the next stage of the infrastructure development.
No one has held Santa Rosa County's District 4 commission seat for more than one term over the past 16 years, a pattern unique among the county's districts. A fifth commissioner will be sworn in this November, making District 4 the most frequently turned-over seat on the county commission.
Navarre Beach will forgo its New Year's fireworks display this year because of ongoing pier construction, according to an announcement from the county's Tourist Development Office. The cancellation affects one of the area's traditional holiday celebrations.
Santa Rosa County commissioners will meet Sept. 22 to consider renewing a 5-cent local option gas tax expiring at year's end and approving contracts worth over $930,000 for a traffic light and signage at the Milton Interchange Park. The county will also hold its final budget hearing, with the proposed spending plan running 3.81 percent lower than last year due to anticipated property tax changes.
The two counties are repurposing damaged metal signposts by embedding them into concrete artificial reef modules as part of a pilot initiative to create underwater marine habitat. The project represents a collaboration between Escambia and Santa Rosa county environmental officials.
Okaloosa County and the city of Destin agreed that Destin will manage a 4-acre state-owned parcel on Holiday Isle in exchange for offering free parking to all county residents in Destin's parks and lots. The county will send a letter of support to state agencies backing Destin's role as leaseholder and manager of the property.
Jacqueline Ann Davis, born in Brighton, England, died September 18 in Niceville, Florida, on what would have been her 89th birthday. She was born September 18, 1937.
A collision involving multiple vehicles closed the intersection of County Road 393 and U.S. Highway 90 near Deerland on Thursday afternoon. One person was hospitalized with injuries, though their condition remained unknown as of the report.
The Crestview City Council approved an ordinance on first reading Sept. 14 that would prohibit data center construction within the city limits. The measure requires additional votes before becoming final.
The Crestview Bulldogs volleyball team has reached the halfway point of their 2026 regular season with a 5-9 overall record following a sweep of Milton. The team remains winless in district play after an early-season loss to Pace.
The Navarre high school volleyball team demonstrated offensive improvement in a match against Tate, with players executing sustained attacking sequences that resulted in kills. The team continues developing through competition against stronger opponents.
Origin Bank appointed Jami Searle as senior vice president and commercial relationship banker at its Fort Walton Beach location. Searle brings over two decades of experience in commercial lending, real estate financing and construction project management to serve the bank's business customers.
More than 60 college and military representatives visited Fort Walton Beach High School on Wednesday, allowing students in grades 10-12 to explore post-secondary options in person. The Viking Voyage College Fair featured institutions ranging from local community colleges to universities across the country, with staff actively encouraging student engagement throughout the event.
Nearly 300 business leaders gathered Sept. 16 at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center for the Finest on the Emerald Coast Community's Choice Awards, where companies including Peaden Air Conditioning, Lost Pizza Co. and Shore Dreams Vacation Rentals received recognition across multiple categories.
Navarre quarterback Peyton Johns leads the region in passing yards with 870 through four games, while Freeport running back Dylan Louthain dominates the ground game with 589 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Crestview receiver Rayshaun Cargle tops receiving statistics with 274 yards across the Okaloosa and Walton County area.
Okaloosa County commissioners voted unanimously to require the city to take down two school-zone speed cameras on Hollywood Boulevard within a week, after a title search confirmed the cameras were installed on county right-of-way without a permit. The county will negotiate transferring the road to the city only if the agreement includes a permanent ban on speed-zone cameras.
The Okaloosa County Commission unanimously approved a state-appropriated $1.5 million Local Transportation Project grant for improvements to Millside Road during its September 15 meeting.
Five teenagers pledged to pursue religious vocations at the "Called Deeper" conference hosted by the West Florida District of the Assemblies of God at Lifepoint Church in Crestview last week. The event, designed to help students explore their spiritual calling, drew youth from area churches including Holley Assembly of God.
A Crestview resident is leveraging the sport's growing popularity to conduct religious outreach in the African nation of Eswatini. The initiative represents an unconventional approach to missionary work.
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Shannon Hayes, a Crestview City Council member, was appointed to chair the Florida League of Cities Municipal Operations Committee for 2026-2027. In the role, Hayes will help shape the League's legislative priorities and advocate for local control during the state's upcoming legislative session.
Crucible Construction submitted the lowest of three bids for the proposed Navarre Beach development, which would include an elevated event hall, boardwalk, parking and restrooms. The Santa Rosa County Commission will hold a public workshop Oct. 19 to allow residents to comment, though no vote will occur at that meeting.
The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners voted 3-2 Tuesday to defeat a proposed 12-month moratorium on data centers, with Commissioners Goodwin, Palmer and Ketchel opposing the measure. The decision came after more than 30 minutes of public comment from residents urging an outright ban, citing environmental and water usage concerns.
The Eagles have won 10 of their last 11 matches by emphasizing what they call "grit"—a defensive philosophy centered on keeping balls off the floor and making it difficult for opponents to score. The turnaround from a 2-2 start has vaulted Niceville to ninth in the 5A rankings, with strong blocking from middle hitters and consistent offensive contributions across multiple players.
The festival runs September 25-27 along the harbor boardwalk, featuring about 70 vendors, five stages of live music, and a kids' zone at no cost. A paid VIP area offers food samples from local chefs and exclusive amenities for $65 daily or $120 for the weekend.
Headlines and briefings are written by Emerald Coast Connected. Full articles remain with the publishers linked under each story.