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.
Hurlburt Field will conduct explosive demolition training on Sept. 8 and 10 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., producing loud detonation sounds audible across Okaloosa County. Low cloud cover and high humidity could amplify the noise, and training will pause if inclement weather occurs.
Jarod Christian Phelps, 36, was taken into custody following a Florida Highway Patrol investigation into a November 2025 crash that killed a female pedestrian on Old Bagdad Highway. Authorities identified Phelps as the driver of a red 2016 Ford Explorer that struck the woman and fled the scene. He faces charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving death and remains jailed without bond.
Jesse LaCoste was sentenced to 30 years in prison and ordered to pay $2.1 million in restitution after his conviction on racketeering and organized fraud charges. The scheme, which ran from 2018 to 2022, defrauded dozens of homeowners across Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.
Okaloosa County commissioners rejected a moratorium or outright prohibition on data centers, instead directing staff to develop regulations for the facilities. The board will explore conditional-use approval requirements and standards governing site location, power and water consumption, noise, lighting and buffers, with an initial regulatory plan expected within 60 days.
The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners unanimously directed staff to develop rules for data centers within 60 days, choosing proactive regulation over bans or moratoriums. The county currently lacks specific zoning or land use provisions for data centers, leaving it vulnerable to developer applications that exploit gaps in existing code.
The Niceville campus will build a 4,000-square-foot facility to train students in shipbuilding skills including metal fabrication, composite work, aluminum welding and pipe fitting. Construction begins in December with classes expected to launch in January 2028, addressing regional employer demand for skilled workers in the maritime industry.
Antonio Austin Haner, 29, was killed during an Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office SWAT operation on Aug. 8. Court records and a recording made before his death show Haner believed he was the target of a coordinated campaign extending to federal authorities.
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The Leadership Experience Initiative, which has trained eight educators since 2024, extended its reach in 2026 to include high school students from Fort Walton Beach and Choctawhatchee high schools. Four students participated in immersive programs designed to build confidence and develop leadership skills alongside the district's ongoing educator training efforts.
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The City of Fort Walton Beach will hold a Community Redevelopment Authority board meeting at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, followed immediately by a special City Council meeting at 5:01 p.m. Both sessions will take place at City Hall and are open to the public.
Whitney Smith of Fleet, Smith & Freeman says do-it-yourself estate documents frequently contain legal defects like improper witnesses or unclear instructions that can force families into costly court battles. Only an attorney can testify about a client's intent if the plan is later contested, Smith said, making professional guidance critical for protecting wishes after death.
The Market Shops will host its annual Bloody Mary Festival on Oct. 10, featuring unlimited tastings from 18 local restaurants and bars competing for prizes, with all proceeds benefiting Habitat for Humanity of Walton County. Tickets are $65 in advance or $75 at the door, and the event has raised over $227,000 for local charities over the past decade.
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Cinco Bayou's renovated boat ramp and parking area will open Friday afternoon before the Labor Day weekend. The facility will enforce trailer traffic patterns and prohibit commercial activities like pontoon rentals.
Destin Fire Rescue will conduct a training simulation demonstration involving simulated smoke at a structure near Emerald Coast Parkway and Crystal Beach Drive from 10 a.m. to noon today. Multiple fire departments will participate in the exercise, and residents in the area may observe smoke during the training.
Navarre's girls swim team defeated Pace and Gulf Breeze at a tri-meet held Tuesday at the Pullum YMCA, scoring 574 points. Pace won the boys competition while Navarre finished third in that division.
Crestview will face Pine Forest on Thursday night while Baker travels for its first 1A district game of the season. The week features early football action in the Crestview area.
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Fort Walton Beach Police will operate a sobriety checkpoint on U.S. Highway 98 near City Hall from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Sept. 5 as part of a national drunk-driving prevention campaign. The checkpoint aims to deter impaired driving ahead of the Labor Day holiday, when federal data shows alcohol-related crashes spike significantly.
Navarre High School will play Milton on Friday night at Bennett C. Russell Stadium at 7:30 p.m. in a Santa Rosa County football rivalry matchup. Both teams are seeking their first win of the season.
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The Mary Esther City Council will consider its proposed $12.57 million fiscal year 2027 budget at a public hearing Tuesday, with the property tax rate remaining unchanged at 5.0261 mills since 2020. Major projects include infrastructure work in the Azalea neighborhood and engineering for a Highway 98 water main replacement.
Destin Fire-Rescue personnel have been assisting with wildfire suppression efforts in Texas since Aug. 28, handling 911 calls and extinguishing hot spots along fire perimeters. The department was activated for neighborhood emergency response on Sept. 2 as part of the broader firefighting operation.
The Tate Aggies softball program will host its 11th annual clay shooting competition on September 11 at Santa Rosa Shooting Center in Pace, with registration closing September 5. Entry packages range from $500 to $1,600 and include four shooters per team, meals, and raffle opportunities.
A contractor accidentally bored through a force main on East Kingsfield Road in the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority service area, releasing 3,600 gallons of sewage on Wednesday morning. Authority crews recovered 3,500 gallons and cleaned the affected area with biocide.
Fort Walton Beach police will continue operating license plate reader cameras on streets and patrol vehicles despite a state directive prompting other Panhandle agencies to suspend the technology. Police Chief Robert Bage said the cameras help solve crimes daily, though privacy advocates worry the data tracks citizens' movements without suspicion of wrongdoing.
The remediated SS United States ship is awaiting Army Corps of Engineers permit approval before being sunk as an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico. County officials say deployment could occur within 30 days of permit clearance, with the project funded through tourism dollars and private partners rather than taxpayer money.
Elliot Maurice Bell, 40, received a federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. Law enforcement discovered the drugs during a vehicle search following a high-speed chase and PIT maneuver by the Florida Highway Patrol in April 2024.
An individual was charged with felony criminal mischief after damaging a Flock license plate reader camera at Airport Road and Main Street on August 16. The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office said a second suspect has a warrant pending and emphasized that destroying the equipment constitutes a crime regardless of disagreements over the technology's use.
Destin held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 2 for its new pickleball complex next to City Hall Annex, which cost $775,000 and includes four courts, bathrooms, and covered seating. The facility, funded through Okaloosa County tourism dollars and state grants, has been available for play since July 1 and operates daily from 8 a.m. until sunset.
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The city's Sanitation Division will launch twice-weekly residential trash collection on Oct. 5, with the new "2-1-1 Service" providing two trash pickups, one recycling pickup, and one yard waste pickup per week. Residents' collection days will depend on their current schedule, with Monday customers receiving pickups on Monday and Thursday, and Tuesday customers on Tuesday and Friday.
The Crestview High School Band has been named one of only two programs nationally to receive the 2026 Earl D. Irons Program of Distinction Award from Phi Beta Mu International, marking the first Florida recipient. The award recognizes superior achievement and commitment to advancing band programs.
Santa Rosa County commissioners voted Aug. 27 to deny a proposal for a cell tower behind the Walmart in Tiger Point, following a planning commission recommendation against the project earlier that month.
The city will expand garbage collection to twice weekly beginning next month, adding Thursday service for Monday customers and Friday for Tuesday customers. The change, approved by the City Council in January, raises the monthly fee to $29.12 but keeps Fort Walton Beach the least expensive option among nearby municipalities offering the service.
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The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County lifted a health advisory for Cinco Bayou after water sampling showed bacterial levels had dropped below the threshold that triggered the warning. County officials will continue monitoring the area and provide updates if conditions change.
Police arrested a 24-year-old after responding to a report of someone displaying a firearm at a Shell station on Beal Parkway NW on Tuesday. A traffic stop of a rideshare vehicle yielded a loaded 9mm handgun, extended magazine, and over 50 grams of suspected marijuana, leading to charges including felon in possession of a firearm and drug distribution.
Hundreds of Navarre High School students gathered in the gymnasium on Aug. 28 for a pregame pep rally featuring cheerleaders and the school's alma mater.
The Crestview cross-country team competed at the Eagle Invitational on Aug. 29, where head coach Daniel Richards used the early-season meet to develop approaches for improving the team's performance.
A driver was arrested on a DUI charge after a single-vehicle crash early Sept. 2 at the intersection of 12th Street and 12th Avenue in Shalimar, authorities said. Deputies found the driver unconscious and determined the vehicle had veered off the road, crossed multiple yards and struck a stop sign before Florida Highway Patrol made the arrest.
Sheila Lightbourne is stepping down after 38 years with the Okaloosa County School District, where she served as assistant superintendent. The retirement marks the end of a nearly four-decade tenure in the district.
Headlines and briefings are written by Emerald Coast Connected. Full articles remain with the publishers linked under each story.