Community News
Sunday, July 12, 2026 · Santa Rosa Beach
Walton County Fire Rescue Reaccredited by National EMS Commission
Walton County Fire Rescue earns reaccreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services, maintaining its status as one of Florida's elite EMS agencies.
Missing DeFuniak Springs Man Identified 10 Years After Disappearance
Skeletal remains discovered on Eglin Air Force Base property have been identified as John Thomas Watson, a DeFuniak Springs man missing since August 2015. DNA analysis confirmed the identification after a decade of uncertainty.
Sunday, July 12, 2026
District 4 Residents Air Concerns Over E-Bikes, Drainage, Pickleball Courts
Walton County Commissioner Donna Johns drew a standing-room-only crowd Thursday to discuss e-bikes on sidewalks, drainage problems, and pickleball court placement in District 4.
Sunday, July 12, 2026
E-bike Safety, Drainage Top Concerns at District 4 Meeting
County Commissioner Donna Johns hosted a packed townhall meeting Thursday to address District 4 concerns ranging from e-bike safety to park upgrades.
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Santa Rosa Beach Tennis Center Redevelopment on Track for Fall Opening
Santa Rosa Beach's Tennis Center redevelopment is progressing toward a fall opening, with crews pouring foundations and preparing pickleball court sites.
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Santa Rosa County Can Submit Deepwater Horizon Restoration Projects
Santa Rosa County can submit project ideas for $8.8 billion in Deepwater Horizon restoration funds managed by a federal and state trustee council.
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Walton County Sheriff's Office Oversees 600-Person Operation Across Three Divisions
The Walton County Sheriff's Office operates three divisions with over 600 staff members. Services include law enforcement, fire rescue, emergency medical transport, detention operations, and animal control across the county.
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Gentle Hound Mix, Jade, Seeks New Home in Santa Rosa Beach
Jade, a gentle three-year-old hound mix weighing 41 pounds, became an owner surrender on May 26, 2026, and seeks a new home in Santa Rosa Beach.
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Four-Year-Old Lab Mix Needs Home in Santa Rosa Beach
Saban, a friendly four-year-old Lab/GSP mix, seeks a permanent home in Santa Rosa Beach. The well-trained dog is good with kids, cats and other dogs.
Sunday, July 12, 2026
New Year’s Eve Dinner at Toro Toro Miami
Toro Toro Miami will offer a four-course prix fixe menu with live entertainment for New Year’s Eve 2024, featuring dishes like Wagyu Short Rib and Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass.
Sunday, July 12, 2026
DeSantis Rejects Florida Gas Tax Pause Amid $4/Gallon Spike
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis shot down calls to suspend the state's 25-cent gas tax, warning drivers won't feel relief at pumps hitting $4 a gallon. Despite pleas from Democrats and Palm Beach County leaders, he cited past failures and oil market volatility. As global tensions rise, Florida motorists brace for pain at the pump.
Sunday, July 12, 2026
DeSantis Signs 9 Key Florida Laws on Safety, Schools and Traffic
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed nine new laws Thursday in Tallahassee, tackling unlicensed drivers, church security and body camera privacy amid rising public safety concerns. Most take effect July 1, joining nearly 60 others passed this year. From stricter traffic penalties to expanded school guardians, the measures aim to bolster security across the Sunshine State.
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Florida's Lab-Grown Meat Ban Survives Federal Court Challenge
Nearly two years after Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation banning cultivated meat sales in Florida, a federal appeals court upheld the controversial law as constitutional. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a challenge from California-based Upside Foods, cementing Florida's status as the first state to prohibit lab-grown meat—a move critics say protects the traditional livestock industry rather than consumers.
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Florida Launches Mandatory Hurricane Drills Across All 67 Counties
With hurricane season looming just weeks away, Florida's Division of Emergency Management has rolled out mandatory public safety drills statewide to sharpen readiness. The initiative targets all 67 counties, urging residents to stock seven days of supplies and master evacuation protocols. Officials warn that recent storms underscore the need for swift action amid rising threats.
Sunday, July 12, 2026
DeSantis Greenlights UFC, Colleges in Florida's New License Plates
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill unleashing eight new specialty license plates, from UFC fighters to South Florida high schools and military academies. Drivers can start pre-ordering Oct. 1, but only if 3,000 vouchers sell in two years. With over 2.3 million special tags already on roads, these could boost scholarships, mental health and more.
Sunday, July 12, 2026