Community News
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 · Walton County
WKMG Launches Florida News Hub on ClickOrlando.com
WKMG News 6 launched a statewide news hub on ClickOrlando.com, aggregating headlines on Florida politics, public safety and community issues for Central Florida viewers.
DeSantis vetoes GOP immigration bill, demanding tougher enforcement
Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a Republican immigration bill in January, demanding tougher enforcement measures. The public clash between the governor and GOP legislative leaders signaled a Legislature increasingly willing to challenge him.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Pinellas Park Medical Emergency: Resource Mobilization and Area Context
A developing medical emergency in Pinellas Park has drawn 13 emergency units to Grid 453B, a location with recent prior incidents, signaling a significant response from local authorities.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Palm Harbor Vehicle Fire: What We Know About Response and Local Incidents
A vehicle fire on Cambridge Boulevard in Palm Harbor saw four emergency units dispatched, aligning with typical responses to such incidents in the area, which has seen 34 similar events in the past six months.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
DeFuniak Springs to Vote on Fire Services Assessment
DeFuniak Springs proposes a fire services assessment ranging from $199 to $238 annually for homeowners, pending City Council approval and public hearings.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
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.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Two Walton County Fire Rescue Chiefs Complete Florida Leadership Program
Battalion Chiefs Christopher Brown and Travis Cook of Walton County Fire Rescue completed an elite two-year leadership program sponsored by the Florida Fire Chiefs' Association.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
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.
Tuesday, May 19, 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.
Tuesday, May 19, 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.
Tuesday, May 19, 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.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
DeFuniak Springs Unveils Five-Year Pavement Improvement Plan
DeFuniak Springs is implementing a five-year pavement improvement plan from 2027-2031 to proactively maintain its 83 miles of roadways, shifting from reactive repairs to preventative care.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Walton County to Revise Development Code Based on Roundtable Input
Walton County will use feedback from roundtable meetings to rewrite sections of its Land Development Code and streamline the permitting process.
Tuesday, May 19, 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.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
MISSING DEFUNIAK SPRINGS MAN IDENTIFIED 10 YEARS AFTER DISAPPEARANCE
Authorities identified skeletal remains found on Eglin Air Force Base property as John Thomas Watson, missing since August 2015. DNA analysis confirmed the identification after a decade-long investigation.
Tuesday, May 19, 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.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Walton County Switches to OpenGov for Vendor Bids
Walton County began using OpenGov in February 2024 to manage vendor bids and proposals. Vendors can register free accounts to receive bid alerts.
Tuesday, May 19, 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.
Tuesday, May 19, 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.
Tuesday, May 19, 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.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Battalion Chief McElyea Wins State Cadet Advisor Award
Walton County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief TJ McElyea won the Florida Fire Chiefs' Association Cadet Advisor of the Year award for founding and leading Cadet Post 850.
Tuesday, May 19, 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.
Tuesday, May 19, 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.
Tuesday, May 19, 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.
Tuesday, May 19, 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.
Tuesday, May 19, 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.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026