News Archive

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis approved Senate Bill 180 on June 26. The bill, designed to speed up emergency management procedures, could tie the hands of local government when it comes to construction, development approvals, and land development regulations.  

Last month, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida announced the guilty verdicts of two people convicted of running a sex trafficking ring around the Florida Panhandle and Southern Alabama.

Santa Rosa County District Schools recently received student performance metrics from the 2024-25 state assessments. According to the district, there were notable increases in student performance in English Language Arts, Geometry, Biology, Civis and U.S. History.

Navy Commander Stephanie Biehle knew from a young age that she wanted to fly.

At five years old, she told her father this, and he directed her to the Naval Academy. Today, Biehle is the new Executive Officer of Naval Air Station Whiting Field, responsible for overseeing the command’s daily operations and performance after graduating from the Naval Academy in 2006 and holding crucial positions during her nearly 20 years with the Navy.

A main break has occurred and/or a loss of pressure has been experienced.

The 2025-2026 school year will be a year of change for school cell phone policies, namely for schools with students kindergarten through 8th grade. This includes primary, intermediate, elementary, middle and K-8 schools.

When you walk into the Beardless Brewhaus on Elmira Street, there are plenty of things to look at: the menu, the games, the sports on the tv, the mugs behind the bar, or anything in between. If you’re stuck on these features, however, you’ll miss an interesting story hanging right above your head.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection handed out hefty fines July 2 to Avalon Beach developers Kip Walker (Damon Drive) and Thomas Cornelison (Furlong Drive) of $197,250 and $67,500, respectively, for their role in allowing red clay sediment into Mulat Bayou over the past year or more.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 June 30 after vetoing line items totaling $567 million, including several proposed Santa Rosa County projects. The final 2025-2026 budget added up to $117.9 billion, less than the previous year’s and marking the second consecutive year of reduced state spending.

On June 30 Santa Rosa County held the East Milton Master Plan Meeting, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall. During the meeting residents expressed concerns and shared feedback for consideration in planning for land spanning Blackwater River east to the county line and south to the Yellow River.