Florida has long faced the difficult task of managing growth and development. Here in Santa Rosa County, more subdivisions seem to pop up every day. Locals have said consistently, “Keep the country, country.” But a newly proposed bill could change that with more housing built on agricultural land.

On April 2, the City of Milton and Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field united to recognize Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAM) by dyeing the City’s downtown fountain teal.

Northwest Florida has a new representative in Washington, D.C. Jimmy Patronis, the Republican nominee for U.S. House District 1, defeated Democratic candidate Gay Valimont Tuesday, April 1 to replace Matt Gaetz.

The county is taking serious flooding precautions with an over $5 million project to improve Pine Blossom Road drainage in Milton.

The project involves significant upgrades to the existing stormwater management systems to improve drainage and help prevent future flooding. They will enhance the current subsurface drainage system, install a new subsurface drainage system, and improve the roadside drainage.

In a major financial milestone, the City of Milton has officially paid off all outstanding municipal debt following a unanimous vote by City Council at its March 2025 meeting. The decision to retire the remaining $2.7 million in debt early will save taxpayers approximately $277,500 in interest payments over the life of the loans.

Ard Field Road will be closed at the bridge near 564 Ard Field Rd. from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily for bridge repairs beginning Monday, April 7.

Each year, the Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) identifies top transportation needs—including road improvements, safer intersections, reduced traffic congestion, and expanded mobility options—to help inform funding considerations.

One local Milton resident picked up beekeeping as a hobby, now honeybees live in her backyard and her heart. 

Honeybees are practically in Conni Carnley’s DNA. Her grandfather and aunt both had a history of beekeeping, and she has fond memories of visiting her aunt’s hive in her youth. But it was not until 2014 that she decided to pick up the hobby herself. Now she and her husband, Danny, manage 16 hives.

A Pensacola man suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to a local hospital after a vehicle collision on I-10.

On March 18, Santa Rosa County received its first letter from DOGE. Commissioner Colten Wright said he welcomes a review of the county’s finances. But he also pointed out that other state departments are not persecuted like the county and city boards are.