Making claims of discrimination and harassment, among other allegations, Walton County Deputy County Administrator Dede Hinote has lodged a formal complaint with County Administrator Larry Jones.A letter of complaint to Jones, dated Oct. 6, was submitted by Attorney Jennifer Sullivan with the Guilday Law firm of Destin.Hinote alleges in the letter that she has been "subjected to several instances of discrimination and harassment and other unlawful behavior in (and arising out [...]

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he plans to allow the release of classified files related to the November 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

OKALOOSA COUNTY — Through at least 2018, officials from the Walton Okaloosa Council on Aging will continue to provide various senior services for people age 60 and older in Okaloosa County.The DeFuniak Springs-based council has administered the services, which include personal care, housekeeping, companionship, meals and other assistance, for the past six years.The Pensacola-based Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging awarded the council with the new contract on Oct. 12. [...]

It’s not even 1 p.m. on a hot Friday afternoon and Ann White is already running around the Destin Fishing Rodeo merchandise trailer grabbing different colors, sizes and styles for customers waiting patiently at the windows.The largest crowds don’t arrive till the evening to view the day’s catches, but those who are already at the harbor clamor to get their piece of the historic fishing tournament.“Everybody has to have a Rodeo T-shirt, and they have [...]

The temperature drops below the melting point of lead and the global warming deniers of Northwest Florida are dancing in the streets, shouting “Autumn!” They’re so happy you’d think explorers had discovered a lost colony of Ayn Rand clones.It wasn’t always like this. The weather followed expected and reliable patterns. For instance, we’d have our first cool spell about the time people started throwing unopened cans of beer at Mullet Festival [...]

MIRAMAR BEACH — A 35- to 40-foot sailboat dubbed “Phantom of the Aqua” was discovered this week tipped over onto its side in the Gulf of Mexico at 1115 Scenic Gulf Drive.Sterling Ducker with U.S. Coast Guard Station Destin said the station was notified about the vessel on Saturday around 9 a.m. and has since determined that the sailboat is a derelict vessel.U.S. Coast Guard Sector Mobile is now overseeing the sailboat's recovery and the Florida Fish [...]

These Florida lotteries were drawn Friday:Fantasy 5: 03-05-07-11-23Lucky Money: 03-30-32-34, Lucky Ball 16, estimated jackpot $550,000Mega Millions: 06-23-63-66-73, Mega Ball 9, Megaplier 2, estimated jackpot $20 millionPowerball: estimated jackpot $173 millionPick 2 Evening: 4-3Pick 2 Midday: 8-3Pick 3 Evening: 8-2- [...]