BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A Texas man was found guilty Tuesday of sexual molestation of a 14-year-old girl in 2012 in Bay County According to the state attorney’s office, a jury deliberated for just over an hour before finding 49-year-old Orlin Antonio Garcia guilty of sexual battery on a victim older than 12 but […] Read More

Walton County Rolls Out Free Tram Service Staff Reports February 24, 2026 4:07 pm 30a, Destin, Emerald Coast, South Walton, Tourism, Travel, Walton County In Brief: Who: Walton County Tourism, led by Tabatha Bolen What: Expansion of the free Beach Tram transportation routes When: Launching March 1, 2026 Where: 393 MPF, Grayton Central, and regional beach accesses in Walton County Why: To reduce parking congestion and improve access for visitors and locals WALTON COUNTY, Fla. — Visitors and locals heading to South Walton’s beaches will soon have more parking relief and easier access to the sand. Walton County Tourism will officially launch expanded Beach Tram routes on March 1, connecting municipal parking facilities to popular regional beach accesses in an effort to ease congestion and reduce parking strain along Scenic 30A corridors. Transportation officials say the program has been years in development. “This program has been years in the making,” said Tabatha Bolen, transportation manager for Walton County Tourism. “The entire team has put so much work into making it what it has become. It is exciting to be part of a program that provides a needed service that truly benefits our guests, both visitors and the local community.” Where the Routes Will Run Two municipal parking facilities will anchor the initial expansion: 393 Municipal Parking Facility 1668 S. County Hwy. 393 Beginning March 1: A-to-B Route: Direct service to Ed Walline Regional Beach Access every 10 minutes West Route: Stops at Dune Allen RBA and Fort Panic RBA every... Read More

Country music singer Ella Langley has become an absolute superstar over the past few years! While her success seems to have skyrocketed overnight, Ella has been building her career in music for nearly a decade. 1. A True Southern Girl Ella Langley is from the small town of Hope Hull, Alabama, where she began singing […] More Country Music Nation  Read More

American Idol‘s Hollywood Week Kicked Off With A Group Performance Of “Before He Cheats” Thanks To The Live Audience Hollywood Week for Season 24 of American Idol officially began on Monday night, February 23. During the two-hour-long episode, singers who earned a Golden Ticket in the audition rounds took the stage to perform a song […] More Country Music Nation  Read More

Firefighters Hold the Line at Choctaw Plaza Fire Staff Reports February 24, 2026 1:31 pm Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa County, Public Safety In Brief: Who: Fort Walton Beach Fire Department, Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District, Okaloosa Island Fire Department, Eglin AFB Fire Department What: Three-alarm commercial structure fire When: Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, around 8 p.m. Where: Choctaw Plaza, 119 Racetrack Road NW, Fort Walton Beach Why: Cause under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office A late-night commercial structure fire tore through a Fort Walton Beach shopping center Monday evening, destroying one business and damaging several others. The Fort Walton Beach Fire Department responded to a 911 call around 8 p.m. on Feb. 23, 2026, reporting heavy smoke and flames at Choctaw Plaza, located at 119 Racetrack Road NW. When the first units arrived within minutes, firefighters observed flames showing from the west side of the plaza — specifically the Rent-A-Center furniture store. Due to the size of the building and the extent of the fire involvement, the incident was quickly upgraded to a third alarm, bringing in additional manpower to support what officials described as a safe but intensive operation. Approximately 35 firefighters and 10 firefighting vehicles from the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department, Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District, and Okaloosa Island Fire Department responded to the scene. The Eglin Air Force Base Fire Department provided district coverage during the incident. Crews launched an aggressive interior offensive attack, working swiftly to contain the flames to their point... Read More