New Emergency Room Brings Lifesaving, 24/7 Care to Walton County Staff Reports February 5, 2026 9:44 am DeFuniak Springs, Health, Walton County In Brief: Who: HCA Florida Healthcare, HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital, local leaders What: Opening of HCA Florida DeFuniak Springs Emergency When: Now open; ribbon cutting held last month Where: 160 Twin Springs Way, off Highway 331 near I-10 Exit 85 Why: To expand access to 24/7 emergency medical care and support a growing community DeFuniak Springs, Fla. — Residents and visitors in Walton County now have expanded access to round-the-clock emergency medical care with the opening of HCA Florida DeFuniak Springs Emergency, a new full-service emergency room located just north of Interstate 10 off Highway 331. The $19 million facility, located at 160 Twin Springs Way, officially opened its doors to patients as an extension of HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital, offering 24/7 emergency services for adults and children. The standalone emergency room is staffed by board-certified emergency medicine physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals and is supported by the broader HCA Healthcare network. “We are honored to expand access to round-the-clock emergency care by board-certified physicians at two convenient locations,” said Todd Jackson, chief executive officer of HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital. “Our new HCA Florida DeFuniak Springs Emergency provides expert local care supported by one of the largest emergency care networks in the nation.” Last month, community leaders, first responders, healthcare professionals, and local officials gathered for a ribbon-cutting and tours of the new 11,570-square-foot facility.... Read More

Walton Tourism Pros: “We have no voice” With Local Government Steven Saul February 5, 2026 9:25 am 30a, Government, South Walton A battle may be brewing for power between the Walton County Tourism Development Council and the board that appoints them – the Walton County Board of County Commissioners.  The Tourism Development Council (TDC) met this week at the South Walton Annex to review financial reports for the last two months of 2025 and to receive progress reports from the Tourism Department heads. Amy Wise-Coble (Seat 6) served as chair for the meeting due to the absence of Commissioner Drake.  Statements made by TDC members revealed their frustration and perception the Board of County Commissioners has ignored or trampled on them at every turn – to the taxpayers’ detriment.  The two bodies have begun meeting regularly to improve their working relationship. Following the last joint meeting in 2025, both groups indicated that the “work session” was productive.  However, remarks made by two of the TDC members (Amy Wise-Coble and Tim Taylor, (Seat 4) this week indicated a chasm exists between the two boards – as well as accusations some TDC members have abandoned their responsibilities.   Wise-Coble said, “We have got to try and get on the same page with the BCC, because I think we have members of this Council [referring to the TDC] that likely aren’t attending because they don’t feel like they are being heard.”  With reference to a decision the BCC made to purchase property, she added,... Read More

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Next school year, Rutherford High School students will be able to get a head start on a life-saving career. What started as an idea to strengthen the local workforce and foster opportunity for high school students has turned into a reality through a partnership with Gulf Coast State College. “This […] Read More

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – ZooWorld has been in a state of recovery for the last three weeks, after losing seven ruffed lemurs to a fire. Zoo leaders’ focus has been divided between ensuring their team is navigating the grief, continuing progress on the facility’s many improvement projects, and monitoring the care of Uri, the […] Read More

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A confrontation that ended in gunfire outside a Panama City Beach Waffle House last year is now before a jury. Testimony began Wednesday in the murder trial of Ja’zai Mitchell. He’s accused of fatally shooting 19-year-old Ja’Dion Love Hughes. The shooting happened just after 10 p.m. in the Waffle House […] Read More

Northwest Florida Weather Update: Cold Front Brings Rain, Wind, and a Chilly Stretch Ahead A cold front is moving through our area right now, and it’s bringing some noticeable changes to the weather over the next several days. Rain Wrapping Up Tonight We’ve got a band of showers moving across northwest Florida this afternoon. It’s […] Read More

GULF COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Dozens of people braved Wednesday’s rainy weather to witness the biggest sea turtle release so far this year. Sea turtles become cold-stunned when the water temperature in shallow bays drops below 50 degrees. “They are cold-blooded. And so their body temperature drops, they are not able to maintain their full […] Read More