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

Former Rocky Bayou teacher accused of molestation pleads to battery. Christopher Saul February 24, 2026 1:00 pm Crime, Niceville, Schools and Education Former Rocky Bayou Christian School teacher Aaron Gleason has pleaded no contest in a deferred prosecution agreement that requires him to plead guilty to felony battery.  Gleason was initially charged by Niceville police officers of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under the age of 12 by a person over the age of 18.  As a part of the agreement, State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden’s office will defer prosection for 24 months and then drop charges of molestation if the following conditions are met.  Gleason must: Plead guilty to felony battery Pay $667.00 in court costs Pay cost of prosecution ($100) Have no unsupervised contact with minor children Not teach grades K-12 Have no contact with the victim or family Be evaluated for mental health and receive treatment Write an apology to the victim A felony battery conviction can lead to up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.  We reached out to Rocky Bayou Christian School for comment on the agreement. Dr. Michael Mosley, Superintendent Dr. Michael Mosley said, “Rocky Bayou Christian School remains firmly committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and Christ-centered environment for every student entrusted to our care. Our policies and procedures, hiring practices, and safety measures reflect our commitment to assisting parents in their God-given responsibilities with regard to education.  We continually review and uphold policies designed to protect our... Read More

19-Count Federal Lawsuit Alleges Reckless Force Caused Veteran’s Heart Attack Staff Reports February 24, 2026 12:47 pm Fort Walton Beach, Public Safety In Brief: Who: Darryl White; Officers Patrick Mooney, Austin Howard, Ritchie Rivera, Michael Cook Jr.; City of Fort Walton Beach When: July 20, 2024, incident; lawsuit filed February 4, 2026 Where: Fort Walton Beach, Florida; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division What: 19-count federal civil rights lawsuit alleging false arrest, malicious prosecution, excessive force, and negligence Why: White alleges officer conduct during a traffic stop and detention caused a heart attack and violated his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights A 79-year-old Fort Walton Beach veteran has filed a sweeping 19-count federal civil rights lawsuit alleging that a July 2024 traffic stop escalated into excessive force, wrongful arrest, and a heart attack while he was in police custody. Darryl White filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division, naming the City of Fort Walton Beach and four officers with the Fort Walton Beach Police Department: Patrick Mooney, Austin Howard, Ritchie Rivera, and Michael Cook Jr. The lawsuit alleges violations of White’s constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, as well as multiple state-law claims, including false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, negligence, and negligent supervision. The Traffic Stop and Arrest According to the complaint, White was pulled over on July 20, 2024, near the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Eglin Parkway. After issuing a citation, the lawsuit alleges that... Read More

‘Fired Up’ to Serve Freeport – New Candidacy for Freeport City Council (Seat 5) – Meet Abel Albritton Steven Saul February 24, 2026 12:32 pm Freeport, Government, Walton County In Brief: Abel Albritton has filed to run for Freeport City Council (Seat 5), challenging incumbent Elizabeth Haffner. The firefighter and nonprofit president says he feels called to serve and wants to prioritize safety, communication, and infrastructure. He supports workforce housing, improved lighting and signage, and long-term planning as Freeport continues to grow. Mid Bay News interviewed Abel Albritton, who over the last week completed the official filing process to run for Freeport City Council (Seat 5) to run against incumbent Elizabeth Haffner. Albritton, a fourth-generation native of the panhandle of Florida, was born in Bay County.  The Freeport resident made the city his home because he says he and his wife, Jordyn, love what the city is all about. “We believe Freeport is one of the best cities in the panhandle,” Albritton said with a smile. A Fire Fighter, Founder of a Non-Profit, Small Business Owner, Husband and Dad – Now Public Office When asked why he is running for City Council, the candidate replied:  “I just feel called to it.  I feel called to serve this city.  That’s my thing.  I feel like my whole life has been dedicated to service, and I serve as a full-time firefighter.  I am also the president of a non-profit organization called ‘850 Heroes 4 Heroes.’ Together, many traverse the 911 Memorial Stair... Read More