JetBlue Expands Service to Florida Panhandle With New Flights to Destin–Fort Walton Beach Starting March 2026 Staff Reports November 6, 2025 9:43 am Aviation, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Tourism, Travel In Brief: Who: JetBlue Airways, Okaloosa County Commission Chairman Paul Mixon, JetBlue Vice President Dave Jehn What: Launching new nonstop seasonal flights to Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport When: Beginning March 5, 2026 Where: Flights from Boston Logan International Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to VPS Why: To expand JetBlue’s Florida network and connect Emerald Coast residents and visitors to major Northeast cities Share This Story! JetBlue Airways announced Thursday it will begin new nonstop flights connecting Boston and New York to Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) starting March 5, 2026. The addition brings one of the nation’s most well-known low-cost carriers to Northwest Florida for the first time, expanding air travel options for both residents and visitors along the Emerald Coast. The airline will operate five seasonal flights per week from both Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The routes will run on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. JetBlue Vice President of Network Planning and Airline Partnerships Dave Jehn said the new routes strengthen the airline’s Northeast–Florida network, while giving travelers in the Panhandle new access to the northeastern United States.“Florida continues to be a place where JetBlue’s combination of great service and value resonates strongly with travelers,” Jehn said. “By adding Destin–Fort Walton Beach to our... Read More

Okaloosa Families Encouraged to Apply for School Meal Benefits During Federal Shutdown Staff Reports November 5, 2025 10:59 am Okaloosa County, Schools and Education In Brief: Who: Okaloosa County families and students What: Apply for free or reduced-cost school meal benefits When: Ongoing, anytime household income changes; particularly relevant during the federal government shutdown Where: Okaloosa County, Florida; applications submitted online via myschoolapps.com or OkaloosaSchools.com Why: To ensure students continue receiving school meals even when families experience financial hardship   Share This Story! As the federal government shutdown continues, some families in Okaloosa County are beginning to experience interruptions in their regular paychecks. School officials are reminding households that students may still qualify for free or reduced-cost school meals based on current income, ensuring that students continue to have access to nutritious meals during uncertain financial times. The eligibility process is designed to reflect each household’s current financial situation. Families whose income meets the criteria can apply to myschoolapps.com, an online portal that streamlines the application and approval process. The application considers the household’s situation at the time of submission, allowing for quick and accurate assessment. “Eligibility for meal benefits is not limited to times of government furlough,” a spokesperson for Okaloosa County Food Service said. “Families can apply any time their income changes, and we encourage them to do so to ensure students are supported in the classroom and beyond.” Once a student is approved for free or reduced-cost meals, eligibility lasts for the entire school year, providing families... Read More

Niceville High School Class of 1980 Returns Home, Refurbishes School Sign 45 Years Later Staff Reports November 5, 2025 10:34 am Niceville, Okaloosa County, Schools and Education In Brief: Who, What, When, Where, Why Summary (with emojis): Who: Niceville High School Class of 1980 alumni, including Deanna Hodge Gelak, Kelly (Norton) Humphrey, Coach Sherman Eller, and Principal Mr. Marello What: Refurbished and rededicated the school sign originally gifted by their class When: Fall 2025, during their 45th reunion celebration Where: Niceville High School, Niceville, Florida Why: To celebrate their milestone reunion, give back to their alma mater, and inspire current students to stay connected and uphold the Eagle spirit Share This Story! Forty-five years after they first crossed the graduation stage, members of the Niceville High School Class of 1980 returned to their alma mater this fall—rekindling friendships, revisiting memories, and restoring a piece of the school’s history that continues to symbolize their shared legacy. The class, remembered for its unity, spirit, and generosity, donated the school’s first lighted sign as its senior class gift in 1980. The original donation was meant to serve as a landmark and a lasting message of pride for future generations of Eagles. “A sign points the way, but it’s also an identifier,” said class president Deanna Hodge Gelak, who helped lead the reunion effort. “As we continue to fly through life, our hearts continue to soar like eagles: ‘80 now, ‘80 then, Niceville Eagles ‘til the end!’” In the years since, the sign has stood as... Read More

Here’s What Happened at Defuniak’s Latest Council Meeting Steven Saul November 5, 2025 7:40 am DeFuniak Springs In Brief: Historic district design standards are causing a stir, with debates over enforcement versus property rights. Interim Finance Director Daniele McDaniel gets to stay until mid-2026 as the city continues its search for a permanent replacement. The city is actively looking for a new finance director, but qualified applicants are proving hard to find. Share This Story! Despite months of back and forth and multiple iterations of documents, a resolution still has not arrived for DeFuniak’s historic district. The CRA Director’s update highlighted the gap between those who want to streamline and enforce design standards in the historic district and those who believe their property should be their sole domain, regardless of its location in the city The DeFuniak Council voted unanimously to keep Interim Finance Director Daniele McDaniel on through the end of the second quarter of 2026 while the city looks for a permanent replacement for the position.   Row Continues Over Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Guidelines CRA Director Josh Ervin spoke to the latest iteration of the Historical Preservation Design Standards for the city’s three historic districts -. He told the council that the newest iteration of the design standards don’t add or remove any regulations to the CRAs buildings – they clearly delineate what those rules are in a single document.     A resident of the district, who did not give his name, spoke against the new standards... Read More