WASHINGTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The spirit of Christmas was alive and well in Chipley this evening. The city held its thirteenth annual “Chipley Christmas Fest” tonight. The festival took place from 3 to 9 p.m., drawing a strong turnout from the local community. Attendees enjoyed a wide variety of activities like a petting zoo, pony […] Read More

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Two weeks ago we told you how bay county animal control officials are making people aware of the ups and downs of gifting pets for Christmas. Now that Christmas is just six days away, they’re reminding folks again about making sure gift-givers are still considering the advice, which is, they […] Read More

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – For 35 years Tyndall Air Force Base has made the holiday’s brighter for a group of veterans. The 35th annual Golden Age Holiday Party took place Friday on-base. “I would say the inspiration for this event is just to bring our veterans in and to honor them. We have gifts, […] Read More

PANAMA CITY FL (WMBB)- Panama City officials say they want to go back to the drawing board over renovations at Truesdale park. there were some plans in place, like a new parking lot and playground, but the city received very little input from the public. “So, we’re actually taking a step back to reopen public […] Read More

FLORIDA – As drought conditions persist throughout the state, Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Wilton Simpson on Friday urged Floridians to take precautions to protect their property from risks of wildfires. “We were blessed this last year with no hurricanes hitting Florida directly. But the downside of not having enough rain, obviously, is drought,” Simpson […] Read More

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – An Alabama man who shot the “date” he met through a social media app was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Thursday. According to State Attorney Larry Basford, in May 2022, Marques Isaiah Player shot a man at a Panama City Beach motel, claiming he thought he was meeting […] Read More

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A Honduran man was sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to reentry of a removed alien. The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District said on April 11, Kevin Noel Ochoa Venegas, 32, was arrested in Bay County after driving without a valid license. It was reported that, through […] Read More

Mid Bay News ranks the top ten football games from the 2025 season Collin Bestor December 19, 2025 11:30 am Opinion, Sports In Brief: Multiple games were decided by overtime, fourth-down stops, or final-play heroics Comebacks and momentum swings defined playoff paths for Choctaw, Crestview, Milton, and Rocky Bayou Rocky Bayou Christian capped its run with a state championship, while Choctaw and Niceville endured postseason heartbreak   So ever since I came to Mid Bay News in June, I have had the pleasure of covering high school sports in my professional career.  Over the course of 15 weeks, Christopher Saul has sent me to 16 games. I did two in one night, I visited the Eagles Nest for the first time in my life; and I got to say, I was not disappointed. (There was a reason Niceville won best home atmosphere in the Emerald Coast Elite awards.) Over the course of the season, we saw upsets, comeback victories and goal-line stands almost every week. Which got us thinking as what games were the best of the best during the 2025 season? Well, we here at MBN decided to rank our top ten games in a list that may or may not be controversial.  10. Cottondale @ Freeport A week four matchup that looked more like a basketball game than a football game, our list begins with Cottondale’s visit to Freeport. In the beginning, Cottondale jumped out to a 16-13 lead by the end of the first quarter. As the... Read More

Okaloosa Tech Students Excel in Cyber Competition Staff Reports December 19, 2025 10:32 am Okaloosa County, Schools and Education In Brief: Who: Okaloosa Technical College students led by instructor Daniel Sligar What: National recognition in the National Cyber League competition When: Fall 2025 competition season Where: National competition involving colleges and universities nationwide Why: To demonstrate real-world cybersecurity skills and career readiness Students from Okaloosa Technical College are gaining national attention after earning top-tier recognition in the National Cyber League (NCL) Fall 2025 Competition, one of the country’s premier real-world cybersecurity challenges. Led by instructor Daniel Sligar, OTC students competed against more than 8,520 students from 490 colleges and universities nationwide, ultimately earning a #45 national ranking in the NCL Cyber Power Rankings — a notable achievement for a technical college program. The National Cyber League, powered by Cyber Skyline, is designed to mirror real-world cybersecurity work performed daily by industry professionals. Through individual and team-based challenges, students test and strengthen skills in areas such as network defense, penetration testing, log analysis, and threat detection, while also earning detailed skills reports that can be shared with future employers. OTC Director Jon Williams said the recognition reflects both student dedication and the strength of the program. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our students and the exceptional instruction they receive at Okaloosa Technical College,” Williams said. “Competing at a national level against colleges and universities across the country is a testament to their commitment, teamwork, and readiness for cybersecurity careers.” The... Read More

Jake and Romy Reiner have issued a statement regarding the deaths of their parents, Rob and Michele Reiner. Rob and Michele Reiner were found deceased in their Los Angeles-area home on Sunday (Dec. 14) after being stabbed to death. Their youngest daughter, Romy, was reportedly called to her parents’ home by a massage therapist who […] More Country Music Nation  Read More