PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) – “I take responsibility for my shortcomings in my leadership of Mr. Lee,” Visit Panama City Beach President and CEO Dan Rowe said. Rowe is taking a step back from his role following the recent arrest of his employee, Aaron Lee. “I believe it’s in the best interests of the […] Read More

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – During the Bay District School Board meeting on Tuesday, officials announced that the Athletics and Extracurricular Activities Department has officially launched their high school-specific mobile apps. According to BDS officials, it’s now available for the community to download, just search for the school’s name on the Google Play and Apple […] Read More

JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A group of Cottondale residents showed up at the Jackson County Commission meeting Tuesday morning, prepared to argue against the county granting a development order for the Windwood RV Park. The developer presented the original plans back in June, which included a park that would accommodate up to 55 RVs. […] Read More

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Walton County has furthered its progress in protecting its natural and agricultural lands. The second and final ordinance for the Forever Land Acquisition Program was read on Tuesday. The Forever Land Acquisition Program proposes the conservation of select lands within the county, preventing development and keeping the lands for agricultural […] Read More

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – Panama City commissioners are getting back into the road business. They voted 3-2 to buy equipment and hire staff to establish an internal city paving team. This crew would be used to tackle smaller residential road improvement projects. The city already has a pothole team and uses private contractors for […] Read More

Okaloosa School Board schedules hearing on proposal to close Mary Esther, Longwood Elementary Schools Collin Bestor January 13, 2026 4:00 pm Schools and Education NICEVILLE — The Okaloosa County School Board on Monday voted to schedule a public hearing on a proposal that could close Mary Esther Elementary School and Longwood Elementary School at the end of the 2025–26 academic year, a move district leaders say is driven by sustained enrollment losses, rising fixed costs and structural limits in Florida’s public school funding system.   The public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 23, with a final vote expected that evening. If approved, students from the two campuses would be rezoned to other elementary schools in southern Okaloosa County at the beginning of the next school year.   Superintendent Marcus Chambers told board members and the public that the district has exhausted most alternatives after cutting more than $22 million from its operating budget over the past two years.   “This is not about a building,” Chambers said as he opened the discussion. “It’s about a community, a sense of home, families and students whose lives have been shaped within those walls. And this is not easy.” A decision shaped by finances and personal history Chambers acknowledged his personal connection to Longwood Elementary, where he once served as principal, and the deep roots many families have to Mary Esther Elementary.   “Some of you who are here tonight attended Mary Esther as students,” he said. “None of that is to be... Read More

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Panama City officials are working to avoid seeing nothing but bail bond businesses, pawn shops, vape shops, check cashing businesses, and more lining Panama City’s major roadways. They believe the gateway overlay ordinance will ensure aesthetic and design standards for new businesses coming to U.S 98, Highway 77, Highway 390, […] Read More

Dramatic Eagle Rescue Showcases Powerful Conservation Mission at Eglin Staff Reports January 13, 2026 2:19 pm Aviation, Eglin Air Force Base In Brief: Who: Brianna Sewell and Caden Retherford, Jackson Guard biologists What: Rescued two juvenile bald eagles tangled by a fishing lure When: October 16 Where: Near Eglin AFB’s east gate; released at Camp Pinchot Why: Immediate intervention was needed to prevent serious injury or death EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — Two juvenile bald eagles are back in the wild after becoming dangerously entangled by a fishing lure near Eglin Air Force Base, thanks to the quick response of wildlife biologists and base security forces. According to officials, Jackson Guard biologist Brianna Sewell and her partner, Caden Retherford, responded to a call the morning of Oct. 16 after a base employee reported two distressed birds near the fence line close to Eglin’s east gate. Using binoculars, Sewell identified the situation as a pair of exhausted juvenile bald eagles trapped together by a large fishing lure embedded deep in both birds’ toes. “We needed to act fast before their health became an issue,” Sewell said. “The eagles would have certainly expired if not for human intervention.” Ensuring the protection of bald eagles is a requirement under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which obligates federal agencies such as Eglin Air Force Base to safeguard the species. After assessing the scene, the biologists made the decision to separate the approximately three-year-old eagles by removing the plastic fishing lure, while... Read More

Unexpected K-9 Alert Leads to Shocking Trafficking Arrest Staff Reports January 13, 2026 11:30 am Crime, Okaloosa County, Public Safety In Brief: Nearly 40 grams of methamphetamine were recovered during the traffic stop Drugs were concealed in multiple locations, including clothing and a body cavity The suspect admitted she knew her driver’s license was suspended According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, a routine traffic stop combined with a K-9 alert led to the arrest of a Navarre woman on multiple felony drug charges Friday night. Deputies with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle on January 10 along Beal Parkway, where a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics. During a subsequent search, deputies located multiple indicators of drug use and distribution inside the vehicle. Authorities reported finding burnt residue on pieces of aluminum foil scattered throughout the car, along with cut plastic straws inside an eyeglass case. A separate eyeglass case contained a small jewelry bag holding approximately one gram of suspected cocaine. Deputies also discovered a digital scale with methamphetamine residue and a plastic container containing about two grams of meth. The driver, identified as 39-year-old Tabitha Keesey of Navarre, later admitted she had additional methamphetamine concealed both in her bra and within a body cavity. Keesey retrieved two baggies from her bra—one weighing approximately seven grams and another around eight grams—as well as an additional baggie containing roughly 22 grams of methamphetamine. In total, deputies recovered nearly 40 grams of methamphetamine during the... Read More

Robert Irwin & Witney Carson Win Season 34 Of Dancing With The Stars Dancing With The Stars contestants often talk about how the people on the show become like “family,” and that certainly seems to hold true with this season’s winners, Robert Irwin and Witney Carson. Robert and Witney quickly became fan favorites from the […] More Country Music Nation  Read More