FORT WALTON BEACH — Following an EF-1 tornado that carved a path from Okaloosa Island through Ocean City on Sunday afternoon, public officials in Okaloosa County are doubling down on the importance of smartphone emergency alert systems.In the event of an emergency, electronic alerts sent to people's smartphones are the only way to notify them about impending severe weather. With the exception of Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field, there are no tornado sirens in Okaloosa [...]

CHICAGO — A Chicago masseuse is suing Marvel Comic's Stan Lee, accusing him of inappropriate behavior during two massages in 2017.Maria Carballo filed the lawsuit Monday seeking more than $50,000 in punitive damages and attorney fees from the 95-year-old comic book writer.The Chicago Tribune reports that Lee's attorney, Jonathan Freund, called the lawsuit "a shakedown" and says Lee denies the allegations.Carballo also filed a complaint with Chicago police, who are [...]

Florida’s medical-marijuana patient database has hit the 100,000 mark, according to a weekly update issued by the state Department of Health’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use.Marijuana supporters celebrated the number, revealed on April 20, which is also known as “weed day” throughout the nation.As of Friday, 100,576 Florida patients had registered with the office, an increase of more than 2,500 in the past week. Only 75,208 of the registered [...]

NAVARRE BEACH — Alexander Julio was honored Saturday with the Navarre Beach Fire Rescue’s first-ever Citizens Lifesaving Award after he rescued a girl from drowning in the rough surf of the Gulf of Mexico in March.At about 6:14 p.m. March 24, Julio, a 27-year-old University of West Florida student from Navarre Beach, was surfing near the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier when he saw a young girl in distress.“I was pretty far out” in the Gulf, which was [...]

The FBI raided Cohen's home, office and hotel room earlier this month looking for evidence of fraud as they conduct a criminal investigation

LOS ANGELES — Actor Verne Troyer from the "Austin Powers" movie franchise has died.A statement provided by Troyer's spokesperson that was also posted to his Instagram and Facebook accounts says the 49-year-old actor died Saturday.No cause or place of death was given, but the statement discusses depression and suicide, and Troyer had publicly discussed struggling with alcohol addiction. He lived in Los Angeles.Troyer became a celebrity and pop-culture [...]

Sting, Tom Jones, Jamie Cullum, others serenaded the monarch

The schedule — long popular in rural Western communities — is becoming more common elsewhere as school leaders search for ways to both attract teachers and save money

The move shows that prosecutors are closely scrutinizing payments to women before Trump's election as president

For a fun, family oriented weekend activity, the Fort Walton Beach Police Department hosts Construction Junction Kids Day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds on Lewis Turner Boulevard.The free event provides close-up interaction with big equipment in a safe environment, and the Home Depot Kids Crew Hands-On Building Kits provide an added feature to the day.A mountain of sand allows for old-fashioned digging fun, and parents can accompany their [...]