30A Breaking News

OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – It’s a record-breaking moment at Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park. Resident manatee, Romeo, now has a Guinness World Record title to his name: the oldest manatee ever recorded. Manatees often live to their 30s or 40s, and sometimes into their 60s, but Romeo is at least 71 years old. Romeo was […] Read More

Timothy Busfield, husband of Little House on the Prairie actress Melissa Gilbert, surrendered himself to the Albuquerque Police Department on January 13. The actor was officially charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse, linked to alleged misconduct involving child actors during the filming of The Cleaning Lady, according to KOAT. Busfield turned himself in […] More Country Music Nation  Read More

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A Bay County jury found Kourtney Hofheinz guilty of DUI manslaughter as charged. In the early morning hours of July 5, 2024, Kourtney Hofheinz was driving westbound on Highway 98 in a black truck when she crossed into the eastbound lane, colliding head-on with Damien Kerr’s vehicle. Kerr was pronounced […] Read More

This Bombshell Ruling Could End Red Light Cameras in Florida Tricia Elliott March 12, 2026 4:57 pm Crestview, Emerald Coast, Florida, Public Safety, State Government In Brief: A Broward County judge dismissed a red-light camera citation and ruled part of Florida’s automated enforcement law unconstitutional. The ruling says the law improperly assumes the vehicle’s registered owner committed the violation. If higher courts uphold the decision, it could significantly affect red-light camera enforcement statewide. A Broward County judge has dismissed a red light camera citation issued to Kayla Erin McFadden and ruled that part of Florida’s automated traffic enforcement law violates due process. In a written order, Judge Steven P. DeLuca concluded the law improperly presumes a vehicle’s registered owner is responsible for a red light violation. DeLuca explained in his ruling that Florida’s law violated due process protections guaranteed in the United States Constitution. The ruling strikes down a part of Florida’s Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act, which allows cities to issue traffic citations based on red light camera evidence. While DeLuca’s decision applies only to this particular case, the legal fight is likely not over. McFadden’s attorney, Bret Lusskin, said the case could have broader statewide implications if the ruling is appealed. If that happens, the case would likely be reviewed by the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeals and could ultimately reach the Florida Supreme Court. If a higher court upholds the ruling, it may affect how red light camera citations are enforced across Florida. In Okaloosa County,... Read More

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The co-owner of a local ambulance service was arrested for trafficking cocaine across state lines on Wednesday. According to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Gabriel Moschella of Coastal Care EMS had driven into Alabama in one of the company’s ambulances. Coastal Care EMS responds to dozens of calls within first […] Read More

Stunning Alys Beach Wins Architecture Honor Staff Reports March 12, 2026 2:01 pm 30a, Emerald Coast, South Walton, Walton County In Brief: Who: Scenic Walton honored Alys Beach leaders, including Robert Stenhammer and architects Marieanne Khoury-Vogt and Erik Vogt. What: The organization presented its Design Excellence Award, recognizing architectural quality and scenic design. When: February 26, 2026. Where: Alys Beach along Scenic Highway 30A in Walton County, Florida. Why: The community was recognized for its consistent architectural vision, thoughtful planning, and scenic preservation. Scenic Walton has recognized Alys Beach with its Design Excellence Award, praising the community’s commitment to architectural consistency, thoughtful planning, and scenic preservation along the Scenic Highway 30A corridor. The nonprofit presented the award during a ceremony on Feb. 26, honoring the development’s distinctive white architecture and carefully planned streetscapes that have become a hallmark of the coastal community. Robert Stenhammer, vice president and general manager of Alys Beach, accepted the award on behalf of the development and its owner, EBSCO Gulf Coast Development, Inc. The recognition was presented by Leigh Moore, executive director of Scenic Walton, with Scenic Walton Board President Tony Vallee also attending the event. Scenic Walton created the Design Excellence Award in 2017 to recognize projects and organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to architecture, landscaping, signage, and overall scenic quality in Walton County’s built environment. “Alys Beach represents one of the most thoughtfully designed and carefully executed communities anywhere along our coast,” Moore said during the ceremony. “Its commitment to architectural excellence, timeless design,... Read More

JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A strong line of thunderstorms and rain showers hit the Panhandle early Thursday morning. Wind gusts of up to 60 miles an hour battered parts of the Panhandle. Jackson County was under a National Weather Service tornado warning for about half an hour, beginning at 4:30 Thursday morning. There were […] Read More

The Neighboring Homes Are On The Same Property, Sharing A View Off The Water “You leave home, you move on, and you do the best you can … If I could walk around, I swear I’ll leave. Won’t take nothin’ but a memory from the house that built me.”– Miranda Lambert’s “The House That Built […] More Country Music Nation  Read More

 [[{“value”:” One of the Gulf Coast’s most anticipated music events is gearing up for another unforgettable year as the 14th Annual Gulf Coast Jam Presented by Jim Beam returns May 28–31, 2026, at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach. Recently named by Billboard as one of “The 10 Best Country Music Festivals,” the four-day celebration promises chart-topping performances, themed nights and a high-energy coastal vibe that continues to draw fans from across the country. Headliners Post Malone, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban and Riley Green will lead a lineup of more than 20 artists performing across the Country On The Coast experience. The festival has seen tremendous momentum in recent years, selling out with crowds of 30,000 the past two years and earning recognition as the No. 1 festival in Music Festival Wizard’s Top 50 Most Popular Fests In The World 2024 – Voter’s Choice poll, along with top honors among beach music festivals in 2025. A Star-Studded Lineup The festival kicks off Thursday, May 28, with Keith Urban headlining alongside Treaty Oak Revival, Wyatt Flores, Cooper Alan, Walker Montgomery and Gannon Fremin. Friday night brings powerhouse vocals from Chris Stapleton, joined by Marcus King, Jackson Dean, Brent Cobb, Cole Goodwin and Hueston. Saturday’s high-energy lineup features Riley Green, Koe Wetzel, Ole 60, Josh Ross, Ashland Craft and Hannah McFarland. The weekend wraps Sunday, May 31, with genre-blending superstar Post Malone, plus Muscadine Bloodline, 49 Winchester, Elizabeth Nichols, Them Dirty Roses and Skeez. Theme Nights Add Extra Fun Beyond the... Read More

 [[{“value”:” The SEASIDE Institute Celebrated 32nd Annual SEASIDE Prize Recipients, Marieanne Khoury-Vogt and Erik Vogt, February 6-8, 2026 By Christy Milliken The 32nd Annual Seaside Prize, held from February 6-8, 2026, brought together leaders, visionaries, and community members to celebrate excellence in architecture, urban design, and community development. This year’s event featured a series of engaging presentations, insightful panel discussions, and networking opportunities, all set against the picturesque backdrop of the coastal communities of SEASIDE®, Rosemary Beach®, and Alys Beach®, Florida. Attendees enjoyed learning from esteemed speakers, attending town tours, and honoring this year’s SEASIDE Prize recipients, Marieanne Khoury-Vogt and Erik Vogt for their outstanding contributions to architecture and to the built environment through new urbanist principles. Event Highlights and Community Engagement Beyond the formal programming, the weekend included social gatherings, walking tours, and awards dinners that fostered meaningful connections among participants. The event once again underscored Seaside’s role as a model for innovative, people-focused community planning and design. The weekend also highlighted the neighboring New Urbanism communities of Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach. Private Reception at the Palmer House Khoury-Vogt Architects welcomed clients, sponsors, friends, and the Seaside Institute Board of Governors on Thursday evening to the Palmer House for a sunset reception. The Palmer House, designed by KVA, served as a welcoming venue where the homeowners graciously hosted attendees for the evening gathering on Camp Creek Lake overlooking both the lake and the Gulf.  The home was meticulously designed in the style that Khoury-Vogt Architects are known for,... Read More