Bay County provides free Christmas tree drop-off to prevent fires

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Christmas decorations are coming down across Bay County, but fire officials say one item shouldn’t stick around for long. Real Christmas trees. As the weeks go by, these trees dry out, making them highly flammable and dangerous inside homes. The National Fire Protection Association says more than 150 home fires […] Read More


Lynn Haven selects top candidate for new Police Chief

LYNN HAVEN, Fla. (WMBB) – Lynn Haven city leaders have identified their top choice for Police Chief. They narrowed their search to Lewis Blanchard after reviewing three finalists for the position. Blanchard is the current chief of staff with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office in Augusta, Georgia. The city began the selection a few months […] Read More

10 Legal Issues to Watch in 2026

FLORIDA (WMBB) – Alligator Alcatraz. Guns. Social media. Legal battles about those and myriad other Florida issues remain unresolved heading into 2026. Here are 10 big legal issues to watch in the coming year: — ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ: The immigrant-detention center in the Everglades, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” has spawned a series of court battles since Florida […] Read More



Panama City man sentenced to federal prison for threatening federal agent

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – A Panama City man was sentenced to 6 years in prison after pleading guilty to retaliation against a federal informant, transmission of threatening communications in interstate commerce, and supervised release violations. According to court documents, on May 31, 2024, Thomas Zachary Breeding, 41, sent Facebook messages threatening bodily injury to […] Read More

South Walton Fire District Polar Bear Plunge January 1, 2026

 [[{“value”:” Rinse off the old and welcome the new! South Walton Fire District will hold its Annual Polar Bear Plunge on New Year’s Day at Ed Walline Public Beach Access. In-person sign-up starts at 11AM at Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar on January 1, 2026, which will be followed by a costume contest at 12PM, and the Plunge itself at 1PM. “}]]  SoWal.com  Read More


Celebrations to ring in the New Year in the Panhandle

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – It’s finally time to say goodbye to 2025 and welcome in 2026. Here are some family-friendly events to kick-start a great New Year in the Panhandle. Panama City Beach will host its most exciting end-of-the-year celebration, the New Year’s Eve Beach Ball Drop at Pier Park on December 31 from […] Read More