30A Breaking News

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – DeFuniak Springs firefighters arrived at a home in the 100-block of South 19th Street around 2:26 Wednesday morning. They found a small guest house, behind a main residence, fully engulfed in flames. The man who was staying there reportedly died before help could even get on-scene. Property owner Kevin Clelen […] Read More

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)- There’s sad news about another popular Christmas parade that was supposed to happen this Friday. The 25th annual Millville Children’s Christmas parade was supposed to return after a 3-year hiatus. But city officials announced it was being cancelled due to expected bad weather. This parade began back in the 80s at […] Read More

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – Plans for the long-awaited West Beach Drive multi-use pathway are back on the drawing board. Earlier this year, the city submitted its original design plans for the 1.6-mile pathway to the Florida Department of Transportation. The plans included narrowing Highway 98 from 13 to 11 feet, an 8-to-12-foot multi-use path, […] Read More

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Panama City Police Department is turning to the community this holiday season to help load up Santa’s sleigh with gifts for children in need. Officers are collecting toys for their “Blue Santa” initiative. The toy drive is underway through December 17th. They’re hoping to provide a merry Christmas for […] Read More

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Panama City Beach residents say they have been watching a baby deer for several weeks now, running along a fence. The fence belongs to Naval Support Activity Panama City. Residents say the fawns mother is one of the many deer that live on the other side. “I initially saw the […] Read More

LYNN HAVEN, Fla. (WMBB) – UPDATE: Lynn Haven Mayor Jesse told News 13 Wednesday evening he plans to fight the recall. Wednesday was the last day Lynn Haven Mayor Jesse Nelson had to decide if he plans to fight the recall effort, or if he has decided to resign from office. The Recall Mayor Jesse […] Read More

Shocking Child Abuse Case in Fort Walton Beach Staff Reports December 3, 2025 5:05 pm Crime, Fort Walton Beach, Public Safety In Brief: A Fort Walton Beach–area woman was arrested after deputies say she intentionally burned the hands of two children in her care. The children suffered suspected second- and third-degree burns and were later transferred to a specialized burn center in Mobile. The suspect, Jeny Soto Duenas, is being held without bond and also faces an ICE detainer. A Fort Walton Beach–area woman is facing serious charges after investigators say she intentionally burned the hands of two young children in her care. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office arrested 52-year-old Jeny Soto Duenas on Tuesday, charging her with two counts of child neglect with great bodily harm. She is being held without bond at the Okaloosa County Jail and is also on hold for ICE, according to deputies. Deputies responded to Destin–Fort Walton Beach Hospital around 10:30 p.m. Monday, where two children—ages three and five—had been brought in with severe, untreated second- and third-degree burns on the palms of their hands. A family member told investigators that Soto Duenas admitted she became frustrated with the children for asking for more food after already eating. According to the Sheriff’s Office, she allegedly pressed both children’s hands onto a hot griddle and held them there, then failed to seek medical care. The incident reportedly took place inside a trailer on Barks Drive during the early morning hours of December 2. Both children... Read More

Richbourg Lane to Close Thursday for Drainage Repairs Staff Reports December 3, 2025 4:09 pm Crestview In Brief: Richbourg Lane will be closed in both directions on December 4 from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. for drainage repairs. Detour signs and flagmen will guide drivers around the closure, which may affect local travel and operations. Crestview encourages residents to follow the city’s social media channels for real-time updates throughout the day. Drivers who use Richbourg Lane in Crestview should plan for delays on Thursday, December 4, as city contractors close both the eastbound and westbound lanes to complete drainage repairs. According to the City of Crestview, the full closure will run from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and crews will have detour signage and flagmen in place to direct motorists around the work zone. City officials are urging drivers to give themselves extra time or seek alternate routes, noting that the closure may affect local operations and school or work commutes. The project is part of ongoing drainage improvements in the area, and the city says the temporary shutdown is necessary to safely complete the repairs. Residents looking for updates throughout the day can follow the City of Crestview on social media at Facebook: City of Crestview and Instagram: @CityofCrestview. More Local News 30a Walton County Adds ‘Full’ Parking Lot Near Beach. Here’s Where You Can Find It: Freeport What is Westonwood Ranch? Sports Kyle Busch, Erik Jones lead stacked field into 2025 Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway Load... Read More

Related coverage: Conservationists protest Florida’s first bear hunt in a decade TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Florida black bear hunt begins this Saturday, Dec. 6, for the first time in ten years. Black bear hunting was outlawed across the state in 1994, when the population reached dangerously low levels. In 2015, the Florida Fish and […] Read More

Fort Walton Beach Growth Management Director Brings Three-Decade Family Christmas Village Tradition to Life at City Hall Staff Reports December 3, 2025 1:09 pm Arts, Fort Walton Beach In Brief: Who: Fort Walton Beach Growth Management Director Tim Gibson, along with Melissa Gibson, Mikayle Gibson, and Charlotte Shelton What: A massive, handcrafted Christmas village featuring hundreds of buildings, figurines, and a working train When: Open now through the end of the year, Monday–Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Growth Management Department offices, Fort Walton Beach City Hall, 105 Miracle Strip Parkway SW Why: To share a decades-long family tradition with the community and bring joy during the holiday season A Fort Walton Beach family’s holiday tradition, more than 30 years in the making, is now adding extra sparkle inside City Hall. Growth Management Director Tim Gibson, with help from his wife, Melissa, his daughter, Mikayle, and his mother-in-law, Charlotte Shelton, has transformed a vacant office in the Growth Management Department into an elaborate Christmas village featuring hundreds of porcelain buildings, figurines, and handcrafted details. The public is invited to tour the display through the end of the year. The tradition began in the late 1980s when Melissa’s father started purchasing pieces from Mervyn’s annual holiday series, “Village Square,” for her mother. The porcelain buildings and figurines — once a highly sought-after seasonal item at the now-closed Mervyn’s department store chain — quickly evolved into a treasured family collection. Over the decades, the set grew steadily as new pieces were released... Read More