Niceville News

State budget appropriations of $1.75 million and $500,000 for the Okaloosa County Health Department and $85,635 for the Okaloosa County Library Cooperative have been flagged as legislative "turkeys" by Florida TaxWatch.

The Fort Walton Beach Community Chorus will present "This is My Country," a musical journey across the United States, for its spring concert.

The Northwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra presents its spring concert at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center on the campus of Northwest Florida State College.

Firefighters rescued a 26-year-old man who broke his leg in three places while wake boarding in Rocky Bayou Saturday afternoon.

Forty-four student writers and artists were recently honored by Northwest Florida State College with selection of their work for inclusion in the 2013 Blackwater Review - a college publication which encourages student writing, art, and creative life by providing a showcase for meritorious work.

The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation's 18th Annual Concerts in the Village presents Ron Adams "Reflections," an evolutionary journey with songs from the 20's, 30's, 40's and on through to the 1980's, at 7 p.m. May 16 at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village Dugas Pavilion.

A 30-year-old Niceville woman called 911 to report that her boyfriend had cheated on her, according to the Niceville Police Department call history record.

A 60-year-old woman was arrested April 27 on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.

When asked about a $14 million line item for a college building in his home district that started out at $300,000, Senate President Don Gaetz responded, "I would expect it doesn't hurt that the senator from Northwest Florida is also the president of the Senate." The Niceville Republican often peppered his comments on his votes or views on an issue ... (more)

Gov. Rick Scott signed into law last week a sweeping ethics bill, and we've been puzzling over who deserves a bigger pat on the back.

APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF NEURONS UTILIZED DURING THE TWO MONTHS OF SESSION, WHICH INCLUDED THE REJECTION OF $51 BILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO INSURE MORE THAN 1 MILLION OF THE STATE'S MOST NEEDY "THE LEGISLATURE'S REFUSAL SO FAR IS AN ASTOUNDING ACT OF PARTISAN PARALYSIS, PARTICULARLY WHEN ONE CONSIDERS THAT THE PUBLIC IS PAYING TAXES FOR ... (more)

Bruce Place power-walked early Monday morning at Turkey Creek Trail with a portable CD player in hand.

"We're kind of floating this as a trial to see how it works and if people would take advantage of it," Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux said.

Florida lawmakers couldn't find a way to provide health care coverage for the state's 1.1 million uninsured residents, but they did pass a bill that would make it illegal to dye bunnies and chicks and another that would prevent people from using food stamps at strip bars.

Lawmakers ended their 60-day session Friday, waiting until the final hour to pass a $74.5 million budget and then leaving town without passing a bill to extend health care coverage to 1.1 million Floridians.

The Florida House this took up a bill that critics say would make it harder to pursue medical malpractice claims.

May 12, "Deadly Vows" at the French Quarter Grill, 714 Howell Road in Niceville.

Legislative leaders promised to make transparency in spending a priority but when it came time to finish their $74.5 billion budget, it was hard to break old habits.

In a brazen display of deal making, Florida lawmakers on Wednesday swiftly rammed through one of Gov.

Hospitals in Fort Walton Beach and Niceville have launched a program to help keep family members informed before, during and after a patient's surgery.