Florida's polls are open today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time for Election Day voting. Voters in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties — along with seven other Northwest Florida counties and part of Gulf County — are on Central Time, meaning they're one hour behind the rest of the state. That means the polls in our area close at 7 p.m. Central Time, or 8 p.m. Eastern Time. If you're heading to the polls, make sure you know your polling location and bring a valid photo ID. For voters who haven't

The Shrimp Basket, a seafood restaurant chain that originated in Gulf Shores, has shuttered six locations, according to reporting from WPMI NBC 15. The closures include the Bay Minette restaurant, marking a significant contraction for the regional chain. The company has not yet released a public statement detailing the reasons for the closures or the timeline for when the locations ceased operations. It remains unclear how many Shrimp Basket restaurants remain open or whether additional...

FDLE issued a Florida Purple Alert for a 60-year-old woman last known to be in Port Saint Joe in Gulf County. Originally published by Boca Post. Story by Boca Post Missing Persons Desk. Read the full article: Florida Purple Alert Issued for Missing Woman Last Seen in Port Saint Joe

More than two weeks after the National Shrimp Festival's cancellation, some of the vendors and artists who were counting on the event are getting another opportunity to sell their work and recover losses. According to WKRG News 5, a pop-up festival in Gulf Shores is now offering participating artists and craftspeople a chance to showcase their talents after the 53rd annual National Shrimp Festival was called off. The cancellation left many vendors facing significant financial losses after...

A SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral streaked over the Gulf Coast early Tuesday, giving viewers a sky show.

In a deep, dark part of the Gulf of Mexico, the number of marine animals plummeted by about 60% in the years following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion, a new study found.

Forged By Fire, a Louisiana-based nonprofit, is making its way through Northwest Florida this week, providing hot meals to residents in Gulf Breeze after spending last week cooking lunches in Pensacola, according to WKRG-TV 5. The organization's mobile meal effort appears part of a community outreach initiative bringing prepared food and assistance to the region. Details about the nonprofit's mission, how long the program will continue, and which communities may be served next were not...

After 37 years working hurricanes, she thought she'd seen it all. Then the storm hit her own street in Gulf Breeze. The oaks are gone. Read her story....

Boaters in the Gulf of Mexico near Eglin Air Force Base should be aware of upcoming munitions testing that could affect water access in the area. According to WKRG-TV, the testing is scheduled to take place, and mariners are advised to stay clear of designated impact zones during the operations. The base regularly conducts such testing as part of routine military training and readiness exercises. Details on specific dates, times, and exact coordinates of the testing zones are available...

Early voting for the 2026 General Election in Santa Rosa County will begin Monday, October 19, and run through October 31, the county announced. All six early voting sites will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. during that period. County officials are asking voters to be patient as recovery work continues on roads and around voting locations following recent storm damage. The early voting sites include the Main Elections Office in Milton, locations in Gulf Breeze, Pace, Navarre, and two Milton...