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Good morning!
NWFSC has added four engineering transfer degrees with a direct pathway to UWF bachelor’s programs. Fort Walton Beach will resurface a stretch of Wright Parkway starting today, and the Boys & Girls Clubs were awarded a $30,000 grant to help moderate-income families afford child care. The Okaloosa County School District opened applications for free and reduced-price meals for the 2026-2027 school year, and Fort Walton Beach police will collect school supplies at a “Fill the Van” event.
TRAFFIC
Fort Walton Beach to resurface stretch of Wright Parkway starting the week of July 27
A contractor working for the City of Fort Walton Beach will begin resurfacing Wright Parkway from U.S. Highway 98 north to Hollywood Boulevard the week of July 27, according to the city.
The work is weather-dependent and is expected to last about one to two days.
The city is asking that all vehicles and other obstructions be removed from the right-of-way and immediate work area between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., unless otherwise notified.
Vehicle traffic on Wright Parkway will be affected by the project. The city asked drivers to use caution while traveling in the construction zone and to follow all traffic directions.
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GAMES
WordroW: July 27, 2026
WordroW is brought to you by Fort Walton Beach Chiropractic – keeping your mind sharp and your spine aligned, one game at a time.
Can you guess today’s 5-letter word in six tries?
WordroW is Get The Coast’s daily word puzzle featuring local words, places, and phrases from our community. You have six guesses to find the mystery word – green letters are correct and in the right spot, yellow letters are in the word but wrong position, and gray letters aren’t in the word at all.
GIVING BACK
Boys & Girls Clubs awarded $30,000 grant to help moderate-income families afford child care
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast has received a $30,000 grant for the 2026-27 grant year to help moderate-income families cover the cost of after-school and youth programming, the organization announced July 23.
The award comes through a partnership between United Way Emerald Coast and Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative. The money will fund membership scholarships for families in the ALICE demographic, which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. Those families earn too much to qualify for traditional assistance programs but too little to comfortably afford quality child care.
The grant is aimed at working families who fall into a financial gap, ineligible for federal assistance yet unable to absorb the full expense of after-school and youth programming as child care costs rise.
The scholarships will cover or offset membership fees for qualifying ALICE households at the Destin, South Walton and Riverside Club locations.
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GIVING BACK
Fort Walton Beach police to collect school supplies at ‘Fill the Van’ event
From giving back to investing in the future, FPL is powering strong communities. Learn more here.
Fort Walton Beach police officers will fill the Community Policing Unit van with school supplies next week to support students as they return to classrooms in August.
Officers will set up in front of the Police Station at 7 Hollywood Blvd. NE on Tuesday, July 28, and Thursday, July 30. Both collection days will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The department is asking for donations for these supplies
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New ER now open in DeFuniak Springs
The new HCA Florida DeFuniak Springs Emergency is now open, bringing 24/7 emergency care to Walton County. Located at I-10 and U.S. 331, the facility features 10 private patient care rooms, board-certified emergency physicians and on-site diagnostic services including CT scan and digital X-ray.
SCHOOL
Okaloosa School District opens applications for free and reduced-price meals
he Okaloosa County School District is accepting applications for free and reduced-price school meals for the 2026-2027 school year and is encouraging families who believe they may qualify to apply as soon as possible.
Nutritious meals play a vital role in helping students stay healthy, focused and ready to learn throughout the school day, according to the district.
Families should be aware that applications must be completed each school year, even if they qualified for free or reduced-price meals during the previous year. The online application process is quick, secure and confidential.
Applications can be submitted by visiting www.myschoolapps.com or by accessing the link through the Okaloosa County School District app.
WEATHER
Today’s weather outlook
TODAY: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Heat index values as high as 109. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
TONIGHT: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 82. Heat index values as high as 105. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
SCHOOL
NWFSC adds four engineering transfer degrees with pathway to UWF bachelor’s programs
Northwest Florida State College has received approval from the Florida State Board of Education to offer four new engineering transfer degrees that create direct pathways into bachelor’s degree programs at the University of West Florida.
The four Specialized Associate in Arts Transfer, or SAAT, programs cover civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. The State Board approved them during its July 22 meeting in Orlando.
Under the pathways, students can complete the associate-degree portion of their education at NWFSC’s Niceville campus and then move to UWF to finish their bachelor’s degree at the joint NWFSC-UWF campus in Fort Walton Beach.
“A student can start here, stay here and build a successful future here,” NWFSC President Mel Ponder said. “Students will be able to start their engineering degree at Northwest Florida State College, continue to the University of West Florida and complete a high-quality bachelor’s degree close to home.”
OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Monday! Help us shape the future of local news and make a meaningful impact on your community. Click here to learn how you can support us!
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Jared
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