As the U.S. House of Representatives and the rest of the nation wrapped up 2025, Navarre Press spoke with Jimmy Patronis, the Republican representative of Florida’s 1st Congressional District, about his expectations and legislative priorities for 2026.
The 2025 bear hunt, approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission after months of meetings and a comment period, has concluded. In total, 52 black bears were harvested.
The 2025 season was conducted in specified Bear Hunting Zones within four of the seven Bear Management Units across the state. Northwest Florida, which is in the western Panhandle region, was not included in the hunt. The eastern Panhandle, North Florida and parts of Central and South Florida were included in the hunt.
In 2025, Santa Rosa County approved 70 commercial projects. Approximately 31 of those projects are in Gulf Breeze, Tiger Point, Midway, Navarre or Holley.
Navarre Press has compiled a list of some of the projects that have been approved. Several of these projects have already been completed, while others haven’t broken ground.
2026 will serve as an opportunity for many Floridians to elect new leaders or reaffirm their satisfaction with those already representing them in local, state and federal offices.
In Santa Rosa County, primary elections are set for Aug. 18, with early voting from Aug. 3 to Aug. 15. The general election will be held Nov. 3, with early voting from Oct. 19 to Oct. 31.
The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) has intensified its illegal gambling enforcement efforts, seizing $14,474,336 and 6,725 illegal slot machines from illegal casinos in 2025.
Gabriel Williams, 16, who is charged with first degree premeditated or felony murder with a weapon, has plead not guilty.
Williams, along with a 14-year-old named Kimahri Blevins, are alleged to have killed Danika Troy, 14, in December, luring her into the woods off Kimberly Road in Floridatown.
While the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners has expressed interest in building a new Navarre Beach Bridge, the county must still maintain the existing bridge, which, according to a Florida Department of Transportation study, needs repairs.
