Santa Rosa County Commissioners March 26 approved the preliminary plat for a large subdivision planned for Soundside Drive. Critics say stormwater issues in the low-lying area could be problematic.

Santa Rosa County officials are planning two public meetings to aid revision of the county’s local mitigation strategy plan, which is updated every five years. The meetings will also serve to revise the county’s flood mitigation plan.

Following the weekend shooting of seven people at a spring break house party, Bay County commissioners have banned beach drinking in county-controlled sections of Panama City Beach for the duration of spring break.

Santa Rosa County Commissioner Bob Cole March 26 added a discussion to the board’s agenda after a stalled train blocked access to Santa Rosa County Jail for six hours the night before.