Latest news with #JayTrumbull
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Florida Fish & Wildlife confirm criminal investigation into Gulf World
Panama City, FLA (WMBB) – The Florida Fish & Wildlife commission confirmed for the first time in a post on Facebook that Gulf World Marine Park is under an 'active, ongoing criminal investigation in conjunction with local, state, and federal officials.' On Wednesday, State Senator Jay Trumbull confirmed that another dolphin had died at the park. Previously, state agencies such as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection confirmed an investigation, but not that it was criminal in nature. Earlier in May, the FDEP served a search warrant on the property. As part of that warrant, officers appeared to be collecting water samples. In March, the FWC served a search warrant on the property to investigate the 'health and welfare of… marine mammals and those in captivity.' That search was conducted after the FWC was previously denied entry. The criminal investigation appears to be a result of what they found during the search. The parent company of Gulf World, the Dolphin Company, has filed for bankruptcy. During an April hearing as part of the bankruptcy, an animal welfare expert was hired to oversee the care of animals. A few weeks later, it appears the sea Lions and seals were removed. The dolphins, however, remained on the property. In a post on X, Bay County native Congressman Jimmy Patronis said he wants 'those responsible … held to account and to protect these amazing animals.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Back Beach Barbecue will celebrate 8 years in business with annual Hog Bash on June 14
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) – Back Beach Barbecue will host their annual Hog Bash to celebrate eight years in business on Saturday, June 14. According to a news release, the event will kick off from 12 p.m to 4 p.m. for a celebration of a whole smoked hog, live music, and refreshments. The event is free and open to the public to attend. Organizers said for a $20 donation, diners will receive a plate filled with Back Beach's signature pulled pork, barbecue baked beans, and coleslaw. Senator Jay Trumbull confirms the death of another dolphin at Gulf World Marine Park In honor of Father's Day, they will host a free-to-enter raffle during the event for a gift card. The winner will be drawn on Sunday, June 15, and will be announced on the restaurant's social media page. Back Beach Barbecue said they will donate a portion of the proceeds to South Walton Academy in Santa Rosa Beach. They are dedicated to empowering every child to reach their highest potential through education and community engagement. To learn more about Back Beach Barbecue, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Ron DeSantis to decide on customary use bill
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The customary use bill that passed both the Florida House and Senate a month ago is still not law. Sen. Jay Trumbull, who sponsored the bill, said it went to Gov. Ron DeSantis last week. He expects the governor will sign it into law within the next two weeks. The bill would repeal a 2018 law allowing private beaches in Walton County. Trumbull said he introduced the repeal bill to restore total beach access to the public. Bill to restore customary use moving through state senate after roadblock Most assume that, once it becomes law, it will bring private beaches to an end. But that may not be the case. 'What happens day one after the governor signs this bill, the simple answer is, legally, nothing changes on the Walton County beaches,' Interim County Attorney Clay Atkinson said. Atkinson explained that if the bill becomes law, it would not supersede any of the legal judgments or any of the agreements the county negotiated with individual land owners from 2018 to 2024. But the law would still hold significance for Walton County. It establishes that the county's beaches are badly eroded and need renourishment. If the county extends the sandy beaches, it would create more area that would be accessible to the public south of the Erosion Control Line. 'If there is not a beach to use because it goes away in the storm, there's necessarily gonna be no public use rights. But the more public beach there is, especially with ECL, all those land seaward create more public use rights,' Atkinson added. Walton County has $60 million in tourist development council beach renourishment money and another $60 million in federal matching funds. County officials are currently planning to begin renourishment, but have not set a date. As for the customary use bill, DeSantis can either sign it, veto it, or ignore it, in which case it becomes law without his signature within 30 days. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to restore customary use on Walton County beaches awaits House approval
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A bill that would restore customary use on Walton County beaches passed the Florida Senate last week. Sen. Jay Trumbull's bill would repeal a 2018 law that took away the public's right to walk, recreate, or enjoy most Walton County beaches. The rules committee amended the bill before sending it to the full Senate. The amendment appears to be designed to make it easier for the state to carry out beach restoration projects. It helps establish an erosion control line along the shore. Some of the bill's supporters voiced concerns about the language of the last-minute addition. 'The first step that's necessary is getting the Florida government out of the business of dictating who has beach access and who doesn't. To that end, I was more interested in just the automatic repeal of the old language for 2018. To me, if there's another step that's warranted, you know, I'd rather do this in step-by-step fashion. Apparently, your legislators, who are hard at work, felt the need to add additional language to add some more safeguards. So, it remains to be seen the effect that language. However, anything that moves the ball forward, anything whose intent is to preserve the rights of all Floridians to access their beaches, would be greatly welcomed,' customary use advocate and former state representative Dr. Joel Rudman said. The full House has to pass the bill before it goes to the governor for approval. If the House passes the original bill, there would have to be a conference committee to resolve the differences. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to end privatization of beaches moving through state senate after roadblock
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A bill that will restore Customary Use on Walton County beaches is once again moving through the state senate. Senator Jay Trumbull introduced S-B 1622 in February to end the privatization of beaches in Walton County. The bill passed two Senate committees in March. Then hit a roadblock in the Senate Rules Committee. The committee chair is Kathleen Passidomo, who wrote the bill that ended customary use in 2018. Passidomo refused to put Trumbull's bill on the calendar. Then, on Wednesday, she added it to Monday's Rules Committee agenda. Walton County residents and officials have been advocating for the bill in Tallahassee for weeks. They say they'll be there again Monday to hopefully see the bill pass, then head to the full Senate floor. The House companion bill has already passed all three committees necessary to get to the House floor. News 13 will update this story on Monday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
