Valerie Crowder
Valerie Crowder is a freelance reporter based in Panama City, Florida. Before moving to Florida, she covered politics and education for Public Radio East in New Bern, North Carolina. While at PRE, she was also a fill-in host during All Things Considered. She got her start in public radio at WAER-FM in Syracuse, New York, where she was a part-time reporter, assistant producer and host. She has a B.A. in newspaper online journalism and political science from Syracuse University. When she’s not reporting the news, she enjoys reading classic fiction and thrillers, hiking with members of the Florida Trail Association and doing yoga.
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In the last year, prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida have worked on almost 20 public corruption cases, ranging from mail theft to the misuse of hurricane cleanup funds. -
As Lynn Haven moves forward with plans for its rebuild, leaders and residents are discussing ways to restore public trust after four former public officials in the last year were indicted on fraud and corruption charges.
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Flooded roadways in Walton County are expected to make driving especially dangerous over the next couple of days.
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Residents who live in the Big Bend region can expect a prolonged risk of flooding over the next couple of days, as Hurricane Sally inches toward land. School closures are taking place across the region, and some residents are being asked to evacuate.
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National Weather Service forecasters predict storm surge, heavy rain and tropical storm force winds overnight through Tuesday in coastal Bay, Walton and Gulf Counties.
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Fall sports competitions are starting to take place in high school gyms and stadiums across the state. Bay District Schools plans to allow a limited number of spectators at indoor and outdoor athletic events to encourage social distancing.
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K-12 schools across the state began sending people home to self-isolate within days of classes starting. Some districts are releasing the names of schools where close contact with a confirmed positive case has occurred, while others are not disclosing this information.
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Several teachers at an elementary school in Bay County have taken it upon themselves to make sure a colleague, who's been diagnosed with cancer, can isolate in her classroom and still provide instruction.
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Former Lynn Haven Mayor Margo Anderson's seat on the city commission will remain vacant for seven months unless Gov. Ron DeSantis appoints someone before the next municipal elections.
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Panama City Beach officials must turn over documents related to contracts with GAC Contractors, a local company, dating back to Jan. 2016.
