Daily
Panama City
Friday, May 29th, 2026
Good morning, Panama City. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 29th of May.
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Gulf Coast Jam 2026 opens today in Panama City as local organizers prepare for a busy first day of live music, food vendors, and family activities (full schedule coming soon). Panama City News Herald
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Bay County students finished the 2025-2026 school year on May 28 — part of a staggered state schedule where 20 counties ended on May 29 and six counties continued in June as districts set their own calendars. Panama City News Herald
- ➤ Starting today, Florida is expanding its Prepaid College Plan to offer year-round enrollment, and newborns who enroll in the Investment 529 Plan receive $529 in college savings. The move helps families lock in current tuition rates at state colleges amid rising education costs. Panama City News Herald
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Forecasters warn that warm Gulf water may help storms form quickly once hurricane season begins on June 1; however, no disturbances were seen as of May 28. Local experts urge residents to prepare now. Panama City News Herald
- ➤ Saharan dust is nearing the west coast and is expected to hit Florida soon. The plume may bring vibrant sunsets, hazy skies, and lower air quality while also suppressing tropical cyclone development during hurricane season. Panama City News Herald
- ➤ WeatherTiger forecasts a quieter hurricane season with 1 to 3 major hurricanes and 8 to 14 named storms, but Florida might face a higher risk with a 30% chance of a major landfall—residents should stay prepared and follow official updates. Panama City News Herald
- ➤ Record sargassum blooms forced Miami’s Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park off Dr. Beach’s Top 10 list as the seaweed worsened across Florida this season. Meanwhile, Panhandle beaches like St. Andrews State Park remain top picks due to lower seaweed levels & cleaner waters. Panama City News Herald
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport received an $8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation and Florida Aviation Administration to support its 80,000 sqft North Terminal Expansion Project. The project will add three new gates, six baggage offices, four baggage claim carousels, new concessions, expanded seating + accessible restrooms. WJHG
- ➤ Panama City is repairing a sewage leak near Lake Huntington caused when a subcontractor struck a 12-inch sewer force main on Drake Avenue between 16th and 17th streets. City crews and Marshall Brothers Construction have prepped the site + a specialized contractor is set to arrive by 8 p.m. WJHG
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ The Florida Department of Health in Bay County issued water quality advisories for three local spots due to high Enterococci bacteria levels. Recreational activities are not advised at Laguna Beach - Carl Gray Park - and Beach Drive until the bacteria drop. WJHG
- ➤ The Vibrio vulnificus bacterium that infects open wounds + raw shellfish is set to cause more cases along our coast as warming waters trigger an active season starting in June. Health officials remind residents today to cook shellfish thoroughly and keep cuts covered when near salt water. Panama City News Herald
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Panama City Beach is set for a busy summer as youth sports tournaments at Publix Sports Park and Frank Brown Park – key venues – will welcome 59,000 visitors and generate an estimated $64.5 million boost, backed by the Tourist Development Council for events from early June through August. Panama City News Herald
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Gulf Coast Jam with Riley Green
12–3 PM — Frank Brown Park — Free entry — Celebrate the 6th Annual Jam on the Coast with live music and community spirit.
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Couples Comedy Dinner & Show
6-8 p.m. — Collective Soul PC — $70 per couple — Enjoy a night of stand-up comedy paired with delicious smoked BBQ dinner and fun couples games.
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Breast Screening & Thermal Imaging Clinic
9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. — Hope & Faith Wellness, LLC. — Cost varies — Explore non-invasive thermal imaging for breast health with expert interpretation included.
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STEAM Circus for 7-9 Year Olds
9 a.m. - 4 p.m. — Gulf Coast State College — Cost info not provided — Engage in exciting science activities, technology shows, and engineering fun at the STEAM Circus.
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Kaleidoscope Play and Learn
10:30 – 11:30 AM — Martin Luther King Jr Rec Center — Free entry — Explore, create, and discover through engaging activities for little learners and their caregivers.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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