A Florida charter boat captain has been charged in a death that occurred during one of his trips.

A U.S. Department of Justice news release says 49-year-old Mauricio Alvarez was arrested last week at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport as he attempted to board an overseas flight. He was charged with misconduct or neglect of a ship officer that resulted in the death.

PONCE DE LEON — A DeFuniak Springs pair was arrested after troopers found an active meth lab, as well as drugs and drug paraphernalia, in their vehicle after a traffic stop.

According to a release from the Florida Highway Patrol, on Thursday a trooper conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling on State Road 81 for a speeding infraction.

Walton County Superintendent of Schools Russell Hughes confirmed that school board policy prohibited home-schooled students from attending prom unless they were the date of a registered student.

"Prom is for students who attend the schools and their dates," he said. "If I open the door and violate the statute, I open the door to 400-plus students to say they want to go to prom."

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting after deputies responded to a home on Hardie Lane in Fort Walton Beach early Wednesday morning and discovered one adult male with a non-life threatening gunshot wound.

According to a press release from OCSO, Deputies received a 911 call around 4:30 a.m. that a male had been shot in the vicinity of 1 Hardie Lane — and a half-mile south of Pryor Middle School. When deputies arrived they discovered a 53-year old male with a non-life threatening gunshot wound.

Alaqua Animal Refuge received  $1 million for a new facility

The gift was made by Ryan Jumonville, chairman of United Networks of America, and his wife Raven, during Alaqua’s 8th annual Sip N Shop, held April 6 at Emeril’s Coastal Italian in Miramar Beach.

Laurie Hood, founder of Alaqua, said she was “absolutely stunned” when she heard about the donation.

“We’re beer-centric, and we’re proud of being beer-centric,” O’Neill said. “And while we want to stay true to the craft, at this location we understand there’s also a need to offer something more than that.”

Among the amenities is a full bar, O’Neill said.

The new owners are pushing expecting to open in June

Two people were injured Tuesday night when a fire consumed their house.

Fort Walton Beach firefighters responded to the blaze at 18 Linwood Road N.W. about 9 p.m. and helped two people escape, according to city spokeswoman Jo Soria.

Both people were hurt, but the injuries were not life-threatening.

A detention deputy with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office was arrested Tuesday after investigators say he neglected to care for a horse, leading to its death.

John Rutherford, who had been with the agency for 14 years, was arrested Tuesday and charged with one felony count of aggravated animal cruelty, Sheriff Bob Johnson said at a news conference Wednesday.

Rutherford was released on a $5,000 bond. Johnson said he has been suspended without pay pending termination.

A Texas husband and wife are dead and a woman injured following a murder-suicide an an I-10 rest stop late Monday night. Read more here. 

Authorities are looking for the driver of a gold Toyota Scion XB after a hit-and-run crash early Tuesday that left a DeFuniak Springs man with serious injuries. Read more here.