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Backgrounders
Category archives for: Backgrounders

Invitation to an Execution

| April 10, 2013

Larry Eugene Mann was executed at Starke state prison Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. by lethal injection. I traveled to Starke with a Catholic Church group to witness the vigils–pro and con–outside the prison grounds.

Should Teachers Be Able to Spy on Students’ Study Habits?

| April 9, 2013

An electronic-textbook company called CourseSmart lets teachers track whether and how their students are reading assigned textbooks, allowing them to tack on “engagement index” scores to the students’ performance. It’s the latest form of intrusion in private habits driven more by marketing and gimmickry than good intentions.

Two Women, Caught on Video, Sought in Palm Coast Robbery; More Guns Drawn

| April 8, 2013

Sheriff’s investigators are looking for two women caught on a home surveillance video where a burglary was reported; a hit-and-run at Grand Haven; a family quarrel ends in a gun being fired; death threats from a drunk man on Columbia Lane; and more. Includes jail bookings.

For Abuse Victims, Navigating Government Help Can Be Another Defeating Challenge

| April 8, 2013

Using stories drawn from real-life cases, participants a Domestic Violence Summit for police agencies in Flagler, Volusia, St. Johns and Putrnam counties tried to understand what it would be like to walk in the shoes of victims coping with the criminal justice system–and discovered the numerous obstacles victims face.

Bobby Pace, Acting Flagler Beach Fire Chief, Faces Felony Charge Over Falsified Records

| April 4, 2013

Bobby Pace, installed as interim fire chief just seven weeks ago to replace Martin Roberts, who was fired, faces a felony charge of tampering with evidence and a misdemeanor charge for obstruction of justice. It is only the latest shock to a fire department riven by conflict that reaches into City Manager Bruce Campbell’s office.

FPC’s Culinary Students Audition, Through Dishes of Brash, For Their Day on TV

| April 4, 2013

Flagler Palm Coast High School’s team finished ninth out of 50 schools at the Pro Start Culinary Team Competition last month in Orlando, a testament to a program that numbers 133 students and almost as many ambitions to make it to the big time.

Flagler 911: Palm Coast Man Accused of Raping His Wife; 4 Teens Arrested for Burglary

| April 1, 2013

Chhom Chann, a 40-year-old resident of 15 Prosperity Lane in Palm Coast, is at the Flagler County jail on $100,000 bond, facing three felony charges, including sexual battery–otherwise known as rape–false imprisonment and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly forced his wife to have sex with him, tied her to a chair, struck her in the face and and cut off her hair against her will.

The Hair Garage
2550 N. State St., Suite 15, Bunnell
(386) 586-0014

| April 1, 2013

The Hair Garage, located at 2550 North State Street, Bunnell, is Flagler County’s most unique, full-service salon. Cut, color, highlights, Blinx Bling hair accessories, pipeless pedicures and princess party packages are just a few of the services available at The Hair Garage.

College-Acceptance Reckoning: Costs, Debt and Deception

| March 31, 2013

Student fees have been something of a known irritant for years, often criticized as a kind of stealth, second tuition imposed on unsuspecting families. But such fees are still on the rise on many campuses. There’s nothing funny about how they can add up.

Flagler’s 10.3% Unemployment Is Lowest Since August 2008, Florida’s Matches 7.7% U.S. Rate

| March 29, 2013

Flagler County’s unemployment rate fell sharply in February, to 10.3 percent–from 11 percent the previous month–and matched its lowest level since August 2008. Florida’s unemployment rate also continued to fall, matching the national rate, at 7.7 percent, in February while adding 7,800 jobs.

Flagler continues to rank among the counties with the highest unemployment rate, more »

1.7 Million Floridians Could Get Lower Premiums Under Obamacare, But Don’t Know It

| March 29, 2013

The premium assistance, which begins Jan. 1, will come in the form of tax credits for low- and middle-income workers and their families. The money will flow directly to the patients’ health plans, which simplifies matters and means patients don’t have to come up with cash and wait for reimbursement.

Friend of the Court: How Anthony Lewis Influenced the Justices He Covered

| March 27, 2013

To a remarkable degree, Anthony Lewis, who covered the Supreme Court for the New York Times, set the agenda, and established the arguments for all that was to follow during the constitutional revolution of the Earl Warren court.

As Local Governments Tackle Candy-Flavored Tobacco, Teen Trends Contradict Alarm

| March 25, 2013

Palm Coast, Bunnell and Flagler Beach have each passed a resolution asking merchants not to sell flavored tobacco products, which are especially appealing to youths, but teen use of tobacco products (including smokeless tobacco) has been on the decline since the mid-1990s.

Florida’s Two-Faced Feedback to Teachers: Do as We Say, Not As We Fail to Do

| March 17, 2013

The Florida Department of Education expects its teachers to give immediate and detailed feedback to students on all work, yet the state will take three months to produce FCAT results, and it will do so without one iota of feedback other than a grade. Jo Ann Nahirny explores the hypocrisy.

For Helen Reddy, No More “Stupid Pop Songs” as She Takes Over the Auditorium Sunday

| March 16, 2013

Helen Reddy, the woman responsible for the mega 1971 hit “I Am Woman,” that second-wave feminist anthem, doesn’t dance to anyone’s drum. At 71, she takes on stages and audiences as if it were still Seneca Falls.

Internet Cafe Ban Picks Up Steam as House Committee Closes In on “Skills” Loophole

| March 15, 2013

The new law would end a gray area in state statutes used by operators of Internet cafes that the games are contests of skill and that the contests are similar to regulated sweepstakes offerings by places like McDonalds, Coca Cola, Chucky Cheese and churches.

Lt. Gov. Carroll Resigns as Internet Cafe Scandal Sweeps Florida–and Palm Coast

| March 13, 2013

As Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies were serving a search warrant on the Internet Cafe in the Home Depot shopping center, Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll was resigning in connection with the scandal, which has led to Allied officials’ arrests.

Sunshine Week: Improving State Legislatures’ Transparency

| March 12, 2013

Think about the American Legislative Exchange Council’s secret lobbying in favor of “Stand Your Ground” legislation to at least 15 states. Lobbyists were backed by corporate special interests – a fact the public was left in the dark about. Additionally, there was little way to easily track how this law was passed in Florida. That’s just one example of the kind of copycat legislation peddled to state legislatures.

Abuse of Dispatch: When Calling 911 (Five Times) Lands You at the Flagler County Jail

| March 11, 2013

Palm Coast’s Wesley Jackson, 26, called 911 to report property damage Saturday night, but allegedly kept calling, cussing out the dispatcher and the cop who showed up, and ended up arrested on a charge of abusing 911, a misdemeanor.

Sea Ray Boats in Palm Coast Benefits from Plant Closures Elsewhere, With Cautions

| March 7, 2013

Consolidation will likely add to the payroll in Flagler County, and do so with well-paying manufacturing jobs. It also puts to rest, at least for now, worries that Sea Ray’s local plant would either close. But the company is facing tough economic headwinds even as it stock soars to seven-year highs.

Israel’s Apartheid Bus Lines

| March 7, 2013

Israel’s transportation ministry gave in to Israeli colonists’ demands that they not have to ride buses with Palestinians, and started two segregated bus lines for Palestinians only.

Palm Coast Irrigation Restrictions for Daylight Savings Time

| March 7, 2013

The Palm Coast City Council has adopted a landscape irrigation policy for Daylight Savings Time, aligning with the restrictions issued by the St. Johns River Water Management District, in effect from Sunday, March 10, through Nov. 3, 2013.

Between Firings and Wrist-Slaps: How the Flagler Beach Fire Department Was Gutted

| February 28, 2013

Flagler Beach City Manager Bruce Campbell fired the fire chief and four others while retaining Acting Fire Chief Bobby Pace, who falsified records, after a three-day suspension. Volunteer firefighters were hired in the others’ place to ensure that the city remains protected.

Repeat Folly: Florida Prepares to Boom Again By Busting Local Environmental Authority

| February 27, 2013

Bills in the Florida Legislature would take away Flagler’s and other counties’ authority to ensure that development doesn’t sprawl without required infrastructure, and would virtually demolish environmental land acquisition programs. Milissa Holland argues that such bills make a mockery of local control.

From Bankruptcy to Granny Nannies: Navigating the Shoals of Long-Term Care

| February 27, 2013

Long-term care insurance is expensive, but the costs of long-term care are far more so. The experiences of local residents and businesses contending ding with reality almost everyone will eventually face illustrate the dilemmas of aging in a society with a meager safety net. A special report.

What Researchers Learned About Gun Violence Before Congress Killed Funding

| February 26, 2013

President Obama has directed the Centers for Disease Control to research gun violence as part of his legislative package on gun control. The CDC hasn’t pursued this kind of research since 1996 when the National Rifle Association lobbied Congress to cut funding for it.

At Investiture of County Judge Melissa Moore Stens, A Few Tears, Some Advice and Pride

| February 16, 2013

Melissa Moore-Stens, Flagler County’s first county judge not named Atack in 34 years, marked her investiture at the Flagler Auditorium Friday with family, friends and the counsel of judges, now her equal colleagues, including a few words on the etiquette of peeing as a judge.

Readying for Showdown With Residents, Palm Coast Nudges Slightly on Water Rates

| February 14, 2013

Rather than impose a 22 percent water-rate increase over the next three years, the Palm Coast City Council might scale that back to 16 percent, but only by shifting increases to later years. The council is scheduled to approve a plan on Feb. 19 as public opposition builds.

Hi Tulip Cafe
400 Beach Village Drive, Flagler Beach
(386) 439-9274

| February 8, 2013

Flagler Beach restaurant Hi Tulip Cafe open seven days for breakfast and lunch at 400 Beach Village Drive, see our rich menu and visit us for excellent food and casual dining.

Rebecca DeLorenzo Strengthens Chamber President Candidacy With New Designation

| January 31, 2013

Rebecca DeLorenzo, the interim president at the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce and Affiliates, has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Association leadership, the highest professional credential in the association industry. The designation burnishes her already substantial credentials as she aims for the permanent presidency of the chamber.

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