No Bull, No Fluff, No Smudges
Your news source for
Flagler, Florida and Beyond

Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
Category archives for: Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions

President Barack Aux Scandals

| May 17, 2013

The Benghazi story is a bogus scandal. IRS targeting of conservative groups and the Justice Department’s hacking of reporters’ phones is not. The Obama presidency is getting derailed, and that’s without going down the path of even more serious scandals Washington and the electorate are accepting as business as usual.

Florida Loses Out on Amazon Deal, and Up to 3,000 Jobs, Over Sales Tax Fumes

| May 16, 2013

In a statement issued Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott’s administration implied that if Amazon were to locate in Florida and begin collecting taxes, that would amount to a tax increase on Florida residents who use the popular shopping portal.

Record $288 Million in Taxpayer Cash Flows to Florida’s Cargo and Pleasure Cruise Ports

| May 16, 2013

Florida’s seaports are set to embark on a massive round of 26 waterfront and transit upgrades as Florida seeks to expand its trade with partners in Central America and South America, while working to attract more Asian traffic that has grown via the Suez Canal and the expansion of the Panama Canal approaches completion.

Juvenile Detention Cost-Shifting Arguments in Appeals Court, With Implications for Counties

| May 15, 2013

Counties argue they currently pick up 75 percent of some juvenile detention costs, but should be paying less. The state claims in in court filings that the Legislature actually intended for the counties to cover 89 percent of the costs.Either way, local governments are groaning under the burden.

Flagler’s School Tax Referendum: An Opposing View

| May 15, 2013

Adding to a growing debate over the June 7 Flagler County School Board tax referendum, Brad West argues against the levy, saying the district taxes constituents enough as it is, while the “cup-of-coffee-per-month” argument is a more expensive proposition than the board claims.

Florida College Presidents’ Compensation Ranges From $143,866 to $630,157

| May 14, 2013

The contracts for Florida’s 28 state college presidents range widely, totaling almost $10 million in compensation, and in several cases seem to violate state law, according to a review released Monday by Gov. Rick Scott’s top oversight official.

Fast-Track Kill Bill Aside, Scott Speeds Death Warrants, Slating 3 Executions in 26 Days

| May 14, 2013

Gov. Rick Scott is not waiting to sign a bill that would accelerate the pace of capital-punishment executions in Florida. The death warrants he’s signed since April lead to the fastest-paced series of executions since four inmates were killed in March 1998, when Lawton Chiles was governor.

Jim Saunders Is News Service of Florida’s New Executive Editor, Replacing David Royse

| May 13, 2013

The News Service of Florida announced the promotion of Jim Saunders to executive editor on Monday (May 13), putting him in charge of the daily news report. He is taking over that role from founding executive editor David Royse, who will become associate editor of special projects for the News Service.

Despite Snubbing Obamacare, Florida Gets Thousands of Jobs and Cash from Health Act

| May 13, 2013

Even though Florida officials tried to block the implementation of the Affordable Care Act at every turn over the past three years, the state will gain millions in grants and hundreds of new jobs this year from its implementation.

Mother’s Day Confidential: News of My Mom’s Death Was Slightly Premature

| May 12, 2013

Receiving a condolence note about my mother sent in error by the hospice company caring for her should have been disturbing. It was merely disappointing–for not being true.

Pink Ladies in a Mud Run, On the Other Side of Flagler’s Beaches

| May 10, 2013

Mud runs in Flagler County–such as Saturday’s FL.ROC Mud Run on Cemetery Road in Bunnell–are a mostly unknown sub-specialty of Flagler County special events. Casey Ryan takes you into the mud on her October run, as she prepares for Saturday’s.

Gun Zealots Urging Scott to Veto Firearm-Regulation Bill Even the NRA Supports

| May 10, 2013

The bill closes a legal gap, as state law already bars firearms purchases by people who are involuntarily committed under the Baker Act. This one focuses on people who are found to be an “imminent danger” and face the possibility of being involuntarily committed if they do not admit themselves.

Updating Facebook Status, Charlie Crist Endorses Gay Marriage in Florida

| May 9, 2013

Amid speculation he will run as a Democrat for his old job, former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday said he supports allowing same-sex marriage, joining other politicians who recently have changed stances to support gay marriage, including Florida’s Bill nelson and Ohio Republican Rob Portman.

Nine Surprises You May Not Know Are in Florida’s New Budget

| May 8, 2013

The Florida Legislature’s $74 billion budget contains, as always, innumerable surprises in the fine print, from $240,000 to be spent on orange juice served visitors at highway stops to $500,000 to advertise stay-in-state vacations to Floridians.

As Gov. Scott Looks to Re-Election, Legislative Wins Have Yet to Bump Approval

| May 7, 2013

Gov. Rick Scott got the teacher raise he sought, and a sales-tax exemption for manufacturing equipment in the last legislative session, but his poll numbers haven’t showed improvement as he heads into the 2014 campaign for a second term.

Flagler Youth Orchestra’s 280 Musicians Take The Auditorium in Year-End Concert Monday

| May 6, 2013

The Flagler Youth Orchestra’s “Take a Bow” concert at the Flagler Auditorium Monday at 7 p.m. will feature all 280 musicians in different orchestras in the culmination of a year’s–and for many, several years’–work.

Altered States: Now Lefty Hollywood Is Protesting Gun Control in Gotham

| May 5, 2013

Movie-makers opposing New York’s recently passed gun-control laws are upset that they may have to use props instead of real firearms in films, a a blatant admission from people we call “creative,” , argues Steve Robinson, that without endless, massive gunfire there are no stories to be told, no issues to explore, no human experiences to illuminate.

Red-Light Camera Fines May Go Up to $408 and Be Harder to Fight Under Newest Rules

| May 4, 2013

A new law awaiting Gov. Scott’s signature returns hearings to the control of local governments that have red-light cameras, such as Palm Coast, and allows them to impose an additional fee of $250 on top of $158 tickets, when contested, among other changes.

Flagler Beach’s Opposition to Fire Department Consolidation Costing Taxpayers $200K a Year

| May 4, 2013

Consolidating the Flagler Beach Fire Department with the county’s would save $200,000 and vastly improve fire and rescue services in the city, argues Rick Belhumeur, yet the Flagler Beach City Commission has consistently scuttled debate on the issue while pretending to invite residents to offer cost-saving ideas.

Jacksonville Symphony’s Sunday Concert in Town Center Cancelled

| May 4, 2013

The Palm Coast Arts Foundation’s 7th Picnic and Pops concert with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra will feature the usual favorites, surprises and a celebration to Cinco de Mayo as the big event takes over Palm Coast’s Central Park on May 5.

Judge Rejects Teachers’ Challenge to Law Tying Pay and Evaluations to Student Performance

| May 3, 2013

A group of teachers, backed by the Florida Education Association, contended in the challenge that the law violated constitutionally guaranteed collective-bargaining rights and that lawmakers had given too much decision-making authority to the state Board of Education.

Grinding Down: U.S. Unemployment Falls to 7.5% as 165,000 Jobs Are Created

| May 3, 2013

The national unemployment rate ticked down to 7.5 percent in April, from 7.6 percent in March, as the economy added 165,000 jobs, a bit more than analysts had predicted. But job-creation figures for the two previous months were revised upward, with 332,000 jobs created in February (instead of 268,000) and 138,000 in March (instead of 88,000).

Texting While Driving Ban Passes Florida Legislature, But Scott Hasn’t Said He’ll Sign It

| May 2, 2013

The Senate voted 39-1 in favor of a bill (SB 52) that makes it illegal to read or type texts or emails while actually driving, though it would remain legal to do it while stopped, such as at a red light. Drivers can;t be stopped for texting, however. They can only be cited if stopped for another offense.

Attempt to Rein In FPL and Progress Energy’s Ghost Construction Fees Evaporates

| May 2, 2013

The changes in the nuclear cost bill establish a series of benchmarks for a utility seeking to build a nuclear power plant to follow in order to impose pre-construction fees. But the amendment also removed a provision that would have required the companies to refund money if they halted their plans.

Gov. Scott Vetoes Bill Ending Permanent Alimony After Fierce Backlash

| May 1, 2013

Gov. Rick Scott vetoed a bill that would have ended permanent alimony and limited alimony payments based on income and the length of marriage, a victory for thousands of constituents who’d urged the governor to do just that.

Human Remains Found in Flagler Estates Confirmed to Be Those of Barbara Parchem

| May 1, 2013

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, following a preliminary autopsy by the medical examiner, has confirmed that the remains found ion the Flagler County side of Flagler Estates Tuesday morning are those of Barbara Parchem, the 67-year-old woman who went missing from her Vermont Heights home on April 5.

Parent-Trigger Bill Fails on Tie Vote in Setback for Charters and Jeb Bush’s Foundation

| May 1, 2013

In a stunning vote Tuesday, the Senate rejected on a tie vote a controversial bill that would have given parents the ability to register their wishes with a district that’s choosing how to turn around failing schools.

Bill Speeding Up Executions in Florida Passes Despite Disturbing Rate of Exonerations

| April 30, 2013

Florida lawmakers gave final approval to fast-tracking executions and reducing Death Row stays, with supporters saying they want justice for victims’ families — but critics warning about executing innocent people, 24 of whom have been exonerated in Florida since 1976.

Fat Firefighters Need Not Worry: Body Mass Index Not an Issue in Florida

| April 30, 2013

The Florida House rejected an amendment that would have required all firefighters to keep their Body Mass Index at 25 or under. Above that number, an individual is considered overweight.

From Jackie Robinson to Jason Collins: Still Telling It On the Mountain

| April 29, 2013

It will be Jason Collins’s misfortune to be labeled the “gay Jackie Robinson.” Like Robinson, he may have to endure a painful personal burden. But, argues Steve Robinson, history is less likely to view him as a pioneer than ask instead: “what took so long?”

Loading

ADVERTISEMENTS

palm coast pools repairs construction dolphin printing palm coast flagler county print shops stationery needs
palm coast pet clinic veterinarians
Lion-in-Winter-ad
360 palm coast Vincent G. Verdeflor palm coast pediatrics pediatrician medicaid accepted
news service of florida
suppert flaglerlive flagler live palm coast flagler county news pierre tristam florida
Advertisement
Log in | FlaglerLive, P.O. Box 354263, Palm Coast, FL 32135-4263 | 386/586-0257