Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols repeatedly referred to two Black men as “thugs” during a bond hearing for one of them Tuesday, and ultimately ruled that she would not set the bond lower than $55,000. The term has evolved into a racially charged dog-whistle when whites use it in reference to Blacks, though it continues to be used unwittingly so by whites not necessarily aware of the implication, as was likely the case in court Tuesday.
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Daily Cartoon and Briefing
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local
Palm Coast Council Tables Westward Expansion Development Plan, Demanding Economic and Other Guarantees
Nearing midnight following a six-hour meeting Tuesday night, the Palm Coast City Council tabled until Aug. 25–the week after the primary election–the land-use proposals that would clear the way for the so-called westward expansion, the plan to build 22,000 housing units on 21,000 acres west of U.S. 1. The council signaled it would approve the development plan by Raydient pending changes to the development order that the council wants.
Flagler County Commissioners Criticize Sheriff and Clerk, But From a Desert of Budget Information
Flagler County commissioners held a frustrating budget workshop Monday amid a dearth of financial documents or a framework for clear discussion. The proposed property tax rate remains virtually unchanged. Commissioners criticized constitutional officers for failing to reduce their budgets sufficiently. Sheriff Rick Staly and Clerk of Court Tom Bexley defended their respective spending requests, pointing out cuts and savings.
Flagler County Commission Will Hold Initial Zoom Interviews with Six Administrator Candidates
The Flagler County Commission will conduct public Zoom interviews with six finalists for the county administrator position later this month. The commission plans to select two or three finalists for in-person interviews in late August before making a final hiring decision shortly thereafter.
More Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local
20-Year-Old Drunk Driver Avoids Prison in Lenient Sentence for Injuring Ebiker on Belle Terre Parkway
Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols sentenced Mollie Hayes, 20, of Palm Coast, to 180 days in jail and four years on probation for striking and severely injuring an ebiker on Belle Terre Parkway and Pine Grove Drive. Hayes avoided a felony conviction through a plea agreement–for now: The judge is almost certain she will violate her terms. If so, she would be adjudicated a felon and sentenced to prison.
Florida Sheriff’s Association Joins Other Public Safety Groups Raising Alarms Over Homestead Amendment
Public safety groups–and Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly–are warning voters about the property tax cut amendment that will appear on ballots this November. On Monday, the Florida Sheriffs Association released a statement saying they were “significantly concerned” about Amendment 3, which if passed, would increase homestead exemptions from $50,000 to $250,000 over two years.
Ex-Lt. Rainey’s Testimony Shifts Momentum in Fired Flagler Beach Fire Chief Stephen Cox’s Appeal Hearing
Former Flagler Beach Fire Chief Stephen Cox faces a difficult appeal hearing following his sudden firing by City Manager Dale Martin following staff resignations. Cox presented a strong defense emphasizing his spotless record but devastating testimony from former Lt. Morgan Rainey exposed his leadership flaws and shifted the case momentum strongly against him on Friday. The hearing isn’t over.
Facing Devastating $140,000 Cut, Flagler Humane Society Urges Palm Coast to Fully Fund Animal Care
The Flagler Humane Society faces a severe financial deficit because Palm Coast underfunds mandatory stray animal care, Treasurer Rebecca Reynolds argues. She notes the city covers only a fraction of actual costs, leaving the shelter to absorb the difference. With proposed budget cuts looming, Reynolds urges the city to preserve adequate municipal funding.
Know Palm Coast’s New E-Bike Rules As You Ride Back to School
As students prepare to head back to school, the City of Palm Coast, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, and Flagler Schools are reminding families that electric bicycles (e-bikes) remain a popular way to get to and from school—but they also come with important responsibilities. Officials are encouraging parents and riders to review Palm Coast’s e-bike ordinance and practice safe riding habits before the first day of school.
Sheriff Staly Arrests Super-Speeder Going Up to 125 MPH on I-95
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly Friday evening arrested a 22-year-old Palm Coast man who allegedly sped past his unmarked car on I-95 at 125 miles per hour and swerving in and out of lanes. Last year Florida enacted a “super-speeder law” that makes excessive speeds a first degree misdemeanor and subjects the speeder to arrest.
Seven Palm Coast Employees Escorted Out of City Hall in Broad Cost-Cutting Layoffs and Resignation
In a grim day at Palm Coast City Hall Friday, six employees were laid off and a seventh resigned, five of them in code enforcement and animal control, including long-time Code Enforcement Manager Barbara Grossman, and two in planning, cutting roughly $700,000 from the budget. The administration was under strict directive from the City Council to reduce the budget, though internal issues at code enforcement may also have played a role.
Darlene Shelley, Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview
Darlene Shelley is one of four candidates for the Palm Coast City Council, District 4, an open seat. She faces Dylana Galery, John Kvederis and Ramon Marrero. This is a non-partisan race. All registered voters in Palm Coast may cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary.
Palm Coast Requests Trial Delay In Lawsuit By Town Center Developer
A hearing before Circuit Judge Sandra Upchurch is scheduled for Aug. 14 to address a motion by the city of Palm Coast to delay the trial of the Town Center developer’s case against the city. The trial is scheduled for mid-November. Palm Coast is seeking a delay until March.
Ramon Marrero, Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview
Ramon Marrero is one of four candidates for the Palm Coast City Council, District 4, an open seat. He faces Dylana Galry, John Kvederis and Darlene Shelley. This is a non-partisan race. All registered voters in Palm Coast may cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary.
Taxpayer-Funded Private School Students in Flagler Near 2,500, Diverting $17.3 Million from District
Flagler County school officials advanced a tentative budget reflecting yet another surge in state-mandated, taxpayer-supported subsidies for private and homeschool students. The total amount of students receiving public funds for private education spiked 28 percent. The state is diverting $17 million in public funds to those students, money that could otherwise be invested in the district. State lawmakers continue to lower school tax rates despite declining property values locally.
The Live Calendar: Today in Flagler
August 2026
Aug 05 2026
Bingo Night at Palm Coast Elks Lodge 2709
Palm Coast Elks Lodge #2709
Aug 05 2026
Flagler County Republican Club Meeting
Aug 05 2026
Flagler Beach Parks Ad Hoc Committee
Flagler Beach City Hall
Aug 06 2026
Flagler Beach United Methodist Church Food Pantry
Flagler Beach United Methodist Church
Aug 06 2026
Flagler County Drug Court Convenes
Flagler County courthouse
Aug 06 2026
Story Time with Miss Kim at Flagler Beach Public Library
315 South 7th Street, Flagler Beach
Aug 06 2026
Model Yacht Club Races at the Pond in Palm Coast’s Town Center
Central Park in Town Center
Aug 06 2026
The Circle of Light A Course in Miracles Study Group
United Methodist Church
Aug 07 2026
Free For All Fridays With Host David Ayres on WNZF
WNZF
Aug 07 2026
In Court: Flagler Home Builders Association v. Palm Coast
Flagler County courthouse
Aug 07 2026
First Friday Garden Walks at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
Aug 07 2026
Friday Blue Forum
Flagler County Democratic Party HQ
No event found!
The Conversation
Social Media, Journalism and Credibility
The gap between what people experience in real time and what journalism can responsibly publish has widened. This gap is partly where trust erodes. Social media collapses the distance between event, exposure and interpretation. Claims circulate before journalists can evaluate them.
Florida and Beyond
Calling Homestead Amendment Ballot Measure Misleading Political Rhetoric, Judge Orders Rewrite
The title and summary of a property tax cut proposal to be placed on the November ballot contain political rhetoric and are misleading, and must be redrafted, a Leon Circuit Court judge ruled late Monday. “Voters are entitled to a fair, clear, accurate and non-misleading ballot statement to assist them in making their critical determination,” Judge David Frank wrote in his 18-page ruling.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, August 4, 2026
The Palm Coast City Council meets, the Flagler Beach’s Planning and Architectural Review Board meets, a note from the “Wasting Your Breath” Department.
A Hamas ‘Breakthrough’ or Another Trump-Conjured Mirage?
Trump said Hamas’ disarmament would allow for a Palestinian committee to take over governing in Gaza and Israel’s military withdrawal. Hamas cautioned that its disarmament was dependent on Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza. So, is this a major step forward, or are there still too many questions left unresolved?
More Florida and Beyond
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, August 3, 2026
The Flagler County Commission holds a pair of meetings, including a workshop where it will discuss a shortlist of county administrator candidates, Andy Dance’s birthday, Sen. William Fulbright on Barry Goldwater’s blinkered view of liberalism and coexistence.
Why Odysseus Couldn’t Just Say: I’m Home
When Odysseus returns to Ithaca, he avoids revealing his identity, choosing deception and alternate personas instead of immediate homecoming. Homer’s epic illustrates severe psychological avoidance born from wartime trauma and moral injury. Rather than facing simple fear, Odysseus carries overwhelming guilt for lost comrades and wartime actions, making his true story impossibly painful to speak directly to those who love him.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, August 2, 2026
A slightly cooler day, relatively speaking, Peter Kuper on Lockheed Martin’s profiteering, Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village, the art and greatness of Louise Farrenc.
Flawed Studies Long Restricted Menopause Hormone Therapy Options for Vulnerable Breast Cancer Survivors
Flawed early research created widespread fear of prescribing menopausal hormone therapy, causing providers to avoid offering symptom relief to breast cancer survivors. Recent FDA updates removing black box warnings encourage clinicians to move past historic biases, adopting personalized risk assessment strategies so patients can safely access tailored treatment for severe menopausal symptoms.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, August 1, 2026
Heat index values up to 103, The Saturday Flagler Beach Farmers Market, the American Civil Liberties Union and the United States of Antinomy.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, July 31, 2026
Heat index as high as 105 today, Clay Jones on Dr. Fauci versus the trolls, the Friday Blue Forum, Edith Wharton’s “The Moving Finger” and the deceptive possession of memory.
Florida’s Property Tax Amendment: Trade-Offs and Higher Costs for Some
Florida voters in November will decide on Amendment 3 to significantly increase homestead property tax exemptions. Reducing local revenue by nearly $12 billion annually forces trade-offs across the state. Local governments may raise sales taxes, commercial rates, and utility fees or cut essential services like fire, police, and public parks to bridge massive budget gaps.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, July 30, 2026
Beats and Eats: Live Concert and Food Trucks at the Stage in Town Center, Model Yacht Club Races at the Pond, the lowering of flags in mourning, Bach’s cello, a poem of grief from the Thousand and One Nights.
Europe Is Also Spending Billions to Deport Migrants. It’s Not Working.
The European Union has spent billions of euros on external partnerships and enforcement infrastructure to deport irregular migrants. This strategy fails because return rates remain below ten percent across most of Africa. Financial leverage creates transactional, short-term bargaining rather than long-term cooperation. European policymakers must measure the quality of reintegration, prioritize targeted migration diplomacy, and expand funding for legal labor pathways.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, July 29, 2026
The City of Palm Coast hosts “SBDC Day” at City Hall connecting local entrepreneurs, startups, and established business owners with free expert guidance, conversations in democracy, Eugene O’Neill.
South Dakota’s Abortion Pill Advertising Ban Is Unconstitutional
A federal court injunction blocked South Dakota’s ban on advertising abortion pills after a nonprofit legal challenge. The ruling established that restricting truthful medical information violates First Amendment protections regarding free speech and viewpoint neutrality. This legal dispute highlights a growing national conflict as states attempt to restrict telehealth services and out-of-state prescription access despite federal approval of medication abortion procedures.
Florida Department Of Health Warns Against Prescribing Psychotropic Medications To Children And Teens
Florida health officials issued new guidelines discouraging doctors from prescribing psychotropic medications to children aged five to 17 for conditions like anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Aligning with federal Make America Healthy Again priorities, the state recommends therapy and behavioral intervention as primary treatments. Medical organizations like the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry are opposed.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, July 28, 2026
The Palm Coast City Council talks budget, the School Board has a trio of meetings, including the setting of its tentative property ax rate over which it has no control, Ric Diez, Michiko Kakutani on postmodernism.
Commentary
Resurgence of Measles Signals Dangerous Decline in Public Health
Falling vaccination rates have triggered a dangerous measles resurgence across the United States. The trend threatens the nation’s 25-year elimination status and imposes massive economic burdens on the healthcare system. Measles serves as a critical proxy for overall public health capacity. Declining trust in government agencies and eroding herd immunity signal a systemic vulnerability. These cracks in our public health defense complicate efforts to manage future infectious disease threats effectively.
Why Democrats Are Clueless About Losing the Working Class
It is an open question whether reformist Democrats are really interested in understanding working-class voters on their own terms. Because working-class voters, as they tell us themselves, are not simply waiting to be activated by the right program, the right messenger, the right phrase. “Fight the oligarchy” probably isn’t going to do it.
A Rare Florida Victory for ‘The Right To Tell People What They Don’t Want to Hear’
Judge Britt C. Grant described the DeSantis “Stop Woke Act” a breathtaking assertion of power aimed at banning unpopular ideas. Academic freedom requires open debate rather than state-mandated silence while suppressing critical discussions regarding race, gender, and history undermines the core educational mission of public universities across the state.