Jimmy Hengy is one of two candidates for the Palm Coast City Council, District 2. This is a non-partisan race. All registered voters in Palm Coast may cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary.
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Daily Cartoon and Briefing
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, July 16, 2026
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local
Palm Coast Planning Board Unanimously Rejects 22,000-Home Western Expansion Over Unanswered Questions
The Palm Coast Planning Board unanimously voted down land use and rezoning changes for a 22,000-home western expansion by Raydient Wednesday evening as board members cited inadequate information on infrastructure, school capacity, tax base diversification and other issues. They expressed concern over the loss of regulatory control to future developers. The non-binding denial moves the requests to the City Council for a decision.
Facing Death Penalty for Wife’s Killing, Jermaine Williams’ Fate Rests With a Nearly All-Women Jury
Jermaine Williams Sr. will face a jury of 12 women and three men, including the alternates, in his death penalty trial for the stabbing death of his wife Yolonda Williams in Bunnell in 2024. The jury is almost all white, Williams is Black (one of the jurors is olive-skinned Mediterranean or possibly south Asian), but color is less relevant than gender in this trial: the jury’s lopsided make-up is a victory for the prosecution.
Tony Amaral Jr., Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview
Tony Amaral Jr. is one of three candidates for the Palm Coast City Council, District 2. He faces Jeani Duarte and Jimmy Hengy. This is a non-partisan race. All registered voters in Palm Coast may cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary.
More Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local
Palm Coast Council Struggling to Match Budget Needs, Including Cops, With Deepening Revenue Crunch
The Palm Coast City Council set a higher tentative maximum tax rate for next year that nevertheless does not close a $3.3 million gap between needs and projected revenue, including nine additional sheriff’s deputies. A slowing economy and a proposed constitutional amendment could severely reduce municipal revenues by 2028. Officials are struggling to balance funding for essential public safety agreements with cost-of-living increases and recurring operating costs amid declining local property valuations.
Angling for Life in Prison in Williams Trial, Defense All But Concedes Murder in Jury Selection Strategy
In the second full day of jury selection in the capital murder trial of Jermaine Williams for the driveway stabbing of his wife in 2024, Defense attorney Junior Barrett focused heavily on anchoring potential jurors to their individual moral authority to reject execution. Peremptory strikes depleted the initial pool down to 11 members, prompting Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols to summon 60 additional prospects to complete the final panel Wednesday.
Theresa Pontieri, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Theresa Pontieri is a Republican candidate for Flagler County Commission, District 2 in the Aug. 18 primary, running against Greg Feldman. Only registered Republicans may cast a ballot in this race.
Found! Mosquito Control’s John Dunlop Discovers Stolen Turtle Patrol ATV Hidden In Woods Near Marineland
John Dunlop, an East Flagler Mosquito Control District technician, found the stolen Volusia-Flagler Turtle Patrol ATV hidden in the woods near Marineland on Monday. Thieves had stolen the vehicle from a nearby shed last month.
Pick-Up Driver Killed in Head-On Collision with Semi on SR100 Near Water Oak Road
A 57-year-old DeLeon Springs man died in a head-on collision on State Road 100 in West Flagler just after five Monday morning after his pick-up truck swerved into the eastbound lane and struck a semi-truck driven by a 59-year-old Port St. Lucie man. The semi driver sustained minor injuries.
‘Hardships’ and Anxious Reactions to Death Penalty Prolong Jury Selection in Williams Murder Trial
What is expected to be three days of jury selection started today in the death penalty trial of Jermaine Williams for the stabbing murder of his wife in Bunnell in 2024. All but 28 of the 75 potential jurors in the first pool were excused due to personal hardships, prior media exposure or issues with capital punishment. Judge Dawn Nichols is summoning 100 additional potential jurors Tuesday.
Greg Feldman, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Greg Feldman is one of two Republican candidates for Flagler County Commission, District 2, an open seat this year: Greg Hansen has opted not to run again. In the primary, Feldman is running against Theresa Pontieri, who is completing her first term as a Palm Coast City Council member.
Ignite the Night! Fundraiser for Flagler Beach Fire Department at Tortugas July 18
On July 18, 2026, local non-profit Flagler Strong will host a community event & fundraising concert dedicated to supporting the Flagler Beach Fire Department (FBFD) and Ocean Rescue teams—doubling as the official 10th Anniversary Celebration for Tortugas Florida Kitchen & Bar.
Flagler Beach Borrows Ormond Deputy Fire Chief Nate Quartier To Lead Fire Department as Fiveash Exits
Ormond Beach Deputy Fire Chief Nate Quartier assumed leadership of the rebuilding Flagler Beach Fire Department on July 2 as an interim through the end of September if necessary, replacing acting chief Jennifer Fiveash following the May firing of Stephen Cox. The department lost half its staff through recent resignations and that firing. Cox is challenging his termination before the city Personnel Review Board.
Father And Son Arrested After Locking Distressed Dogs And Pigeons Inside Hot U-Haul Truck
Sheriff’s deputies arrested a father and son on misdemeanor animal cruelty charges Thursday afternoon after authorities discovered two severely distressed dogs and two suffocating pigeons trapped inside a scorching U-Haul cargo box. The temperature reached 102 degrees in the truck during the family’s travel from Miami. The animals were taken to a local veterinary hospital.
Judge Bars Heat Of Passion Defense In Husband’s Killing of Yolonda Williams On Eve of Death Penalty Trial
A Flagler County judge restricted the defense from arguing a crime of passion without first establishing legal provocation in the trial of Jermaine Williams Sr., who faces the death penalty for the August 2024 stabbing death of his wife, Yolonda Williams. The ruling blocks expert psychological testimony in the trial that begins Monday. Consequently, the defense may have to call Williams to testify to attempt to prove he was provoked.
The Live Calendar: Today in Flagler
July 2026
Jul 16 2026
Palm Coast Democratic Club Recap Meeting
Flagler County Democratic Party HQ
Jul 16 2026
Town of Marineland Commission Meeting
GTM Research RESERVE Marineland Field Office
Jul 16 2026
Third Thursday Together in Flagler Beach
Senior Center at Wickline Park
Jul 17 2026
Free For All Fridays With Host David Ayres on WNZF
WNZF
Jul 17 2026
Flagler County Cultural Council (FC3) Meeting
Flagler County Tourism Office
Jul 17 2026
Friday Blue Forum
Flagler County Democratic Party HQ
Jul 18 2026
Flagler Beach Farmers Market
In Front of Flagler Beach City Hall
Jul 18 2026
Coffee With Flagler Beach Commission Chair Scott Spradley
Law Office of Scott Spradley
Jul 18 2026
Democratic Women’s Club
Palm Coast Community Center
Jul 18 2026
Grace Community Food Pantry on Education Way
Flagler School District Bus Depot
Jul 18 2026
Chess Meet-Up At the Flagler Beach Public Library
Flagler Beach Library
Jul 18 2026
Random Acts of Insanity’s Roundup of Standups from Around Central Florida
Cinematique of Daytona Beach
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The Conversation
Restoring Voting Rights To Released Felons Could Provide A Decisive Two Percent Swing In Elections
Mass incarceration has created a massive “shadow electorate” of 20 million Americans with felony records. Due to legal barriers and decreased political trust, millions are unable or unwilling to vote. Research suggests this group skews Democratic, meaning disenfranchisement likely shifted the outcomes of the 2000 and 2016 presidential elections. Restoring these rights could create a decisive 2% swing in future competitive statewide races.
Florida and Beyond
Florida Kills Dennis Sochor, 74, for 1981 Murder of Patty Gifford, 29th Execution in Two Years
Dennis Michael Sochor was executed Tuesday evening for the death of 18-year-old Patricia “Patty” Gifford in Broward County 44 years ago, becoming the oldest person put to death by the state since executions were revived in 1977, and the 29th person the state has killed in two years. DeSantis has signed the warrant for the 30th.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday July 15, 2026
Heat index of 103, the Jermaine Williams trial enters day three, the Palm Coast Planning Board takes on the Westward expansion’s plans, Tale of Anushirvan, Exemplary King.
DeSantis’s Terrorist Designation of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Is On Hold
Nearly two weeks after Gov. DeSantis announced a recommendation from the state’s chief’s chief of domestic security to designate the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Muslim Brotherhood, and Antifa domestic terrorist organizations, that recommendation has yet to go into effect, and there is no clear timetable when it will be, according to a filing in federal court on Monday.
More Florida and Beyond
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Jermaine Williams Sr. trial day two, the Palm Coast City Council meets in workshop as does the School Board, France marks Bastille Day in a semifinal match with Spain.
Uses and Mis-Uses of National Memory From Bastille Day To July 4
France and the United States base their national identities on universal political principles rather than common ancestry. Both countries use their primary national holidays to periodically recreate and reinforce their foundational narratives. But political factions in both nations increasingly contest these celebrations to claim authority over the national identity, a growing conflict that reveals a very profound shift regarding exactly who can legitimately embody the nation today.
3 Groups Formed to Oppose Homestead Amendment So Far. None Formed to Support It.
Less than four months before Floridians vote on a proposal to phase out property taxes for homeowners, there’s no organized campaign seeking to move the measure past the 60% vote required for passage. Not even the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which has long opposed placing issues on Florida’s Constitution that could be solved through the legislative process.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, July 13, 2026
Jury selection in the first day of the trial of Jermaine Williams Sr. begins. He faces the death penalty for the murder of his wife in Bunnell in 2024. The County Commission meets. Reflections on the death penalty.
A Rare Bipartisan Housing Bill Will Help But Won’t Solve Affordability Crisis
The Road to Housing Act recently became official law. The legislation focuses heavily on regulatory changes to address the national housing crisis. Reforms restrict institutional investors from purchasing standalone properties and reduce construction costs for builders. Housing policy experts warn these modest adjustments fail to resolve the fundamental affordability crisis because millions of Americans still lack sufficient income to secure housing in the current market.
Landmark Housing Bill Becomes Law Without Trump’s Signature
President Donald Trump said Friday morning he would not sign federal legislation aimed at lowering the cost of housing, but the bipartisan package became law at 12:01 a.m. Saturday anyway.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday July 12, 2026
Clay Jones on Trump’s flying bribe of a 747 he can’t even fly, heat index values as high as 107, Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village, if you can brave the heat, Eudora Welty’s “Powerhouse” tribute to Fats Waller.
Pulling a Trump, Convicted Felon and Extremist Marine LePen Will Run for French Presidency
Marine Le Pen has confirmed she intends to run in next year’s presidential election in France, despite her appeal against a conviction for embezzlement of EU funds being rejected. This may well prove to be a missed opportunity for RN to fight the election under the leadership of Le Pen’s deputy, the youthful and charismatic Jordan Bardella. Bardella was slated to run if Le Pen had been barred from the election.
29th Inmate to Be Executed in 19 Months in Florida Wants DeSantis to Attend His Killing
Dennis Michael Sochor, convicted of strangling an 18-year-old woman he met at a New Year’s celebration in a Broward County bar 44 years ago, is scheduled to die by lethal injection Tuesday at Florida State Prison. His last wish? To have Gov. Ron DeSantis personally observe his execution up close and personal.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, July 11, 2026
American Association of University Women (AAUW) monthly meeting, Gamble Jam, Second Saturday Plant Sale at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, AI errors, Bowie is afraid of Americans.
Justice Jackson’s Birthright Citizenship Opinion Was Grounded in Black History, Thomas’s In Distortion
The Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship in Trump v. Barbara, invalidating an executive order targeting children of undocumented immigrants. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a historic concurrence highlighting the intellectual scaffolding built by Black Americans through historic colored conventions. Her inclusive originalist interpretation directly challenged Justice Clarence Thomas’ narrow historical narrative, reframing the Fourteenth Amendment as a collective achievement born of Black patriotic resistance.
Florida Intentionally Keeping SNAP Error Rate High to Slash Eligibility and Reduce Beneficiaries, Democrats Say
If Florida doesn’t lower its SNAP error rates, the state could have to pay as much as $1 billion to continue to participate in the federal food security program. Florida Democratic Party Chair Chair Nikki Fried says the high error rate might not be due to mundane mistakes but rather a tactic to limit participation in the federal benefit, formally called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, July 10, 2026
The Flagler Democratic Party’s Janet Sullivan on Free For All, Coffee and Conversation with Palm Coast City Manager Michael McGlothlin, Food Truck Friday at the Farm, Agriculture Museum, a Declaration of the Rights of Trees.
Commentary
The Bayeux Tapestry’s Norman Propaganda Silenced Voices of Grief and Resistance Now Uncovered
The Bayeux Tapestry celebrates the Norman Conquest of 1066 from the perspective of the victors, but contemporary English documents preserve the story of the side of the conquered. The Life of King Edward conveys the silent trauma and grief of the English ruling class as later Anglo-Saxon Chronicles explicitly condemned Norman oppression. These native sources prove history belongs to more than just winning armies’ propaganda.
Stricter SNAP Stocking Rules Threaten Small Grocery Stores
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is introducing stricter stocking rules for retailers accepting SNAP benefits. Small corner stores and bodegas must significantly expand their offerings of perishable and nutritious foods by November 2026. Experts warn these mandates could prompt small shops to abandon the program entirely. This shift reduces food access for low-income families, compounding recent legislative cuts that reduced overall program enrollment.
Malthus’s Doom and Gloom’s Lessons for Today
Understanding Malthus in a broader context reveals a very different character. As discussed in the 2025 book “Impasse: Climate Change and the Limits of Progress,” Malthus was an innovative and insightful thinker. Not only was he one of the founding figures of environmental economics, but he also turned out to be a prophetic critic of the belief that history tends toward human improvement, which we call progress.