A new state legislative report reveals Florida verified a record 434 child sexual exploitation victims in 2025, three of them in Flagler County and 14 in Volusia. Oppaga attributes the increase to improved agency identification methods rather than increased incidence. Serious infrastructure gaps remain. Florida lacks sufficient safe foster homes and data-sharing systems, leaving vulnerable juvenile victims without critical placements, survivor mentors, or specialized therapeutic treatments.
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Daily Cartoon and Briefing
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local
Palm Coast Teenager Faces Felony Animal Cruelty Charge After Starving Puppy Dies From Organ Failure
18-year-old Chance Jones of Palm Coast faces a felony animal cruelty charge after a 5-month-old puppy died from starvation on July 4. Authorities found the severely malnourished dog locked inside a detached apartment garage without food, water, or ventilation. Jones said he only fed the animal every few weeks due to care difficulties.
Flagler Beach Programmer Rory Belmont, 44, Arrested on Rape and Other Charges Following Ordeal with Girlfriend
Flagler Beach resident Rory Victor Belmont, 44, was jailed without bond following accusations of a brutal domestic assault on his long-term girlfriend, including repeated rapes. The state filed a motion for pretrial detention on allegations of severe physical abuse, repeated strangulation, and forced sexual acts. Authorities located Belmont in Volusia County after he fled on an electric scooter. He five felony charges, including first-degree forcible rape.
Former Athens Theatre Director Craig Uppercue Steps Into Leadership Role At Flagler Auditorium Today
Craig Uppercue brings decades of theatrical and educational experience to his new role as director of the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center. Taking over for Amelia Fulmer, the veteran arts administrator plans to prioritize student programs and explore bringing live music and touring shows to the venue. He hopes to replicate the growth he previously helped to orchestrate at the vibrant Athens Theatre in DeLand.
More Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local
July 4 Fire Destroys Building At Santore And Sons Fireworks Manufacturing Complex In West Flagler
A July 4 fire destroyed a cinder block storage building at the Santore and Sons fireworks manufacturing compound in West Flagler. The structure contained paper goods and partially assembled pyrotechnics. No employees were present and there were no injuries. First responders quickly extinguished the blaze. The state fire marshal is currently investigating a potential lightning strike as the cause.
What, Then, Is An American?
The question–what is an American–has been asked for 250 years and has always been more important than the answer. The clue is in the asking. There is no single answer to what cannot be defined, what should not be defined. The moment we answer the question with any kind of finality, the moment we say an American is this, that or the other, we are asking an un-American question
Bryan Jackson, Deputy Who’d Accidentally Shot 11-Year-Old Boy, Resigns Ahead of Internal Affairs Sanctions
Bryan Jackson, the Flagler County sheriff’s deputy who took responsibility for firing a rifle bullet that accidentally grazed the neck of an 11-year-old neighbor boy last year, resigned today, effective July 15, just as the Sheriff’s Office was completing an internal affairs investigation that found him to have violated two policies.
July 3 and 4 Celebration of 250th Anniversary from Flagler Beach Parade to Palm Coast Fireworks at County Airport
Flagler County Government and the Cities of Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, and Bunnell invite all Flagler County residents and visitors to the 2026 United Flagler Community Celebration on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4, this time for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration and American independence. It’ll start with First Friday in Flagler Beach and culminate with a 15-16 minute firework show featuring thousands of shells at the county airport. All events are free.
Name-Clearing Hearing for Fired Flagler Beach Fire Chief Cox Exposes Deep Divisions And Lack Of Documentation
A Flagler Beach Personnel Review Board recessed a name-clearing hearing for fired fire chief Stephen Cox without reaching a decision. City Manager Dale Martin terminated Cox on May 11 after seven department members signed a no-confidence letter. Hearing testimonies revealed a glaring lack of documented evidence supporting the abrupt termination. Acting Chief Jennifer Fiveash testified extensively about her loss of trust in Cox’s flawed leadership.
Flagler Schools Return to A Rating for 1st Time in 7 Years as FPC and Buddy Taylor Also Score 1st A in Eons
Flagler County schools earned a district-wide A rating for the first time in seven years as every single school within the district achieved an A or a B grade. Notable successes include Buddy Taylor Middle School and Flagler Palm Coast High School receiving A ratings for the first time in years. Superintendent LaShakia Moore, School Board Chair Christy Chong and principals credit the collective efforts of teachers, staff, students, parents, and the community.
Michael Struhar, Owner of Sunshine State Contractor Services, Accused of Defrauding Homeowners of $40,000
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested contractor Michael Struhar for grand theft after he allegedly took a $40,000 deposit from a local couple and performed no work. Investigation subpoenas revealed Struhar spent the funds on personal online auctions and Zelle payments. Authorities believe there are additional victims in the region and urge defrauded consumers to contact the sheriff’s non-emergency line.
‘Screw You, Vandals’: After ATV Theft, Swift Huge Gifts Put Turtle Patrol Back on Wheels in Marineland
The Volusia-Flagler Turtle Patrol secured a replacement ATV following a theft that forced volunteers to monitor Marineland beaches on foot. Former county attorney Al Hadeed and his wife Maureen donated $5,000 to cover the vehicle, as did a silent community pledge of $10,000 and almost $3,000 raised through a Gofundme page. The nonprofit moved the new equipment to a secure, undisclosed location.
Birthright Citizenship Survives, Trans Athletes and Campaign Finance Limits Lose in Trio of Landmark Decisions
The U.S. Supreme Court issued three landmark rulings today: A 6-3 decision protects birthright citizenship, striking down a Trump administration executive order. The court ruled 6-3 that schools may ban transgender athletes from female sports under Title IX. And the justices invalidated limits on coordinated political party expenditures, a move deregulating campaign finance and benefiting major donors over grassroots contributors.
Rising Costs And Looming Tax Reform Force Flagler Commission Again To Rethink Funding for Carver Gym
The Flagler County Commission, reviving a scenario similar to 2010, is again considering divesting from the Carver Center in Bunnell due to rising operating costs and projected revenue losses from a upcoming tax amendment. Local officials are looking to the School Board to take over. Community advocates and program leaders warn that cutting county support will devastate critical local programs, senior services, and youth athletic leagues that currently rely on the thriving facility.
Flagler Clerk of Court’s Office Wins Statewide Best Practices Excellence Award, Among Others
The Flagler County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller’s Office announced a series of honors received during the Florida Clerks of Court and Comptrollers (FCCC) Summer Conference, reflecting the work and statewide leadership of both Clerk Tom Bexley and members of the office’s Finance team.
The Live Calendar: Today in Flagler
July 2026
Jul 07 2026
Weekly Chess Club for Teens, Ages 10-18, at the Flagler County Public Library
Flagler County Public Library
Jul 07 2026
Flagler County Library Board of Trustees
Flagler County Public Library
Jul 07 2026
Flagler Beach Library Writers’ Club
315 South 7th Street, Flagler Beach
Jul 07 2026
Flagler Beach Planning and Architectural Review Board
Flagler Beach City Hall
Jul 07 2026
Palm Coast City Council Meeting
Palm Coast City Hall
Jul 07 2026
Bunnell Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board
Government Services Building
Jul 07 2026
Hammock Community Association Meeting
Hammock Community Center
Jul 07 2026
Random Acts of Insanity Standup Comedy
Cinematique of Daytona Beach
Jul 08 2026
Public Safety Coordinating Council Meeting
Emergency Operations Center
Jul 08 2026
Conversations in Democracy
Pine Lakes Golf Club
Jul 09 2026
Flagler Beach United Methodist Church Food Pantry
Flagler Beach United Methodist Church
Jul 09 2026
Flagler County Drug Court Convenes
Flagler County courthouse
No event found!
The Conversation
World Cup’s Credibility Is Red Carded After Trump’s Call
Fifa, international football’s governing body, has not only so far declined to give any detailed reasoning for its decision to suspend what would be a standard one game ban following Balogun red card. The reversal appears to result from direct pressure from the White House. Media reports suggest that Donald Trump made three calls to Fifa, starting from Wednesday, to ensure that the red card was overturned. The White House has said that the call was made to understand why Balogun was sent off and the reason for the suspension.
Florida and Beyond
Teacher’s Career Hinges On First Amendment Battle After Her Firing Over Charlie Kirk Comments
Kelly Brock-Sanchez, a former Clay County public school teacher fired for making controversial Facebook comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, is fighting to save her career after her private posts went viral. She filed a federal lawsuit claiming the punishment violates her First Amendment rights. An administrative hearing will determine whether she permanently loses her Florida teaching certificate.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, July 6, 2026
The Beverly Beach Town Commission meets, the cost of data centers in electricity, dueling banjos, a note from Mar Reisener’s “Cadillac Desert” on another age’s power hogs.
Texas Approves Mandatory Public School Bible Readings
The Texas State Board of Education recently mandated a public school reading list featuring various biblical passages, violating the establishment clause of the First Amendment by prioritizing Christian teachings. Historical legal precedents over the past century consistently reject non-secular classroom instruction. Texas’s narrow policy fails to reflect religious diversity and faces inevitable litigation before its staggered implementation begins.
More Florida and Beyond
Red and Blue States Align in Unlikely Bipartisan Push for States’ Rights Against Federal Overreach in Trump Era
Liberals, longtime proponents of a stronger central government, are now championing an ideology that evokes odious memories of slavery and segregation. Many state leaders hope that a renewed focus on federalism could help lower the national political temperature. By shifting more political decisions to the states, they envision a nation less subject to blue-red swings that change the entire course of federal law enforcement, environmental policy and business regulation.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, July 5, 2026
Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village, Chekhov’s “Beggar,” a story of caring before hectoring, Andy Sipowicz saves Danny’s job, a few lines from Joseph Heller’s Something Happened.
The Federalist Papers: Indispensable Guide to Understanding Constitutional System
The Federalist served as a critical theoretical bridge for ratifying the Constitution. The essays by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay advanced political science by redefining republics and creating institutions to channel human self-interest. They remain the most important commentary on American constitutional governance.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, July 4, 2026
Independence Day Events in Flagler Beach and Palm Coast, deconstructing the phrase make America great again, Willie Nelson’s July 4 picnic with friends, Abraham Lincoln’s style.
‘Rededicating’ US to God? Jefferson and Madison Would Not Approve.
Jefferson’s and Madison’s half-century of collaboration on behalf of religious freedom and equality is an important chapter in the nation’s founding history. Its legacy should be remembered and celebrated, not discarded.
CAIR Florida, the Muslim Advocacy Organization, Sues State Over ‘Unprecedented’ Terrorist Designation ‘Regime’
Immediately after Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that the state would soon designate the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) a domestic terrorist organization, the Muslim civil rights advocacy group filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging that designation as unconstitutional and are calling for an injunction to halt its enforcement.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, July 3, 2026
First Friday in Flagler Beach kicks off the Independence weekend celebrations, First Friday Garden Walks at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, top ten things we’re doing this weekend, This Land Is Your Land, so is LBJ’s Hill Country.
Trump’s Assault on the Green Card
More than half a million people rely every year on the ability to apply from within the United States for a green card, the government-issued ID that allows an immigrant to legally live and work in the country long term. The federal government has now issued a draft change to current policy that denies immigrants the ability to apply for a green card while in the U.S. Instead, they would have to return to their home country to do it.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, July 2, 2026
The county and the nation are getting set for the 250th, so offices and activities are mostly closed and cancelled. Justice Kagan documents Donald Trump’s racism. An American in Turkey.
A Democracy or a Republic? Americans Are Asking the Wrong Question
The United States has functioned as a hybrid of democratic and republican ideals since its founding. James Madison distinguished between “pure” democracy and representative republics, yet he incorporated democratic elements to ensure actual representation. History reveals a continuous struggle between aristocratic elites and popular power. Americans should embrace both traditions to ensure the government remains accountable to the people rather than ruled by few.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, July 1, 2026
A high of only 89, Conversations in Democracy, John Darkow on data centers, the Flagler Beach Library Book Club, making sense of John Duns Scotus.
Your Cellphone Location Data Is Now Protected by the Fourth Amendment
The Supreme Court ruled that whenever police obtain an individual’s cell location data, even from a third-party tech company, it constitutes a search under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable government searches and seizures, and it does so in part by requiring search warrants based on probable cause that describe the particular person or thing to be searched.
Florida Right-Wingers Blast Birthright Decision. The Rest Welcome It.
Although it wasn’t considered a surprise, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision striking down President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship provoked strong reactions from Florida lawmakers on Tuesday–negative ones from right-wing Republicans, welcoming ones from elsewhere.
Commentary
As Route 66 Turns 100, What Is It That We’re Actually Celebrating?
As Route 66 approaches its centennial, the history of the highway reveals a stark division between promotional myths and historical reality. Early civic marketing manufactured an idealized American image of freedom and romance. This legendary status excluded Black and Latino travelers who faced systemic discrimination on the road. The subsequent rise of midcentury interstate highways eventually caused the economic decline of the route.
Republicans and Democrats Agree on What Makes a Good Teacher
Americans across the political spectrum share a unified vision of excellent teaching. Surveys from 2020 to 2025 demonstrate that Republicans and Democrats prioritize strong teacher-student relationships over strict discipline or high-stakes competition. Perceptions shift negatively only when partisan labels are attached to specific educational ideas. These findings suggest that common ground exists for school reform if debates focus on practice rather than ideology.
Modern Politicians Attempt To Sanitize The Complex And Morally Messy Realities Of Florida History
Florida celebrates America’s 250th anniversary by erecting statues of founders, yet the state was actually a loyal British colony in 1776. The territory resisted the American revolution, repelled continental forces, and later became a Spanish headache before its eventual transfer to the United States. Modern political myths obscure this complicated, messy history that citizens should contemplate during patriotic holidays.
Sponsored Content
The Solana Agent Kit and the Rise of Programmable On-Chain AI
A quiet but significant development in the AI and crypto intersection over the past year has been the rise of programmable agent frameworks that run natively against blockchain infrastructure. The Solana Agent Kit, released by Send AI in late 2024 and significantly expanded through 2025 and early 2026, has become one of the most widely used toolkits for building AI agents that interact with on-chain state.
AI in Automation Testing: The Tech Skill Florida Job Seekers Should Know in 2026
AI in automation testing is opening doors for career changers and aspiring tech professionals in Florida. Learn how this in-demand skill helps job seekers enter tech without a programming background.