Today: Partly cloudy. Areas of fog in the morning. Highs around 80. South winds 5 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows around 60. South winds 5 mph. See the latest National Weather Service-Jacksonville Briefing here.
Today’s document from the National Archives and the Astronomy Picture of the Day.
Today’s National Commemorations.
Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway.
Drought Index: 117
Global Warming: The daily carbon count.
A.Word.A.Day from Wordsmith.org. Today’s word: eftsoons.
The Live Community Calendar
Today’s jail bookings.
Today’s Briefing: Quick Links
- First Light
- In Flagler and Palm Coast
- Flagler Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours of Incident Reports
- In State Government
- Statista’s Chart of the Day
- Announcements
- In Coming Days in Flagler, Palm Coast and Beyond
- Fact-Checking the Knaves
- Palm Coast Construction and Development
“There are certain scenes that (far more than artifacts dug up out of the ground or prehistoric cave paintings, which have a confusing freshness and newness) serve to remind us of how old the human race is, and of the beautiful, touching sameness of most human occasions. Anything that is not anonymous is all a dream. And who we are, and whether our parents embraced life or were disappointed by it, and what will become of our children couldn’t be less important. Nobody asks the name of the athlete tying his sandal on the curved side of the Greek vase or whether the lonely traveler on the Chinese scroll arrived at the inn before dark.”
–From William Maxwell’s “The Chateau” (1961).
Previously:
Courage | Modern compliment | In a border prison | Facts | Hashish | Patriotism as chauvinism | Smell of Christmas | The novel | Defeating Trump | Jefferson’s ideals | Another world | Mark Twain | What we care about | Free speech | The United States of Amnesia | Might is wrong | Quacks | The unwealthy | Time | Memory | If there is a Hell | Life unchanging | Mad presidents | Cancellation of Colin Kaepernick | Lincoln | Speak like Socrates | Equal rights | Sumner’s sex | Sojourner Truth’s truth | Invisible woman | Norilsk
Note: all government meetings noticed below are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated. Many can be heard or seen live through each agency’s website.
Take the 2019 Palm Coast Community Survey.
In Court: In the seventh day of trial, the jury will begin deliberations at 9 a.m. and likely reach a verdict by day’s end, if not before, starting at 9 a.m. in the ongoing case of convicted murderer David Snelgrove. Prosecution and defense presented closing arguments Monday afternoon. The Supreme Court ordered a new sentencing phase for Snelgrove, who was on death row. He was sentenced to death for the murders of Glyn Fowler, 84, and his wife, Vivian, 79, on Bannbury Lane in Palm Coast in late June 2000. The sentencing phase began with jury selection Monday and Tuesday. A jury of six men and six women was seated Tuesday afternoon. The prosecution put on its case on Wednesday and Thursday. The defense began to present its case Thursday afternoon. The trial takes place before Circuit Judge Kathryn Weston, in Courtroom 301 at the Flagler County Courthouse. The background:
- After Dueling Witnesses and Sniping Lawyers, Jury Must Now Decide Whether to Call for Snelgrove’s Killing
- Grim Day for Snelgrove’s Defense as Prosecution Makes Largely Unanswered Case for Death
- Video and Pictures Revive Vivid Reactions to Double-Murder in Snelgrove’s Death-Penalty Trial
- For Jury in Double-Murderer Case, Snelgrove’s Mental Disability Is a Gray Matter of Life and Death
- 20 Years After Double Murder in Palm Coast, David Snelgrove Faces Death Penalty Trial for 3rd Time
- On and Off Death Row for 17 Years, Palm Coast Double-Murderer David Snelgrove Loses One More Motion
- For David Snelgrove, Sentenced in Palm Coast Double-Murder in 2000, Execution Again In Question
- In Latest Complication, Judge Craig Recuses Himself From David Snelgrove Death Row Case
- Supreme Court Orders New Sentencing of Palm Coast Double-Murderer on Death Row
- 15 Years After Palm Coast Double Murder, David Snelgrove Is Back in Court, Contesting Death Sentence
The 
Flagler County Affordable Housing Committee meets at 8:30 a.m., Emergency Operations Center, Room A, 1769 E. Moody Blvd. Building 3, Bunnell. The County Commission established the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee/ Housing Task Force, under Section 16-77 of the Flagler County Code, to make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners regarding specific initiatives to encourage or facilitate affordable housing in Flagler County. Meetings are held on the Second Tuesday of each month. Staff Liaison is Ralston Reodica, 386-313-4037. See the committee bylaws here, and committee agendas here, though they’re posted only spottily.
Flagler’s Community Traffic Safety Team meets at 9 a.m. at Flagler Technical Institute, 5400 E. Hwy 100, just west of Flagler Palm Coast High School. The meeting is open to all who have a concern with road safety.
The 
Palm Coast City Council meets in workshop at 9 a.m. at City Hall in Town Center. The council will discuss a $20 million expansion of the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant #2 (or sewer plant), needed to ensure that there is enough capacity by the middle of the decade. The plan calls for the city to borrow the money at low interest from a state fund. The council will also discuss other issues related to the expansion. See the full agenda and background materials here. The meeting can be heard here.
Learn the Basics of Your Computer, 10 a.m.-noon at Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Pkwy. NE. Want to learn more about your computer? These classes teach you basic care of your computer, different programs you might have to use, and internet security. Free but registration required at www.parksandrec.fun/seniors. More info: 386-986-2323.
The St. Johns River Water Management District Board meets at the district’s headquarters, 4049 Reid Street, Palatka. Times vary: Check this list for this meeting’s time.
The Flagler County Planning and Development Board meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. was cancelled.
Rita Rudner at the Flagler Auditorium, 7:30 p.m., 5500 East Hwy 100, Palm Coast, call 386-437-7547. After appearing in several Broadway musicals, including “Follies” and “Mack and Mabel”, Rita Rudner began exploring the comedy clubs of Manhattan. She performed all over the country, filling Carnegie Hall in NY three times and the Universal Amphitheatre in L.A. twice. Rita is now officially the longest–running solo comedy show in the history of Las Vegas. Tickets $29-39.
Robert Milne: A performance by this ragtime and honky-tonk pianist, 7:30 p.m., Elizabeth Hall, Room 100 (Lee Chapel), 421 North Woodland Boulevard, DeLand. It’s a free concert.
Navy Bombing in the Ocala National Forest: Navy training schedules indicate that inert and live bombing will take place at the Pinecastle Range Complex located in the Ocala National Forest this week. Bombings at times can be heard in Flagler-Palm Coast. The bombings are scheduled as follows:
Friday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. – LIVE/Inert
Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. – LIVE/Inert
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. – LIVE/Inert
During bombing periods wildlife may be temporarily displaced. Use extra caution when driving through the Ocala National forest and surrounding areas. Secure any items around your residence that could attract wildlife. Always be mindful of larger animals including black bears and practice bearwise measures. The telephone number for noise complaints is 1-800-874-5059, Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility, Jacksonville, Fla. For additional information, call (904) 542-5588.
Blood Donations: The Big Red Bus will be at the following locations this week (schedule your donation by
going to the website and entering a Palm Coast zip code, then locating one of the venues below):
- Monday: Palm Coast Ford, 1150 Palm Coast Parkway, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Wednesday: AdventHealth Palm Coast, 60 Memorial Medical Parkway, Palm Coast, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Friday: Dunkin Donuts, 1310 Palm Coast Parkway, noon to 6 p.m.
- Saturday: Dunkin Donuts, 5 Old Kings Road, Palm Coast, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Sunday: Santa Maria del Mar Church, 915 North Central Avenue, Flagler Beach, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Sunday: Dunkin Donuts, 5 Old Kings Road, Palm Coast, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours' Incidents in Flagler, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Bunnell
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| Jail Bookings, June 19-22 Sheriff's night shift incident reports, June 21 Sheriff's day shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's night shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's day shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's night shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's day shift incident reports, June 21 |
In Florida and in State Government:
Note: Some proceedings below can be followed live on the Florida Channel. Most legislative proceedings can be followed through the Senate or House websites.
GALVANO UNVEILS ARTWORK: Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, will host a ceremony to unveil new artwork outside the Senate seating gallery. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., fifth floor public entrance to the Senate gallery, the Capitol.)
SENATE GATHERS FOR SESSION: The Florida Senate will meet as part of the opening-day events for the 2020 legislative session. Senators are expected to honor victims, survivors, family members and first responders who were touched by a mass shooting last month at Naval Air Station Pensacola. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)
HOUSE MEETS TO START 60-DAY SESSION: The Florida House will meet to help kick off the 2020 legislative session. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)
DESANTIS GIVES STATE OF THE STATE: Gov. Ron DeSantis will give his State of the State address during a joint meeting of the House and Senate to formally start the 2020 legislative session. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)
DEMOCRATS OFFER RESPONSE: Democratic lawmakers and representatives of advocacy groups will hold a news conference to respond to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ State of the State address. Participants are expected to include Senate Minority Leader Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville; Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami; Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando; Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando; Rep. Dianne Hart, D-Tampa; Rep. Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa; Rep. Geraldine Thompson, D-Windermere; and Rep. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park. (Tuesday, 12:15 p.m. or immediately after the State of the State address, fourth floor, the Capitol.)
GALVANO MEETS WITH REPORTERS: Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, will hold a media availability. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)
DECLAWING CATS TARGETED: The Senate Agriculture Committee will consider a bill (SB 48), filed by Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, that would seek to bar declawing of cats “unless the procedure is necessary for a therapeutic purpose.’ (Tuesday, 2:30 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
FPL SOLAR PLAN AT ISSUE: The state Public Service Commission will hold a regular meeting, an internal affairs meeting and a hearing on a major solar-energy proposal by Florida Power & Light. The utility last year filed a petition seeking approval of the “SolarTogether” program, which at least initially seeks to build 20 solar plants that would generate 1,490 megawatts of electricity. But the proposal has drawn opposition from the state Office of Public Counsel, which represents consumers in utility issues. (Tuesday, regular meeting at 1 p.m., followed by internal affairs meeting and hearing, Betty Easley Conference Center, 4075 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee.)
–Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive
U.S. Yearly Jobs Growth Lowest Since 2011: “Jobs growth in the U.S. slowed at the end of 2019 as employers added 145,000 jobs in December, capping off the year with the lowest annual jobs created since 2011. With 2.1 million jobs created in 2019, the U.S. lagged behind the previous year, which saw a total of 2.7 million jobs created in 2018.”
Through April 4, Palm Coast Mayor’s 90/90 Challenge: Get outdoors and get active – join us for the Mayor’s 90/90 Challenge! The challenge is to move at least a mile a day for the 90 days from Jan. 6 to April 4. You can choose your own form of exercise. Log in to Palm Coast Connect and record your progress throughout the month. Everyone who completes the Challenge will receive a prize. Share your progress along the way on social media using #Mayors9090 and #ConnectToFitness. More info: www.palmcoastconnect.com and 386-986-2323.
St. Johns County Ocean and Fishing Pier New Hours: The St. Johns County Ocean and Fishing Pier is temporarily adjusting business hours due to the ongoing pier reconstruction project. Beginning Monday, January 13, the gift shop will be opened 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. For more information regarding the pier gift shop, please contact 904.209.0326.
The Live Calendar is Flagler County’s and Palm Coast’s most complete, detailed and searchable community calendar of events, including culture, the performing arts, theater, government, the courts and justice system and a lot more. If you’re not listed here, you’re not getting the visibility you deserve. To include your event, please fill out this form. Any other issues, email the editor.
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Keep Up with Donald Trump’s attacks on the press through the ACLU’s running tab here.
Keep Up with mass shootings in a running database here.
Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports
Here’s a summary of the latest city developments as of Dec. 16 2019:
Click to access development.pdf
See the full Week in Review here.
