While many blame Citizens United for the massive influx of money in American elections, the true turning point was the 1976 Supreme Court case Buckley v. Valeo. By equating political spending with free speech, the ruling dismantled crucial campaign finance regulations. It paved the way for super PACs, dark money groups, and billionaire self-funders, permanently transforming the landscape of modern United States politics.
Archives for May 14, 2026
A Symbolic 457-Day Jail Sentence, On Top of 9 Life Terms, to End Henriqson’s Stay at Flagler Jail
Kristopher Henriqson, 48, got a symbolic 457-day jail sentence today for marijuana distribution and possession of drug paraphernalia following his conviction a month ago on 11 counts of sexual assault involving his stepdaughter. The sentence ends his court cases in Flagler County and clears his transfer to state prison.
Florida House Committee Issues 1st Reprimand in 20 Years, to Rep. Angie Nixon Over Bullhorn Use
In an exceedingly rare move, a Florida House committee on Thursday reprimanded Rep. Angie Nixon for repeatedly blaring a bullhorn during a contentious fight over congressional redistricting. But the Jacksonville Democrat told reporters she’s unfazed — despite receiving the Florida Legislature’s first official reprimand in more than 20 years.
Pontieri: Unleashing the Private Sector Is the Conservative Solution to the Palm Coast Housing Squeeze
Flagler County and Palm Coast face a housing squeeze making it difficult for lower-income, elderly and other groups to overcome rental or mortgage burdens. But government interventions are not the way, argues Palm Coast City Council member Theresa Pontieri, as they distort market incentives and unfairly shift infrastructure costs onto existing taxpayers. True affordability requires cutting regulatory red tape and fostering economic growth to raise local wages.
Palm Coast Mayor Norris Turns Loop Road Groundbreaking Into Lashing of Western Expansion and Developer
Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris surprised attendees at a groundbreaking ceremony this morning by lashing into the $125 million loop road project connecting Matanzas Woods Parkway with Palm Coast Parkway, and into Raydient, the developer, attacking it for not shouldering its share of infrastructure funding. Norris discarded his prepared remarks to criticize the environmental impact on wetlands and the financial burden on local taxpayers. Council members Charles Gambaro and Ty Miller rebuked the mayor for his timing.
Diagnosing Alarming Deficit in Road Repair Bill, City Director Tells Palm Coast Council: You Did This
In a remarkably gutsy moment at the end of his presentation on the city’s deteriorating road system, Carl Cote, the city’s director of stormwater and engineering, reminded the council of how it has been reducing the tax rate for successive years since 2021. “In lieu of the rollbacks that council had done since then, if that was dedicated to resurfacing, that would be an additional $8.5 million we’d have in that program today,” Cote said. The program, in other words, would have been fully funded instead of facing a gaping deficit.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, May 14, 2026
Palm Coast’s Loop Road Groundbreaking on Matanzas Woods Parkway, ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ an FPC Production at the Fitz, The Flagler Beach City Commission meets, a Maupassant story anticipates Trump’s bloodlust at a UFC fight.