A lawsuit has been filed against the Florida congressional redistricting map signed into law Monday by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Equal Ground Education Fund, a Black-led organization that works to increase Black political power in Florida, filed a 71-page lawsuit in the Second Judicial Circuit in Leon County on behalf of 18 individual plaintiffs who live throughout the state. The suit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to stop the new map from going into effect.
Archives for May 2026
Palm Coast’s Katrina Hatzl, 29, Dies In Night Crash On U.S. 1
Katrina Lyn Hatzl died Friday night after losing control of her Chevrolet Impala on U.S. 1 in Palm Coast. A witness reported the vehicle sped past his van and overcorrected before striking a guard rail then flipping into a concrete embankment. Hatzl, the mother of two young daughters, previously ran a business called Katrina’s Crystals, more recently changed to Kat’s Crystal Creations.
Educator and Business Owner Rob Wood Challenges Will Furry For School Board, Citing Civility and Experience
Robert Wood has entered the Flagler County School Board District 2 race to challenge incumbent Will Furry. A conservative educator Wood wants to restore prestige and functional civility to a board frequently defined by discord. He brings extensive leadership experience from Western Governors University and the Air Force, and as a local business owner. . He advocates for relationship-driven governance.
Palm Coast Mother Jailed for Abandoning 3 Children at Hospital Over Dog’s Death; 44 Dogs Recovered
Sandra Marie Teague faces three child neglect charges after abandoning her three children at AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway. She allegedly blamed the teenagers for the death of a pet dog. Investigation revealed a home filled with 44 dogs and various other animals living in squalid conditions. Teague remains in jail on a $150,000 bond.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, May 4, 2026
The Palm Coast City Council holds a “retreat” at the Southern Recreation Center, the County Commission meets, the Beverly Beach Town Commission meets, crime novelist Jim Thompson’s Library of America volume.
China Surpasses U.S. In Research While Disinvestment In Basic Science Could Shrink American Economy By Trillions
China now outspends the United States in research and development, marking a structural shift in global scientific leadership. This milestone follows China surpassing the U.S. in patents and highly cited publications. American disinvestment in basic science and tightening research security risk eroding the institutional capacity needed to utilize new knowledge. Without sustained federal support, the U.S. faces significant long-term economic contraction and talent loss.
The Cult of Civics Education Plagues Us Again
Americans have historically demonstrated a profound ignorance regarding their own history and government structures. This lack of academic knowledge did not prevent the nation from thriving or winning wars. Current efforts to mandate civics education often serve as a thin veil for nationalist indoctrination. These movements prioritize submissive obedience over actual empowerment. True American strength relies on cultural dynamism rather than memorizing trivia.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, May 3, 2026
Last performance of ‘Line’ and ‘All In the Timing’ and last performance of the season at City Rep Theatre Simenon’s existentialism, Bill Murray’s energy, “The Sound of Music” at Athens Theatre.
Memo to the West: You Will Not Win the Middle East
The war between the United States, Israel, and Iran lacks a definitive conclusion. Tehran maintains a strategic advantage by defining victory as mere survival. Depleted American missile inventories and divergent allied goals complicate efforts to achieve decisive results. This prolonged stalemate creates systemic risks for global energy markets. Force alone cannot resolve this deeply complex regional entanglement.
Immigration Sweeps Lead to Tens of Thousands More ‘Collateral’ Arrests of Noncriminals in 7 Months
A quarter of immigration arrests since August were labeled by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as “collateral,” a type of arrest and detention that’s been challenged in court as an end run around civil rights. Public outrage and lawsuits over the arrests may be tamping down the large-scale sweeps that foster them, but tens of thousands were arrested this way between August and early March.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, May 2, 2026
Paws For Music: Community Cats Fundraiser at 1405 Saloon, Palm Coast Library Bookfest, ‘Line’ and ‘All In the Timing’ At City Rep Theatre, when a Texas school board banned a textbook over a paragraph on capitalism.
Job Performance Reviews Are Outdated and Often Pointless
Traditional performance reviews are failing the modern workforce because they focus on retrospective assessments and reductive metrics. Employees often view these systems as significant failures yet keep using them due to institutional habits and a false sense of objectivity. Effective management requires a shift toward continuous feedback and adaptable objectives to better reflect the collaborative and creative nature of contemporary professional work environments.
Fifth Year MedNexus Challenge Crowns Team ConnectHer
The next generation of healthcare innovators took the stage at the Palm Coast Community Center, presenting bold, community-focused solutions during the 2026 UNF MedNexus Innovation Challenge. Team ConnectHer, mentored by Dr. Riggs-Achorn, earned first place, with each student receiving a $1,000 scholarship.
Palm Coast Man Arrested for Plucking the Chicken in Front of Minor at Chick-Fil-A Drive-Thru
Luke Mathew Dudkewic, a 33-year-old resident of Palm Coast, faces a second degree felony charge of exhibitionism following his arrest over an allegedly lewd and enraptured exposure to a minor employee in the drive-thru line at Chick-fil-A last Friday. Dudkewic is denying any intentional wrongdoing.
Turmoil at Flagler Beach Fire Department as 5 Firefighters, Including Deputy Chief and Morgan Rainey, Resign
The Flagler Beach Fire Department is facing a leadership crisis as five firefighters tendered their resignations almost on the same day. High-profile departures include Deputy Chief Jennifer Fiveash and veteran Morgan Rainey. Personnel cite intimidation and lack of support under Chief Stephen Cox. City Manager Dale Martin is investigating the internal culture as Cox attributes the friction to chronic understaffing and low pay. Mutual aid from neighboring departments ensures continued public safety coverage.
New Investigative Details Reveal How a Deputy’s Shooting Practice Nearly Killed An 11-Year-Old Boy
A newly released affidavit describes how a projectile allegedly fired by Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy Bryan Jackson from an agency-issued AR-15 grazed an 11-year-old boy inside his home. Detectives navigated obstacles including missing surveillance footage. FBI trajectory analysis conclusively linked the shot to Jackson’s private firing range, as detectives also discovered that one of hisberms had been built on an adjoining property without the property owner’s permission.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, May 1, 2026
‘Line’ and ‘All In the Timing’ enters its final weekend at City Rep Theatre, First Friday in Flagler Beach, “The Sound of Music” at Athens Theatre, consumer confidence at an all-time low.