The West Volusia Branch of the NAACP named Teriauna Carruthers the 2026 recipient of the David H. Staples Scholarship. Carruthers graduated from T. DeWitt Taylor High School with a 3.78 grade-point average. She earned a 3.8 grade-point average at Daytona State College through dual enrollment. The multi-sport athlete and student leader will major in psychology at the University of North Florida this fall.
Archives for June 2026
No Protests, No DEI, No Woke, Solo University Of Florida Presidential Finalist Stuart Bell Pledges in Campus Forums
University of Florida presidential finalist–the only finalist–Stuart Bell defended his record during campus forums on Wednesday, aligning himself with state conservative leaders by explicitly rejecting diversity, equity, inclusion, protests and wokism, promising swift action against campus protest encampments. Trustees vote on his appointment next week. He needs final confirmation from the Board of Governors to secure the permanent position.
Flagler County Man Dies After Car Rolls Into I-95 Retention Pond at Palm Coast Parkway Exit
A Flagler County man lost his life this morning when his car rolled over from the I-95 exit ramp to Palm Coast Parkway and ended up submerged and upside down in a retention pond. The man had been driving north when he took the Exit 289 ramp, apparently at high speed. The car veered off the ramp and struck a tree before ending up in the pond some 40 feet from the embankment.
NE Florida Regional Council Declares Data Centers Regional Issue on Andy Dance’s Motion, Empowering Local Governments
The Northeast Florida Regional Council unanimously voted to designate data center growth as an official regional issue on Flagler County Commissioner Andy Dance’s motion at a meeting in Jacksonville this morning. The move unlocks planning, legal, and economic resources for seven member counties and two dozen cities that are members of the council, including palm Coast and Flagler County, which are working toward a data center moratorium. Governments face challenges balancing heavy utility demands and environmental impacts against regional economic development.
Commissioner Kim Carney Accuses CFO Ingoglia of Using Flagler as ‘Campaign Crutch’ as He Peddles Unproven Claims of Waste
The Flagler County Commission directed its administration to draft an official rebuttal countering claims by CFO Blaise Ingoglia, of $59 million in local government waste. The accusations rely on a misleading formula deployed statewide as a campaign tactic as Ingoglia uses counties like Flagler as a “crutch” in his campaign, Commissioner Kim Carney said. Flagler commissioners defended budget growth, citing necessary investments, including the restoration of required emergency cash reserves.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, June 4, 2026
The Battle of Shallowford, a play at Limelight Theatre, Model Yacht Club Races at the Pond, getting the measure of the universe without falling into an abyss of absurd.
The World Cup Is About Cultural Exchange. But in Trump’s America?
The most culturally diverse men’s football World Cup in history is taking place in the United States at a time when foreign nationals feel less and less welcome in the country. In 2026, the US has created an unwelcome situation for potential travellers. ICE raids on suspected migrant populations have dominated the news for months. This has an impact on numbers.
A Man Dies in RV Fire on Lake Drive in Bunnell
Bunnell Police Department officers and detectives today investigated an early morning fire involving a recreational vehicle that killed one occupant on Lake Drive in Bunnell, the neighborhood just north of Gospel Gardens and Old Moody Boulevard.
Day of Disparities: 3 Men Charged with Statutory Rape Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison, 4 Years in Prison, Probation
Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols handed down three vastly different sentences for similar statutory rape cases today. The defendants received terms ranging from probation to seven years in prison even as they faced similar charges in cases that did not involve force and presented similar circumstances. Variations in prosecution tactics and victim family input contributed significantly to the unequal judicial outcomes.
Palm Coast Joins Flagler County in Considering 1-Year Moratorium on New Data Centers to Rewrite Rules
Driven by concerns over data centers’ electricity and water consumption and their impacts on the environment and quality of life, the Palm Coast City Council on Tuesday joined the County Commission in a planned year-long moratorium on new data centers to update land-use codes. Existing regulations lack protections against high-impact facilities. A temporary moratorium provides breathing room to study infrastructure limits.
Comments From Deputy County Attorney Trigger Defamation Lawsuit From Ex-Employee Commission Just Settled With
Former Flagler County human resources manager Samantha Whitfield filed a new lawsuit on June 2, charging civil rights violations and defamation. The action followed remarks by Deputy County Attorney Sean Moylan, who called her initial whistleblower lawsuit frivolous before commissioners approved a $20,000 settlement on Monday. The new lawsuit was filed the next day, as Whitfield’s attorney indicated set aside the settlement.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Jermaine Williams is in court for a docket sounding, Conversations in Democracy, Bingo Night at Palm Coast Elks Lodge 2709, electric vehicle sales worldwide, how immigrants pay more in taxes than the native-born.
No Economic Gains for U.S. Workers Where Ice Ramped Up Enforcement
In the first year of Trump’s second term, unemployment rose, hiring slowed and wage growth stagnated. The construction sector was hit particularly hard. While areas with heavier ICE enforcement saw a drop in employment among immigrants, there was no increase in either employment or wages among U.S. citizens.
Trump Nominates Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez as Ambassador to Brazil
Perez, R-Miami, has long been a Trump supporter and recently helped pass a redrawing of Florida’s congressional districts, after the President had called on GOP-led states to pass new maps to help Republicans maintain control of the U.S. House.
4-Hour SWAT Team Deployment in R-Section Leads to Man’s Arrest for Kidnapping and Armed Threats
A Flagler County dispute over a motorcycle seat escalated into violence when James Emory Pudder allegedly pulled a handgun on his live-in girlfriend and her brother in an R-Section house in Palm Coast late Sunday night. A large SWAT deployment eventually resulted in the man’s arrest, after he’d fled across the street to a neighbor’s house.
Flagler County and City Officials Warn of Severe Cuts to Government Services if Voters Approve Measure to Cut Homestead Taxes
The Florida Legislature approved a constitutional amendment ballot measure scaling back homesteaded property taxes and capping non-homesteaded property valuations. Flagler County faces a projected first-year loss of $35 million, climbing to $60 million in year two. Local administrators and elected officials warn that this shifting tax structure will trigger severe, programmatic budget cuts for essential municipal services, including parks, libraries, and animal control, and speak with dismay at lawmakers’ silence on alternative funding sources.
Hearing Delayed and Jail Time Extended For Man Expelled From Rehab Over Refusing to Profess Faith in God
A legal resolution is expected by June 16 for Joshua King, a 29-year-old probationer held at the Flagler County jail for almost a month following his expulsion from Faith Farm Ministries, a private addiction recovery program. He was discharged because he refused to profess a belief in a Christian God, resulting in an alleged probation violation, for which he has yet to be arraigned.
GOP Delegates at State Convention Hold Moment of Silence for Derek Chauvin, George Floyd’s Convicted Murderer
Christopher Rocco, one of the over 2,000 delegates at Minnesota’s Republican state convention last weekend, called for a 30-second moment of silence for Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of murdering George Floyd in 2020 after kneeling on Floyd’s neck and back for over nine minutes in an arrest over a suspected $20 counterfeit bill. Chauvin is still alive and in prison.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Joshua King is arraigned after getting booted out of a recovery program where he would not profess faith in God, the Palm Coast City Council meets, Beaufort Castle from the Crusades to Israel, back under occupation.
Federal Flood Insurance’s Two Moral Hazards
Perverse incentives create different cycles of vulnerability across income levels. The problem with federal disaster insurance today isn’t just about subsidizing wealthier coastal homeowners – it’s equally about leaving low-income households systematically underinsured without resources to either protect themselves or leave.
East Flagler Mosquito Control District Collects Over 1400 Tires During Amnesty Days
The East Flagler Mosquito Control District (EFMCD) collected 1,441 tires during its Tire Amnesty Days event May 29-31, marking it the most successful collection in the program’s history.
Flagler Emergency Director Jonathan Lord Warns Dual Fiscal Storms Could Wipe Out Local Hurricane Recovery
Flagler County Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord warned that local governments potentially face a severe financial crisis as proposed federal policy changes to FEMA would restrict disaster designations and shift recovery costs to local municipalities. Simultaneously, a state special session may result in a constitutional amendment proposal eliminating or reducing homestead property taxes. The loss of local revenue would directly threatens the funding required for emergency infrastructure, personnel, and vital community protection services.
Flagler Commissioners Approve $20,000 Settlement with Former HR Manager in Lawsuit Termed ‘Bogus’ and ‘Frivolous’
The Flagler County Commission voted 3-1 to approve a $20,000 settlement with former human resources manager Samantha Whitfield, who alleged wrongful termination after she reported a colleague’s misconduct. County officials labeled the lawsuit frivolous and bogus. The insurer negotiated the settlement strictly as a cost-saving business decision but Commissioner Andy Dance opposed the payout and is looking for a policy controlling the handling of future employment lawsuits.
Vetoes Are Next as Lawmakers Shift from $114.5 Billion Budget to Special Session on Eliminating Property Taxes
The Florida Legislature approved a $114.5 billion state budget only to immediately face a special session to debate Gov. Ron DeSantis’s controversial homestead property tax exemption proposal. He’s expected to use his veto power as leverage.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, June 1, 2026
The Flagler County Commission considers a proposal to keep the Adult Day Care program going through a public-private partnership, the Beverly Beach Town Commission meets, Stade Rolland Garros’s sordid history.
Palm Coast Man, 21, Accused of Statutory Rape and Recording Encounter With 15-Year-Old Girl
Micah McGuire, 21, of Palm Coast, faces felony charges after investigators alleged he had sexual contact with a 15-year-old girl and recorded part of the encounter using her cell phone. Video evidence, witness statements, and the suspect’s admissions linked him to the case, according to his arrest report. Authorities also accused him of resisting deputies executing a search warrant. The investigation remains active as detectives seek additional potential victims.