The gap between what people experience in real time and what journalism can responsibly publish has widened. This gap is partly where trust erodes. Social media collapses the distance between event, exposure and interpretation. Claims circulate before journalists can evaluate them.
Archives for August 4, 2026
Appeals Court Upholds Florida Ban on Children at Drag Shows
A federal appeals court has upheld a Florida law banning children from attending drag shows, a measure put in place with the support of Gov. Ron DeSantis. In an 8-5 opinion handed down Tuesday, the majority ruled the law was constitutional, while those on the dissenting side criticized the measure as overreach.
Flagler County Commissioners Criticize Sheriff and Clerk, But From a Desert of Budget Information
Flagler County commissioners held a frustrating budget workshop Monday amid a dearth of financial documents or a framework for clear discussion. The proposed property tax rate remains virtually unchanged. Commissioners criticized constitutional officers for failing to reduce their budgets sufficiently. Sheriff Rick Staly and Clerk of Court Tom Bexley defended their respective spending requests, pointing out cuts and savings.
Flagler County Commission Will Hold Initial Zoom Interviews with Six Administrator Candidates
The Flagler County Commission will conduct public Zoom interviews with six finalists for the county administrator position later this month. The commission plans to select two or three finalists for in-person interviews in late August before making a final hiring decision shortly thereafter.
20-Year-Old Drunk Driver Avoids Prison in Lenient Sentence for Injuring Ebiker on Belle Terre Parkway
Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols sentenced Mollie Hayes, 20, of Palm Coast, to 180 days in jail and four years on probation for striking and severely injuring an ebiker on Belle Terre Parkway and Pine Grove Drive. Hayes avoided a felony conviction through a plea agreement–for now: The judge is almost certain she will violate her terms. If so, she would be adjudicated a felon and sentenced to prison.
Calling Homestead Amendment Ballot Measure Misleading Political Rhetoric, Judge Orders Rewrite
The title and summary of a property tax cut proposal to be placed on the November ballot contain political rhetoric and are misleading, and must be redrafted, a Leon Circuit Court judge ruled late Monday. “Voters are entitled to a fair, clear, accurate and non-misleading ballot statement to assist them in making their critical determination,” Judge David Frank wrote in his 18-page ruling.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, August 4, 2026
The Palm Coast City Council meets, the Flagler Beach’s Planning and Architectural Review Board meets, a note from the “Wasting Your Breath” Department.