Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, whose sentence was commuted by President Trump in 2025, announced the far-right militia’s relaunch. Leveraging a “sacred” pledge to the Constitution to recruit veterans, Rhodes plans a decentralized, “cancel-proof” structure with resilient IT. Experts warn that the lack of consequences for Jan. 6 crimes is emboldening the group’s return to prominence.
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Daily Cartoon and Briefing
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, January 11, 2026
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local
FDLE Investigating After Former Daycare Owner Dies at Flagler County Jail of Apparent Alcohol Poisoning
Vadim Valenteychik, 54, died of alcohol poisoning at the Flagler County jail on Friday morning following a DUI arrest. Despite recording a blood-alcohol level over four times the legal limit, he was medically cleared by a local hospital before being booked. Deputies found him unresponsive in a monitored cell several hours later. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incident.
Incumbents John Rogers and Pete Young Re-elected Unopposed in Bunnell Despite Growth Controversies
Bunnell City Commissioners John Rogers and Pete Young were automatically re-elected today after no challengers qualified to run against them, leading to the cancellation of the March 3 election. Despite a year marked by heated debates over massive residential developments and industrial rezoning, the incumbents retained their seats without opposition. While Rogers opposed the major growth initiatives and Young supported them, voters expressed apparent satisfaction or indifference toward the current commission’s direction.
Flagler Beach Approves Historic 545-Acre Summertown Annexation in 4-1 Vote But Numerous Concerns Persist
The Flagler Beach City Commission approved the 545-acre Summertown annexation, increasing the city’s land mass by 20 percent. Despite a 4-1 vote, the project remains controversial due to its reliance on a fiscal study the city did not produce and unresolved plans for preserving 153 acres of floodplain around the headwaters of Bulow Creek. While supporters tout economic growth and local control, critics warn of rising utility costs, increased traffic, and potential tax shifts that could burden existing residents.
More Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local
Matt Doughney Pedals Into Retirement After 4,439 days as Flagler Beach Police Chief, Swapping Gun for Bike
After 12 years of service, Flagler Beach Police Chief Matthew Doughney officially retired during an emotional City Commission meeting. Known for his community-focused “bicycle policing,” Doughney chose to keep his bike rather than his service weapon on departing. During his farewell, he highlighted his work in rebuilding public trust and thanked the leaders who supported his 2013 hiring. Acting Chief Lance Blanchette led the ceremony as the department nears its upcoming professional accreditation.
Flagler County’s Jobless Rate Spikes to 6.1 Percent, Highest Since October 2020, and Labor Force Stalls
Flagler County’s unemployment rate surged to 6.1 percent in November, marking a five-year high as the local labor force remains stagnant. While tourism revenue shows modest growth driven by luxury vacation rentals, the housing market is signaling a significant slowdown, with the time to secure a contract reaching levels not seen since the 2012 housing recovery. Despite a slight year-end uptick in consumer sentiment, overall economic confidence across Florida declined throughout 2025.
10 Years Prison, 20 Years Probation for 70-Year-Old in Plea to Lesser Charge of Abusing Neighbor Girl for Years
Kermit Carl Booth, a 70-year-old former Volusia County school employee, pleaded guilty to attempted sexual battery of a child under 12. He received a 10-year prison sentence followed by 20 years of strict sex-offender probation. Booth was caught after the victim’s boyfriend, posing as the victim in text messages, extracted incriminating confessions. Upon release, Booth will be designated a sexual predator, wear a GPS monitor, and must reimburse the county for his extradition costs.
A Motorcyclist Is Killed, Another in Critical Condition After They’re Rear-Ended on A1A in Flagler Beach
A fatal chain-reaction collision on State Road A1A in Flagler Beach left one motorcyclist dead and another critically injured Wednesday afternoon. After a Chevrolet rear-ended two motorcycles into a propane truck, traffic diversions led to two secondary incidents, including a semi-truck hitting a fire hydrant and a car striking a fire engine. Flagler Beach Fire Chief Stephen Cox reminded drivers to adhere to Florida’s Move Over law in emergency zones.
Capturing the Essence: Laniece Fagundes Returns as Billie Holiday at City Rep’s ‘Lady Day’
City Repertory Theatre in Palm Coast celebrates its 15th season by reviving “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” running January 9–18. Starring veteran performer Laniece Fagundes as Billie Holiday and Ben Beck as her pianist, the production explores the legendary singer’s final months in 1959. Rather than a simple imitation, Fagundes seeks to embody Holiday’s emotional essence, weaving her tragic personal history and “cursive” vocal style into a revelatory, semi-fictionalized musical performance.
Bomb Squad Sweeps Student Car at Matanzas High as Palm Coast Explosives Investigation Leads to Campus
A suspicious explosives investigation led Flagler County sheriff’s deputies to a student’s car at Matanzas High School today, prompting a partial campus “hold” and the arrival of a bomb squad. While an explosives-detection dog alerted to the vehicle, Sheriff Rick Staly emphasized there was no direct threat to the school or students. The investigation stems from two prior incidents in Palm Coast that are still under investigation. No arrests were made, and school officials expect to resume normal operations tomorrow.
Parking Capacity Will Double at Indian Trails Sports Complex, But Council Also Wants More Fields Lit Up Soon
The Palm Coast City Council unanimously approved a $1.55 million project to add 136 parking spaces to the Indian Trails Sports Complex, nearly doubling its capacity. Utilizing city crews is expected to save $350,000. While the project addresses long-standing congestion affecting nearby schools and churches, council members are also pushing to accelerate a $1 million lighting expansion for additional fields to maximize tourism revenue and accommodate a growing schedule of year-round sports tournaments.
70-Year-Old Homeless Man Accused of Minor’s Rape in Tent Near Palm Harbor Circle K Will Serve 6 Years in Prison
Jose Valerio-Rodriguez, 70, was sentenced to six years in prison followed by nine years of probation after pleading no contest to sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl in his tent behind the Circle K on Palm Harbor Parkway. By accepting a plea deal, Valerio-Rodriguez avoided a potential life sentence and a trial scheduled for next week. Upon completing his five remaining years of incarceration, the undocumented migrant faces likely deportation. The prosecution’s case included recorded confessions and evidence of the defendant grooming the victim.
From Redistricting to Property Tax Elimination to School Voucher Failures: Lawmakers Convene for High-Stakes 2026 Session
Florida’s 2026 legislative session kicks off next week with lawmakers tackling a $117.36 billion budget, artificial intelligence regulations, and potential property tax cuts. Key debates include repealing gun purchase age limits, redrawing congressional districts for the 2026 elections, and addressing “growing pains” in school voucher programs. Additionally, Senate leaders are pushing a “rural renaissance” plan to revitalize the state’s agricultural heartlands.
Palm Coast Republican to Congressional Delegation: Do Your Job
Former Palm Coast City Council member and attorney Robert Cuff, a Republican most of his adult life, writes Rep. Randy Fine and Sens. Rick Scott and Ashley Moddy of his grave concern over President Trump’s unilateral military intervention in Venezuela, criticizing the lack of bipartisan Congressional notification and the dismissal of constitutional checks. Urging an end to legislative abdication, the letter demands that Congress reassert its authority over war and spending to restrain an increasingly unaccountable executive branch.
Web Surfing for Hookups with Sex Offenders While on Probation Sends Former Scientist George Proulx Back to Prison
Former Palm Coast resident George Proulx has been sentenced to an additional four years in prison following a violation of his sex offender probation. Released in 2024 after serving four years for abusing four adolescents, Proulx was caught accessing the internet and tracking female sex offenders. Despite a potential 45-year maximum sentence for the violation, a negotiated plea deal will see him released at age 76 with no further probation, provided he continues registering as an offender.
The Live Calendar: Today in Flagler
January 2026
Jan 11 2026
Grace Community Food Pantry on Education Way
Flagler School District Bus Depot
Jan 11 2026
Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village
European Village
Jan 11 2026
“Turtle Trail Artists of Flagler County,” at Expressions Art Gallery
Expressions Art Gallery, Grand Living Realty
Jan 11 2026
Al-Anon Family Groups
Bridges United Methodist Fellowship
Jan 11 2026
‘Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,’ the Billie Holiday Story, at City Rep Theatre
City Repertory Theatre at City Marketplace
Jan 12 2026
Flagler County Library Board of Trustees
Flagler County Public Library
Jan 12 2026
Flagler County Commission Evening Meeting
Government Services Building
Jan 12 2026
Nar-Anon Family Group
St. Mark by the Sea Lutheran Church
Jan 12 2026
Bunnell City Commission Meeting
Bunnell City Hall
Jan 13 2026
Palm Coast City Council Workshop
Palm Coast City Hall
Jan 13 2026
Community Traffic Safety Team Meeting
Third Floor Conference Room, Government Services Building
Jan 13 2026
Flagler Beach United Methodist Church Food Pantry
Flagler Beach United Methodist Church
No event found!
The Conversation
More Than Half the New Articles on the Web Are Written by AI
In what may seem like a tipping point, the digital marketing firm Graphite recently published a study showing that more than 50% of articles on the web are being generated by artificial intelligence. If you’re more likely to read something written by AI than by a human on the internet, is it only a matter of time before human writing becomes obsolete? Or is this simply another technological development that humans will adapt to?
Florida and Beyond
Saturday in Byblos:
Henry James’s ‘Special Type’ and the Ethics of Exploitation
Henry James’s 1900 story “The Special Type” is basically Dear Abby for its time, highlighting class-rancid exploitation through the kind of modern elitism anyone would recognize today: Commodifying human beings is not a corporate invention.
DeSantis Signs First 2026 Death Warrant Following Record-Breaking Year of Executions
Following a record-breaking nineteen executions in 2025, Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a death warrant for Ronald Heath, scheduled for February 10. Heath was convicted for the 1989 robbery and murder of Michael Sheridan in Alachua County. Heath’s younger brother is serving a life sentence for his involvement.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, January 10, 2026
“Lady Day” at City Repertory Theatre, the Saturday Flagler Beach Farmers Market, Second Saturday Plant Sale at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, American Association of University Women (AAUW) Monthly Meeting, and a few words about Mehmet Oz’s new booze guidance.
More Florida and Beyond
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, January 9, 2026
Free For All Friday’s media editors’ roundtable looks back on 2025, Rick Belhumeur’s moon shot, Sasha Baron Cohen encourages Americans to embrace dictatorship, a few words about poetry’s lost place in society.
More Disciplined Police Warn Against Tactic that Led to ICE Killing in Minnesota
Decades ago, the New York City Police Department prohibited its officers from shooting at moving vehicles. That led to a drop in police killings without putting officers in greater danger. But not all agencies have implemented prohibitions on shooting at vehicles. Even in agencies that have, some policies are weak or ambiguous.
JD Vance Blames Victim in ICE Shooting and Asks for Prayers for Her Killer
“I would appreciate everybody saying a prayer for that agent,” J.D. Vance said, defending the agent’s actions and attacking media over the reporting of the agent’s killing of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, whom he blamed for her death: “I’m not happy that this woman was there at a protest violating the law by interfering with the law enforcement action,” he said.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, January 8, 2026
The Flagler Beach City Commission takes up the possible annexation of Summertown/Veranda Bay, Model Yacht Club Races, the annual “52 Places to Go” feature that makes you feel like a poor worm, a few lines from Oran.
Iranian Protesters Are Rejecting Islamic Republic’s Whole Rationale
Protests go deeper than economic frustration alone. When people in Iran chant “Neither Gaza nor Lebanon,” they are, I believe, rejecting the theocratic system in Iran entirely. In other words, the current crisis isn’t just about bread and jobs, it’s about who decides what Iran stands for.
DeSantis Calls Special Session for April to Redistrict in Hopes of Preserving GOP Majority in US House
Governor Ron DeSantis has officially called a special legislative session for April 2026 to redraw Florida’s congressional districts mid-decade. The move follows pressure from national GOP figures but faces internal resistance from House Speaker Danny Perez, who favors immediate action. DeSantis argues the state must wait for a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on racial gerrymandering. This disagreement highlights growing tension between the Governor and a Florida Legislature increasingly seeking independence from executive influence.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, January 7, 2026
From Tennessee Williams to Greenland’s Icy Mountains and Clay Jones correcting the record on what liberals want for Venezuela, the Palm Coast Code Enforcement Board meets, as does the Republican Club, plus a Voltaire pick-me-up on bad health.
White Nationalism Is Fueling Political Violence Nationwide
Political violence among rival partisans has been a deadly and destabilizing force throughout history and across the globe. It has claimed countless lives, deepened social divisions and even led to the collapse of democratic systems. Escalating acts of violence in the United States parallel Europe’s authoritarian past. Reports of politically motivated violence are distressingly common – ranging from mass shootings, car-ramming attacks and assaults at demonstrations to assassination attempts, kidnappings and threats targeting mayors, governors, political activists and members of Congress.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Flagler Beach’s Planning and Architectural Review Board meets, the Palm Coast City Council meets, the zoning board meets, a tally of America’s imperialism in Central and Latin America, remembering, not fondly, Henry Kissinger.
Can U.S. Run Venezuela? Unlikely.
Washington increasingly relies on coercion – military, economic and political – not only to deter adversaries but to compel compliance from weaker nations. This may deliver short-term obedience, but it is counterproductive as a strategy for building durable power, which depends on legitimacy and capacity. When coercion is applied to governance, it can harden resistance, narrow diplomatic options and transform local political failures into contests of national pride.
Judge Rules ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Immigration Detention Facility Is Exempt from Florida’s Prison Access Laws
A Leon County circuit judge has dismissed a lawsuit by five Democratic lawmakers seeking unannounced access to the state’s “Alligator Alcatraz” immigrant detention center. Judge Jonathan Sjostrom ruled that state laws granting legislators access to prisons and jails do not apply because the Everglades facility is not a correctional institution under the Department of Corrections. The ruling supports the DeSantis administration’s argument that individual lawmakers lack the oversight authority held by legislative committees.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, January 5, 2026
The Beverly Beach Town Commission is first to get back into the swing of things with a meeting this evening, the Chief Justice, like Herbert Hoover after the Great Crash, thinks America is dandy, an observation from the Thousand and One Nights.
Trump’s New World Order Is Taking Shape in Venezuela
The attack on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro herald the decoupling of Trump’s United States from the rules-based international order, and the end of liberal order as a whole. A new international order is now emerging, based on the use of force, revisionism and security on the American continent. Here are five keys to understanding the outcomes of the military intervention, and the new order it ushers in.
Commentary
Trump Is Whitewashing Slavery’s Brutal Reality
Trump is seeking to to purge public memorials and markers honoring the suffering and heroism of the enslaved as well as those who championed their freedom. Among the materials reportedly flagged for removal from history museums, national parks and other government facilities is a disturbing but powerful photograph known as “The Scourged Back.”
Saturday in Byblos
Getting to Know Karl Ove Knausgaard
Karl Ove Knausgaard’s “My Struggle” is a polarizing masterpiece of autofiction, blending mundane details with profound existential dread. Despite his flat style and occasionally tedious philosophical tangents, Knausgaard’s uncompromising honesty regarding family, addiction, and self-loathing creates a bewitching, page-turning intimacy as he ennobles the ordinary. His place as a Scandinavian literary giant seems assured even as he tests the reader’s patience with his massive scale.
Maduro’s Kidnapping: What We Know So Far
The US campaign against Venezuela is the product of two distinct policy impulses within the Trump administration. The first is the long held desire of many Republican hawks, including the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, to force regime change in Caracas. The second impulse is more complex. Trump campaigned for election in 2024 on the idea that his administration would not become involved in foreign conflicts. But his administration claims that Venezuela’s government and military are involved in drug trafficking.