Describing the law as “substantially overbroad,” a federal appeals court Tuesday upheld a preliminary injunction blocking a 2023 Florida law aimed at preventing children from attending drag shows. The 2-1 majority opinion said that “by providing only vague guidance as to which performances it prohibits, the act (the law) wields a shotgun when the First Amendment allows a scalpel at most.” The decision by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals backed the Central Florida venue Hamburger Mary’s in a First Amendment challenge to the law.
First New College. Now University of West Florida: President Resigns Ahead of DeSantis Reeducation Campaign
University of West Florida President Martha Saunders will resign months ahead of the expiration of her contract on Dec. 31, she announced Monday morning. She has served as president since 2017. The resignation came after Gov. Ron DeSantis made clear his intention to overhaul the Pensacola university as he did New College, including controversial trustee appointments and criticisms of university research and student activities.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Clay Jones on the grifting of a 747, the Palm Coast City Council talks dredging and commercial vehicles in driveways, the Community Traffic Safety Team meets, Alastair Horn on Napoleonic corruption, Robert Caro on Robert Moses’ corruption.
Florida Orange Production On Pace to Be Lowest Since Great Depression
The new estimate for oranges is about 35 percent lower than the 18.06 million boxes filled during the 2024-2025 season, which was the lowest since the 1935-1936 season. Orange production is on pace to be lowest since the 1931-1932 season.
Your Text Abbreviations Send the Wrong Message
The mere inclusion of abbreviations, although seemingly benign, start feeling like a brush-off. In other words, whenever a texter chops words down to their bare consonants, recipients sense a lack of effort, which causes them to disengage. It’s a subtle but pervasive phenomenon that most people don’t intuit.
DeSantis Passes on ‘Dog and Pony’ Budget Summit to End Impasse
After negotiations over the state budget between the GOP House and Senate leadership broke down Friday, the Florida Republican Party of Florida stepped in, proposing to host a summit between Gov. Ron DeSantis, Speaker Daniel Perez, and Senate President Ben Albritton. The talks would include senior staff and leadership teams in a bid for a common path forward as the two chambers remain billions of dollars apart due to competing tax cut proposals. But DeSantis said Monday that he’s not interested.
Flagler Beach Will Crack Down on Contractors Trashing the City and Flouting Rules at Residents’ Expense
Flagler Beach commissioners want to crack down on contractors who are trashing the city, not respecting its rules or its residents, and leaving behind messes without being accountable. Commissioners are asking for stepped-up enforcement–either through a new ordinance or through the building official, who can issue stop-work orders if contractors continue to break rules.
Flagler Schools Face $2.5 Million Deficit as 400 Students Leave District for Private Vouchers in 3% Enrollment Decline
Private and homeschool vouchers are beginning to take a heavier toll on the Flagler County school district as enrollment is forecast to decline by 432 students by fall, a 3 percent decline, reducing the district’s funding by $2.5 million. That’s equivalent to 30 fewer teachers. Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore is concerned that the pattern may be unsustainable as the district analyzes needs and resources over the next three, four and five years and as the shift to vouchers accelerates.
Connecting to Palm Coast Expo Orients New Residents With Score of Organizations
The Palm Coast Community Center was full of energy and excitement on the evening of May 7, as vendors and residents gathered for the spring edition of the Connecting to Palm Coast Expo. Organized by the Palm Coast Citizens Academy Alumni Ambassadors, the event brought together a vibrant mix of city departments, non-profits, civic groups, and local partners—all eager to welcome new residents and strengthen community ties.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, May 12, 2025
The Flagler County Land Acquisition Committee meets, as does the Library Board of Trustees, the romance with radio and its darker wavelengths from Father Coughlin to the podcast age, a few words from Alexander Theroux.
Threatening Diversity Threatens Growth
Dramatic shifts in US policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) carry deep economic consequences. Beyond the immediate harm to trans individuals, these policies pose threats to multinational companies that have long defended inclusive workplace values. Their leaders must now navigate a cultural minefield where staying silent risks public backlash, while openly supporting trans employees can invite legal and political complications. The business repercussions of this moral issue could affect everything from brand reputation to talent retention.
To Protect Florida’s Environment, Conservation Is Cheaper Than Restoration
Restoration projects are a major industry all over Florida. The biggest example is the Everglades, which has become the largest and most expensive environmental restoration project in human history. The Everglades were once regarded as an obstacle to progress, development, and farming, all of which conspired to get rid of it. Then we learned our lesson: the Everglades are a vital natural habitat. Despite the clear lesson of the Everglades, our shortsighted leaders keep allowing the same damage or destruction of other precious parcels of Florida’s ecosystems.
County Judge Lauren Peffer Faces Charges Over Fabricated Phone Call
A judicial panel filed a “notice of formal charges” against Broward County Judge Lauren Peffer, who used a deepfake phone call, fabricated with artificial intelligence, to claim that the judiciary was in crisis. She did not verify the recording before using it during her campaign.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, May 11, 2025
Gamble Jam at Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach, last day for RockabillieWillie At City Repertory Theatre, the ongoing demolition of 2 million Gazans.
Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris Thinks the FBI or CIA Is Bugging His Phone
In the course of a lengthy conversation with a Palm Coast resident who was investigating why and how a six-second voice mail from Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris’s phone ended up disseminated publicly in a clumsy attempt to accuse a council member of corruption, Norris suggested he may have been “wiretapped” by the FBI or CIA. It was the latest in a continuing series of bizarre behavior and statements by the mayor.
Getting to Know Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV’s choice of a papal name could indicate a point of view. Pope Leo XIII wrote a groundbreaking encyclical in 1891, “Rerum Novarum,” subtitled “On Dignity and Labor.” In this he stressed the rights of workers to unionize and criticized the conditions in which they worked and lived. He also championed other rights the ordinary worker deserved from their bosses and from their government.
Florida Republicans Devour Their Own
Florida’s elected representatives are fighting like weasels in a sack. The Senate versus the House; the House versus the governor; the governor versus everybody. Senate President Ben Albritton politely insists he won’t pass massive tax cuts “at the expense of the long-term financial stability of our state.” Such tax cuts would pretty much ensure county and municipal governments — police, firefighters, parks, roads, libraries — would take an enormous hit.
Bill to Help Domestic Violence Victims Dies
Legislation that aimed to provide more resources to domestic violence victims was permanently shelved this Regular Session after failing to progress through its assigned committees. The legislation would have established an app that allows a victim to reach law enforcement without alerting the perpetrator. Boynton Beach Democratic Sen. Lori Berman sponsored the measure (SB 240).
NOAA Cuts Are Putting Our Coastal Communities At Risk
For Americans on the Gulf or Atlantic coasts, the daily weather forecast always comes with a constant thrum of worry — any small disturbance in the Atlantic has the potential to evolve into a major storm. And as hurricane season gets underway, the palace intrigue, staffing cuts at NOAA, and general upheaval of national leadership could have dire effects for people on these coasts.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, May 10, 2025
RockabillieWillie At City Repertory Theatre, Murder at Shivering Timbers Murder Mystery Dinner Show Fundraiser, Peps Art Walk in Flagler Beach, donations for Travis Sundell and SunBros Cafe, Robert Louis Stevenson on death.
The African Penguin May Be Extinct by 2035
In October, the African penguin became the first penguin species in the world to be listed as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. This is a sad record for Africa’s only penguin, and means it is now just one step away from extinction.
Black Bear Kills Man 100 Yards from His Home, 1st Ever Fatal Attack in Florida
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has concluded its initial investigation into what is confirmed to be the first fatal Florida black bear attack in state history this week in Jerome, Florida.
Young Boy in Cardiac Arrest Saved by Flagler County 911 Team, Deputies and Paramedics
On the afternoon of May 8, deputies, firefighters, and paramedics responded to a 911 call in the F-Section of Palm Coast after a young boy had stopped breathing. Together, they worked to save the child’s life.
$2.8 Billion Tax Cut Deal Collapses as Senate President Calls It Unsustainable in Light of Coming Budget Shortfalls
A $2.8 billion tax cut deal reached between Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez last week to help bring the 2025 regular session to a close is now off the table. The breakdown means legislators are nowhere near coming up with a new budget, which needs to be in place by July 1 or the state risks a government shutdown.
Flagler Beach Mayor Patti King Questions Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris’s ‘Authenticity’ on Beach Plan
Flagler Beach Mayor Patti King said Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris told her on May 9 several times that “he is all in agreement with the beach management plan as it’s been proposed.” If so, that would represent a significant shift for Norris and a boost for the county’s plan, which has been losing support from its own county commissioners. But King was quick to add: “I’m a little concerned about the authenticity” of the mayor’s statement, a reflection of Norris’s mercurial, unpredictable behavior in the past few weeks.
Flagler Beach Will Consider Selling Ocean Palm Golf Club to Leaseholder, With Conditional Milestones
The Flagler Beach City Commission gave the leaseholder of the city-owned Ocean Palm Golf Club a month to submit a proposal to buy the 37-acre property, paired with a capital improvement plan. If there is to be a sale, it would be conditional on Jeff Ryan, the leaseholder, meeting a series of milestones to prove that he is capable of securing the money necessary to do the work, and to do the work to the high standard he is promising. Those milestones will have to be negotiated.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, May 9, 2025
RockabillieWillie At City Repertory Theatre, Ed Danko on Free for All Fridays, Ben Rhodes on the rapid decomposition of the United States, David Brooks talks to Mark Lilla on “Ignorance and Bliss.”
Tariffs, Trade Wars and the Great Depression’s Lessons
The 1930s witnessed not only an economic crisis, but also a transformation of the international system fuelled, in part, by misguided political and trade decisions. This historical lesson, as the current case of Trump’s tariffs demonstrates, continues to be ignored by leaders who prioritise short-term populist measures over global economic stability.
Flagler County Middle Schoolers Qualify for International Competition for 2nd Year in a Row
BTMS seventh-grade students James Webb and Alexander Mangal turned their most recent performance into a berth into the International SeaPerch Competition being held at the University of Maryland on May 31 and June 1. Their second place finish at the Greater Jacksonville SeaPerch Regional Competition April 13 earned “Team Swift Sharks” one of the coveted spots. BTMS student Luke Chrzanowski will also be attending as an alternate.
Without a Single Question, Bunnell Board Approves Rezoning of Nearly 1,900 Acres to Industrial, Outraging Residents
The Bunnell planning board on Tuesday approved the comprehensive plan change and rezoning of nearly 1,900 acres from agriculture to industrial, on land stretching from U.S. 1 to County Road 304. It is the single-largest rezoning of the kind in the city’s or county’s history and would reshape the character of both as surely as would the massive 8,000-home residential development proposed for west of the city. Yet the planning board recommended approval on a pair of 3-1 votes without a single question, inquiry or comment.
Mayor Mike Norris’s Lawsuit Against Palm Coast Has Merit. And Limits.
It is one of the mocking ironies of the Palm Coast reality show known as America’s Next Top Mayor that the same man found to have violated the city charter is now invoking it to boot fellow Councilman Charles Gambaro off the island. Yet the lawsuit Norris filed against the city this week, arguing that the council violated the charter when it appointed Gambaro last October, has merit. The strict wording of the charter, poorly written though it is, is on Norris’s side. But a less fundamentalist interpretation of the charter is not.
Metronet Contractor Punctures Flagler Beach Water Main for 2nd Time in 24 Hours, Again Affecting City’s Water
A contractor for the high-speed internet company Metronet whose boring machine punctured Flagler Beach’s main water line Wednesday morning, cutting off water to the city, did so again this morning, 100 yards west of yesterday’s mistake. The puncture again sent potable water gushing into a ditch, forcing the city to shut down service to enable repairs.
DeSantis Stands By Attorney General’s Defiance of Federal Court Order Halting Cops’ Arrests of Migrants
Gov. Ron DeSantis is standing by Attorney General James Uthmeier’s open defiance of a federal court order requiring law enforcement agencies in Florida to halt immigration arrests under a new state immigration law. Talking with reporters in Tampa, the governor said the episode raises a “larger issue” of who can enact public policy in the United States.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, May 8, 2025
The Flagler Beach City Commission meets, Evening at the Whitney Lecture Series, Model Yacht Club Races, a terrible memory triggered by Simenon and one of his Maigret novels.
If Approved, Religious Charter Schools Will Shift Yet More Money from Traditional Public Schools
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on April 30, 2025, in what could be the most consequential case for public education since the court started requiring schools to desegregate in the years following Brown v. Board of Education. If the court allows churches to operate religious charter schools, the public education system, as Americans know it, will take on an entirely new face and set of financial challenges.
Judge Gary Farmer, ‘Discriminatory, Offensive, Sexually Charged, and Demeaning,’ Fights Suspension
Arguing he has “learned his lesson,” Broward County Circuit Judge Gary Farmer, a former Senate Democratic leader, this week urged the Florida Supreme Court to reject a recommendation that he be immediately suspended after an investigative panel accused him of “pervasive and extensive” behavior demonstrating “unfitness to hold office.” Farmer was elected as a judge in Broward County’s 17th Judicial Circuit in 2022 after six years in the Senate. He served as Senate minority leader during the 2021 legislative session but was ousted after a vote of no confidence by fellow Democrats.
Palm Coast and Flagler County Burn Ban Issued in April Is Extended Through May 14 Despite Rain
The Flagler County burn declared on April 23 and in effect countywide has been extended through May 14, the county announced today even though some areas of Flagler County started receiving rain Wednesday.
Sheriff Staly Cautions Palm Coast Mayor Norris on Mystery Claims: ‘We Just Don’t Go on Witch Hunts and Innuendoes’
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said today that Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris is welcome to report an allegation of a “quid pro quo” involving him and suggesting an attempted bribe from a developer, but cautions that “we just don’t go on witch hunts and innuendoes,” or “fishing expeditions,” and that in any case the way Norris has handled the matter so far has likely undermined any effective investigation.
Broadband Company’s Contractor Severs Flagler Beach’s Main Water Line on SR100, Cutting Off City’s Supply
A contractor laying down broadband cables for Metronet, the Evansville, Ind.-based high-speed internet company, struck Flagler Beach’s main water line on State Road 100 late this morning, cutting off supply to the city.
Quid Pro Quoi? Mayor Norris Flips Against Discussing Incendiary Accusation About Mystery Developer
After agreeing to openly discuss an alleged “quid pro quo” a developer had offered him, Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris said at last night’s meeting he wouldn’t talk about it after all, and take his case to law enforcement. Still, Norris’s conduct was one more example in an accumulating series of bizarre behavior, conspiratorial statements, accusations, deflections and flip-flops that continue to shift the sands under the council’s feet and project more images of distrust and dysfunction.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Connecting to Palm Coast Expo at the Palm Coast Community Center, Separation Chat, Open Discussion, Weekly Chess Club for Teens, at the public library, when Retif de la Bretonne and Ronald Reagan were big readers.
How Trans People Affirmed Their Gender in Medieval Europe
Restrictions on medical care for transgender youth assume that without the ability to medically transition, trans people will vanish. History, however, shows that withholding health care does not make transgender people go away. Scholarship of medieval literature and historical records reveals how transgender people transitioned even without a robust medical system – instead, they changed their clothes, name and social position.
Firing Recruiting Firm, Palm Coast Council Agrees to Re-Start City-Led Search for 90 Days as Mayor Attacks Administration
The Palm Coast City Council unanimously agreed to fire SGR, the recruiting firm that had led the search for a city manager since last April, and directed the city administration to post the position for 90 days. Mayor Mike Norris’s attempt to yet again attempt to hire Rich Hough, a candidate who withdrew Monday, failed. The council worked through that segment of the meeting through more antagonism between Mayor Norris and Council member Charles Gambaro, and from a raucous audience.
DeSantis Calls House’s Property Tax Cut Study as ‘Dog and Pony Show’
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke out during a press availability in Miami on Tuesday to take more verbal shots at Florida House Republicans — this time regarding the select committee studying a potential cut in property taxes formed by House Speaker Daniel Perez, which convened for the first time on Friday.
Sustainable: Palm Coast Marks 20 Years of Arbor Day
Sunshine, smiles, and sustainability took center stage as Palm Coast’s 20th Annual Arbor Day celebration drew hundreds of residents from across the community this past Saturday. This milestone event marked two decades of environmental awareness and community connection, blending eco-conscious fun with family-friendly festivities.
3-Judge Panel of Fifth District Court of Appeal Hears Arguments at Flagler County Courthouse for 1st Time
For the first time in recent memory, and perhaps ever, a panel of the Fifth District Court of Appeal held oral arguments at the Flagler County courthouse this morning, hearing three cases, none local. One of the three cases centered on the meaning of theft, and whether a defendant had in fact committed a crime–grand theft–when she diverted business from her employer, even though she did not steal products.
U.S. Rep. Randy Fine Picks Ex-Palm Coast Councilman Ed Danko as District Director in Flagler, St. Johns and Volusia
U.S. Rep. Randy Fine, the unfiltered provocateur and former member of the Florida Senate who won a special election in April to claim the Flagler County-centered congressional seat vacated by Mike Waltz, has chosen the like-minded former member of the Palm Coast City Council to be his regional director in Flagler, Volusia and St Johns County: Ed Danko. Danko begins his job on the federal payroll Friday.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
5th District Court of Appeal holds a session at the Flagler County courthouse, the Palm Coast City Council decides what to do next on its city manager search, and a new lawsuit, the Bunnell Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board considers a massive rezoning.
How Groupthink Creates Intolerance
People struggle to express tolerance for different moral values – for instance, about sexual orientation, helping the poor, being a stay-at-home mother and so on. In study after study, people are less willing to help, share with, date, be roommates with and even work for people who have different moral values. Even children and adolescents express more willingness to shun and punish moral transgressors than people who do something personally obnoxious or offensive but not immoral.
AdventHealth Hospitals Hire More than 800 Nurses in Flagler, Volusia and Lake Counties in Past Year
Amid a national nursing shortage, the AdventHealth East Florida Division is taking action by expanding its nursing workforce, enhancing hands-on training programs, and reinforcing its commitment to exceptional patient care across its seven hospitals in Flagler, Lake, and Volusia counties. In the past year, the division hired more than 800 new nurses and opened a second center for education and simulation to help nurses gain hands-on experience before they step into a hospital room.