The Florida Department of Law Enforcement closed a 10-day investigation into what it termed “unverified information” about Commissioner Joe Mullins, finding no corroborating evidence of improprieties.
Palm Coast’s Crystal Clear Pool Owners Carlos and Romina Longo Arrested on 12 Counts of Fraud
Carlos Hernan Longo and his wife Romina Campanella De Longo, who together have owned Crystal Clear Pool of Central Florida since 2010, were arrested today and each charged on 11 counts of fraud and a count of organized scheme to defraud, a first-degree felony.
In Daytona North, $1.9 Million Repaving of 3 Miles of Mahogany Boulevard Set for June
Crews will finally begin repaving the 3.2-mile stretch of Mahogany Boulevard from County Road 305 to Water Oak Road in Daytona North starting next month, county government announced this week.
5th District Court Affirms Convictions of Sex Offenders Shaun Whitt and Ex-Bunnell Cop Mike Stavris
In a trio of decisions today, the Fifth District Court of Appeal let stand convictions of Sean Whitt, who is serving a life term for raping an 11 year old, and Michael Stavris, who is serving 15 years on charges of felony child abuse, stalking and impersonating a child.
Child Vaccination Rate Drops Sharply, Worrying Pediatricians of Public Health Consequences
While a growing number of people are refusing to vaccinate their children in Florida, Some attributed the precipitous drop to the cancellation of pediatrician appointments during the pandemic.
DeSantis Picks Jamaican-American Renatha Francis and Cuban-American John Couriel for Supreme Court
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday appointed John Couriel and Renatha Francis to the Florida Supreme Court, choosing two justices expected to cement the court’s conservative majority for years to come.
Sheriff’s Detectives Investigating Woman’s ‘Suspicious’ Fall from 2nd Floor at European Village
A 41-year-old resident of a second-floor apartment at European Village in Palm Coast fell from her balcony early Sunday morning. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.
Flagler School District Builds Mosaic Honoring Decades of Graduates on Front Lines of Covid Pandemic
The district’s Jason Wheeler sought out graduates of FPC and Matanzas who’d gone on to fill health care and public safety jobs anywhere in the county, the state or the country, and honor them on the district’s Facebook page. There’s been some 200 responses, and counting.
Florida Colleges and Universities Wrestling With When and How to Reopen
Some of the questions gnawing at school leaders are: Who will need to be tested for the virus? Will temperature checks be required before entering classrooms? What will student housing look like? What restrictions will at-risk students and faculty face? What’s the plan for people who get sick mid-semester?
Hundreds of Thousands of Florida Felons Cleared to Vote as Federal Judge Strikes Down Poll Tax-Like Law
U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle’s highly anticipated ruling also laid out a procedure for state elections officials to determine whether felons seeking to vote have outstanding legal financial obligations and are unable to pay court-ordered debts.
Summer Camps and Youth Athletics May Resume in Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday said he is lifting coronavirus-related restrictions on youth activities, including summer camps and athletic events, because he trusts parents and local governments will make the right decisions.
John Paul Runnells, 32, Found Dead of Overdose in His Car at Winn-Dixie Shopping Center
John Paul Runnells, 32, of Jupiter, was found unconscious in a Nissan Altima at the Winn-Dixie plaza off Palm Coast Parkway in what was later determined to have been an overdose death.
Flagler Declares County-Wide Burn Ban, Including Prohibition on Fireworks and Charcoal Grills
Flagler County is enacting a countywide burn ban, including in all cities, starting Saturday, as the drought index continues to rise and firefighters are being deployed on an increasing number of fires.
Flagler County’s Unemployment Vaults to 15.4%, 6th Worst in Florida, With Record 7,000 Jobless
In April, the number of jobless Flagler County residents was at 6,795, a number never seen in Flagler’s or Palm Coast’s history. The figure is an undercount: many more have filed for unemployment since, according to weekly initial claims.
L&M Farms in Flagler, St. Johns and Putnam Gets $1.9 Million to Provide 200 Tons of Produce a Week to Food Banks
The program will help alleviate the pressure food banks have experienced from the crush of people whose breadwinners have lost jobs since the beginning of the coronavirus emergency.
Worrisome Growth of Covid-19 Related Illnesses in Children, Including 12 in Jacksonville Area
Florida has a growing number of children with a Covid-19 related illness, but how long it has been attacking children and the number of pediatric patients who have been treated remains a mystery.
Due To Be Fired, Ex-Coach Ripley Is Allowed to Resign Over ‘Excessive’ Force On 8 Year Old, and Keeps Getting Paid
Ex-Matanzas football coach Robert Ripley was suspended with pay after using excessive force on an 8-year-old boy at Wadsworth Elementary in February. His firing was recommended in March. He’s been kept on through his resignation on May 29.
Flagler County Reopens Vacation Rentals as State Approves Safety Plan, With Restrictions
Flagler County’s vacation rentals may operate again after a two-month hiatus forced by a governor’s order in response to the coronavirus emergency. Rentals may resume immediately.
Before a Fast-Track Covid-19 Vaccine, a Series of Challenges, Risks and Pitfalls
Scientists have expressed skepticism at the breakneck timetable put forward by some Trump administration officials, who say that 100 million doses of a vaccine could be available by November.
Battling a Pandemic of Bigotry
Donald Trump fanned the flames of anti-Asian hostility by repeatedly calling Covid-19 the “Chinese virus” while the National Republican Senatorial Committee advised candidates to “attack China” as a mainstay of their campaign messaging.
Problems Persist for Florida’s Unemployed, Who Are Told to Expect Long Waits on Claims
Florida has scrambled to bring on more computer servers, set up a backup system for people to apply and allowed people to submit claims on paper applications.
Joe Mullins Wanted Sheriff to Fix Speeding Ticket in 2017; He Invoked Staly’s Name in Traffic Stop Last Week
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said he refused to fix a speeding ticket for Commissioner Joe Mullins three years ago. Last week, Mullins invoked both his own name and Staly’s during a traffic stop in Palm Coast.
New Sheriff’s HQ in Bunnell Will Be Built On Site Formerly Reserved for New Branch Library
A new Sheriff’s Operations Center will be built on an 8.4-acre site south of Commerce Parkway in Bunnell, but that bumps out a library planned for that site. The library will be built across the street, assuming negotiations with a church that owns the acreage are successful.
Palm Coast Data Laying Off 150, Closing Shop on Commerce Blvd. and Looking For New Home in the City
A combination of legal wrangles and financial difficulties led to Palm Coast Data’s eviction from its Commerce Boulevard location and layoffs of 40 percent of its workforce as it outsources core services. The company pledges to remain in Palm Coast.
Alleged Arsonist Arrested for 2 Fires Near Publix and Citgo on Belle Terre Parkway
Daniel Da Costa, 26, of Palm Coast, faces two counts of arson and a count of manufacturing a fire bomb. He blamed an argument with his mother earlier that night as causing him to light the fires.
Guidelines Issued on Reopening Nursing Homes to Visitors
The federal government on Monday released guidelines states could follow to reopen long-term care facilities to visitors.
Thomas Walter Brown Jr., 59, Dies of Gunshot Suicide on CR 305’s Haw Creek Bridge
Thomas Walter Brown Jr., a 59-year-old resident of Jacksonville, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound fired as he stood by the railing along the Haw Creek bridge on County Road 305 Monday evening, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office reports.
Daytona State College Nursing Student Cassie Angrisani Recognized by State Board of Educators
Daytona State College nursing student Cassie Angrisani has been recognized by the State Board of Education for her work as an emergency responder on the front lines during the COVID-19 crisis. Angrisani was honored on Wednesday, before the Board’s regular meeting by Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran and Division of Florida Colleges Chancellor Kathy Hebda.
Florida Has Cases of Kawasaki Syndrome-Like Child Illnesses Tied to Covid-19
Surgeon General Scott Rivkees encouraged physicians and hospitals to make sure they report any suspected cases of what is known as a “multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children” to health department officials.
County Ready to Settle Lawsuit With Captain’s BBQ at Bing’s Landing, With Concessions From Both Sides
The county would make numerous financial and building concessions to Captain’s. In exchange, Captain’s agrees to remain at the current location, end its litigation, and pay a somewhat higher rent over time.
Ex-Tourism Chief Matt Dunn Did Business With Friends, But No ‘Kick-Backs’: FDLE Drops Investigation
Flagler County’s ex-tourism director Matt Dunn was suspended 13 months ago and fired in October following allegations of embezzlement. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement Agency now says no evidence warrants a criminal investigation.
Flagler Beach Cancels July 4 Parade and Fireworks, Palm Coast Does Likewise in Latest Covid Casualties
For the first time in 22 years, Flagler Beach will not hold its traditional July 4 parade and fireworks, nor will Palm Coast hold its own Independence Day festivities, which would have normally taken place in Central Park on July 3.
14-Year-Old Girl Takes Deputies on High-Speed Chase Through Palm Coast’s P-Section
The 14-year-old girl was driving a Jeep Wrangler at high speed through the P Section, with a 15-year-old passenger, before stop sticks forced her to pull over. She was arrested.
Shuttered Almost Two Months, Vacation Rentals May Reopen, With County and State Approval
Counties can submit vacation-rental reopening plans to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which will have to sign off on the proposals.
Food Drops Are Not Enough. Expand Food Stamps Programs Now.
Big food drops like Palm Coast’s effort to feed 5,000 families are fine, but only an expanded SNAP (or food stamps) program can reach all families in need with an existing system that also acts as an economic stimulus for local business.
“Immune to Evidence”: How Dangerous Coronavirus Conspiracies Spread
Conspiratorial videos and websites about COVID-19 are going viral. Here’s how one of the authors of “The Conspiracy Theory Handbook” says you can fight back. One big takeaway: Focus your efforts on people who can hear evidence and think rationally.
AdventHealth Acknowledges 25,000 Covid-19 Tests Were Unreliable, Putting Recent Results In Doubt
AdventHealth blamed the unreliability of some 25,000 tests, including over 1,000 provided in Palm Coast, on Orlando-based MicroGenDX, a company that won emergency FDA approval to provide spit tests on the promise of accuracy and quick turn-arounds.
Gyms Reopen Monday at 50% Capacity, Restaurants and Shops Expand to 50%, Theaters Remain Dark
Gov. Ron DeSantis today announced what he described as a “full Phase 1” reopening of society and the economy even as the state recorded more than 40 deaths from Covid-19 for the fourth straight day, and an average of 600 daily infections in the past two weeks.
Why You’re Not Hearing Back on Your Covid-19 Test Results
Numerous residents in Palm Coast and Flagler County have been complaining of not getting back Covid-19 test results. The problem issued from a backlogged lab in Texas AdventHealth was using, but no longer is.
Fact Check: GOP’s McConnell Falsely Claims Obama Team Never left a ‘Game Plan’ For Pandemics
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell falsely claimed that the Obama administration didn’t leave a plan behind on handling pandemics. In fact, it left a detailed plan, including how to confront a novel coronavirus.
Flagler Beach’s $571,000 Fire Truck Buy Delayed Until Public Can Voice Concerns In Person
The decision to delay a decision followed a 40-minute discussion on the truck by the city commission, including a presentation by Fire Chief Bobby Pace, who defended the purchase.
Superwash Express Now Offering Interior Fogging Sanitizer
The fogging technique kills germs and disinfects the air in your car, as well as sanitizes the door panels, the dashboard and the seats. The service team then sanitizes all the touch points in the automobile – steering wheel, door handle, gear shifter, and the key fob.
The Real Reason Trump Wants to Reopen the Economy
Donald Trump is trying to force the economy to reopen to boost his electoral chances, and he’s selling out Americans’ health to seal the deal, argues Robert Reich.
DeSantis Signals Restaurant Seating Capacity Will Expand and Gyms Will Reopen
Gov. Ron DeSantis said he will announce Friday additional “phase one” measures to reopen the state’s economy, with the moves expected to include allowing more people to be seated in restaurants and allowing gyms to operate.
Flagler Beach Faces Decision Over Golf Course as Terry McManus Turns Himself In Over Fraud Charge
The felony charge against Terry McManus raises questions for Flagler Beach government, which owns the golf course he manages, regarding the future of that relationship. The relationship has been rocky from the start.
Mask-Wearing Is Not About Personal Liberty but Communal Health, Palm Coast Town Hall Experts Say
Is wearing a mask in public too much to ask for as Palm Coast and Flagler reopen? Does it infringe on individuals’ liberties? Two physicians, the Flagler Health Department’s chief and Palm Coast’s fire chief give an unequivocal No.
“Idiots” Remark Comes Back to Haunt Jack Howell as Fellow-Councilman Branquinho Berates Him
Palm Coast City Council member Eddie Branquinho excoriated fellow-Council member Jack Howell for six minutes at the end of Tuesday’s council meeting, over an article Howell wrote, proposing financial measures in light of the Covid-19 emergency. Branquinho said the article was politically motivated.
Palm Coast Man Accused of Raping Girl, 16, Denies Having Sex With Her Despite DNA Evidence
Kwentel Lakelvrick Moultrie, 21, of Palm Coast, seemed to borrow the argument of another man on trial for having sex with a minor the week detectives interviewed Moultrie, claiming he never touched his 16-year-old victim.
Florida as Sports Hub: DeSantis Wants Professional and Youth Teams to Resume Playing in State
The Washington Post reported that Major League Soccer is looking to house players in large resorts near Disney World as a way for games to resume for all 26 teams in Orlando.
Caesar DePaço, Portugal’s Honorary Consul in Palm Coast Since 2014, Resigns Indignantly
Citing “unacceptable conduct” and “irreconcilable” differences with the Portuguese ambassador to the United States, Caesar DePaço resigned abruptly Tuesday evening, leaving the future of the honorary consulate in Palm Coast in doubt.