What is expected to be three days of jury selection started today in the death penalty trial of Jermaine Williams for the stabbing murder of his wife in Bunnell in 2024. All but 28 of the 75 potential jurors in the first pool were excused due to personal hardships, prior media exposure or issues with capital punishment. Judge Dawn Nichols is summoning 100 additional potential jurors Tuesday.
Gas Prices Rise Again as Peace Deal Collapses
Gas prices in Florida inched up over the past week after President Donald Trump declared a tentative peace deal with Iran as “over.” In Palm Coast and Flagler Beach, prices for unleaded regular are ranging between $3.77 and $3.89 at most stations.
3 Groups Formed to Oppose Homestead Amendment So Far. None Formed to Support It.
Less than four months before Floridians vote on a proposal to phase out property taxes for homeowners, there’s no organized campaign seeking to move the measure past the 60% vote required for passage. Not even the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which has long opposed placing issues on Florida’s Constitution that could be solved through the legislative process.
Greg Feldman, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Greg Feldman is one of two Republican candidates for Flagler County Commission, District 2, an open seat this year: Greg Hansen has opted not to run again. In the primary, Feldman is running against Theresa Pontieri, who is completing her first term as a Palm Coast City Council member.
Ignite the Night! Fundraiser for Flagler Beach Fire Department at Tortugas July 18
On July 18, 2026, local non-profit Flagler Strong will host a community event & fundraising concert dedicated to supporting the Flagler Beach Fire Department (FBFD) and Ocean Rescue teams—doubling as the official 10th Anniversary Celebration for Tortugas Florida Kitchen & Bar.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, July 13, 2026
Jury selection in the first day of the trial of Jermaine Williams Sr. begins. He faces the death penalty for the murder of his wife in Bunnell in 2024. The County Commission meets. Reflections on the death penalty.
A Rare Bipartisan Housing Bill Will Help But Won’t Solve Affordability Crisis
The Road to Housing Act recently became official law. The legislation focuses heavily on regulatory changes to address the national housing crisis. Reforms restrict institutional investors from purchasing standalone properties and reduce construction costs for builders. Housing policy experts warn these modest adjustments fail to resolve the fundamental affordability crisis because millions of Americans still lack sufficient income to secure housing in the current market.
Failing Seawall at Castillo de San Marcos Gets 18-Month Reconstruction
On July 27, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument will begin mobilizing for construction to replace, raise and rehabilitate the park’s failing seawalls and protect the historic fort and the broader St. Augustine community. Visitor access to the historic fort will be maintained throughout this project, which is expected to take approximately 18 months.
Landmark Housing Bill Becomes Law Without Trump’s Signature
President Donald Trump said Friday morning he would not sign federal legislation aimed at lowering the cost of housing, but the bipartisan package became law at 12:01 a.m. Saturday anyway.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday July 12, 2026
Clay Jones on Trump’s flying bribe of a 747 he can’t even fly, heat index values as high as 107, Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village, if you can brave the heat, Eudora Welty’s “Powerhouse” tribute to Fats Waller.
Pulling a Trump, Convicted Felon and Extremist Marine LePen Will Run for French Presidency
Marine Le Pen has confirmed she intends to run in next year’s presidential election in France, despite her appeal against a conviction for embezzlement of EU funds being rejected. This may well prove to be a missed opportunity for RN to fight the election under the leadership of Le Pen’s deputy, the youthful and charismatic Jordan Bardella. Bardella was slated to run if Le Pen had been barred from the election.
DeSantis Blames Court for Calling Out His Overreach on Woke Act
Gov. Ron DeSantis called the 11th Circuit’s blocking of the “Stop WOKE Act” a “clear and unfortunate example of judicial overreach,” reacting to the second ruling this week against his anti “woke” agenda.
29th Inmate to Be Executed in 19 Months in Florida Wants DeSantis to Attend His Killing
Dennis Michael Sochor, convicted of strangling an 18-year-old woman he met at a New Year’s celebration in a Broward County bar 44 years ago, is scheduled to die by lethal injection Tuesday at Florida State Prison. His last wish? To have Gov. Ron DeSantis personally observe his execution up close and personal.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, July 11, 2026
American Association of University Women (AAUW) monthly meeting, Gamble Jam, Second Saturday Plant Sale at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, AI errors, Bowie is afraid of Americans.
Justice Jackson’s Birthright Citizenship Opinion Was Grounded in Black History, Thomas’s In Distortion
The Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship in Trump v. Barbara, invalidating an executive order targeting children of undocumented immigrants. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a historic concurrence highlighting the intellectual scaffolding built by Black Americans through historic colored conventions. Her inclusive originalist interpretation directly challenged Justice Clarence Thomas’ narrow historical narrative, reframing the Fourteenth Amendment as a collective achievement born of Black patriotic resistance.
Liz Ryan Is Flagler Broadcasting’s New Regional News Director
Liz Ryan, who joined Flagler Broadcasting four years ago as a street reporter, has been promoted to regional news director for the company’s Palm Coast and St. Augustine operations.
Flagler Beach Borrows Ormond Deputy Fire Chief Nate Quartier To Lead Fire Department as Fiveash Exits
Ormond Beach Deputy Fire Chief Nate Quartier assumed leadership of the rebuilding Flagler Beach Fire Department on July 2 as an interim through the end of September if necessary, replacing acting chief Jennifer Fiveash following the May firing of Stephen Cox. The department lost half its staff through recent resignations and that firing. Cox is challenging his termination before the city Personnel Review Board.
Father And Son Arrested After Locking Distressed Dogs And Pigeons Inside Hot U-Haul Truck
Sheriff’s deputies arrested a father and son on misdemeanor animal cruelty charges Thursday afternoon after authorities discovered two severely distressed dogs and two suffocating pigeons trapped inside a scorching U-Haul cargo box. The temperature reached 102 degrees in the truck during the family’s travel from Miami. The animals were taken to a local veterinary hospital.
Judge Bars Heat Of Passion Defense In Husband’s Killing of Yolonda Williams On Eve of Death Penalty Trial
A Flagler County judge restricted the defense from arguing a crime of passion without first establishing legal provocation in the trial of Jermaine Williams Sr., who faces the death penalty for the August 2024 stabbing death of his wife, Yolonda Williams. The ruling blocks expert psychological testimony in the trial that begins Monday. Consequently, the defense may have to call Williams to testify to attempt to prove he was provoked.
Florida Intentionally Keeping SNAP Error Rate High to Slash Eligibility and Reduce Beneficiaries, Democrats Say
If Florida doesn’t lower its SNAP error rates, the state could have to pay as much as $1 billion to continue to participate in the federal food security program. Florida Democratic Party Chair Chair Nikki Fried says the high error rate might not be due to mundane mistakes but rather a tactic to limit participation in the federal benefit, formally called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, July 10, 2026
The Flagler Democratic Party’s Janet Sullivan on Free For All, Coffee and Conversation with Palm Coast City Manager Michael McGlothlin, Food Truck Friday at the Farm, Agriculture Museum, a Declaration of the Rights of Trees.
The Bayeux Tapestry’s Norman Propaganda Silenced Voices of Grief and Resistance Now Uncovered
The Bayeux Tapestry celebrates the Norman Conquest of 1066 from the perspective of the victors, but contemporary English documents preserve the story of the side of the conquered. The Life of King Edward conveys the silent trauma and grief of the English ruling class as later Anglo-Saxon Chronicles explicitly condemned Norman oppression. These native sources prove history belongs to more than just winning armies’ propaganda.
Water Shortage Restrictions Continue As Drought Recovery Continues
While many areas across northeast and central Florida have received frequent rainfall in recent weeks, the St. Johns River Water Management District (District) is reminding residents, businesses and large water users that drought recovery takes time and continued water conservation remains crucial.
No Stand Your Ground: Palm Coast Teen Arrested in Connection with Double-Shooting at Beach Village Apartments
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested 18-year-old Micah McGill on Tuesday for a November shooting at a Palm Coast apartment complex, when he allegedly intervened with a stolen firearm during a domestic dispute between his sister and her boyfriend. Both men were wounded in the altercation. Smith completed a deferred prosecution agreement for misdemeanor battery, but McGill faces three second-degree felony charges.
Site Plan for Florida State Guard Training Facility in Bunnell Approved, But Questions Loom Over Its Future
The Florida State Guard training facility in Bunnell remains unbuilt almost two years after its groundbreaking ceremony. The Bunnell Planning Board on Tuesday approved the site plan, which still hinges on the State Guard paying long-overdue review fees. Sheriff Staly is deeply frustrated with the state Department of Management Services over continuous administrative delays and severe budget overruns, putting in question whether the facility will actually get built or even used by a Guard facing its own budget cutbacks.
Florida Pastors Call on Elected Officials Reinstate Temporary Protected Status For Haitian Immigrants After Ruling
Florida pastors are urging elected officials to reinstate Temporary Protected Status for Haitians following a Supreme Court ruling allowing the federal government to end the program. Led by the Reverend Doctor RB Holmes_Jr., the faith leaders called on state and federal lawmakers to protect the 93,000 Haitian TPS holders currently working across Florida and establish a clear pathway toward permanent American citizenship.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thelonious Monk Teddy Roosevelt LBJ
Northeast Florida Regional Council Board of Directors Meeting, the Flagler Beach City Commission meets, Model Yacht Club Races at the Pond in Palm Coast’s Central Park, Teddy Roosevelt at the National Wholesale Grocers’ Association.
Stricter SNAP Stocking Rules Threaten Small Grocery Stores
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is introducing stricter stocking rules for retailers accepting SNAP benefits. Small corner stores and bodegas must significantly expand their offerings of perishable and nutritious foods by November 2026. Experts warn these mandates could prompt small shops to abandon the program entirely. This shift reduces food access for low-income families, compounding recent legislative cuts that reduced overall program enrollment.
Hurricane Forecast Is Again Downgraded, to ‘Well Below Normal’
Storm forecasters have further downgraded predictions a little more than a month into the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which has so far produced a single named tropical system.
Flagler’s 1st Death Penalty Trial in 2 Decades Begins Monday For Man Accused Of Stabbing His Wife To Death
Jermaine Williams Sr. faces a capital murder charge on Monday in Flagler County’s first death penalty case since 2007. Prosecutors seek the death penalty for the 2024 stabbing death of his wife, Yolonda, who’d been a local advocate for individuals in difficulties, including domestic violence victims. Surveillance video of the attack is part of the evidence. The defense lost two dozen pretrial motions before Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols.
Tempers Flare As Palm Coast Council Advances Parts of $600 Million Utility System Expansion and Improvements
The Palm Coast City Council unanimously approved $8.3 million in utility infrastructure spending on Tuesday. The routine approvals, part of the much larger $600 million plan to expand and improve the water and wastewater system, provoked confrontations with local candidates and residents over public comment boundaries even as council members spoke of the approvals’ transparency. The oldest municipal treatment plant requires expansion to meet a state environmental consent order.
Palm Coast Council Pushes for Pedestrian-Safety Crosswalks and Signs Near Lehigh Trail at Royal Palms
The Palm Coast City Council is pushing for crosswalks, signs, and traffic safety enhancements at several busy Town Center intersections following safety complaints from a P-Section resident who described difficulties safely crossing Royal Palms Parkway to access the Lehigh Trail.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, July 8, 2026
The Public Safety Coordinating Council meets, Conversations in Democracy, an updated image of Fire Station 51 on the west side, goons on masked parade in Washington.
Malthus’s Doom and Gloom’s Lessons for Today
Understanding Malthus in a broader context reveals a very different character. As discussed in the 2025 book “Impasse: Climate Change and the Limits of Progress,” Malthus was an innovative and insightful thinker. Not only was he one of the founding figures of environmental economics, but he also turned out to be a prophetic critic of the belief that history tends toward human improvement, which we call progress.
Flagler County Celebrates 250th Independence Day with Floats, Hot Diggity Dogs, Warbirds and Fireworks
Flagler County municipalities coordinated the 2026 United Flagler Fourth celebration to mark America’s 250th independence anniversary with a daylong event that began with a morning parade in Flagler Beach then, at the county airport, veteran tributes, a historic warbird flyover, and an inaugural hot dog eating contest. A fireworks display concluded the free regional festival.
Florida’s ‘Stop WOKE Act’ at Universities Ruled Unconstitutional in Blunt Decision by Trump Appointee
A federal appeals court decisively ruled Florida’s Stop WOKE Act unconstitutional in public university classrooms. The Eleventh Circuit panel affirmed that the First Amendment protects academic freedom, preventing viewpoint discrimination by the state government. The ruling blocks Florida from restricting diverse classroom discussions regarding Critical Race Theory and marks a major constitutional legal defeat for the DeSantis administration’s efforts to control higher education classroom speech.
DCF Reports 3 Verified Flagler Cases of Child Commercial Sexual Exploitation in 2025, and 434 in the State
A new state legislative report reveals Florida verified a record 434 child sexual exploitation victims in 2025, three of them in Flagler County and 14 in Volusia. Oppaga attributes the increase to improved agency identification methods rather than increased incidence. Serious infrastructure gaps remain. Florida lacks sufficient safe foster homes and data-sharing systems, leaving vulnerable juvenile victims without critical placements, survivor mentors, or specialized therapeutic treatments.
Palm Coast Teenager Faces Felony Animal Cruelty Charge After Starving Puppy Dies From Organ Failure
18-year-old Chance Jones of Palm Coast faces a felony animal cruelty charge after a 5-month-old puppy died from starvation on July 4. Authorities found the severely malnourished dog locked inside a detached apartment garage without food, water, or ventilation. Jones said he only fed the animal every few weeks due to care difficulties.
Flagler Beach Programmer Rory Belmont, 44, Arrested on Rape and Other Charges Following Ordeal with Girlfriend
Flagler Beach resident Rory Victor Belmont, 44, was jailed without bond following accusations of a brutal domestic assault on his long-term girlfriend, including repeated rapes. The state filed a motion for pretrial detention on allegations of severe physical abuse, repeated strangulation, and forced sexual acts. Authorities located Belmont in Volusia County after he fled on an electric scooter. He five felony charges, including first-degree forcible rape.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, July 7, 2026
The Palm Coast City Council meets at 6 p.m., Flagler Beach’s Planning and Architectural Review Board meets, The Bunnell Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board meets, car dealerships as surgical wards.
Teacher’s Career Hinges On First Amendment Battle After Her Firing Over Charlie Kirk Comments
Kelly Brock-Sanchez, a former Clay County public school teacher fired for making controversial Facebook comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, is fighting to save her career after her private posts went viral. She filed a federal lawsuit claiming the punishment violates her First Amendment rights. An administrative hearing will determine whether she permanently loses her Florida teaching certificate.
Poll Shows Property Tax Amendment with 64% Support
Florida’s proposed property tax amendment would likely pass if the November election were held today, with nearly two-thirds of voters in the state supporting it. But support fractures dramatically along party lines, with Republicans backing the change at nearly three times the rate of Democrats, new Sachs Media polling shows.
World Cup’s Credibility Is Red Carded After Trump’s Call
Fifa, international football’s governing body, has not only so far declined to give any detailed reasoning for its decision to suspend what would be a standard one game ban following Balogun red card. The reversal appears to result from direct pressure from the White House. Media reports suggest that Donald Trump made three calls to Fifa, starting from Wednesday, to ensure that the red card was overturned. The White House has said that the call was made to understand why Balogun was sent off and the reason for the suspension.
Former Athens Theatre Director Craig Uppercue Steps Into Leadership Role At Flagler Auditorium Today
Craig Uppercue brings decades of theatrical and educational experience to his new role as director of the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center. Taking over for Amelia Fulmer, the veteran arts administrator plans to prioritize student programs and explore bringing live music and touring shows to the venue. He hopes to replicate the growth he previously helped to orchestrate at the vibrant Athens Theatre in DeLand.
July 4 Fire Destroys Building At Santore And Sons Fireworks Manufacturing Complex In West Flagler
A July 4 fire destroyed a cinder block storage building at the Santore and Sons fireworks manufacturing compound in West Flagler. The structure contained paper goods and partially assembled pyrotechnics. No employees were present and there were no injuries. First responders quickly extinguished the blaze. The state fire marshal is currently investigating a potential lightning strike as the cause.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, July 6, 2026
The Beverly Beach Town Commission meets, the cost of data centers in electricity, dueling banjos, a note from Mar Reisener’s “Cadillac Desert” on another age’s power hogs.
Texas Approves Mandatory Public School Bible Readings
The Texas State Board of Education recently mandated a public school reading list featuring various biblical passages, violating the establishment clause of the First Amendment by prioritizing Christian teachings. Historical legal precedents over the past century consistently reject non-secular classroom instruction. Texas’s narrow policy fails to reflect religious diversity and faces inevitable litigation before its staggered implementation begins.
Homestead Tax Cut Could Cost You More, 3 Degrees Florida Says
3 Degrees Florida says it is not against property tax relief. Instead, the group is sounding the alarm that the amendment could make it harder for local governments to pay for essential services if it passes. The group’s branding draws heavily on the Titanic disaster.
Red and Blue States Align in Unlikely Bipartisan Push for States’ Rights Against Federal Overreach in Trump Era
Liberals, longtime proponents of a stronger central government, are now championing an ideology that evokes odious memories of slavery and segregation. Many state leaders hope that a renewed focus on federalism could help lower the national political temperature. By shifting more political decisions to the states, they envision a nation less subject to blue-red swings that change the entire course of federal law enforcement, environmental policy and business regulation.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, July 5, 2026
Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village, Chekhov’s “Beggar,” a story of caring before hectoring, Andy Sipowicz saves Danny’s job, a few lines from Joseph Heller’s Something Happened.