Researchers who have tracked drug use for decades believe the new meth crisis got a kick-start from the opioid epidemic: Across the country, more and more opioid users say they now use meth as well, up from 19% in 2011 to 34% in 2017.
Monday Briefing: Mid-90s, Bunnell Decision on Homeless Shelter, FPC’s Own K-9, Bow Wow Bingo Benefit
The Bunnell City Commission takes up an appeal of its zoning board’s vote shuttering the cold-weather shelter run by volunteers at a Bunnell church, the Flagler Humane Society has a fund-raiser at the Elks Lodge.
Calling It ‘Fiscally Responsible,’ Governor Signs $91 Billion Budget, Vetoing Just $131 Million
Gov. DeSantis praised lawmakers for exceeding his request for spending on environmental projects and for a boost in per-student funding in public schools, though as FlaglerLive previously reported, that funding increase is not necessarily what it seems.
Michael Wilson Acquitted of Attempted Murder of His Pregnant Wife, Jury Convicts on Lesser Charges
Michael Wilson was acquitted of the most serious charge against him–attempting to electrocute his wife–but convicted on a grand theft charge and a battery charge, exposing him to up top five years in prison.
Just Fired in Volusia, Tom Russell Overcomes Deep Skepticism to Win FPC Principal’s Job
Tom Russell, Fired last week after a four and a half year tenure as Volusia’s superintendent, becomes the eighth principal in 15 years at FPC, but pledges to be there for up to seven years, and finish his career there.
Weekend Briefing: JJ Graham’s New Works, ‘Carrie: The Musical’ at Playhouse, Senior Cookout, Wilson Verdict
Artist JJ Graham has a new show at Salvo Art House in Bunnell Saturday, the Spotlight Performers stage “Carrie: the Musical” at the Flagler Playhouse, a family fun day, Dive-In Movies and a senior celebration, among other events.
State By State, the War on Pot Is Ending
Dozens of new state laws are expanding legal cannabis use — and expunging the records of users caught up in the system. This unprecedented wave of legislative activity at the state level is yet further evidence that public consensus on cannabis legalization has undergone a seismic shift.
‘I Do Hear Voices,’ Man Accused of Plotting Wife’s Electrocution Says, But He’s Not Allowed to Tell the Jury
Wilson faces an attempted first-degree murder charge, for rigging his own home’s entry door in Palm Coast with a contraption intended to electrocute his wife around Christmas 2017. But he’s barred from speaking of his mental health or issues in front of the jury.
5th Amendment Extends to iPhone Passcode, Court Rules, Denying Police Access to Defendant’s Phone
The ruling by a panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal in a 2018 Alachua County robbery case came after two other state appellate courts came to different conclusions about forcing defendants to supply passcodes to unlock cell phones.
40-ft. Trawler Is Gutted in 2-Hour Fire By Moody Ramp Under Flagler Beach Bridge
A 40-ft. trawler that had begun its journey on the St. Johns River and was making its way south was gutted by fire this afternoon, burning for some two hours as firefighters fought the blaze under the Flagler Beach bridge at Moody Boat Launch. No one was injured.
Flagler Health Department Wants To Offer Free HPV Vaccine to Teen Students, But School Board Is Unconvinced
The HPV vaccine immunizes against the sexually transmitted disease and prevents nine cancers, and local immunization is very low, but two Flagler school board members are not eager to see it offered to 13 to 17 year olds.
Thursday Briefing: Wilson Trial, Inspired Mic, ‘Jaws,’ Mullins at AACS, Concert Hall Art Contest
The Inspired Mic, Flagler’s most daring improv for all, holds another edition at Hidden Treasure, Michael Wilson’s trial on attempted first degree murder enters its third day, ‘Jaws’ is 44.
Man Accused of Attempting to Kill His Wife By Electrocution Says Using a Gun Would’ve Been Easier, If That’s What He Intended
Michael Scott Wilson, 33, is accused of rigging up the entry door to his Palm Coast home in the W Section with electric current to shock his wife to death around Christmas 2017 as the couple was having serious marital difficulties.
To Sue or Not to Sue: County Wrestles With Sheriff’s Space Needs at Courthouse
Despite a county commission vote ordering its administration to find more space for the sheriff at the county courthouse, the county administrator and the county attorney have demurred.
Roy Carlisi, Facing Domestic Violence Charges and No-Contact Order, Is Arrested for 3rd Time in 9 Days
Roy Carlisi was booked at the Flagler County jail for the third time in nine days after allegedly tampering and breaking his GPS angle monitor, claiming it had become too tight.
Combative Exchanges Punctuate Hearing on Broward Sheriff Scott Israel’s Fate
Israel and his lawyers maintain that the suspension, something DeSantis pledged to do while running for office last year, was a political ploy aimed at winning favor with voters in Democrat-rich Broward County and supporters of the National Rifle Association.
Wednesday Briefing: Community Stars Nominations, Replanting A1A, Rhonda Harvey at Tiger Bay
The Rotary is taking Community Stars nominations, SMA Healthcare’s Rhonda Harvey speaks at Tiger Bay, County Commissioner Joe Mullins holds a community meeting at the African American Cultural Society, DOT replants A1A.
Stunning Her Colleagues, School Board’s Janet McDonald Says It’s Time to Look
For New Superintendent
Superintendent Jim Tager is at the end of the second year of a three-year contract, and is required to stop working in July 2020 for at least six months, being in the state’s drop program. One board member said he could sit out six months and return.
New Legislation Adds to Early-Voting
Fight on Florida’s College Campuses
A bill Gov. DeSantis is about to sign deals with a variety of elections issues, but a lawsuit is focused on a provision requiring early-voting sites to provide “nonpermitted parking,” which could exclude college campuses.
Palm Coast Woman On Probation Threatens Suicide-By-Cop, is Tased, Then Arrested
Melanie Botts, 36, of 20 Beth Lane in Palm Coast, had violated her probation and was allegedly holding a butcher knife to her neck, daring sheriff’s deputies to shoot her before one of them Tased her.
In Reversal, County Approves 50-Home Development That Will Change Complexion of Hammock’s Jungle Hut Road
The Flagler County Commission approved a zoning change that will enable a 50-home subdivision on a 12-acre parcel between Jungle Hut Road and Hammock Beach Parkway in the Hammock.
Tuesday Briefing: Trump in Orlando, Food Truck Tuesday, Community Health Update, Palm Coast’s FEMA Funds
Groups in support and opposition of Trump are busing out of Flagler for Orlando this afternoon, the Health Department’s Bob Snyder presents a community health update, Palm Coast talks FEMA funds.
Denying Voting Rights to Felons Should Be Beneath Us
Who gets to vote should be driven by citizenship, the spirit of the United States Constitution and all America stands for, not by blowhardism and dirty tricks, argues Nancy Smith.
‘Shared Savings’ By Shopping For Lower Health Care Costs? Ballyhooed Florida Plan a Bust
The idea of Florida’s ballyhooed shared-savings programs is to give policyholders an incentive to look for cheaper health services. Early results show no such benefits.
Determined Advocates Gather to Plan Reversal of Bunnell’s Vote Against Homeless Shelter
The Sheltering Tree board that runs Bunnell’s cold weather shelter held a brainstorming session with supporters to reverse a city boards decision that shut down the shelter after 11 years,
Ex-Councilman Jason DeLorenzo, a Voice for Homebuilders, Is Palm Coast’s New Development Chief
Jason DeLorenzo served as a Palm Coast City Council member for five years until the end of 2016 and was the government affairs director of the Flagler Homebuilders Association, two roles that will factor in his running of the city’s development department.
Monday Briefing: Homeless Shelter Meeting, $100 Million Beach Repair, Harriet Tubman $20 Bill, Andolina Sentencing
The Sheltering Tree Board meets with residents to map out an appeal strategy on keeping the cold-weather homeless shelter open, the county commission considers approving a $100 million, 50-year beach-renourishment plan for less than 3 miles of dunes in Flagler Beach.
Palm Coast’s George J. Serafino, 76, Dies In SR100 Crash Triggered by Medical Issue
George J. Serafino, a 76-year-old resident of Lakewalk Drive in Palm Coast, died Saturday (June 15), following a crash on State Road 100. The Florida Highway Patrol determined that the crash was caused by a medical episode.
Flagler About To Sign 50-Year, $100 Million Deal to Rebuild 2.6 Miles of Dunes in Flagler Beach. It Has Only a Fraction of the Money.
Flagler County is teaming with the federal government to split the $100 million cost of dune renourishment in Flagler Beach, but the deal is fraught with uncertainties, and Flagler can only pay its first phase.
‘Are You Kidding?’ Deeper Inspection Finds Captain’s BBQ Building Sound and Repairable for $60,000
In a dramatic turnaround, an inspection concluded that the Captain’s BBQ building at Bing’s doesn’t have to be replaced or destroyed and can be repaired for a small sum of money, changing a year’s worth of assumptions.
Weekend Briefing: STEM Camp Showcase, Frances Clemente’s National Flag Day, Publix Apron Culinary School, David Grossman
Wadsworth Elementary’s STEM Camp Showcase is on Friday, which is also National Flag Day, celebrated here with Frances Clemente, Movies in the Park, a trip to Publix’s culinary school, an uncomfortable David Grossman joke.
County Calms Bunnell’s Anger Over Sheriff’s Move to Palm Coast, Disarming Threats of Lawsuit
Sheriff Rick Staly’s and County Manager Jerry Cameron’s joint appearance before the Bunnell City Commission on Monday went a significant distance to disarm the city’s threats of a lawsuit and calm its anger over the sheriff’s move to Palm Coast.
Owners and Dealers of Anacondas Sue to Reverse Florida’s Broad Ban on Invasive Snake
Owners and dealers of anacondas have launched a legal challenge after the state largely banned the snakes amid a struggle to control damaging invasive species.
Facing Rape Charge, Larry Cavallaro Is Briefly Booked at Flagler Jail and Released on $100,000 Bond
Larry A. Cavallaro, the 72-year-old man facing a charge of drugging and raping a woman in Flagler Beach, was briefly extradited to Flagler before posting bail, on $100,000 bond end being released today.
Does Flagler Beach Have a Panhandling Problem? Not Exactly, But City Will Consider New Rules.
The Flagler Beach City Commission this evening will discuss adopting an ordinance against “aggressive” panhandling at the urging of City Commissioner Eric Cooley, a business owner in town.
Thursday Briefing: Beach Renourishment in Flagler Beach, Panhandling, Altmire at Volusia’s Tiger Bay, Sonia Rubinsky
The Flagler Beach commission gets an update on the status of planned beach nourishment projects that entail a $100 million expense over 50 years, and relies on few certainties.
Shake-Up at Palm Coast City Hall: 3 Directors and 2 Managers Resign, Yielding to New Manager Morton’s Headwind
Human Resources Director Wendy Cullen, Parks and Recreation Director Alex Boyer, IT Director Chuck Burkhart and managers Renee Shevlin and Cindi Lane all resigned between Thursday and today. Morton named new appointments, some interim, some permanent.
Backers and Foes of Bunnell’s Condemned Homeless Shelter Duel Ahead of Appeal
The Bunnell City Commission got a preview of the two sharply divided sides that will appear before it again soon in defense of and in opposition to the preservation of the cold-weather shelter for the homeless at First United Methodist Church on Pine Street.
DeSantis Signs Death Warrant of Homophobic Serial Killer Gary Bowles
Gary Bowles murdered six people in 1994. He is serving life sentences in the murders of John Roberts in Daytona Beach and Albert Morris in Nassau County, and is being killed for the murder of Walter Hinton in Jacksonville.
Wednesday Briefing: Narcan Stock, Flagler Beach Land Development, Florida Association of Counties, Grand Living
County paramedics get a 300-dose delivery of opioid-overdose-reversing Narcan, the Florida Association of Counties meets, Grand Living opens a new location.
Pete Buttigieg, Ahead of Miami Debate, Says No to Heavy-Handed Immigration Enforcement
Pete Buttigieg says he would set aside politics and work with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to fund “good” environmental projects, while expressing his opposition to Florida’s “heavy-handed” approach to federal immigration enforcement and expansion of school voucher-type programs.
Marion Gavins Jr. Pleads Not Guilty in Killing of Curtis Gray, Raising Prospect of Stand Your Ground
Marion Gavins Jr. has not denied shooting Curtis Gray in front of several witnesses the night of April 13, but has intimated it was self-defense as he feared Gray was reaching for a gun. Gray was unarmed.
Captain’s BBQ Sues Flagler County, Alleging ‘Politically Motivated’ Breach of Contract
The owners of Captain’s BBQ at Bing’s Landing filed a four-count lawsuit against Flagler County government, alleging breach of contract and seeking damages in excess of $15,000.
Good News: Straight People Don’t Need a Pride Parade
Organizers of the “straight pride parade” in Boston this summer have ties to numerous far-right groups. Here are conditions that would make such a parade easier to embrace.
Tuesday Briefing: Tedarius Abrams, Florida Park Drive’s Airs, Education Law’s Constitutionality
Bethune-Cookman University Senior Tedarius Abrams is the choice for Chevrolet and the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s Discover the Unexpected Program, the Palm Coast council talks air sensors around Florida Park Drive.
The Crisis Formerly Known as Climate Change: Wrong Re-Branding
The Guardian announced it was re-branding climate change, encouraging its writers and contributors to use more urgent terms like “climate crisis.” Here’s why this is very wrong.
Plotting to Win Biggest Battleground State in 2020, Florida Democrats Can’t Get Around GOP-Controlled Legislature
The Florida Democratic Party’s biggest event of the year wrapped up this weekend with a debate over Election Day voter registration, but any such changes would require GOP approval. That’s unlikely.
City Launches Civic Engagement Platform Called ‘Palm Coast Connect’ to Better Serve and Track Residents’ Issues
Palm Coast’s new citizen-engagement platform is hoping to better understand what’s driving the 10,400 calls a month to the city’s customer service lines, and to more efficiently remedy the complaints.
Coming Off Daring Banner Year, Flagler Playhouse Readies for a 41st Season of ‘Arsenic,’ Abba, Guys and Dolls
Founded in 1978, the Flagler Playhouse had one of its best ever seasons artistically and financially, and is preparing to stage five plays and musicals in the season opening in September with “Mama Mia!”
Why Some CEOs Are Figuring Out That ‘Medicare For All’ Is Good For Business
As health costs continue to grow, straining employer budgets and slowing wage growth, CEOs and others in the business community are beginning to take the Medicare for All option more seriously.