An Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University team is studying Hurricane Irma’s mass evacuation to provide recommendations for a smoother exodus in the future.
Beyond Donation of 25 FHP Used Cars to Puerto Rico, an Island’s Policing in Crisis
Puerto Rico right now is all about a cattle pen of system failures — but one of the most important is its broken and bleeding law enforcement structure.
Campaign Cash Fuels TV Ads for Adam Putnam and Philip Levine in Governor’s Race
As the leading fundraisers in their party primaries for governor, Adam Putnam and Philip Levine have an advantage over their rivals when it comes to reaching voters.
Wednesday Briefing: Citizenship Academy Graduates, Live Bombing, Managing Cholesterol, Workforce Summit
Palm Coast graduates 18 from its 43rd Citizenship Academy, learn about managing cholesterol, live bombing in the Ocala forest, Schumann virtuosity.
Rae Cabot, 99, Is Killed, 2 Others Injured Crash on Belle Terre and Pine Grove
The crash that killed Palm Coast’s Rae Cabot, 99, had similarities to the last crash that killed a woman at the same intersection four years ago.
Palm Coast Council Claims It Cannot Exile Rather Than Kill Dangerous Dog Cooper. Many Others Disagree.
The dog Cooper has twice been declared dangerous and is set to be killed, but its owner and advocates say Palm Coast is refusing to settle for exiling the dog to a rescue ranch instead.
Palm Coast’s Tyrone Hartley, 53, Found Dead of Gunshot in Apparent Suicide
Tyrone Hartley, of Bunker Knolls Lane in Palm Coast, had sent a letter to a friend in Michigan on June 7 giving “five reasons why I’m done.”
Trouble For 9 Ballot Proposals, But Homestead Expansion and School Board Term Limits Would Pass
Bans on offshore oil drilling and vaping in workplaces and restaurants, new ethics standard for public officials and voting rights to ex-felons would all fail.
Tuesday Briefing: Old Kings Road Widening, Santore Fireworks Expansion, Bunnell Manager Interviews
The Palm Coast Council discusses buying land for Old Kings Road’s expansion, the Bunnell City Commission interviews three candidates for city manager, Santore and Sons, the fireworks company, seeks a zoning change.
Flagler Schools’ Problem Solvers Claim Two 1st Places Among 6 Trophies at International Competition
Katia Martynuk of FPC and Michael Mwaura of Indian Trails took first place as Flagler’s students from the two schools also claimed one second-place and three third-place finishes.
Facing Life in Prison, George Wood Is Found Incompetent to Stand Trial; 2 Previous Guilty Verdicts In Question
Palm Coast’s George Wood, 32, was headed for trial on an armed burglary charge that could lock him up for life, and was sentenced to 10 years in February in separate trials.
Examining Budget, Commissioners May Increase Free Clinic and Family Life Center Funding
Commissioners Monday discussed county contributions to such organizations as the Flagler Free Clinic and the Family Life Center, level for years.
The Truth About ‘Sanctuary Cities’
The term “sanctuary city” typically refers to a jurisdiction that wants to limit the use of local law enforcement resources to carry out federal law enforcement work, in violation of constitutional protections.
School Massacre Commission Hears Troubling Account Of Ineffective Database and Information-Sharing
Panelists on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission discussed shortcomings in a database designed to capture information about troubled students.
Monday Briefing: Congressional Forum, Sheriff’s Moves, Poor People’s Campaign, Library Policies
The district’s congressional candidates speak in St. Augustine, Sheriff’s employees begin moving out of Operations Center, the library debates policy reviews.
Pious Homophobes Win One
The Supreme Court in its wedding-cake ruling declared gays once again second-class citizens, at least when their sexuality has to compete with someone else’s more stone-throwing version of Christianity.
To Keep Sally Sherman, a $136,000 Employee, Flagler County Is Paying Private Agency $190,000
The bottom-line cost to taxpayers to retain Sally Sherman as a worker in Flagler government–totaling $258,554–is much higher than county officials originally conveyed.
Palm Coast Fugitive Wanted on Child Molestation Charge Found Within 1 Hour of Video Posting
Warren Putt Jr., 39, of Palm Coast, is accused of molesting a girl when she was kindergarten age–the daughter of his then-girlfriend.
Rise in Florida’s Uninsured Children Contrasts With Continued Declines in Other Big States
Florida lost ground while states such as Texas and California continued to make progress. Those states lowered their uninsured rates by 1 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively.
Weekend Briefing: Porgy and Bess, Portugal Flag-Raising, Family Fun Day, USS Liberty, ‘What About Me?’
A Portugal flag-raising at Palm Coast City Hall, beach clean-up in Marineland, Porgy and Bess and the First Church of Palm Coast, Watson Realty’s Family Fun Day Summer Party.
Bunnell Short-Lists Six Men For City Manager, But May Have Violated Sunshine Law
The Bunnell City Commission short-listed six city manager candidates out of 18 outside of a public meeting, a method courts have found to violate the Sunshine law.
Booked on $180,000 Bond, Dollar General Armed Robbery Suspect Threatened Suicide
Gary Wayne Hodges, a 35-year-old resident of 21A Prosperity Lane in Palm Coast, who allegedly confessed to the armed robbery, threatened suicide before his arrest.
Is Your Car a Weapon? Supreme Court Leaning to Yes in Manslaughter Case
Under Florida law, the use of a weapon bumped up the manslaughter charge from a second-degree felony to a first-degree felony, carrying a longer prison sentence.
Thursday Briefing: ‘Smog of the Sea,’ Democrats’ Open House, GOP Congressionals’ Forum
Flagler County Democrats host a daylong open house at their Palm Coast headquarters, Flagler Republicans host a forum featuring three congressional candidates, a film screening at DSC for World Oceans Day.
Sheriff’s Operations Center Will Evacuate To Courthouse and Old Administration Building
The move out of the troubled building began as testing is scheduled in mid-June, but an environmental engineer cautions against expectations of black-and-white answers.
Deputy County Administrator Sally Sherman ‘Retires’ at $136,500, Returns Next Day at $149,000, Plus $330,000 Pay-Out
Flagler Deputy County Administrator Sally Sherman’s “retirement” is an extreme example of double-dipping and an end-run around a law that requires retirees not to work at their old agency for at least a year.
Palm Coast’s Frieda Zamba Pool Is Target of Three Smash-And-Grab Car Burglaries
Over $1,000 in merchandise was stolen as well as a seven-night vacation package, gift cards, and miscellaneous items, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
29 Million Domestic Visitors Push Florida Tourism To New Quarterly Record
Florida drew an estimated 33.2 million visitors from January through March, which was a 7.4 percent increase over the same period in 2017.
Palm Coast Council Appoints Lawyer Vincent Lyon To Complete Steven Nobile’s Term
Vincent Lyon, 46, has been practicing law in Palm Coast since 2013 and works at the Chiumento law firm a few steps from City Hall. He will serve just six months.
Wednesday Briefing: Cars As Weapons, Smart City Workshop, FTI Graduation, Parent’s New Parent
Barbara Holley takes over Parent Magazine, Flagler Technical Institute holds its graduation, Palm Coast talks innovative city districts, Martha Argerich is 77.
Ex-Sheriff Jim Manfre on Troubled Operations Center: How We Got Here
Former Sheriff Jim Manfre, who completed his term in 2016, offers his side of the history of the acquisition of and subsequent issues with the potentially sick Sheriff’s Operations Center.
The Lord Before the Storms: Flagler Emergency Management Chief Wants Awareness, Not Fear
Jonathan Lord, Flagler County’s new emergency management chief, has been putting his vast state and local experience to work in preparation for hurricane season.
Billionaire Investor Jeff Greene Becomes 5th Florida Democrat In Race For Governor
Greene, 63, who lives in Palm Beach two doors down from President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2010.
Questioning War Is No Disrespect to Veterans. It’s a Civic Duty.
Americans remain unconcerned about wars the U.S. is currently fighting (at last count, we’re bombing at least 7 countries) though they foot the bill both in tax dollars and lives.
Tuesday Briefing: Chess on the Porch, Sportsfishing Club, Code of Conduct, Sewer Plant Opening, Road Closure
The school board talks Code of Conduct and surplus property, Palm Coast basks in a new sewer plant, chess at the Humidor, Florida Park Drive road closure.
Flagler Sheriff’s Budget For 2018-19 Would Go Up $3.8 Million, Largest In Over a Decade
The surge is driven by another increase in sheriff’s deputies, and would bring the total number of new deputies to 22 in two years. The county commission is not objecting.
Homeless Man Accused of Child Abuse and Assault Against 5 Children at Public Park
Matthew Edward Marro, A 22-year-old homeless man, faces 10 felony counts following a confrontation with children at a Bunnell park Sunday.
More Rehash Than Clarity As Flagler’s Expert Addresses Sheriff’s Possibly Sick Building
County government in a workshop with an engineering expert could not tell the sheriff or his employees how soon there may be answers on reported health issues at the Sheriff’s Operations Center.
Domestic Violence’s Overlooked Damage: Concussion And Brain Injury
Survivors of domestic violence may be suffering largely in silence from the same traumatic brain injuries, memory loss and PTSD seen in veterans and athletes.
Palm Coast’s Epic Theatres Briefly Evacuated After Burnt-Smell Report
Epic Theatres in Palm Coast’s Town Center was briefly evacuated Saturday evening after a report of a burning odor in the area of the box office.
Monday Briefing: Tascarella v. Flagler, Customary Beach Use, Congressional District 6 Forum
Three Democrats and three Republicans for the congressional district seat that includes Flagler appear at a St. Augustine forum, the Flagler County Commission adopts a customary use of beaches ordinance.
Legalizing Recreational Pot Key Issue For Florida Democrats’ Gubernatorial Candidates
John Morgan calls recreational weed a make-or-break issue for Democratic candidates seeking to replace outgoing Republican Gov. Rick Scott.
Tammy Almond Charged With Manslaughter in Shooting Death of Darryl Wilson, 56
Tammy Almond, 43, of 12 East Palm Street in Bunnell, was charged with manslaughter with a firearm in the shooting death of Darryl Wilson at a North Bacher Street house.
A Man Is Shot and Killed on North Bacher Street in Bunnell, Apparently By Girlfriend
A woman shot and killed a man at 705 North Bacher Street in Bunnell this evening around 7:30 p.m. The man died of a gunshot wound to the head.
Life In Prison For William Schwarz, Drunk Driver Who Killed Kathy and Carl Boos in Flagler Beach
The sentence against William Schwarz was extraordinarily harsh, but also driven by his very lengthy record of drunk driving and other criminal arrests.
In Her Own Words: Flagler Sheriff’s Detective Reveals Anguish and Fears Over Sick
Building in Plea For Urgency
An internal sheriff’s investigation uncovers a three-page letter Detective Annie Conrad wrote Sheriff Rick Staly, urging that employees’ concerns of a potentially sick building be taken seriously.
Flagler Property Values Rise 7.5%, Best Since Recession, But Government Revenue Faces Shock
Higher values ease pressure on government revenue but a potential increase in the homestead exemption would reduce revenue by millions, absent tax hikes.
Weekend Briefing: First Friday in Flagler Beach, Synchronized Swimming Show, LGBT Pride
Flagler Beach’s increasingly popular First Fridays, assuming there’s no rain, the Synchro Belles put on a show, Flagler Volunteer Services put on a hurricane prep presentation.
Florida Prisons Proposal To Cut Visitation Hours In Half Draws Outrage and Pleas
Visits help cut recidivism and keep families close, as recognized even by state law, but Florida prison officials are looking to cut costs.
Clarence Murphy Is Sentenced To Life In Prison, No Parole, In Murder of Cousin Ahmad Laster
Clarence Murphy Jr. shot his cousin Ahmed Rashad Laster on Palm Coast’s Parkview Drive last September during an argument, and soon confessed.