A study finds that in a single year more than 600,000 patients underwent treatment they didn’t need, at an estimated cost of $282 million. “Do no harm” should include the cost of care, too, the report author says.
Thursday Briefing: Black History, Conklin at Democratic Forum, Caribbean Day, “Road Not Taken”
Black History Month launches today, Malcolm speaks of being a human being first, Colleen Conklin speaks to Palm Coast Democrats, Max Boot speaks of the Road Not Taken.
Mary McLeod Bethune’s Statue Halfway To Replacing Confederate Smith at Capitol
The Florida Senate voted 37-0 on Wednesday to pass a measure (SB 472) to have Bethune’s statue replace Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith at the National Statuary Hall in Washington.
Palm Coast Planning To Reduce All Whiteview Parkway to 2 Lanes For Footpath and Safety
86 injuries from 60 crashes in three years and the lack of a bike and footpath led Palm Coast to plan for reducing a stretch of Whiteview from four to two lanes.
Nancy Soderberg, Frontrunner: Democrat So Far Has No Competition in Congressional District
Democratic congressional candidate Nancy Soderberg raised $544,000 before Jan. 1, by far more than any Democrat has managed to raise for a race in a district that includes all of Flagler County.
War Of The Birds on Palm Coast’s Collingwood Lane Ends In Victory For Purple Martins
Neighbors on Collingwood Lane have been suing and battling each other for four years over two dozen bird houses. A judge has ruled in favor of the birds.
Bill Targeting Florida “Sanctuary Cities,” An Election-Year Wedge, Stalls In Senate
Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, tabled his proposed sanctuary-city ban after facing bipartisan opposition to the measure aimed at requiring local governments to comply with federal immigration laws.
Wednesday Briefing: Whiteview Parkway Narrowing, Skywarn Class, False Fat Facts
The Palm Coast city administration holds a public information session on the proposed re-engineering of Whiteview Parkway, Skywarn classes at the county, why so much of what you’ve been told about far is wrong.
County Approves Special Tax and Contract To Build Seawall for Painters Hill Homes
Each of the affected property owners is looking at an additional tax bill of roughly $100,000 spread over the next 15 years to pay for the seawall.
1st Round in New Session’s Vacation Rental Saga Goes Against Flagler Government
A Senate committee approved a bill that would nearly eliminate local government regulation of vacation rentals and enable a single licensee to have hundreds of rentals across the state.
Paul Dykes Sentenced To Life In Prison Without Parole 2 Times Over For Child Rape
A jury had found Dykes guilty on 24 counts, including raping a 1-year-old, in December, making the life sentences mandatory, and leaving little room for the judge or lawyers to maneuver.
Tuesday Briefing: Special Commission Meeting, Vacation Rentals, Paul Dykes Sentencing
The Palm Coast City Council discusses the first lease approval for a new cell tower under a fast-track arrangement, first Entrepreneur Night of 2018 at Moonrise Brewery, the county commission fast-tracks a project for an emergency berm on Painters’ Hill.
Jon Netts Will Run Again For Palm Coast Council. So Will Heidi Shipley–For Same Seat
Former Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts will challenge Council member Heidi Shipley for her seat, now that she has changed her mind and opted to run again.
Bunnell Claims It Charged Man With 2nd Degree Murder in Death of Emanuel. Sheriff and State Attorney Know Nothing About It.
The Bunnell city administration issued an announcement about the charge, but the State Attorney’s Office says the investigation is continuing, and the Sheriff’s Office says Thomas’s status has not changed.
For Kim Weeks, Nothing Left To Try Against 5 Remaining Felony Counts But a Trial
A circuit judge has denied ex-Flagler Elections Supervisor Kim Weeks’s motion to throw out the search warrant that led to evidence of allegedly illegally recorded conversations.
Treating Domestic Violence As A Medical Problem
Victims of domestic violence don’t typically volunteer the reason for their injuries, and doctors don’t always ask about abuse in the home. That failure of communication means the patients may miss out on the help they need.
Monday Briefing: Family Life Center Fundraiser, Cool Week Ahead, DeSantis Launches Campaign
The Family Life Center, Flagler County’s shelter for abused women, holds its annual golf fund-raiser, a week of bombing at the Ocala range, a rainy Monday yielding to a cooler, pleasanter week.
To Keep America Great, Legalize All Undocumented Immigrants
We have a choice: Keep our economy vibrant and enviable or demolish it by expelling and demonizing undocumented immigrants, as short-sighted nations have done in the false name of “purity” over the years.
Gala Raises $70,600 For Newly-Created Flagler Sheriff’s Employee Trust Fund
Donations will support the well-being of sheriff’s employees and provide immediate financial assistance in emergencies not necessarily covered by insurance.
Judge Lets Smokable Pot Case Go Forward, Rejecting State’s Motion to Dismiss
The suit challenges a state law, passed during a special legislative session last year, that bans medical-pot patients from smoking marijuana.
For 2nd Straight Year a DSC Graduate, Nicole Grebosz, Is Volusia’s Teacher Of The Year
For the second consecutive year, a graduate of Daytona State College’s Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) has been named Volusia County Teacher of the Year.
Kathleen Davis Is Flagler County Association of Realtors 2017 Affiliate of the Year
Kathleen Davis, of Grand Living’s affiliate Southern Title, has been named Flagler County Association of Realtors (FCAR) 2017 Business Affiliate of the Year.
Intracoastal Bank of Palm Coast Announces 2017 Results
Total assets at December 31, 2017, were $314.8 million up $30.3 million, or 11 percent, from $284.5 million at December 31, 2016.
Raising Faith Over Futility, Flagler Launches Unprecedented $25 Million Dunes-Restoration Feat
For 50 hours a week for the next 48 weeks, trucks will dump nearly 1 million tons of sand along 12 to 15 miles of Flagler County beaches, rebuilding the dunes hurricanes washed away.
Proposal To Create Open Primaries in Florida Moves Forward, But With Issues
All candidates seeking the same office would run in a single primary regardless of party affiliation. The top two vote-getters would run in the general election.
Flagler Beach Places Golf Club On Probation, Pending Compliance With Lease Terms
Two Flagler Beach city commissioners were ready to end the lease with the manager of Ocean Palms Golf Club Thursday, but were held back in a last-chance effort to allow for compliance.
Weekend Briefing: Coastal Cloud at 5, Ethan Bortnick, Glover Leadership Workshop, Female Rage
The Men’s Futures Tennis Tournament all weekend at the Palm Coast Tennis Center, pianist Ethan Bortnick, Coastal Cloud marks its fifth year, “Songs For a New World”‘s last weekend.
County Planning Board May Have Violated Rules In Approving Hammock Restaurant and Brewery Without A1A Committee Review
County Planning Board members appeared to have been misled by county staffers when told that the advisory Scenic A1A Pride committee’s opinion was not required as part of development plans. It is.
In the Name of the Father, the Son and Ammunition: Lawmakers Favor Guns in Churches
The Florida House and Senate have started moving forward with measures that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to carry guns on the grounds of churches and other religious institutions that include schools.
Unusual Degree of Mayhem, But Also Success, Reflected in Sheriff’s Quarterly Awards
An award ceremony seemed to reflect the particular vigor and style of policing Rick Staly ushered in just over a year ago, when he became sheriff.
Thursday Briefing: Flagler Beach Golf Course’s Future, Men’s Futures Tennis, “Smokey Joe’s Cafe”
The Flagler Beach City Commission may decide to end its lease with the management of the troubled Ocean Palms golf course, “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” starts a long weekend at the Flagler Playhouse.
Hazing Death at Florida State Fraternity Prompts “Culture Change”
Andrew Coffey, 20, died from alcohol poisoning during an off-campus fraternity initiation on Nov. 3. Fraternity members were arrested.
Two Suicides, 2 Attempted, 5 Baker Acts Between Saturday and Monday in Palm Coast
For the second time in three weeks, Flagler Sheriff’s deputies were confronted with a spike in mental health crises over 48 hours that underscored the county’s dearth of resources other than law enforcement.
240 Apartments Rising on Palm Coast’s E-Section Rim as Bunnell Approves Higher Height Limit
The apartment complex will be called Shadetree at Bunnell, with rent averaging $1,300 a month, on 30 acres abutting Palm Coast’s E-Section. The Bunnell Planning Board quietly approved an exception so the buildings could be exceed the city’s height limit.
Wednesday Briefing: Compassionate Friends, Economic and Tourism Councils, Wild Birds, Sheriff’s Awards
Tom Hellman of SCORE and Ky Ekinci of Office Divvy speak to the economic council, Wild Birds Unlimited, a nature retail shops, holds its grand opening, the Sheriff’s Office holds its quarterly awards.
Measure to Restore Voting Rights to 1.5 Million Florida Felons Goes on November Ballot
Voting rights of felons who have served their sentences, completed parole or probation and paid restitution would be automatically restored. Murderers and sex offenders would be excluded.
Address Florida’s Deadly Rail Crossings Now, During 2018 Session
Between 2011 and 2017, there were a total of 105 deaths on more than 350 miles of Florida East Coast Railway tracks, which also run through Bunnell. A rail safety bill needs legislative support.
Counterfeiters Among Us: Several Palm Coast Businesses Targets of Bogus $100 Bills
Salsa’s, Domino’s, McDonald’s and a Mobil station were all targeted by a user of counterfeit bills, as was a man selling items on Craig’s List. The investigation is continuing.
From Ankle Monitors to a $165,000 Grant for an Extra Detective, Domestic Violence Initiative Keeps Momentum
The Sheriff’s Domestic Violence Task Force, far from disbanding, is continuing its varied initiatives, though the incidence of domestic violence in the county appears to be spiking.
Doctors Join Chorus Against Limits on Painkiller Prescriptions, But Lawmakers Push On
The proposal to set legal limits on prescribing for pain medication continued moving forward when it was unanimously approved by the House Appropriations Committee.
Despite Questions of Trust, Flagler Commission Clears Way For 200 Homes Around Lakeside on A1A
Flagler commissioners voted to approve the 200-home development on either side of Lakeside By the Sea on A1A in a contentious 3-hour hearing in which commissioners said their hands were tied to do anything else.
Tuesday Briefing: Daylight Savings Exemption, Lambert Ave. Drainage, Domestic Violence
A Florida legislator wants to end the state’s compliance with Daylight Savings Time, Lambert Avenue residents in Flagler Beach get a drainage open house, the Navy conducts inert bombing runs in the Ocala forest.
In Last-Minute Reversal, Judge Agrees To More Lenient Plea in Maria Howell Case
After rejecting the deal last month, Circuit Judge Dennis Craig agreed to 18 months in prison for Maria Howell, who’d faced trial and possibly 15 years in prison over a molestation charge.
5-Hour Standoff With Woman Threatening Suicide Ends Peacefully on Point of Woods
Kathryn Hunter, 39, girlfriend of a man who killed himself on Jan. 9, surrendered to deputies in mid-afternoon after SWAT team members entered her house. She will be Baker Acted.
Eric Cooley Wins Flagler Beach Commission Seat Unopposed, Mayor Provencher Reelected Unchallenged
No one ran against Eric Cooley, ensuring that he’d take a Flagler Beach Commission seat in place of Joy McGrew automatically. Linda Provencher was again elected without opposition for the fourth contest out of five.
America, Oprah is Not Your Savior
This country has a history of looking to black women to save Americans from themselves — while not recognizing or respecting their efforts.
Monday Briefing: Maria Howell Trial, Lakeside By the Sea Development, Literacy Week
The County Commission takes up a controversial proposed development near Lakeside By the Sea, jury selection is expected in the trial of Maria Howell, now 20, accused of molesting a teen, and in that of George Wood, accused of escape, Literacy Week begins.
Commission Weighs Repeal of Ban on
Public Funding For Religious Groups
Former Florida Supreme Court Justice Raoul Cantero urged a Constitution Revision Commission panel to repeal a constitutional ban on state support for religious groups.
Cops’ Stop and Frisk Is Cut Back. Crime Doesn’t Spike. It Tumbles.
Police have radically cut back their controversial use of stop-and-frisk policies in New York. To the surprise of some, crime didn’t spike, but tumbled yet again.
Jimmie Brazell, 56, Struck and Killed As He Steps Out From Car On I-95 in Palm Coast
Jimmie Brazell, 56, was killed by a passing car as he walked across I-95 in Palm Coast after an argument with his new bride, who had asked him to pull over.