The shameful practice of tracking poor students into blue-collar jobs contrasts with millions of rewarding, high-paying trade jobs sitting empty.
Flagler Judge DuPont’s Fate in Supreme Court’s Hands As He Pleads For ‘Second Chance’
Flagler and Putnam Circuit Judge Scott DuPont, facing removal, filed his last pleading before the Florida Supreme Court decides his fate in the next few weeks.
Florida Prisons’ 40% Cut in Substance-Abuse and Mental-Health Treatment Draw Criticism
Some $7.6 million in substance-abuse services in prisons will be eliminated, Another $1.6 million will be cut in transitional housing services.
One Month in Jail, 2 Years’ Probation For Man Who Assaulted Teen at Epic Theater
C.J. Nelson, the 40-year-old Palm Coast father of eight previously accused of child abuse, could have faced up to five years in prison before a jury convicted him on lesser charges.
Weekend Briefing: “Agnes of God” at CRT, A Dinosaur at the FYO, Moonrise Grand Opening, Arbor Day, Cycle Flagler
Moonrise Brewery at European Village pours its own beers at its grand opening, “Agnes Of God” is at CRT, the Palm Coast Arts Foundation hosts a Songwriters’ Festival, Arbor Day events.
Compromise Over School Deputies in Flagler, But Look Beyond False Security of “Hardening”
There’s an effective way to end the stalemate between the Flagler Sheriff and the school board over deputies in schools without breaking the bank or compromising security.
Supreme Court Unanimously Rejects Challenge to Red-Light Camera Enforcement
Justices said a local government could use a private contractor to review images — so long as a city officer makes the ultimate decision on whether to issue a ticket.
Palm Coast Man Cops Visited Over Facebook Posting Is Jailed on Injunction Violation
Tony Lagano of Palm Coast’s Fernwood Drive drew cops’ attention last month for a Facebook posting where he alluded to a school shooting. He was jailed for violating an injunction on April 28.
Heidi Shipley Will Not Run Again For Palm Coast Council After All, Citing Futility
Feeling sidelined at the losing end of 3-2 votes, Heidi Shipley said she won;t run again, but her decision is drawing interest for other candidates in addition to former Mayor Jon Netts.
Thursday Briefing: Badcock Opens in Flagler Beach, Speech Contest, Seinfeld, Day of Prayer
The Palm Coast Democratic Club hosts three candidates, Bunnell and the sheriff hold separate Day of Prayer events, the Tropicana Speech Contest, Seinfeld in Jacksonville.
Palm Coast’s City Repertory Theatre Leaps Into Faith and Murder with ‘Agnes of God’
“Agnes of God” is an investigation of religion, of faith, of science, of what, how and why we believe, says City Repertory Theatre John Sbordone. The play opens Friday.
Hit-and-Run Driver of Kia Forte Sought in Head-On Crash On Palm Harbor Parkway
Tiffany A. Fugit, 25, was driving her Honda Accord north on Palm Harbor Parkway on April 27 when the driver of a silver Kia Forte crossed the yellow line and crashed into her, then fled.
Florida Prisons Cut Drug-Rehab and Re-Entry Programs That Help Felons From Re-Offending
Florida’s prisons are slashing substance-abuse services, transitional housing and re-entry programs, the very programs that keep inmates from returning to prison.
Alert Issued For Brianna Day, 15, Missing From Palm Coast Home Since April 26
Brianna Day, 15, a resident of 3 Westbrook Place in Palm Coast and a student at Buddy Taylor Middle School, has been missing since April 26.
Wednesday Briefing: Flagler Youth Orchestra’s Take a Bow, Attorney General Forum, Badcock Opening
The Flagler Youth Orchestra’s final concert of the season at the Auditorium, Badcock opens grandly in Flagler Beach.
Rift Widens Between Sheriff and School Board Over Deputies’ Cost For Flagler Schools
At least an $88,000 rift divides Flagler’s sheriff from the school board as they negotiate to have deputies at every school come August. The divide may be larger when mental health money is included.
A Flagler Jail Employee Is Arrested Over Pot Possession at Work, Jail’s 6th Serious Issue In a Year
Victoria Ferguson, a 30-year-old employee in the CCTV hub, was arrested and charged with a felony for allegedly stashing marijuana in her locker at work.
Florida Woman Seeks Anonymity in NRA Lawsuit, Citing Potential Threats to Her Safety
The woman wants to join the National Rifle Association’s challenge to a new Florida law that made it illegal to sell guns to anyone under age 21.
Sheriff Touts 45 Drug Arrests in Flagler in 7-Month Operation, Part of Broader But Cyclical Effort
Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly hosted a press conference with Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Putnam’s Gator DeLoach to highlight a 27-county, 7-month drug investigation they took part in.
Tuesday Briefing: Happy 10th Anniversary WNZF, FBI Shootout History, Palm Coast Talks Nobile Replacement
WNZF and Flagler Broadcasting celebrate their 10th anniversary, Palm Coast Council tries to figure out filling Steven Nobile’s seat, the school board goes LED, Cheever’s “Enormous Radio.”
Roundabout Construction at US1 and Old Dixie Will Start In a Few Months Despite Opposition
Construction of the much-opposed roundabout at U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway in Flagler is expected to start after August absent intervention by the governor or lawmakers.
For Working Poor’s Sake, Bring Back May Day
Nearly one in five families have zero or negative net worth. That number rises to over a quarter of Latin American households and 30 percent of black households.
20-Year Sheriff’s Employee Fired After Investigations Into Timesheet Discrepancies
Nancy Birdsong, an employee in the judicial process fugitive unit, was fired on April 24 and faces a felony charge of grand theft over allegedly fabricating timesheets.
Bunnell Raises Bar For Next City Manager as Commission Plans For New Hire in 60 Days
The Bunnell City Commission in a special meeting Monday will issue a want-ad for its next manager today, requiring a minimum of a master’s degree and 10 years’ government experience preferred.
Monday Briefing: Bunnell’s City Manager Search, Florida Park Drive Lane Closures, Rubio Office Hours
Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio hold “mobile” office hours at the public library in Palm Coast, Bunnell holds a special meeting in the aftermath of firing its manager, the Nelson-Scott race begins.
Citing Net Losses Near End of 2017, Report Raises Questions About Job Growth in Florida
A new federal report cast Florida in an unusual role: as the state with the most net job losses, at least for the third quarter of 2017, contrasting with Gov. Rick Scott claims.
Keith Johansen Arrested in Shooting Death of Wife Brandi Celenza, Faces 2nd Degree Murder Charge
Keith Johansen, 36, was arrested shortly after 4 p.m. today at his Palm Coast home and charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of his wife, Brandi Celenza, 20 days ago.
Don’t Ask Democrats To Fall On a Sword In Race Aiming To Flip Flagler Seat Blue
Despite Nancy Soderberg’s advantage, fellow-Democrats John Upchurch and Stephen Sevigny say they’ll let voters, not the Democratic Party, decide who should be the nominee in the congressional race.
10-Month-Old Girl, Unattended, Drowns in Family Pool in Palm Coast’s E-Section
A Palm Coast girl who would have celebrated her first birthday on June 6 died Thursday afternoon after drowning in the pool at her home on Edward Drive.
Weekend Briefing: Make America Shrek Again, Free Clinic Open House, Motown Revue, WaterSafe, Menopause
“Shrek,” the best show in town this weekend, is on Friday evening and twice on Saturday, the 22nd Annual Spring Classic Fishing Tournament, a Free Clinic open house, and a mountain of additional events.
With Sharpton Headlining, Rally Calls For Restoring Felon Rights After Stinging Court Defeat
The long-planned march followed a late-night ruling from a federal appeals court that gave Gov. Scott a victory in a bitterly fought challenge to the state’s voter-restoration system.
Bunnell’s Acting Manager Must Give Up Police Powers; Commission Will Set Search Criteria
The Bunnell City Commission holds a special meeting Monday to decide how to search for a new manager and set its acting manager Tom Foster’s salary. Foster must give up police powers in the new job.
Making Allusions to Oklahoma Bombing, Palm Coast Man Threatens to Blow Up Flagler Sheriff’s Office and Kill Rick Staly
Raymond Crown, 52, threatened to blow up the Sheriff’s Office in Bunnell with ammonium nitrate, kill a deputy and the sheriff after he was arrested for a criminal mischief incident in the Hammock.
Joanne Jones, 84, of Palm Coast, Is Killed in T-Bone Crash at Utility Drive and Old Kings Road
Joanne Jones, 84, was pinned and killed in a t-bone crash at the intersection of Utility Drive and Old Kings Road at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Two others–a man and a woman–suffered minor injuries.
Thursday Briefing: Honoring FHF Volunteers, Shrek Opens, USA Gymnastics Regionals, Farm Swap and Music Jam, Sharpton March
Shrek the fabulous musical opens for general audiences at Matanzas’s Pirate Theatre, ROTC awards at the auditorium, Florida Hospital Flagler thanks its volunteers.
School District Seeks to Reassure Flagler Parents Disaffected Over Reorganization Involving 1,900 Special Education Students
The Flagler school district is cutting in half its so-called “staffing specialists,” or advocates for special education students, but says the change is for the better. Parents disagree.
As Palm Coast Council’s Protracted Manager-Hiring Process Continues, Search Firm Bails
The council’s top choice for a manager-recruiting firm dropped out over Sunshine Law issues, leaving the council with other firms it will interview, one of them merely for appearances’ sake.
Florida Angling Closer to More Restrictions On Shark-Fishing From Beaches and Piers
Calls to restrict or ban shark fishing from beaches, piers and bridges led the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to direct staff to craft new rules.
Wednesday Briefing: ‘Shrek’ at Matanzas, DSC Health Fair, Tager at Economic Development Board, Band Competition
“Shrek: The Musical” opens tonight at Matanzas’s Pirates Theater, Daytona State College hosts a health-science fair, Superintendent Jim Tager speaks to the economic development board.
Shot By Shot Recreation of Cruz Rampage Through School Highlights Commission’s First Day
The first meeting of a 16-member commission studying the Parkland school massacre included a chilling recreation of the shot by shot progression of Nikolas Cruz through the school.
With “Shrek The Musical,” Matanzas High School Mega-Production Aims To Make Everyone a Believer
“Shrek the Musical” at Matanzas’s Pirate Theatre Wednesday through Saturday is a huge, roaring production involving a cast and crew of 90, with a 20-piece live orchestra.
At Flagler Beach Rally, Democrats Charge Blue Wave With Eyes on Flipping Congressional Seat
Congressional Democratic candidates Nancy Soderberg, Stephen Sevigny and John Upchurch all showed at Sunday’s Rally By the Sea by Flagler County Democrats.
Clarity on Shooting Death of Brandi Celenza in F-Section May Take Weeks, Possibly Months
Sheriff Rick Staly said it could be months before the case of 25-year-old Brandi Celenza’s death by gunshot is resolved. But the sheriff said he is confident of a resolution.
The Latest Assault on Food Stamps Holders
The draconian work requirement to receive food stamps could throw 1 million people off the rolls and cause more job losses than job gains.
Tuesday Briefing: Entrepreneur Night at Moonrise, Palm Coast’s ‘Downtown Innovation,’ Paint and Wine
The Palm Coast council talks about developing an “innovation district” in Town Center, Entrepreneur Night is at Moonrise Brewery, the St. Johns County School Board wrestles with a defict caused by safety requirements.
Bunnell Commission Fires Manager Dan Davis in 3-1 Vote, Citing Internal ‘Unrest’ and
Other ‘Concerns’
The Bunnell City Commission hired Dan Davis as its manager in December 2015. Davis was fired this evening at the end of a discussion on his latest evaluation.
16-Member Commission Will ‘Investigate System Failures’ in Parkland School Massacre
The commission will review Florida’s policies for dealing with “active assailants” on school campuses, with a comparison to “best practices” policies around the nation.
Sticking With Motorola, Flagler Rejects Bid Protest Over $14.8 Million Contract For Emergency Communications
The Flagler County Commission in a special meeting today rejected Communications International’s protest over a bid that went to Motorola to build critical emergency communications infrastructure.
Steve Nobile Resigns From Palm Coast Council, Triggering Repeat of 2016 Appointment Dilemma
Citing family health issues, Palm Coast Council member Steve Nobile is resigning his seat in May, repeating the dilemma the council faced when Bill McGuire resigned in 2016.
Family Life Center Takes Over New But Familiar, More Visible Space: ‘We’re Here if You Need Us’
The administrative offices of Flagler County’s shelter for victims of rape and domestic violence moved to where the sheriff’s detective bureau used to be on State Road 100.