A young Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy became the object of a woman’s aggression after cops had been called to the address over a disturbance with neighbors, and a dead dog.
Heads Scratch as Mysterious Lift-Boat Appears Near Shore in Flagler Beach
An oil-rig like platform that’s actually a “liftboat” appeared near shore, traveling south, in Flagler Beach tonight, and stopped, raising pylons and more questions than answers.
Palm Coast Government Wants To Know: How Are We Doing? Survey Draws Thousands
By February’s end, the online survey of Palm Coast residents on life in the city had drawn upwards of 3,000 responses, more than six times more than the mail-in surveys the city conducted through an agency in previous years.
Guns at Florida Airports, Colleges, Government Buildings: House Speaker Says “Let’s Try It”
Some 39 bills, resolutions and resolution-like memorials have been filed in the Legislature so far that include language that would make gun possession and carrying more permissive in Florida.
Don’t Fall For False Tone of Moderation in Trump’s Fact-Challenged Speech to Congress
Some pundits and lawmakers applauded Trump for this “presidential” moment. Tone aside, however, the substance of the speech doesn’t diverge from Trump’s radical nationalist extremism, argues Peter Certo.
Florida Hospital Flagler, County’s Largest Private Employer, In Network Named Great Place to Work
The “150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare” distinction recognizes organizations for their commitment to fulfilling missions, creating outstanding cultures and offering competitive benefits to their employees.
Wednesday Briefing: Thrive, Beer Day, Facts, Ethics, Maya Angelou, Disney’s “Exclusively Gay Moment”
A relatively quiet day in Flagler but it’s Beer Day in Iceland, the trouble dogmatic beliefs, and how Disney’s new version of Beauty and the Beast explores sexuality.
In Ugly Meeting Over Mayor’s Radio Show, Palm Coast Manager and Council Member Turn Offensive
City Manager Jim Landon made baseless accusations of “misinformation” and council member Steve Nobile called fellow-member Nick Klufas a child during a discussion of a proposed weekly radio show featuring Mayor Holland, and paid for with public money.
From Pot to Guns to Health Care, 10 Big Issues to Watch During 2017 Legislative Session
Florida lawmakers are poised to return to Tallahassee for the March 7 start of the 2017 legislative session, with a series of bills that have divided House and Senate, or the governor and the Legislature.
Tuesday Briefing: Education Foundation Mardi Gras Gala, Palm Coast Progress, Old Kings Musical, Tooth Fairy Day
The Flagler County Education Foundation’s 14th annual Mardi Gras gala at Halifax Plantation, the Palm Coast Council hears Progress Report 2016, Montaigne’s birthday, Cinema Paradiso themes it up.
Legislating Free Speech on Florida’s College Campuses? Not So Fast.
A Legislative committee pondered on proposed legislation called the Campus Free Speech Act. Stanley Kurtz, a conservative academic, told lawmakers the measure would defend the right for people to speak their minds at the state’s universities.
Flagler Beach Police Department Now Permanent Site To Get Rid of Unwanted Prescription Drugs
No questions asked: You don’t have to wait for drug take-back days to drop off your unwanted prescription drugs anymore. The department’s new Drug Collection Unit is accessible daily from 8 to 5.
In Victory for Local Governments, FPL Loses Appeal Over Having to Bury Power Lines
The state Supreme Court on Friday turned down an appeal by Florida Power & Light in a case about whether the utility could be required to install underground transmission lines.
Watch Out: Sheriff Staly Is Tonight’s Watch Commander on Flagler Streets
Sheriff Rick Staly has asked all his command staff to put in stints as shift commanders–including himself, so as to better understand the challenges of deputies and get a pulse of the streets.
“Mass Chaos” At Walmart Girl Scout Cookie Stand as Clash Turns Violent Over $20 Debt
Palm Coast’s Daniel Kennedy, 18, and his 16-year-old brother, were arrested after destroying a Girl Scout cookie stand and allegedly attacking three people at Walmart Saturday when they were told they could not take cookies instead of money allegedly owed them.
Homeless Shelter Event Draws Twice As Many People as Expected, Raising $4,500
A over-capacity crowd jammed the Santa Maria Del Mar Catholic Church in Flagler Beach Sunday evening to raise money for The Sheltering Tree, Flagler’s only cold-weather homeless shelter, in Bunnell.
Monday Briefing: Holland Park Closed Until May, Bunnell’s Transparency Policies, Stamp and Coin Club, Jarhead
Palm Coast’s weird concept of private property, Bunnell updates its public records and media policies, the Stamp and Coin Club meets, before fake news, there were the tea parties, and recalling the Gulf War.
Should The Poor Be Barred From Buying Junk Food With Food Stamps?
Lawmakers in at least five states, including Florida, introduced bills this year to ask the USDA for permission to ban the purchase of certain kinds of food or drinks, such as candy and soda, with food stamps.
Palm Coast Woman, 18, Charged With Home Invasion Robbery in Confrontation With Ex
Armed with a knife, Kaitlin McBride, 18, of Zerington Court, had gone to her ex-boyfriend’s house at 3 a.m. today to claim a cat and a computer game, and surprised him in bed with another woman after going in allegedly uninvited.
Support for Obamacare Reaches Record, Putting Repeal-Minded Lawmakers In a Bind
Overall support for the health law ticked up to 48 percent in February, the highest point since shortly after it passed in 2010. That was a 5-point increase since the last poll in December.
Palm Coast Will Pay $10,000 to Air Mayor’s Weekly Radio Show; Council Was Not Informed
Mayor Milissa Holland and City Manager Jim Landon worked out the $10,000 proposal with WNZF Radio without discussions involving the rest of the council. Some council members are not pleased.
Elderly Man Injured in Attack by Pit Bull Mix At Palm Coast’s Canopy Walk Dies
James E. Bennett, 79, had been severely injured last Sunday and his 7-year-old Yorkshire killed Sunday in an attack by a Labrador-pit bull dog. He died of an apparent heart attack.
Weekend Briefing: Sheltering Tree Fund-Raiser, Family Fun Day, Native American Festival, Holland v. Renner II
The annual Native American Festival returns to Princess Place, a fund-raiser for the homeless shelter, the Bridge Building Program hosts a Family Fun Day, plus Mexico Flag Day.
Flagler Beach, Palm Coast and Bunnell Restaurants Join Forces for Sunday’s Homeless Shelter Fundraiser
The fundraiser for Bunnell’s Sheltering Tree, in operating through volunteers since 2008, will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., Sunday at the Santa Maria Del Mar Catholic Church with the participation of numerous local restaurants.
At Belle Terre Elementary, 60 Readers Get In Black History Groove With Ellington, Tar Beach and Even Cops
Belle Terre Principal Terence Culver wanted to atone for ignoring Black History Month for five years by hosting a read-in featuring community leaders including the sheriff, many cops and firefighters, school board members, the Palm Coast mayor and many more.
Donald Trump’s New Deputy CIA Director: a Torturer Who Destroyed Evidence
Gina Haspel was deeply involved in the illegal torture of a prisoner at a secret CIA site, and when questions arose about the brutality, demolished 92 tapes that had documented the abuse.
Proposal to Kill Economic Agency and Trim Visit Florida Budget Clears House Committees
Palm Coast’s Rep. Paul Renner continued to defend the proposals, which would cut Visit Florida’s budget to $25 million, as the House bill heads for a floor vote in march, but still without viable Senate support.
Thursday Briefing: African-American Read-In at BTES, George Hanns Bridge, Emmanuel’s Closet’s Show
Belle Terre Elementary hosts its first annual African-American Read-In to mark Black History Month, George Hanns has himself a bridge at Princess Place, Emma Goldman speaks.
Jury Finds Palm Coast’s John Schenone, 32, Guilty of Raping Girlfriend’s 11-Year-Old Daughter; Will Spend Life in Prison
John Schenone, 32, had been the father figure to the girl and her mother’s live-in boyfriend for six years in Palm Coast’s W-Section, but had been assaulting the girl for a year.
“I Slam-Dunked Her To the Ground,” Palm Coast Man Says of Woman in Road Rage Incident
Two Palm Coast residents dueled in a road-rage incident that started with mutual flipping near McDonald’s in Town Center, and ended with injuries and a jailing.
Wednesday Briefing: Closed-Circuit Traffic Cameras, Scenic A1A, Grand Living, Underachievers, Wind Energy
Palm Coast installs closed-circuit traffic cameras, the county’s economic opportunity council cheers for Enterprise Florida, how schools game underachievers, Scenic A1A.
From Inside Charred Aftermath of Last Week’s 435-Acre Fire, A Cautionary Warning of Season Ahead
In a tour of the forest partly charred in last week’s fire south of Bunnell, Florida Forest Service officials cautioned of a fire season ahead they expect will be more active because of drought and higher temperatures.
Rep. Renner Takes Another Beating, This Time From Palm Coast Council Over Slew of Bills
The Palm Coast City Council excoriated Rep. Paul Renner over several bills he’s introduced, saying the proposals would hurt Florida Hospital Flagler and end the city’s ability to regulate local business, among others.
Emmanuel’s Closet’s 2nd Annual Fashion Show on Feb. 23
All proceeds benefit Emmanuel’s Closet, a local mission that helps clothe children, single parents, families, seniors and homeless men and women in Flagler County.
NASCAR Exec Lorene King is To Be DSC’s New Fundraising Chief
Among her activities at NASCAR, King built an internal executive coalition for the foundation’s largest fundraising event, exceeding a $1 million revenue goal by 67 percent.
In Brief: Senators Back Tax Exemption for Diapers
Initial estimates point to a reduction of General Revenue receipts of $21.7 million in 2017-18, with a $52.1 million recurring impact, and a reduction of local government revenue by $5.6 million in 2017-18.
On the Sad Prospect of CFO Jeff Atwater, Rare Government Royalty, Leaving Tallahassee
It’s going to feel strange without Jeff Atwater’s steady hand and keen mind in the Florida Capitol, writes Nancy Smith of a the state’s Chief Financial Officer, who is resigning to take a post at Florida Atlantic University.
Tuesday Briefing: Superintendent Search Committee, Autism Training for Cops, Malcolm X, Teen Suicide’s Decrease
The school board and the Palm Coast city council meet today (separately), the Legislature considers requiring autism training for Florida Department of Law Enforcement cops, how gay marriage lowered teen suicide.
Council Endorses Raising Flagler’s Tourism Tax to 5% to Pay For Beach Repairs
The tourist sales surtax tax is applied to hotels, motels and short-term rentals, and would increase beach-restoration revenue to $2.25 million over the next three years.
Man Faces Felony Child Abuse Charge in Assault of Girl, 14, After Accosting Children at Bus Stop
A man who children say had been accosting them at their Palm Coast bus stop was later charged with child abuse after slapping a 14-year-old girl on the butt. An investigation revealed other concerns.
As Gov. Scott Touts Latest Increase in Tourists, Visit Florida Critics Still Pounce on Spending
Visit Florida received $78 million from lawmakers for the current fiscal year that ends June 30. The Sunshine State attracted 112.8 million tourists in 2016. He credited the 5.86 percent increase from the prior year.
Monday Briefing: Schenone Child-Rape Trial, Raising Flagler’s Bed Tax to 5%, Japanese-Americans’ Internment, 75 Years Ago
The County Commission today discusses raising the sales surtax applied to short-term rentals and hotels, to get more revenue for beach restoration; marking the 75th anniversary of an American tragedy.
Sanctuary Cities Brace For Trump Order Targeting Undocumented Immigrants for Deportation
Many cities, counties and college campuses nationwide are pledging to limit cooperation with immigration enforcers in the face of President Trump’s pledge to quickly deport 2 to 3 million undocumented immigrants.
Congress Signals Opposition to Assisted Suicide; Proponents Fear State Laws in Jeopardy
A congressional committee voted to overturn an assisted-suicide measure in Washington, D.C., last week, signalling more willingness in Congress to possibly reverse more liberal state laws.
Protesters, True Patriots
Freedom for the thought we agree with is as cheap as a Facebook click on the like button. Freedom for the thought that we hate is what separate Americans from thuggery.
Spencer Sarmento Back in Jail on Aggravated Assault Charge Stemming from Gun Argument
Spencer Sarmento, the Mondex resident arrested 14 months ago for firing an assault weapon in the Mondex, was arrested again this morning after a confrontation in which his girlfriend refused to give him a gun.
County Seeking Photo Contest Participants to Mark Flagler’s Centennial
Prizes include $200 for Best of Show, as well as first-, second- and third place prizes by division of $150 – $100 – and $50, respectively. The deadline for submission is Monday, April 10.
Weldon Ryan’s Art of Carnival at Calypso Gallery Opening Saturday in Bunnell
Weldon Ryan’s Art of Carnival show features works shown in New York City and at a show at the Peabody in Daytona Beach in 2015, along with new works in preparation for the 2017 West Indian American Day Carnival in New York.
1st Amendment Trumps 2nd: Court Says Doctors Have Right To Ask About Guns at Home
Major portions of a controversial Florida law restricting physicians and other health-care providers from asking patients about guns is unconstitutional, a federal appeals court ruled.
Weekend Briefing: “Ms. Jackie’s Bus,” Movie Night at Veterans Park, Hot N’ Spicy Festival, Calypso Festival
The Ag Museum’s 7th Hot ‘n Spicy Festival, Movie Night at Flagler Beach’s Veterans Park, “Ms. Jackie’s Bus,” a unique play about adolescent angst, at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center, Trump’s embarrassments.