Landon put the city’s trust of the county in question, implied the county runs a less professional organization than the city, accused the county of deceiving a state agency, and accused the county manager of using bullying tactics before conceding that all is just about well between the two sides.
Thursday Briefing: Vote For Office Divvy’s Grant, World’s Largest Swim Lesson at Frieda Zamba, Home Prices Stabilize
Palm Coast’s Office Divvy wants your vote, the largest swim lesson at Frieda Zamba pool this morning, Job Bush slow-jams the news, Jon Stewart thanks Donald Trump.
Quit Turning Your Backs on Desperate Migrants. Help Them Instead.
Like Americans’ ancestors, migrants are fleeing poverty, war, or oppression, or are searching for a better life in a new land. Blocking that flow, argues Kofi Anann, is bound to fail, with disastrous consequences for human lives.
Gov. Scott Signs $429 Million Tax-Cut Package, Saving Average Floridians a Few Dollars a Year
The tax savings are projected at less than $2 a month for people paying $100 a month for phone or TV services. The package reduces costs on cell-phone bills, cable TV bills, gun club memberships, college textbooks and luxury boat repairs.
Flagler County’s Dust-Bowl Era Soil and Water Conservation Board Is Dissolved For Inaction
Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner ordered the 5-member elected board, established in 1937, dissolved for not complying with reporting requirements. It had not met in years.
The End of Phoenix: Divided School Board Votes to Replace It With STEM Academy at Wadsworth
A contentious vote reflecting the board’s unhappiness with lack of transparency nevertheless led to the creation of a new STEM academy at Wadsworth, closing the long-embattled Phoenix Academy next fall.
Clinton Still Leads Rubio and Bush in Florida, But Most Voters Call Her Dishonest
Te gender gap is working strongly in Hillary Clinton’s favor: she has a double-digit lead among women when matched against Rubio or Bush, though her overall numbers have weakened since late last year.
Tractor Trailer Crashes Into 3 Parked, Mostly Empty School Buses on I-95, Four Injured
A tractor trailer on a route from Miami to Jacksonville crashed into three parked and empty school buses as the buses’ drivers were working on one of them on the side of I-95 just north of the Palm Coast Parkway exit at 11 p.m. Tuesday.
Wednesday Briefing: Benefit Concert For Flagler Beach Family in House Fire, the TDC’s Empty Kitty, Extinct Cougar
A fund-raiser for the the Johnson-Ghormley family twho lost their home in May is at the Beach Front Grille in Flagler Beach at 5:30 p.m. The Flagler Tourist Development Council is out of money for certain grants. The federal government is ready to declare the eastern cougar extinct.
School Board Seals Agreement Reforming Disciplining of Black Students, Ending Civil Rights Complaint
The Flagler County School Board this evening voted 5-0 to ratify an agreement with the Southern Poverty Law Center that seeks to eliminate racial disparities in school discipline, resolving a federal civil rights complaint the center filed three years ago.
Some Advances But More Retreats in School District’s Rankings in Science, History and Civics
In grade 5 science, the district’s ranking fell from 28 to 36 in the state, while 8th graders improved their science ranking significantly, from 28 to 15. High school history rankings slipped to 19th, from 8th last year.
Flagler Court Clerk Throws a Switch, and Mass of Criminal and Civil Records Becomes Accessible Online
Flagler County court records, from arrest affidavits to civil, criminal, county and probate court are now all available online, 24 hours a day, in a vast improvement of public record access ordered by the Florida Supreme Court.
Palm Coast Points Finger Back at County Over Airport Water Clash, But Agrees to Executive Summit
Firing back at county criticism, City Manager Jim Landon said the county has always known what to do to resolve a standoff over a water agreement for the airport. But the city and county manager are now likely to meet with the mayor and the county board chairman to resolve the issue.
Tuesday Briefing: YMCA Taking Over Belle Terre Racket Club, Yet Another Dollar General, Yet More Trump
The school board this evening may ratify an agreement with the YMCA to take over Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club, a Dollar general is planned for the west side of the county, the pope’s global warming encyclical is leaked.
Accenting His First Name, Dissing His Last, Jeb Bush Finally Declares for 2016
Jeb Bush made his announcement in Miami with his brother and father, both ex-presidents, nowhere in sight as the latest Bush hopes to redefine the tarnished name in his quest for the White House.
To Fight Obesity, Get Government Involved: Taxes, Regulations, Education
Successful efforts to improve public health — smoking bans, seat-belt laws, and speed limits–have always involved legislation and regulation supplementing education, argues Harvard’s Kenneth Rogoff.
County Rips Into Palm Coast Government Over Shackled Airport Water Deal
County frustration boiled into outright criticism of Palm Coast’s administration Monday as the city has yet to sign a deal both sides agreed to seven months ago, controlling water service at the county airport.
Flagler Government Embraces Socialized Medicine in Striking Drug Deal with Canadian Rx Company
The Flagler County Commission voted 4-0 Monday to contract with CanaRx to provide prescription drugs to county employees at 50 percent of their U.S. cost.
Masked, Armed and Apologetic Man Robs Kangaroo Station Off Old Kings Road
The Kangaroo gas station and convenience store at 3 Kingswood Drive, just off of Old Kings Road in Palm Coast, was the target of a robbery at close to 3 a.m. Sunday, by a man armed with a nightstick and masked by a bandanna.
1,200 Customers in Palm Coast’s P-Section Lose Power Due to Underground Cable Issue
A problem with an underground cable emanating from a Florida Power and Light substation toward the south end of Palm Coast cut off power to around 1,200 customers north of State Road 10 and west of I-95, especially in the city’s P-Section.
Trial Begins for Man Accused of Kidnapping and Brutalizing Chinese Food Delivery Driver
Palm Coast’s Giuseppe Verdone, 24, could face life in prison on charges stemming from the 2013 attack on King Palace co-owner Ming Gong. The trial is expected to last much of the week.
June 27: Safety F.I.R.S.T. and Playing It Safe! Expo in Palm Coast
The fourth annual Hurricane Expo has been renamed the Safety F.I.R.S.T. & Playing It Safe! Expo, and is scheduled for June 27th in Palm Coast.
Flagler Sheriff’s Police Athletic League (P.A.L.) Offers Free Summer Activities for Youth
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Police Athletic League (P.A.L.) is now offering “KIDS, KOPS and K9” during the months of June and July. This free summertime program is being offered to children ages 4-18
Monday Briefing: Cottages for Princess Place, Canadian Drugs for County Employees, New Health Department Director
The design of the proposed vacation cottages at Princess Place Preserves is unveiled to county commissioners, who also are expected to appoint Robert Snyder as Flagler County’s Health Department administrator, replacing Patrick Johnson.
Flagler’s Future Problem Solvers Claim 2 First-Place Trophies and 5 Overall at International Competition
Flagler County’s public school students have shined again, as they’ve made a habit of doing so at such competitions year after year, led by FPC’s Daniel Thomas and Rymfire Elementary’s group.
Palm Coast Flagler Beaches Senior Games, Sept. 12-19: Registration Open
Active older adults can now sign up for the second annual Palm Coast & the Flagler Beaches Senior Games – offering competition in 14 sports.
Swimming Lessons and Lifeguard Classes Available at Frieda Zamba Swimming Pool
Palm Coast offers swimming lessons at Frieda Zamba Swimming Pool for all ages. All classes are taught under the supervision of a Red Cross-certified swim instructor.
ISIS and Barack Obama’s Dumb War
Sending US troops back to Iraq to fight ISIS, Obama is doing what no American president has ever done before: re-start a war long lost. He’s doing it illegally, without Congressional authorization.
Ex-Felon Duane Weeks, Former Elections Supervisor’s Son, Charged With 2 New Felonies
Duane Weeks Jr., 34, son Kimberle Weeks, is charged with brutalizing a 25-year-old woman, smashing her cell phone, and attempting to run her down with a farm vehicle on County Road 305, causing the woman to crash her own car into a trailer.
Mark Richter Files to Run for Ericksen’s County Commission Seat as DeLorenzo Mulls Move
Richter, an ex-felong with a history of obscene and threatening communications to local media, ran on a Ronald Reagan Republican Assembly platform in 2012. Palm Coast Council member Jason DeLorenzo is exploring a move away from the council.
Sedated We Stand: Medicare Paid for Nearly 40 Million Tranquilizer Prescriptions in 2013
Florida had more doctors who prescribed large amounts of benzodiazepines than anywhere else in the country with some 144 Florida doctors wrote at least 2,000 prescriptions for them to Medicare patients.
ACLU and Women’s Health Center Sue Florida Over 24-Hour Abortion Waiting Period
The lawsuit contends that for women — especially low-income women who must arrange for child care, time off work and overnight travel — the law can push them past the time it is legal to have abortions.
Weekend Briefing: Celebrating George Hanns’s Quarter Century, Lacrosse at Indian Trails, Nukes Everywhere
Flagler Commissioner George Hanns’s 25 years in public service are marked Sunday at Hijackers Restaurant, the Legislature passes a series of health care bills today, Palm Coast graduates another academy class.
In Theoretical Mass Shooting at FPC, a Mass Exercise to Evaluate Vulnerabilities
A man denied custody of his children decides to take his rage out on FPC students in a shooting rampage: that was the scenario around which some 200 responders and volunteer actors recreated an emergency response this morning in a two-hour training exercise at the school.
SWAT Team Deployed Again, This Time for Marijuana Muffins and Chocolate
The SWAT team was deployed Wednesday morning against a Flagler Beach “grow house” where “several” muffins and chocolate laced in marijuana were seized.
Thursday Briefing: Emergency Drill at FPC, Ty Pennington Digs Palm Coast, Denali Dims McKinley
Avoid the area around Flagler Palm Coast High School Thursday morning, Mt. Denali wants to kick out McKinley, Ty Pennington grills in Palm Coast.
Don’t Panic: FPC Will Be the Scene of a Large-Scale “Active Assailant” Exercise Thursday
Emergency management is not releasing more detailed information than that because the aim of the exercise is to simulate a stressful emergency as close to the real thing as possible.
The War on Women, Cont’d: Enough with Mandatory Vaginal Exams, Florida
It’s not enough that in 2011 our Legislature passed a draconian law forcing women to schedule, pay for, and look at an ultrasound of their fetus if they choose to exercise their right to an abortion.
Fossil-Fuel Utilities Band Up to Block Solar-Power Initiative Aiming to Unshackle Industry
Florida’s largest electric utilities, AG Pam Bondi and business groups want the Supreme Court to block a proposed solar-energy ballot initiative that would go before voters in 2016.
Florida Park Drive Data Sees No Traffic Problem. Residents Differ. Council Is Stumped.
The Palm Coast council wants to help residents along Florida Park Drive, but it isn’t sure there is a solution there that would not also trigger a problem elsewhere.
Palm Coast Passes on Supporting County In Anti-Fracking and Drilling Resolutions
The Palm Coast City Council chose not to sign on to a pair of resolutions opposing fracking or seismic testing for oil offshore of Florida, saying the county has already spoken.
Imprisoned for Burglarizing Joe’s Pizza in 2009, He Targets Oriental Garden Tuesday
Hugh W. McIntyre,a resident of Palm Coast’s B-Section, was arrested Tuesday shortly after burglarizing Oriental Garden. He was sentenced to two years in prison for burglarizing Joe’s New York Pizza to support a drug habit in 2009.
Wednesday Briefing: Golden Lion’s Saucy Reach, Brotherhood Ride at Palm Coast Elks, Bail’s Injustice
Flagler Beach’s Golden Lion donates 50% of profits from its tartar sauce sales to feed the needy, the Brotherhood Ride in Palm Coast honors 10 Fallen Florida First Responders, how the bond system screws defendants and ruins families daily.
Citing “Competition,” Lawmakers Want Hospitals Deregulated. Hospitals Disagree.
The measure would eliminate what is known as the hospital “certificate of need” process in Florida, which requires state review and approval of building new hospitals, replacing hospitals and offering certain complex, costly medical services such as organ transplants.
News-Journal Employees File Charges of Unfair Labor Practices Against New Owner GateHouse Media
The press room union filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board on June 3, charging that GateHouse Media illegally abrogated their collective bargaining agreement and is trying to bust the union.
Arrested for Drunk Driving, She Tries to Roll Up Her Car Window on a Cop’s Arm
Erin Johnson, 26, of Palm Coast, was one mile from her Wellshire Lane house before she was arrested on charges of battery on a cop, resisting with violence and drunk driving.
16 Matanzas High Seniors Still Awaiting Diplomas Because of Company’s Late Exam Scores
Pearson, the company scoring the Biology and US History end-of-course exams, has had a poor history of turning in its own work over the many years it’s administered standardized tests in Florida.
Childhood Cancer Clusters in Florida and The Department of Health’s Lethal Silence
Five years have passed since the University of West Florida’s Dr. Raid Amin and his team alerted the state to the presence of cancer clusters in Florida, the state Department of Health remains mum, seemingly uninterested in investigating the issue.
Tuesday Briefing: Swim Lessons at Frieda Zamba, Texas Pool Party Video, Michael J. Fox at 54
Video of Texas police shown abusing a 14-year-old girl at a Texas pool party surfaces, the Palm Coast council takes on Florida Park Drive again, Michael J. Fox is still powering Parkinson’s battlers, and the Women’s World Cup continues in Canada.
Senator Blasts “Hypocritical” House Over Rejecting Medicaid Money While Getting Set to Borrow
Disagreements led Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee, R-Brandon, to label the House as “hypocritical” for rejecting federal Medicaid expansion funding while being willing to issue bonds to pay for environmental projects.