The Flagler County Tourist Development Council meets, the Palm Coast Planning and Land Development Board meets, Henriqson trial day 3, Eternal Darkness in Lebanon and the faces and lives obliterated by Israel’s war crimes.
From Jules Verne to Artemis II
NASA’s Artemis II mission marks a return to lunar exploration 50 years after the Apollo era. The moonshot mirrors Jules Verne’s 1865 novel by highlighting the political and economic complexities of spacefaring. Verne correctly anticipated nationalist competition and environmental consequences. Today’s mission reflects similar tensions between global unity and a race for power.
Victim, 13, Testifies Against Ex-Stepfather as Chilling Recorded Confession and DNA Evidence Pile Up
The now 13-year-old alleged victim testified today against her stepfather, Kristopher Hendriqson, in his second day of trial on capital rape charges stemming from allegations that he’d been raping and molesting her since she was 9. The prosecution presented recorded phone calls containing Henriqson’s confessions and forensic DNA evidence matching his profile that he’d left on the girl’s chest. Henriqson abandoned his self-representation after a poor start on Monday.
County Commissioner Andy Dance Replaces Flagler Beach’s Belhumeur on TPO Executive Board
Flagler County Commissioner Andy Dance joined Palm Coast City Council member Ty Miller on the six-member Executive Committee of the Volusia-Flagler Transportation Planning Organization (TPO). Dance replaces former Flagler Beach City Commissioner Rick Belhumeur, who lost his seat in that city’s March election.
Palm Coast City Council Rejects Privatization Of Palm Harbor Golf Course as Near-Term Revenue Improves
The Palm Coast City Council rejected privatizing the Palm Harbor Golf Course following reports of a a surplus through management changes, higher fees and flexible passes. The city may consider returning the facility to an enterprise fund model. Despite current financial success, looming capital costs remain.
Sheriff Says He’ll Request 13 New Deputies as he Touts Helicopter, Drones, ICE Partnership and Crime Drop
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly reported a 54 percent crime decrease since 2017 during his annual Addressing Crime Together presentation last week. He intends to request 13 new deputies. His report detailed a new Bell 505 helicopter acquisition and expanded drone first-responder programs and defended the agency’s collaboration with federal ICE agents while highlighting successful inmate rehabilitation programs at the jail.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, April 14, 2026
The Palm Coast City Council meets in workshop, the school board meets, Tuesday Book Talk at the Flagler Beach Public Library, Trump thinks he’s God, the pope thinks he’s a bully, Florida to Russia.
Fuel Crisis Over? Not Even Close.
A temporary ceasefire in the Iran war offers slight relief for global oil markets but damaged infrastructure in neighboring nations ensures supply remains tight for months. Long-term security requires reducing reliance on imports through electrification and high prices for diesel and jet fuel will persist despite diplomatic progress.
World Cup Security Will Cost Over $80 Million in Florida
The FDLE request involves $8.1 million in a Federal Emergency Management grant to be used for monitoring, tracking and detection through unmanned aircraft systems. Another $73.7 million Federal Emergency Management grant was awarded to the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Most of the money, $63.6 million, will reimburse local law enforcement agencies for overtime expenses.
Snubbing AP Course, Florida Will Create Its Own U.S. History Class for College Credit
Florida is creating its own alternative to Advanced Placement courses. The state still does not allow AP African American Studies to be taught in public schools. In response to critics who decried the move, DeSantis and DOE officials have pointed to other African-American history requirements throughout the state curriculum.
Trial Begins With Major Disruptions as Self-Representing Henriqson Delivers Improper Opening Statement
Kristopher Henriqson’s trial on child rape and molestation charges started with along delay as Henriqson, representing himself, attempted to deliver an improper 12-page opening statement. Judge Dawn Nichols ordered the prosecution to highlight acceptable portions after repeated jury recesses, reducing the statement to less than a minute.
Reimagining Itself, Flagler Beach Approves New Transportation Fees To Start Funding $38 Million ‘Mobility’ Plan
Flagler Beach commissioners unanimously approved new mobility fees on new construction to fund a $38 million transportation plan. The initiative shifts the city away from car-centered infrastructure toward a multi-modal environment accommodating pedestrians and cyclists. The fee schedule targets residential and commercial developments.
Flagler County Unemployment Jumps to 6 Percent, Highest Rate in Five Years
Flagler County unemployment reached 6 percent in January, the highest rate since October 2020 as labor markets in St. Johns and Volusia counties also showed strains in January. Florida lost 20,000 jobs over the year.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, April 13, 2026
The Kristopher Henriqson trail begins with jury selection, the Bunnell City Commission meets, when Ronald Reagan could order Israel to a ceasefire, and memories of April 13, 1975.
4 Ways the Iran War Weakened the United States
The war in Iran significantly diminished United States global standing across four distinct strategic areas. Moscow and Beijing profited from American military distraction by increasing regional influence and securing economic advantages. Trump’s unilateral actions alienated traditional NATO allies and abandoned stated national security priorities. China now assumes the role of global mediator. This conflict signals a potential end to the U.S.-led liberal international order.
Byron Donalds Claims Regime Change Is Imminent In Cuba
With tensions still high between Cuba and the U.S., gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday and openly called for a change of government in Cuba.
Back to DeFuture! Ron DeSantis Is the Only Authentic Choice in 2028
Be cool, Ron: Fox will sober up, come to its senses, and realize only you can save this nation from the Red Chinese, the whiny Ukrainians, vaccines, the powerful Palestinian lobby, crazed sociology majors, climate change radicals, feminists, soft-on-illegal-immigrants sheriffs, and anything else threatening Americans’ precious bodily fluids.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, April 12, 2026
Get theatrical: “My Fair Lady,” at Daytona Playhouse, “Godspell,” Limelight Theatre, “The Sound of Music” at Athens Theatre, and when “normal people don’t know that everything is possible.”
Florida Universities’ Collaboration with ICE Is Making Students Less Safe
At least 15 Florida public universities have signed agreements to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, authorizing campus police to perform certain federal immigration functions including questioning and arresting suspected undocumented students. Faculty members report an intensifying climate of anxiety and uncertainty across campuses and a damaged sense of belonging for international students while undermining the role of universities.
Saturday in Byblos:
Charlie Sheen’s Addictive Book of Hedonism
Charlie Sheen survives his own history of addiction to deliver a surprising memoir in “The Book of Sheen,” a three-voice fugue of stardom, debauchery, and Casanova-like reflections. He skips the Hollywood trap of mawkish regret as his narrative energy and wit recount a life spent mostly in a drug-induced haze.
Snubbed By Big Donors, Paul Renner’s Fundraising Drops
Former House Speaker Paul Renner is finding it more difficult to raise money in 2026 than he did in 2025, suggesting that the Palm Coast Republican will need a lot of grassroots support if he intends to compete with front-runner Byron Donalds in the race for Governor.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, April 11, 2026
The 18th annual Turtle Fest is all day today at Veterans Park in Flagler Beach, Second Saturday Plant Sale at Washington Oaks, Gamble Jam, “My Fair Lady,” at Daytona Playhouse, a few words from Brune Bettelheim on disbelief of and disassociation from horrors we experience.
Hey, Randy Fine: Muslims Like Me Don’t Threaten Our Way of Life. Your Bigotry Does.
You would think members of Congress, who swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution, would know that the right to freely practice religion is inalienable. Yet many, among them Randy Fine, who represents Flagler and other Florida counties, continue to attack the faith of millions of Muslim Americans, including their own constituents.
The Ceasefire May Have Made Iran Stronger
Iran negotiated from a 10-point plan focusing on sanctions relief and control over the Strait of Hormuz. Despite sustained military strikes, the regime demonstrated institutional resilience and economic leverage, highlighting the limits of military dominance. Tehran successfully converted intense pressure into durable political and financial gains.
Kevin Cichowski, Exonerated at Trial in October, Faces 7 New Violent Charges. He’s Also Running for Governor.
Flagler County deputies arrested Kevin Cichowski following a domestic disturbance involving two elderly victims. The 46-year-old gubernatorial candidate allegedly battered the victims with a cane and a cellphone. Cichowski threatened to kill law enforcement before surrendering to the Sheriff’s Office. He went to trial on domestic violence charges last October and was found not guilty.
Clerk of Court Tom Bexley Makes It Official: Heidi Petito Starts New Senior Adviser Role Monday
Flagler County Clerk Tom Bexley officially hired former County Administrator Heidi Petito as a senior adviser starting Monday. Petito left her 23-year career within the county organization today following intense friction with three commissioners, accepting a 48 percent salary reduction to exit what she repeatedly described as a toxic environment. Her new responsibilities include executive counseling and intergovernmental relations. Bexley praised her fiscal stewardship and deep institutional knowledge.
Flagler Beach Commissioner Defies Contractual Obligation By Voting Against City Manager’s Ethics Defense Bill
The Flagler Beach City Commission approved paying a $10,800 legal bill for City Manager Dale Martin following a dismissed ethics complaint, but Commissioner John Cunningham opposed the payment based on personal suspicions as Mayor Patti King criticized the use of innuendo to challenge the state ethics commission findings.
Flagler Sheriff’s Detective Ardit Coma Files Federal Lawsuit Against Ormond Beach For Alleged False Arrest
Flagler County Sheriff’s Detective Ardit Coma filed a federal lawsuit against Ormond Beach and the officer, Sgt. Caleb Braun, who allegedly falsely arrested Coma after a December traffic stop for speeding escalated into a felony charge of fleeing and eluding. Attorney Anthony Sabatini filed the suit on Wednesday in the Middle District of Florida, arguing the city maintains a custom of improperly escalating routine stops into unlawful felony arrests.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, April 10, 2026
How Trump allowed himself to be led by the nose by Israel’s Netanyahu into a war on Iran, Coffee and Conversation with Palm Coast City Manager Michael McGlothlin, “My Fair Lady,” at Daytona Playhouse, “The Sound of Music” at Athens Theatre.
Florida Attorney General Investigating ChatGPT for Alleged Role in FSU Shooting
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is investigating ChatGPT for its alleged role in last year’s mass shooting at Florida State University.
Israel’s Decades-Old Playbook to Annex South Lebanon
Israeli politicians are increasingly calling for the permanent occupation and annexation of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River. These demands mirror early Zionist territorial goals from the early 20th century. As current Israeli forces face significant fatigue from multiple conflicts, these expansionist policies risk igniting further sectarian violence and domestic opposition within Israel.
Paul Renner Appropriates ‘Affordability’ as His Laggard Campaign Tours Florida
Florida GOP gubernatorial candidate Paul Renner took his “Affordability Now” tour to Tampa Bay Thursday, where the conversation focused on property insurance rates, property taxes, and growing discontent with condominium and homeowners’ associations.
Forecast Is for ‘Somewhat Below Normal’ Hurricane Season, But Flagler EM Chief Urges Caution
Colorado State University researchers today predicted a “somewhat below-normal” Atlantic hurricane season: 13 named storms, instead of 14 to 15 in an average year, six hurricanes instead of seven, and two reaching major storm strength instead of three. Flagler County Emergency Management Direcxtor Jonathan Lord cautioned against putting too. much stock on forecasts.
Accused Rapist Henriqson Fumbles to Monday Trial and Risk of Life in Prison as He Persists with Self-Representation
After trying various ways to again delay a trial that’s been postponed since last fall, former Palm Coast resident Kristopher Henriqson, 48, faces trial Monday for numerous capital and life felony charges involving the alleged rapes of his stepdaughter over three years, when she was between 9 and 12. Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols denied his request for another continuance and cautioned him in two hearings this week against continuing to represent himself in two hearings this week. Henriqson has made numerous missteps in the case.
In Muddled Manifesto, Mayor Norris Wants to Sell ‘Bougie’ Southern Rec Center and Cut $10 Million in Spending
In an often sharply contradictory screed at the end of Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris proposed cutting $10 million from property tax revenue and suggested selling the Southern Recreation Center, labeling it a “bougie” drain on city resources. He was drawing his conclusions by relying on a dubious government spending formula from Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia even as he declared himself “happy” with last year’s budget and with the city’s fiscally conservative record.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, April 9, 2026
The Flagler Beach City Commission meets, Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series, “Godspell,” Limelight Theatre, when Trump demolished the Bonwit-Teller tower to build his own.
GOP Rep. Ryan Chamberlin Launches Citizen Initiative To Eliminate Florida Property Taxes By 2028
Florida Republicans have struggled to pass property tax relief despite promises of a constitutional amendment for the November ballot. GOP Representative Ryan Chamberlin is now spearheading a 2028 citizen-led initiative to eliminate property taxes entirely as local officials express concern over lost revenue for essential services. Other states like Georgia and Ohio are similarly debating radical tax shifts.
When a President Is Unfit for Office: Constitutional Choices
Bipartisan calls for President Donald Trump’s removal from office increased on April 7, 2026, after he issued threats to destroy “a whole civilization” if Iran refuses to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Concerns over Trump’s fitness for office have grown in recent weeks as his commentary has become more erratic. The Constitution’s 25th Amendment provides a way for high-level officials to remove a president from office.
Palm Coast Hosting High School District Tennis Tournament at Southern Recreation Center April 14-15
Palm Coast’s Southern Recreation Center will host the High School District Tennis Tournament on April 14 and 15, featuring seven regional schools competing for spots in the state series.
Barnes & Noble Coming to Palm Coast’s Target Shopping Center
Palm Coast residents will soon see the end of a long bookstore drought as site plans submitted to the city reveal a Barnes & Noble will be part of a 50,000-square-foot expansion at the Target shopping center. The expansion includes a Five Below and a home goods store.
Nightmare Intersections at Royal Palms, Town Center Blvd. and Old Kings Will Switch to All-Way Stop Signs
The Palm Coast City Council approved installing all-way stop signs at two major intersections at Town Center Boulevard and Royal Palms Parkway, and Town Center and Old Kings Road, within three months to reduce five-minute wait times. These $15,000 improvements address immediate safety concerns. The council also approved design costs for the longer-term widening of Town Center Boulevard to four lanes.
Flagler County Sets Salary Up To $235,000 For New Administrator; Public Sector Focus and BA, not MA, Minimum
Flagler County commissioners crafted the job description and a $235,000 salary ceiling for their next administrator in place of Heidi Petito, among other details in the coming job posting. The Florida Association of County Managers, not the commission, will initially vet candidates, focusing on those with 10 years of leadership experience in the public sector and a focus on budgeting, economic development, and intergovernmental relations.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Kristopher Henriqson and Gary Durso in court, the Public Safety Coordinating Council has its quarterly meeting, Conversations in Democracy, juxtaposing Rubio and Trump on military spending, Hannah Arendt on the gullibility of the masses.
Pete Hegseth’s Christian Crusade Revival
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth belongs to the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, a network rooted in Christian Reconstructionism, which advocates for biblical law and patriarchal theocracy and draws heavily on crusader mythology and Christian nationalism. Hegseth often employs militant religious rhetoric to justify current military conflicts.
Gas Prices Cruise Past $4 a Gallon Amid Hormuz Impasse
Gas prices in Florida were up an average of 24 cents in the past week, cruising past the $4 mark as the conflict in Iran continued to rattle global oil markets. In Palm Coast on Tuesday, gas was is selling at no less than 4.17–at Wawa on Palm Coast Parkway, for instance–and more often at above $4.20.
Ex-AdventHealth Nurse Avoids Prison Time in Plea to 5 Years’ Probation for Fraud and Unlicensed Practice
Autumn Marie Bardisa received five years of probation for practicing nursing without a license at AdventHealth Palm Coast. The 29-year-old treated over 4,000 patients using a stolen identity. Judge Dawn Nichols withheld adjudication and endorsed the plea deal, saying Bardisa had the the necessary medical training, excelled at her job, but showed incredible poor judgment. Bardisa eventually earned her license, but is surrendering it as part of the plea deal.
Flagler Commissioners Increasingly Nervous Over Long-Delayed Phoenix Crossings Affordable Housing Project
Flagler County commissioners are expressing significant concern regarding the delayed Phoenix Crossings apartment complex in Bunnell. The project aims to house young people exiting foster care and other low-income families. Repeated delays have dogged the project. Commissioners must now decide whether to restructure local grants to prevent the loss of federal and state funding.
The Grocery Price Shock Ahead
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a global energy crisis and severe fertilizer shortages as one-third of internationally traded fertilizer passes through this vital waterway. Farmers face reduced productivity because essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphate are becoming scarce and expensive. Supply chain disruptions will inevitably lead to higher grocery prices for consumers and a burgeoning food emergency for vulnerable nations.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
The Palm Coast City Council meets this evening for the first time in three weeks, Flagler Beach’s and Bunnell’s planning boards meet, the Hammock Community Association Meeting with Jen Lomberk, Executive Director of Matanzas Riverkeeper, the Iran war in three covers.
Grand Jury Indicts Anne Mae Demegillo on First Degree Murder Charges in Infant’s Death
A Flagler County grand jury indicted 20-year-old Anne Mae Demegillo on a first-degree murder charge this afternoon. Investigators discovered digital evidence on her phone including searches for Casey Anthony and infant mortality. Demegillo previously faced manslaughter charges after her newborn daughter died in a toilet in early March. She turned herself in this evening.
