St. Johns County has helped launch IMPACT: Advocating for Children Today, Inc., with community partners to identify the needs, resources, and partnerships to improve the lives of St. Johns County children and their families by advocating for a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment. A community workshop was held in August to proceed forward with program priorities, funding opportunities, and the formation of a board of directors.
For Trump’s Perceived Enemies, the Process May Be the Punishment
If the case against Comey is exceedingly weak – and little more than a political prosecution – then it should result in the dismissal of charges by the judge or a not guilty verdict by the jury. But even when an individual is not convicted, the process of defending against charges can itself be a form of punishment, as renowned legal scholar Malcolm Feeley pointed out almost 50 years ago.
Florida Could Face Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in Food Stamp Costs Under Trump’s ‘Beautiful’ Bill
Currently, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits — commonly known as food stamps — distributed by the state are fully funded by the federal government. But under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” signed this summer by President Donald Trump, that could change on Oct. 1, 2027, when states could be required to contribute money based on payment error rates. The error rate isn’t based on fraud but overpayments and underpayments. Benefits are calculated based on household sizes and net monthly incomes, which can change and might not be immediately reported.
Flagler Cares’ Carrie Baird Is Among ‘Women Shaping Florida’s Future’ at State Awards, a First for Flagler County
Close to 200 people gathered at Tallahassee’s DoubleTree Hotel Wednesday evening to honor “women who are shaping Florida’s future, who are leading, innovating and lifting others up as they rise,” as Shevaun Harris, Secretary, Agency for Health Care Administration, a keynote speaker and one of the honorees, told the audience. One of the women was Carrie Baird, Chief Executive Officer of Flagler Cares, the 10-year-old, Palm Coast-based nonprofit. It was the first time that the leader of an organization in Flagler County was the recipient of the News Service of Florida’s annual Above and Beyond Award.
Flagler Beach Commission Votes 3-2 to Sell Ocean Palm Golf Course at a Loss, for $801,000, Citing ‘Painful’ Years
The Flagler Beach City Commission voted 3-2 Thursday to sell the nine-hole Ocean Palm Golf Club it bought in 2008. The sale price would be $801,000, or $100,000 less than what the city paid for it, when it acquired an additional 3 acres a decade ago. The course has been a perennial loss for the city even with the two golf management companies that have run the course since 2015. The buyer is the current lease holder, Ocean Palms Golf Club, owned by Jeff Ryan.
Celebration of Life and Other Services Scheduled in Memory of Jorge and Nancy Salinas
The family of Jorge Salinas and his wife Nancy Salinas have scheduled a celebration of life in honor of the couple’s memory at 2 p.m. at the Palm Coast Community Center on Sunday. It is the first of a week of services. Salinas, the deputy Flagler County administrator since 2020, and his wife lost their lives on Oct. 4 in a hit-and-run crash on I-4 that took the life of a third person as well.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, October 10, 2025
The Nobel Peace Prize is announced this morning, the Friday Blue Forum, remembering Malala Yousafzai’s Peace Prize Lecture, ‘Sweeney Todd’ at Athens Theatre, Neil Postman on a culture’s memory holes.
The Gaza Peace Plan’s Familiar Rings
The latest U.S.-sponsored peace plan for the Middle East was unveiled at the White House on Sept. 29, 2025, and immediately accepted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The proposal, which U.S. President Donald Trump said marked a “historic” moment that was “very close” to ending the two-year-old war in Gaza, will now go to Hamas.
Hutson Companies, Major Housing Developer, Bids $3.5 Million for Bankrupt Marineland Dolphin Adventure
The Hutson Companies, a St. Augustine developer of single-family homes and apartment complexes, has placed a $3.5 million bid for the bankrupt 5.1-acre Marineland Dolphin Adventure property in Marineland, suggesting that if the sale closes later this month, the famed attraction’s 87-year history may be coming to an end. An open auction is scheduled for Oct. 27 in Delaware. A stalking-horse bid, or agreement, is an opening bid that allows the company in bankruptcy to set a floor for potential future bids. But it gives the stalking horse an advantage.
Palm Coast Man Neglects to Take Infant Daughter to Hospital After She Ingested Edibles, Attending Football Game Instead
Kajuan Arthur Harris, a 29-year-old resident of Wheatfield Drive in Palm Coast, faces a charge of child neglect with great bodily harm, a second-degree felony, following the second hospitalization of his 5-year-old autistic daughter after she ingested a large quantity of marijuana edibles while she was in Harris’s care. He refused to take the child to the hospital, going to a football game instead and urging the child’s mother to let the child “sleep it off.”
For Flagler County’s I-95 Corridor, Long Duration Nor’Easter Brings High Winds, Potential Flooding and Erosion
The National Weather Service in Jacksonville is cautioning that a “long-duration nor’easter’ began today and will continue through Saturday, bringing wind and heavy downpours along the I-95 corridor, high tides 2 to 3 feet above normal and dangerous surf that will batter and damage Flagler County’s beaches, and potential coastal flooding. Calmer, dryer weather returns Sunday.
Florida National Guard Can’t Retain Enough Troops Or Recruit New Ones
Compared to other states, the Florida National Guard ranked 53rd out of 54 in the guardsmen-to-citizen ratio, said Major General John Haas, an Adjutant General of Florida with the Department of Military Affairs. Haas warned during a Senate hearing that the Florida National Guard should be more than double its current size. He said Florida has the same size force as much smaller states like Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, October 9, 2025
The Nobel Prize in literature is awarded this morning, Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series explores the skeletons of dinosaurs, The Flagler Beach City Commission meets, ‘Sweeney Todd’ at Athens Theatre, Flagler Beach United Methodist Church Food Pantry.
Palm Coast’s Ebike Ordinance in Effect: Limits Speeds, Restricts Riders’ Age to 11 and Up and Requires Photo ID
Palm Coast’s ebike ordinance is now in effect following the Palm Coast City Council’s approval Tuesday of a measure that sets speed limits at between 20 and 28 mph, depending on the bike, restricts riders to age 11 and up, and requires riders to carry government-issued identification at all times.
Sheriff’s Operations Center May Be Renamed for Rick Staly in Recognition of His 50 Years in Policing
The Flagler County Commission is considering–and will likely approve–renaming the Sheriff’s Operations Center in Bunnell as the Sheriff Rick Staly Law Enforcement Center in recognition of Staly’s 50 years of service in law enforcement. Sheriff’s Chief Mark Strobridge, a colleague and friend of Staly’s going back to their many years together at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, conceived and proposed the idea. Commissioner Leann Pennington is championing it, if with some policy-related pause from Commission Chair Andy Dance and Commissioner Greg Hansen.
Flagler Beach Planning Board Rejects Veranda Bay/Summertown Annexation in Striking Reversal of Former Welcome
In a striking reversal from its unanimous recommendation approving Veranda Bay’s annexation into Flagler Beach last year, before the threat of a lawsuit suspended further regulatory steps, the Flagler Beach Planning Board Tuesday denied recommending approval on a series of 4-1 votes. For Veranda Bay, it is the latest blow in a six-year slog through sustained public opposition, litigation, official courtship, second thoughts and now uncertainty.
Derek Barrs Is Finally Confirmed as Administrator of Motor Carrier Safety Administration After Fractious Senate Maneuvers
The U.S. Senate in a strict party-line 51-47 vote Tuesday night confirmed Derek Barrs, the former Flagler County school board member, administrator of the federal Transportation Department’s Motor Carrier Safety Administration, seven months after President Trump nominated Barrs to the post.
Florida’s Colleges and Universities May Be Forced Each to Change a Street Name for Charlie Kirk
Every one of Florida’s 40 public universities and colleges would have to redesignate a road, a street or an avenue after Charlie Kirk, the extremist controversialist who was assassinated last month, if a bill introduced by a Dade City Republican becomes law. Revered among wide swaths of the right, Kirk had a long record of making divisive and bigoted comments. It is likely the bill will generate significant debate if it is taken up in committees.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Nikole Hannah-Jones and Ta-Nehisi Coates on Charlie Kirk, the TPO’s Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee meets, The Atlantic Chapter of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State meets, Weekly Chess Club for Teens at the county library.
AI’s Energy Consumption and Data Center Efficiency
Artificial intelligence is growing fast, and so are the number of computers that power it. Behind the scenes, this rapid growth is putting a huge strain on the data centers that run AI models. These facilities are using more energy than ever.
Florida Has No Clue How Many Kids Have Lost Health Coverage Since DeSantis Refusal to Comply with Eligibility Rule
In 2023. the Legislature ordered that children in families making up to 300 percent of the poverty level be eligible for KidCare, not 200 percent. The DeSantis administration has refused to comply, sticking with 200 percent, and causing enrollment to fall. But Brian Meyer, the state’s top Medicaid official, couldn’t answer a simple question: How many children have been disenrolled from the program because their families haven’t paid the premiums.
Palm Coast Government Invites Community Input on Land Development Code
The City of Palm Coast is beginning the process of reviewing and updating its Land Development Code (LDC) and is inviting the community to participate in this important effort. A series of public workshops will be held during the Planning and Land Development Regulation Board (PLDRB) meetings and City Council meetings, all of which are open to the public. The first workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at Palm Coast City Hall.
Flagler County’s Development Authority Board Wants to Wade Into Economic Development, Conjuring Grim History
Some of the members of Flagler County’s newly appointed Industrial Development Authority wants to be more than just an industrial development authority. They want to be the county’s economic advisory council–reviving the sort of council the county killed in 2020 after years of meager results. Just as IDA members have mixed feelings about that, so did the Flagler County commissioners who appointed them.
Fact-Check: How Flagler County Misuses Numbers in Pitch of $110 Million Sports Complex
In a pitch to the Flagler County Commission on Monday, the county’s tourism bureau and its consultant backed up an analysis of a proposed $110 million sports complex with numbers that, while accurate in themselves, were entirely without context and, on close inspection, had little to do with Palm Coast, and in some regards contradicted the county’s rosy claims.
More Skepticism and Vagueness than Hard Data to Support Mammoth $110 Million Sports Complex in Palm Coast
A company pitching a proposed $110 million sports complex for west Palm Coast claims it could attract up to 400,000 a year even though the county as a whole doesn’t attract more than 100,000 total visitors a year, including those who flock to its beaches. Yet the Flagler County Commission, with some strong skepticism from one member and questions from others, continues to encourage its tourism office to further explore the possibility of just such a complex, which would require a $6 million a year “rent” payment from taxpayers.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, October 7, 2025
The Palm Coast City Council, Flagler Beach’s and Bunnell’s planning boards all meet, when Nixon was claiming he would not use personal attacks in the same issue of the New York Times that led to the Sullivan ruling, Anthony Lewis on “Make No Law.”
Florida Attorney General Leads 21 States Backing ‘Parental Rights’ Over Child’s Gender Privacy in Court Case
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier led 21 states in a brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court Monday supporting a Tallahassee mother who claimed her rights were violated when a local middle school created a secret plan supporting her child switching genders.
Jorge Salinas, Flagler County’s Steadying Deputy Administrator Since 2020, and His Wife, Are Killed in Crash
Jorge Salinas, Flagler County’s deputy administrator since 2020, a steadying voice of the county administration and one of the more beloved people at the Government Services Building, was killed late Sunday night in a four-vehicle hit-and-run car crash on I-4, as was his wife and an unrelated motorcyclist.
The Supreme Court Resumes Its Rightward Reel
This year’s controversies at the Supreme Court focus on three dominant themes. One is the continuing constitutional revolution in how the justices read our basic law. The court has shifted from a living reading of the Constitution, which says the Constitution should adapt to the American people’s evolving values and the needs of contemporary society, to an original reading, which aims to enforce the constitutional principles understood by the Americans who ratified them.
Hearings Begin Over FPL’s Proposed Rate Increase
FPL’s originally proposed base rate hike in February would have allowed it to collect $9.8 billion in revenue over the next four years — the highest in U.S. history. Since then, that has been negotiated down by approximately $2.9 billion — still far too high, energy advocates argue.
Sirius Healthcare, Specializing in HIV and Hepatitis C, Joins Flagler Care’s Village at City Marketplace
Sirius Healthcare, established 15 months ago and headquartered in Orange City, is dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals impacted by HIV, Hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as mental health and primary care services. Founded on principles of compassion and excellence, Sirius Healthcare focuses on improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations by empowering patients through education, support, and comprehensive care tailored to their unique needs.
In a Surprise, Flagler Commissioners Vote 4-1 to Indemnify Contractor of South-Side Library for Up to $1.25 Million
In one of the most unusual–if not unprecedented–moves on behalf of a building contractor, the Flagler County Commission this morning voted 4-1 to indemnify Ajax Construction for up to $1.25 million for non-structural-related contractual matters in its construction of the Nexus Center, the south-side library Ajax is building for the county.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, October 6, 2025
The Flagler County Commission meets in the morning, the Beverly Beach Town Commission meets in the evening, and the Mediterranean brings back all sorts of memories from Homer to Braudel.
The US Edges Closer to War Footing with Venezuela
For many in Venezuela, the question is no longer whether tensions with Washington will reach a boiling point – they already have. Rather, the big unknown now is whether the U.S. will follow up on threats and the sinking of drug boats with something more drastic: direct military engagement or even regime change.
Grand Jury Reported Imminent in Hope Florida Scandal
Subpoenas are being issued to Gov. Ron DeSantis staffers over the Hope Florida spending scandal. The subpoenas come as prosecutors in Tallahassee are convening a grand jury to meet during the week of Oct. 13, according to the Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times. Hope Florida has been the subject of increasing scrutiny. Leaders of the organization faced lawmakers’ questions during the last Legislative Session.
Rampant Gaslighting About Freedom of Speech at Florida Universities
Our state government is authoritarian and proudly ignorant, hell-bent on destroying what makes universities great — freedom of expression, critical thinking, creativity, exposing students to ideas that may challenge them (or even upset them), unfettered research, scientific rigor, and advances in knowledge based on data. Why would a scholar want to pursue a career in such a fact-resistant, small-minded, censorious state?
Do ‘Conversion Therapy’ Bans Violate Free Speech?
The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Tuesday in a challenge to Colorado’s ban on “conversion therapy” – treatment intended to change a client’s sexual orientation or gender identity – for young people. Kaley Chiles, a therapist in Colorado Springs and a practicing Christian, argues that the ban violates her right to free speech because it imposes “a gag order on counselors.” Colorado counters that the ban merely regulates the treatments that mental health professionals can provide because conversion therapy has been found to be “unsafe and ineffective.”
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, October 5, 2025
Final day of the Creekside Music and Arts Festival at Princess Place Preserve, final chance to see ‘Avenue Q,’ at City Repertory Theatre, Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village, ‘Sweeney Todd’ at Athens Theatre in DeLand, the wonderful George Hanns turns 79.
The Shutdown and the Battle Over Obamacare Subsidies
In the lead-up to the current shutdown, Republicans needed Democratic votes in the Senate to pass a bill that would keep funding the government at existing levels at least until November. In return for their support, Democrats sought several concessions. A major one was to extend subsidies for ACA insurance policy premiums, which were established during the COVID-19 pandemic. These subsidies addressed a shortcoming in the ACA by decreasing premiums for millions of Americans – and they played a crucial role in more than doubling enrollment in the ACA marketplaces.
Privatizing the VA Is a Disaster in the Making for Veterans
The VA MISSION Act of 2018, passed under President Trump’s first term, established a parallel private network, the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP). The VCCP now sees 60 percent of VA patients and eats up over $30 billion a year that could go to hiring more staff and improving the VA’s aging infrastructure. This year, VA Secretary Doug Collins asked Congress for a 50 percent increase in VCCP funding and — in an unprecedented move — a reduction in VA funding.
Universal Is reopening Stardust Racers at Epic Universe
Despite potential litigation and an ongoing probe, Universal Orlando is reopening Stardust Racers after a man’s death last month. Stardust Racers had been closed since Kevin Rodriguez Zavala died Sept. 17. Rodriguez Zavala died from multiple blunt force trauma after his family’s lawyers said he hit his head repeatedly on the metal bar of the ride. They called his injuries extensive although the full autopsy has not been released.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Creekside Music and Arts Festival at Princess Place Preserve postponed, ‘Avenue Q,’ at City Repertory Theatre, The Flagler Beach All Stars hold their monthly beach clean-up, Random Acts of Insanity Standup Comedy at Cinematique in Daytona Beach, the American Dream.
George Washington’s Lesson to Pete Hegseth
Washington’s overall vision of a military leader could not be further from Hegseth’s vision of the tough warrior. For starters, Washington would have found the concern with “fat generals” irrelevant. Some of the most capable officers in the Continental Army were famously overweight. Washington became a soldier not because he was hotheaded or drawn to the thrill of combat, but because he saw soldiering as the highest exercise of discipline, patience and composure. His “warrior ethos” was moral before it was martial.
Teacher Who Certified Student as ‘Most Likely to Become Dictator’ Battles Pending Firing
With state Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas vowing to prevent her from teaching again, an Alachua County teacher is fighting a disciplinary case that includes allegations she presented a certificate to a student that said he was the most likely to “become a dictator.”
State Debating Trophy Will be Named After Controversialist Charlie Kirk
The top student debaters in the state will hoist a trophy named for the late, controversial conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas announced Friday that the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative championship trophy will be named for Kirk, who gained notoriety for debating students on college campuses before he was assassinated.
Keith Johansen, Serving Life for Murdering His Wife, Now Claims Stand Your Ground Would Have Exonerated Him
Former Palm Coast resident Keith Johansen, 43, who shot and killed his wife Brandi Celenza at their F-Section home in 2018, now claims a Stand Your Ground motion would have exonerated him and made trial unnecessary. Four years ago this month a jury found Johansen guilty of murdering Brandi, 25, in their home on Felter Lane while Brandi’s young son was in another room, waiting to go to the county fair.
Every Flagler/Palm Coast Development Past, Present and Future Now Mapped Out and Accessible Thanks to Toby Tobin
Imagine an interactive site where every housing development in Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Bunnell and Flagler County, past, present, and future, is mapped out and available at a click. Every development’s details–number of homes, apartment units, commercial or industrial square footage–is listed, often with illustrations and links. Developers are listed. So are construction dates or projected buildouts. That map is now public and free to use, if not quite as free to its creator, who’s paying for it.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, October 3, 2025
First Friday in Flagler Beach, ‘Avenue Q,’ at City Repertory Theatre, First Friday Garden Walks at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, The Friday Blue Forum, Free Family Art Night: Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens, the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Jane Goodall Redefined What It Meant to Be Human
Anyone proposing to offer a master class on changing the world for the better, without becoming negative, cynical, angry or narrow-minded in the process, could model their advice on the life and work of pioneering animal behavior scholar Jane Goodall.
Loving Penguins Lose as Federal Judge Backs School Board’s Ban of ‘And Tango Makes Three’
A federal judge this week rejected a challenge to a 2023 decision by the Escambia County School Board to remove the book “And Tango Makes Three” from school libraries, ruling the move did not violate First Amendment rights. “And Tango Makes Three,” which tells the story of two male penguins who raised a penguin chick at New York’s Central Park Zoo, has become a prominent part of a debate in recent years about removing or restricting access to books at Florida schools. The Escambia County lawsuit alleged the book was targeted for its depictions of same-sex parents raising a child.
