Meta’s launch of social media app Threads as a competitor to Twitter is a game-changer. It was welcomed almost immediately – especially by hordes of Twitter users that have watched in dismay as their beloved platform crumbles in the hands of Elon Musk.
The Apostle Ron DeSantis
Is anyone surprised Ron DeSantis said recently he wished he could have been one of the Apostles? Here’s the Good News, Ron. You don’t have to sigh moonily in a TV interview about what could’ve been.
Court Revives One-Handed Man’s Disability Case Against Universal’s Volcano Bay
A federal appeals court Friday cleared the way for a lawsuit filed by a man who was barred from a ride at an Orlando water park because he has only one hand.
Families Flee Florida and Other States Thwarting Transgender Care
Missouri, Florida, and Texas are among at least 20 states that have limited components of gender-affirming health care for trans youth. Those three states are also among the states that prevent Medicaid — the public health insurance for people with low incomes — from paying for key aspects of such care for patients of all ages.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, July 8, 2023
The Saturday Flagler Beach Farmers Market, Gamble Jam, The god-awful Ziegfeld follies, from the Narrative of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw.
Biden’s Immoral, Indefensible Decision to Send Cluster Bombs to Ukraine
The Biden administration’s decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine is a deeply controversial move given the munition is prohibited by more than 120 countries because of immense risks to civilian populations. The U.S. is still inexplicably holding out from joining an international ban on cluster bombs.
Hurricane Forecast Increases from 13 to 18 Named Storms This Season
A new forecast for this hurricane season predicts 18 named storms, with winds of at least 39 miles per hour; nine hurricanes, with winds of at least 74 mph; and four major hurricanes, with winds of at least 111 mph.
District Looks to Get Past Turmoil at Wadsworth Elementary with Amy Neuenfeldt as New Principal
A month after the termination of Paul Peacock’s principalship at Wadsworth Elementary School, Interim Superintendent LaShakia Moore today appointed a new principal for Wadsworth, the third in as many years: Amy Neuenfeldt, the county’s 2021 assistant principal of the year.
No Criminal Charges Against Sheriff’s Sergeant in Bar Incident; Internal Investigation Begins
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Breckwoldt will not face criminal charges following an investigation of an incident at Finn’s bar in Flagler Beach late the night of May 26, in which a man alleged Breckwoldt had battered him and abused his authority. Breckwoldt now faces an internal investigation at the agency where he’s served 20 years.
Michael Jennelle, 51, Faces Capital Charge in Accusations of Rape and Molestation of Children
Michael Jennelle, a 51-year-old resident of Palm Coast, was arrested on a capital felony charge of raping a child younger than 12. He also faces a felony punishable by life for molestation, and a second degree felony for lewd and lascivious exhibition in front of a victim younger than 16.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, July 7, 2023
The arm-wrestling challenge between Mayor David Alfin and Dr. Stephen Bickel, launching the Food-a-Thon, a growth moratorium in Zephyrhills, Roger Angell’s martinis.
Employers Should Accommodate Working from Home
Three years after the switch to remote work, there is little sign people are growing tired of it. Evidence points to one conclusion: employers should focus more on managing new hybrid work models and less on trying to force employees back into their cubicles.
Florida’s New College Board Seeks $2 Million to Counter ‘Cancel Culture’
The New College of Florida Board of Trustees on Thursday moved forward with a plan to request $2 million in funding from the state Legislature to set up a “Freedom Institute” aimed at combating “cancel culture” in higher education. The bulk of the $2 million request would go toward hiring “scholars to work and teach” on the New College campus.
Child Vaccination Is Casualty of Debt-Ceiling Deal as CDC Reduces Funding to States
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reducing funding to states for child vaccination programs. Agency officials linked the reduction to the debt ceiling deal recently struck by the Biden administration and Congress. The cut may result in less complete reporting on vaccinations, the CDC said.
Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence for Christian Cruz in Volusia Murder
The court, in a 5-1 opinion, rejected arguments by Death Row inmate Christian Cruz that stemmed from his co-defendant, Justen Charles, receiving a life sentence in the murder of Christopher Jemery.
County’s Heidi Petito Gets Strong to Glowing Evaluations, at Least From Those Turned In
County Administrator Heidi Petito got glowing evaluations from Commissioners Greg Hansen and Dave Sullivan, and a less glowing but strong one from Andy Dance. Donald O’Brien didn’t bother turning one in, and Leann Pennington wasn’t allowed to fill one out, being told that the evaluation window didn’t coincide with her tenure on the commission.
Smoldering Fireworks in Trash Can Trigger House Fire in Palm Coast’s P-Section
A fire caused by fireworks remnants seriously damaged at house in Palm Coast’s P-Section the night of July 4, authorities reported. There were no injuries.
Complex 4-Week Trial Over Splash Pad Set for Late 2024 as Parties Duel and Pad Remains Barren
The length of the civil trial is a reflection of the immense technical and legal complexities of the case and the number of parties involved. Each named party has responded to the suit, rejecting the city’s allegations and pointing fingers either back at the city or at other contractors.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, July 6, 2023
Heat index values up to 109 today, a relatively quiet day on the local beat, thoughts on artificial intelligence and Night of the Living Dead.
AI Is an Existential Threat. But Not the Way You Think.
Existing AI applications execute specific tasks rather than making broad judgments. The technology is far from being able to decide on and then plan out the goals and subordinate goals necessary for shutting down traffic in order to get you a seat in a restaurant, or blowing up a car factory in order to satisfy your itch for paper clips.
We’re the Mommies for Liberty, and the Future Belongs to Us
I am a Mommy. A Mommy for Liberty. I will use my personal liberty to shield my precious children (and yours) from gays. And history. And Black people. And sex.
Citing Florida’s ‘Latest Assault on the Right to Vote,’ Judge Blocks Parts of Election Law
Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker, in a 58-page decision, issued a preliminary injunction against parts of the law that would prevent non-U.S. citizens from “collecting or handling” voter-registration applications and make it a felony for voter-registration group workers to keep personal information of voters.
Biden Administration Barred from Interfering with Social Media Even If It’s Misinformation or Lies
A federal judge has prohibited Biden administration officials from communicating with social media platforms “for the purpose of urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech.”
Water Main Break on Palm Coast Parkway
The City of Palm Coast Utility Department responded to a water main break on Wednesday morning on Palm Coast Parkway near the Hammock Dunes toll plaza. The water main break is currently affecting homes and businesses on Palm Coast Parkway and east of I-95, but fewer than originally feared.
Palm Coast Man, 70, Pulls a Gun on Neighbors Shooting Off Fireworks
Christopher Todd Lemke, 70, was charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault after allegedly pointing his gun at neighbors and threatening to shoot them if they continued setting off fireworks the night of July 4. A pregnant woman and children were among the neighbors watching the fireworks.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, July 5, 2023
The Palm Coast Code Enforcement Board meets, Separation Chat, Open Discussion, the Flagler County Republican Club meets, Thoughts on God ordering Abraham to kill his son.
‘We The People”s Missing Parts
There are still political and legal attempts to restrict people’s ability to vote. Social equality remains far off for many people, including undocumented immigrants, for example, and LGBTQ+ individuals.
Daylong July 4 Celebration in Flagler Beach, Then Fireworks at County Airport
Independence Day celebrations on July 4 will be a cross-county affair, stretching from Flagler Beach with the parade and daylong events there, then shifting to the county airport for evening ceremonies and the fireworks over the runways. Parking options are detailed.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, July 4, 2023
America’s birthday, but also Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, though the parade in Flagler Beach and the fireworks at the airport will celebrate only the former. Frederick Douglass on the 4th.
Wildfire, Growth and Fireworks
The number of people directly exposed to wildfires more than doubled from 2000 to 2019. Three-quarters of this trend was driven by intense fires growing out of control and encroaching on existing communities. It’s a reminder of what’s at risk from human activities, such as fireworks on July 4, a day when wildfire ignitions spike.
Ms. Cheryl: Why I Am Leaving the Flagler Youth Orchestra
“As of today I am no longer the director of the Flagler Youth Orchestra,” writes Cheryl Tristam, ending an 18-year relationship with the school district program she led since 2005. “It isn’t what I wanted to do. But the conduct of some of our school board members toward me personally and toward the program leaves me no choice.”
Flagler and Palm Coast July 4 Holiday Schedules, Travel and Safety Advisories
Independence Day this year falls on a Tuesday, slicing through the earlier part of the week and creating a checkerboard of work schedules and closed offices. The one constant are safety and travel advisories. Here’s a run-down.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, July 3, 2023
Warning: heat index will reach 109 today, most government offices (but not all) are closed, the EPA’s National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution.
The Supreme Court Killed Student Loan Forgiveness. Here’s What’s Next.
When payments resume in October, the average student loan payment is expected to be between $200 and $500 per month. For those that resume making their federal student loan payments on time, this may lead to an increase in their credit score, while those that miss the first payment after payments resume can expect their credit score to fall.
Multi-Vehicle Severe Crash at Belle Terre and Whiteview Parkways Sends 3 to Hospitals
A multiple-vehicle crash, including a roll-over and a head-on collision, resulted in six injuries and three hospitalizations, one of them a trauma alert, early this afternoon at Belle Terre Parkway and Whiteview Parkway in Palm Coast.
Florida Suspends Sales Tax on Some Appliances For a Year, But Not Electric Stoves
A year-long suspension of Florida’s 6 percent sales tax started on Saturday, applying to certain Energy Star appliances but, in yet another example of the DeSantis administration’s bewildering opposition to to clean energy, not electric stoves. Price limits apply.
How Often Do Health Insurers Say No to Patients? No One Knows.
Insurers’ denial rates — a critical measure of how reliably they pay for customers’ care — remain mostly secret to the public. Federal and state regulators have done little to change that.
Divine Right of DeSantis: Vengeful, Petty and Cruel
DeSantis is using taxpayer money to punish his enemies, a warning to those who cross him. Through the budget, he’s pushing his hate-fueled vision onto us, trying to transform Florida into a subtropical version of Massachusetts under the Puritans: intolerant, ignorant, repressive, and cruel.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, July 2, 2023
The reprehensible Clarence Thomas, Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village, eulogy for America’s current direction, a few moments with Cornel West.
Expressive Businesses Can Now Freely Discriminate. What This Will Mean.
A bitterly divided Supreme Court held that the free speech clause of the First Amendment prohibited state officials from requiring the designer to create a website that communicates a message with which she disagrees. Ensuring both freedom of speech and civil rights means more litigation is ahead.
Florida’s General Revenue Tops Projection By About $100 Million in May
General-revenue tax collections topped expectations by about $100 million in May, while state economists pointed to “subpar” savings by Floridians.
$1.25 Million Book Deal Drives Up DeSantis’s Net Worth
Gov. Ron DeSantis likes to refer to his blue collar roots, growing up on the west coast of Florida, especially now that he has been campaigning for president. But a $1.25 million book deal helped drive up his net worth into the millionaires’ club in 2022.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, July 1, 2023
The Flagler Beach All Stars hold their monthly beach clean-up, Sunshine and Sandals, the Supreme Court upends decades of civil rights progress, Lyndon Johnson on affirmative action.
Court Orders Affirmative Action for Religious Workers, at Other Employees’ Expense
Religious employees may have an easier time getting their companies to accommodate requests. But while on the surface it may seem businesses will bear the costs of doing so, other employees may ultimately pay for much of the burden of accommodation.
Ruling Denies 1.5 Million Eligible Floridians Student Debt Relief
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to reject the legal arguments behind President Joe Biden’s student loan debt forgiveness plan ruined the chances of relief for more than 1.5 million Floridians who applied for or were eligible under the plan.
Matanzas Woods Pkwy Will Close from Lakeview to Londonderry Drive for 10 Days
Matanzas Woods Pkwy from Lakeview Boulevard to Londonderry Drive will be closed to traffic from July 5 to July 15 as crews repair and repave that segment, one of Palm Coast’s major arteries.
Shocking Disparities in Flagler’s Handling of 3 Different Assaults by Disabled Students Against School Staff
Violent assaults against school staff involving profoundly disabled students, never before reported in detail until today–and not caught on surveillance video–point to startling if not shocking disparities in how cases may be handled, compared to that of Brendan Depa at Matanzas High School, depending on the attention they garner.
Flagler Schools’ Bob Nocella Dies at 72
Flagler Schools mourns the loss of educator and coach Robert A. “Bob” Nocella who passed away June 25, 2023. He was 72.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, June 30, 2023
Before the heat dome, Pastor Charles Silano on the new poverty class, the Blue 22 Forum, Einaudi in concert, the culmination of the backlash against affirmative action.
Palm Coast Issues Certificate of Occupancy to AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway
The City of Palm Coast is excited to announce that the Certificate of Occupancy was signed on Thursday, June 29, for AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway, a 100-bed, four-story state-of-the-art hospital.