The School Board’s Janie Ruddy is on Free For All, First Friday in Flagler Beach, ‘I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,’ At Limelight Theatre, The Library of America’s forthcoming titles.
ICE’s Warrantless House Raids Violate a Basic Constitutional Right
As Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, agents continued to use aggressive and sometimes violent methods to make arrests in its mass deportation campaign, including breaking down doors in Minneapolis homes, a bombshell report from the Associated Press on Jan. 21 said that an internal ICE memo – acquired via a whistleblower – asserted that immigration officers could enter a home without a judge’s warrant. That policy, the report said, constituted “a sharp reversal of longstanding guidance meant to respect constitutional limits on government searches.”
At Forum, Scott Spradley Cruises as Rick Belhumeur and R.J. Santore Battle for Flagler Beach Commission Seat
Incumbents Scott Spradley and Rick Belhumeur faced challenger R.J. Santore at a Flagler Beach City Commission forum at the Woman’s Club Tuesday. Spradley’s reelection appears all but certain, leaving Belhumeur and Santore to battle for the second seat. The candidates clashed over annexation policies and the soaring costs of a new sewer plant and had general agreement on the city’s critical infrastructure needs. They also reflected three distinctive personalities and styles.
Palm Coast Names Preston Zepp as New Official Historian
The Palm Coast City Council unanimously appointed Preston Zepp as the city’s new official historian to document and preserve local heritage. With over seven years of research in Flagler County and the Kings Road Historic District, Zepp aims to integrate early narratives into the city’s official record, ensuring its foundational stories remain accessible and celebrated as the community continues to grow.
Flagler Beach Man Facing Felony Charges for Soliciting 14-Year-Old on Snapchat
Cameron James Terry, 23, of Flagler Beach, faces felony charges for soliciting a child and unlawful use of a communication device. Terry allegedly admitted to sending graphic, sexually explicit messages to a 14-year-old girl on Snapchat after meeting her through an online poker game.
170-Acre Wildfire Off US1 and Old Dixie Prompts Brief Evacuations But No Structures Lost as Blaze Is 50% Contained
A controlled burn escaped on Wednesday, growing into a 170-acre wildfire near U.S. 1 in Flagler County. The fire forced the evacuation of a dozen homes before crews achieved 50% containment overnight. While light rain aided suppression efforts and allowed residents to return home, fire officials remain on high alert. High winds and Florida’s unique vegetation pose ongoing risks, and residents are urged to remain cautious as mop-up operations continue today.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, February 5, 2026
The Flagler County Republican Executive Committee hosts a forum for Republican candidates only, Model Yacht Club at the Central Park pond, Mme de Sévigné’s 400th birthday.
Denaturalization in the Trump Era: It Can Happen Here
It is recognised in US law that the government may not take away a naturalized person’s citizenship except in cases of fraud or error on a naturalization application. The Supreme Court has clearly established that unless citizenship was unlawfully procured, denaturalization is unconstitutional. However, a memo issued by the Department of Justice (DoJ) in June attempts to broaden the grounds for denaturalization, potentially putting over 24.5 million naturalized US citizens at risk.
Bill Requiring New Florida Voters to Prove U.S. Citizenship Advances
A bill to impose heightened requirements for first-time voters, including mandating presentation of documents such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate — received its first hearing in this year’s legislative session, and was approved by a party-line vote in the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee on Wednesday. Critics warned the bill would backfire and block voter registrations of eligible U.S. citizens.
U.S. Rep. Randy Fine Takes a Bow for Sand Money Flagler County Was Owed Years Ago
Flagler County finally secured $4.7 million in FEMA funding for beach restoration, money actually owed since 2022. While Congressman Randy Fine claims credit for a quick turnaround, the funds were long delayed by the Trump administration’s bureaucratic hurdles and federal inertia. The money will support the Reach 2 project, beginning in 2026, to reinforce the county’s vulnerable eroding coastline.
Palm Coast Approves Food Truck Expansion and New Dining Hub But Missing Fee Schedule Draws Rebuke
Palm Coast City Council accepted a $55,000 donation from the Town Center Community Development District to build an outdoor dining area at The Stage. Simultaneously, officials passed an ordinance loosening food truck regulations to allow broader operations in commercial zones. The ordinance will continue to be amended, and the absence of a fee schedule drew a sharp rebuke from Council member Theresa Pontieri.
Judge Sets Nov. 16 Trial Date in Allete’s Lawsuit Against Palm Coast Over Town Center Utilities
Circuit Judge Sandra Upchurch has scheduled a two-week trial for November 16 regarding a lawsuit filed by Palm Coast Holdings against the city. The developer alleges that utility service uncertainties caused significant land sale losses. While the city defends its capacity and infrastructure investments, the court will hear motions to dismiss and amended complaints this March.
Expansion to 71 Homes Reignites Decades-Old Conflict Over ICI Homes’ Easthampton Development
The Palm Coast City Council narrowly approved the first reading of a proposal to expand an ICI Homes development from 57 to 71 units in Cypress Knoll, west of Easthampton Boulevard and south of Eric Drive. The 3-2 decision reopens a 2012 legal settlement despite strong neighborhood opposition. Final approval is conditional on the developer maintaining larger lot sizes and providing clear public benefits to the surrounding community.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Joint workshop of local governments to discuss lifeguards, beach protection, fireworks and other topics, free tax preparation services, reflections on the Florida/Ronald Reagan Turnpike.
Beware Those Protein Powders and Shakes’ High Lead Content
Powder and ready-to-drink protein sales have exploded, reaching over US$32 billion globally from 2024 to 2025. Increasingly, consumers are using these protein sources daily. A new study by Consumer Reports, published on Oct. 14, 2025, claims that some such protein products contain dangerously high levels of lead, as well as other heavy metals such as cadmium and arsenic. At high levels, these substances have serious, well-documented health risks.
Florida Lawmakers Move to Arm College Staffers Under ‘Guardian’ Program
A Florida House committee unanimously approved a bill to expand the “school guardian” program to state colleges and universities. Inspired by a 2025 shooting at Florida State University, the proposal allows campus presidents to designate trained employees to carry firearms. While supporters emphasize enhanced response times, critics warn that arming civilians could confuse law enforcement during active shooter scenarios.
11-Year-Old Girl Arrested at ITMS Over Threats on Bathroom Wall
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has arrested an 11-year-old girl after an investigation revealed she had written a shooting threat on a bathroom wall.
Judge Rejects Defense Witness Testimony on Victim Credibility Ahead of Henriqson Trial on Capital Rape Charges
Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols denied Kristopher Henriqson’s request for a sixty-day trial delay, though she remains open to a postponement if he secures a medical expert. Henriqson, representing himself against capital charges, seeks to prove a discredited theory regarding physical evidence. The court also ruled that defense witnesses cannot offer opinions on the victim’s truthfulness, citing strict evidentiary rules, a further blow to Henriqson’s defense. He goes on trial on capital rape charges next week.
Fatal Crash West of Bunnell Claims Life of 44-Year-Old Daytona North Woman
Melani N. Stodola, a resident of Walnut Avenue in Daytona North–not far from the scene of the crash–was driving her blue 2009 Honda sedan when she crashed into a vehicle described as a “sod-cutter” in 911 dispatch notes, at 8067 state Road 100 West late Monday morning.
Mental Health Issues May Have Played a Role as Details Emerge in Flagler Beach U-Haul Standoff
The woman at the center of a standoff involving a U-Haul truck in Flagler Beach Monday may have been experiencing a mental health episode and delusional issues, according to details of her arrest that emerged today. May Ling Ip “called 911 and made numerous statements indicating emotional instability and possible delusional thinking,” according to a sheriff’s report. The trigger of the incident on reports of the Ip’s suspicious behavior, especially after her initial interactions with a deputy, doesn’t appear to have been unreasonable.
Defying DeSantis’s ‘Terrorist’ Designation, CAIR Florida Officials Drop In for Muslim Day at State Capitol
Officials from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Florida came to Tallahassee Monday to speak with lawmakers about pending legislation during the annual “Muslim Day” at the Capitol, but found conditions far different than in the past. In an absurd posting, Florida Attorney James Uthmeier asked law enforcement to be “on heightened alert for any possible security threats.” At least seven members of the Florida Capitol Police stood sentry in the rotunda of the Capitol as the press conference took place — as noted by one lawmaker who spoke.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, February 3, 2026
The Flagler Woman’s Club hosts Candidates’ Night for the Flagler Beach election, the Palm Coast City Council meets, Charlie Hebdo and The Economist’s take on American ICE-bound streets.
The Long-Lasting Negative Effects on Children Who Are Detained or Watch Their Parents Deported
When Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old boy who is an asylum seeker, in Minneapolis on Jan. 20, 2026, the photos quickly became a flash point in the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement activity. Exposure to severe immigration enforcement experiences during childhood carries long-term, significant consequences: These children are twice as likely to suffer from anxiety in young adulthood.
Lord’s Domain: Flagler’s Emergency Management Director Re-Elected President of State Association
Flagler County’s Emergency Management Director, Jonathan Lord, will remain the face of Florida’s disaster-preparedness professionals for another year. Re-elected as President of the Florida Emergency Preparedness Association, Lord’s tenure reflects a decade-long climb through the organization’s ranks. County officials lauded the move as a boon for local safety, even as Lord balances local oversight with statewide domestic security responsibilities.
Defiant Ex-Flagler Paramedic James Melady Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison, Calling Rape Conviction ‘Malicious’
Former Flagler County paramedic James Melady was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the 2021 sexual battery of an incapacitated patient. Melady remained unrepentant, labeling his conviction a threat to the paramedic profession. The victim, who discovered the assault years later through video evidence, detailed the devastating trauma that followed, including a miscarriage and mental health relapse. Despite clear evidence of the victim’s helplessness, the jury’s verdict on a lesser charge limited Melady’s maximum sentence.
A Hurricane of a Life: Flagler Bids Farewell to Firebrand Activist Jane Gentile-Youd
Friends, family, and local officials gathered at the Palm Coast Community Center to honor the memory of Jane Gentile-Youd, a formidable community activist known for her fierce advocacy, vibrant personality and her grudges. Speakers highlighted her complex legacy, her enduring marriage to Mark Gentile-Youd, and her impact on Flagler County politics, concluding with a tribute to her transformative and multi-dimensional spirit.
K-9s and BearCat Subdue Non-Compliant Suspects Fleeing in U-Haul After A1A Standoff in Flagler Beach
A man and woman are in custody following a standoff involving a U-Haul truck in Flagler Beach. After refusing to exit the vehicle on State Road A1A, deputies used less-lethal munitions and tear gas to disable the suspects’ vision and clear the cab. A K-9 unit eventually apprehended both individuals after the driver attempted to flee toward the ocean. Authorities recovered drugs from the truck, and the criminal investigation remains actively ongoing.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, February 2, 2026
Ex-paramedic James Melady is sentenced, the Beverly Beach town commission meet, free tax preparation services in Flagler County, Gail Wadsworth’s birthday, Al Green’s change.
First a State Guard. Now Florida Wants a State Anti-Terrorism Police.
A proposal by Riverview Republican Rep. Danny Alvarez to create a statewide counterintelligence and counterterrorism unit cleared its first House committee stop. HB 945 would require the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to establish and administer a Statewide Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism Unit tasked with identifying and disrupting foreign and domestic threats operating in, or targeting, Florida.
On DeSantis’s Supreme Court, Ethnic Diversity Masks Ideological Monoculture
Florida’s judiciary is undergoing a radical transformation as Governor DeSantis replaces retiring moderates with rigid originalists like Justice Adam Tanenbaum. While the court maintains ethnic diversity, it has become ideologically monolithic, systematically dismantling voter-approved mandates and legal precedents. This shift toward a Federalist Society-aligned bench threatens the future of voting rights, reproductive freedom, and the principle of an independent judiciary.
I’m an Ex-FBI Agent. Here’s How Federal Agents Are Undermining Law Enforcement Principles
The killing of Good and Pretti raises legal, tactical and policy questions regarding law enforcement practices by federal agents. These cases illustrate how some federal agents are engaging with the public in a way that undermines established principles of policing and constitutional law.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, February 1, 2026
The cold-weather shelter opens yet again, ‘I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,’ At Limelight Theatre, reflections on that lucky old sun, plus Ray Charles and Black Elks speaks on the cold.
The Consequences of Repeated Government Lying
In fast-moving crises, early official statements often become the scaffolding on which public judgment is built. Sometimes those statements turn out to be accurate. But sometimes they do not. When the public repeatedly experiences the same sequence – confident claims, partial disclosures, shifting explanations, delayed evidence, lies – the damage can outlast any single incident.
Wei, Li, Chen, and Ayala Top Leaderboard as Junior Golfers Take Palm Coast
The City of Palm Coast hosted 74 junior golfers for a Florida State Golf Association tournament at Palm Harbor Golf Club on January 24–25. The event tested players aged 9 to 12 with its challenging layout while drawing families to local businesses. The FSGA returns in March for the teen division.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, January 31, 2026
The shelter opens again tonight as temperatures fall into the low 20s with wind chills in the teens, Kava Kula Palm Coast Grand Opening, the Doomsday Clock is closer to midnight than ever, Sartre on the choice for life.
ICE Is a Paramilitary Force. That Makes Curbing It Difficult.
There is no question that ICE fits the definition of a paramilitary police force. It is a police force under the control of the federal government, through the Department of Homeland Security, and it is heavily militarized, having adopted the weaponry, organization, operational patterns and cultural markers of the regular military. The United States is nearly alone among established democracies in creating a new paramilitary police force in recent decades.
In Florida, Driver’s Tests Will be English-Only Starting Feb. 6
Driver’s license tests in Florida will be administered only in English starting Feb. 6, the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles announced Friday.
Florida House Battles Senate to Dismantle Post Parkland Gun Laws
Florida House Republicans are pushing HB 6029 to repeal the state’s 2018 risk-protection order law, which allows for temporary firearm confiscation from dangerous individuals. Despite the House’s repeated attempts to roll back Parkland-era restrictions, Senate President Ben Albritton remains a staunch opponent of the repeal, citing the law’s effectiveness in preventing mass violence. With over 19,000 orders issued since its inception, the law faces intense Second Amendment scrutiny but currently lacks a Senate sponsor.
Florida Ethics Commission Dismisses Unrelated Complaints Against Three Flagler County and City Officials
The Florida Commission on Ethics dismissed three complaints against former Acting Palm Coast City Manager Lauren Johnston, Flagler Executive Airport Director Roy Sieger, and Bunnell Planning Board member Lynn Lafferty, ruling them legally insufficient. The commission found that allegations of conflicts of interest and mismanagement lacked substantive evidence or fell outside their jurisdiction.
The Last Gallery Standing: How GOLA’s Crafty Art Defies the Odds in Flagler Beach
Amid a shrinking local art scene, Marge and Ted Barnhill’s Gallery of Local Art (GOLA) remains a vital hub for creators in Flagler Beach. Now expanding into their adjacent restaurant, GOLA recently featured photographer Sayre Berman’s striking metal prints. Berman’s work, ranging from iconic rock stars to coastal landscapes, seeks to evoke deep, tactile emotions.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, January 30, 2026
The Jane Gentile-Youd Memorial at the Palm Coast Community Center, Branson Illusionist REZA at Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, Donald O’Brien talks Charter Review Committee on Free For All Friday, Bruce Springsteen sings Minnesota.
The Gun Lobby Against the White House
When various figures in the Trump regime suggested that CBP agents had been justified in shooting Alex Pretti because he was carrying a holstered weapon, they provoked outrage from gun rights activists. And, significantly, many of these people are usually on the same page as the White House about pretty much anything.
DeSantis Signs Third Death Warrant of 2026 Following Record-Breaking Year
Governor Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant for Billy Leon Kearse, convicted of the 1991 murder of a Fort Pierce police officer. Kearse’s execution, scheduled for March 3, follows warrants for Ronald Heath and Melvin Trotter as Florida continues a rapid pace of executions after setting a state record last year.
Florida Board of Governors Moves to Freeze H-1B Visas at Public Universities, Stifling Expertise
The Florida Board of Governors has preliminarily approved a one-year freeze on new H-1B visa hiring for public universities, effective through January 2027. Prompted by Governor Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump, the move responds to a new $100,000 federal application fee and concerns over “cheap labor.” While university officials intend to study program costs, critics and faculty representatives argue the pause undermines meritocracy and threatens the state’s ability to recruit top-tier global expertise.
Palm Coast and County Endorse Vague $2.1 Million Animal Shelter Plan and Joint Animal Control Services
Palm Coast and Flagler County officials have endorsed a plan to build a $2.1 million animal shelter and consolidate animal control services. This move aims to eliminate reliance on the Flagler Humane Society but faces significant financial hurdles. While the task force suggests a fall groundbreaking, officials raise concerns over missing operational cost data and competing budget priorities. The transition could significantly increase animal control expenses for the region.
Flagler County Triggers Conflict Resolution Over Flagler Beach Annexation as Both Sides Seek to Avoid Lawsuit
The Flagler County Commission voted 4-1 to initiate a formal conflict-resolution process against Flagler Beach regarding the Summertown annexation. Despite Commissioner Andy Dance’s efforts to use a less confrontational agreement to avoid the appearance of litigation, the majority opted for a legal framework to protect the county’s rights. The dispute involves infrastructure and environmental concerns, notably drawing accusations of “bad faith” from the City Attorney regarding the county’s past approval of the same development.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, January 29, 2026
The cold-weather shelter opens again, joint workshop between the County Commission and Palm Coast Council on animal sheltering and animal control options, Pamela Hemphill refuses a pardon, and what heroic acts are made of, even when we are no heroes.
Florida Lawmakers Advance Measure to Circumvent Minimum Wage for ‘Trainees’
A Florida House subcommittee approved a bill allowing trainees, interns, and work-study participants to waive their rights to the state’s $15 minimum wage in favor of the lower federal floor. Republican supporters argue the current wage limits entry-level opportunities, while Democrats contend the measure exploits workers to enrich corporations. The proposal includes time limits on these lower-pay training periods.
Filming ICE Is Legal. Here’s How to Minimize Risk.
The hard truth for anyone filming law enforcement today is that the same technologies that can hold the state accountable can also make ordinary people more visible to the state. Recording is often protected speech. But recording, and especially sharing, creates data that can be searched, linked, purchased and reused. Video can challenge power. It can also attract it.
Michelle Moore and Calvin Grant Named Flagler Schools’ Teacher and Employee of the Year
Michelle Moore of Belle Terre Elementary School was named the 2025-2026 District Teacher of the Year. Calvin Grant of Flagler Palm Coast High School was named the 2025-2026 District Employee of the Year. Moore and Grant will represent Flagler Schools in the Florida Department of Education’s state-level competitions later this year.




















































