A Flagler County Republican Club forum Wednesday evening at the Palm Coast Hilton was a chance for the three incumbents–Flagler County Judge Andrea Totten, Circuit Judges Kenny Janesk, who sits in Volusia and Putnam, and Stacia Warren, who sits in Volusia–to speak about themselves without the strictures of their robes and in unusually personal terms, but within the bounds of Canon 7, the unique ethical rules that frame judicial races.
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Funnel Cloud Spotted in 3 Locations, from Fairgrounds to Beverly Beach, as Severe Storm Sweeps Through Flagler
A funnel cloud was spotted in three locations late this morning as a tornado-warning leaden storm swept through northeast and central Flagler County from the east, but the funnels never touched down and damage was limited to a few, immediately contained brush fires from lightning strikes. “We got off pretty well, lightly,” Flagler County Emergency Management Chief Jonathan Lord said.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, April 7, 2022
Lucas Hnath’s A Doll’s House, Part 2, at Stetson University’s Second Stage Theatre, 4H and FFA Youth Livestock Show and Sale, Randy Jaye, a writer and historian, discusses his book “Perseverance” at the Democratic Club.
American Evangelicals See Putin as a Leader of Conservative Values. Ukraine War Is Testing the Myth.
In February 2022, evangelical leader Franklin Graham called on his followers to pray for Vladimir Putin to avoid war. The backlash was fast and direct. Graham had not solicited prayers for Ukraine, some observers commented. And he had rarely called on believers to pray for U.S. President Joe Biden. But white conservatives have been developing a political and emotional alliance with Russia for almost 20 years.
Ormond Beach Father Faces Death Penalty as Jury Finds Him Guilty of Murdering His 5-Month-Old Child for Crying
Daemon Scott already bore a history of brutality on his body when his father, Calib J. Scott, 25, threw, slapped and slammed him because he would not stop crying, killing him. A jury of 12 today found Scott guilty of first degree murder and aggravated child abuse, among other charges. The sentencing phase of the trial begins next week.
In Denise Bevan and Lauren Johnston, Palm Coast Has 1st All-Female Administrative Leadership in City’s 23 Years
Palm Coast made history Tuesday evening. The city council ratified the contract of Denise Bevan, the first female city manager in Palm Coast’s 23 years. Moments later, Bevan announced the appointment of Lauren Johnston as the assistant city manager, giving the city an all-female administrative leadership in a sector still overwhelmingly dominated by men.
Palm Coast Council Approves $8 Million Bank Loan, Its Sixth for Ongoing Repairs to Stormwater Infrastructure
The $532,000 annual financing of the latest loan–which will cost the city a total of $10.6 million by maturation–brings annual stormwater debt costs to $1.84 million. The loans are all is secured by the annual revenue from the stormwarter fee that residents and businesses pay on their utility bills.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Judges election forum at the Hilton Garden Inn, Flagler County Fair’s 4H and FFA Youth Livestock Show, George Washington Carver Foundation Auction, Woodrow Wilson on entering World War I and the stupidity of applauding warfare.
In Victory for Mayor But Against Loud Public Opposition, Palm Coast Council Will Quadruple Its Own Salaries
The Palm Coast City Council this evening voted 4-1 to quadruple the mayor’s and council members’ salaries starting after the election in November, a raise that will benefit three sitting council members and two to be elected later this year. The first of two required votes on the ordinance Mayor David Alfin proposed only last month was a victory for the mayor, who was elected less than a year ago, but at a steep price.
Academic Freedom and Responsibility
“Academic freedom,” one university’s charter of freedoms reads, “is not a legal right, but rather a right or a privilege bestowed by an institution of higher learning. It might best be construed as an ethical right, insofar as it serves good ends: the advancement and dissemination of knowledge.”
Pride Flag Flies in Flagler Beach Rally in Protest of Florida’s Latest Charge Against LGBTQ Rights
Eryn Harris, a Palm Coast student cinematographer and editor, last week organized a rally in Flagler Beach in support of civil rights and the LGBTQ+ community and produced an Op-Art photo essay about the event.
DeSantis on Defensive After New York City Mayor Launches Campaign Against Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Law
Adams, a Democrat, invited Floridians to move to New York if they are in opposition to the recently signed legislation that critics say threatens LGBTQ people by prohibiting discussions on gender identity and sexual orientation in public school classrooms.
Stetson University’s Second Stage Theater Hosts ‘A Doll House, Part 2’
Stetson University continues its 116th season with Lucas Hnath’s A Doll’s House, Part 2, which will run April 7-10 at Stetson University’s Second Stage Theatre, located inside the Museum of Art, 600 N. Woodland Blvd., adjacent to the DeLand campus. Admission is free.
Palm Coast Man Shoots His 1-Year-Old Dog After German Shepherd Mix Bit Fiancée
Jamier T. Lee-Bright, a 25-year-old resident of 21 Seaman Trail East in Palm Coast, was arrested on two felony counts Saturday, including cruelty to animals, following the execution-style shooting of his 1-year-old dog after the dog allegedly bit Lee-Bright’s fiancee.
7-Year-Old Boy Critical Following 2-Vehicle Crash and Fire on I-95, Involving 6 People
A 7-year-old Palm Coast boy was flown to Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville and an 8-year-old girl was in serious condition following a two-vehicle crash and fire on I-95 Monday night. Six people were involved–four in one car, two in the other–all but the two children sustaining minor injuries.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, April 5, 2022
The Palm Coast City Council takes up Mayor David Alfin’s proposal to quadruple council members’ salaries and considers an $8 million bank loan to pay for swales and other stormwater improvements, the school board meets, where the barbaric death penalty still prevails, Vonnegut on mother tongues.
SMA Healthcare Foundation Hosts 7th Annual Who Is Jay Mental Health Symposium
The SMA Healthcare Foundation (the Foundation) is pleased to announce it will feature suicide prevention keynoter Jeff Yalden and This Is My Brave – The Show at the 7th Annual Who is Jay? Mental Health Symposium, coming up on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach.
Amazon, Starbucks and the Sparking of a New Union Movement
Inspired by pro-union sentiment in political movements, such as Bernie Sanders’ presidential bids, Black Lives Matter and the Democratic Socialists of America, young workers are spearheading the efforts for workplace reform rather than professional union organizers. Indeed, one would be hard pressed to find many experienced organizers among the recent successful campaigns.
ERAU Undergrad’s Research on ‘Space Mice’ Tops National Conference
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University senior Olivia Siu won first place in the undergraduate Brain and Behavior category of the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s (AAAS) annual poster session for her research on how simulated cosmic radiation affects the behavior and cognition of male and female mice.
College and University Faculty Across Florida Tell Their Students: Ignore ‘Viewpoint Diversity’ Survey
In a Monday letter to its members by email, the United Faculty of Florida claims that the survey is unconstitutional; that many of the questions are “leading in nature,” and the survey itself poses a threat to higher education campuses by potentially chilling speech on campus.
Appeals Court Affirms Rulings Against Kimberle Weeks, Who Now Owes County Over $170,000 in Fees
In a pair of one-word rulings on Thursday, the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee affirmed lower court decisions against Kimberle Weeks, the former Flagler County Supervisor of Elections, who has been contesting attorneys’ fees she owes the county from two frivolous and defamatory ethics complaints she brought against former County Commissioner Charlie Ericksen and county attorney Al Haddeed.
Mondex Father with History of Domestic Violence Arrested on 2 Felony Counts of Child Abuse
William Ziegler, 37, allegedly turned violent toward his oldest of three sons when the boy, scared of heights, got anxious washing the top of a camper, and when his youngest, who is 11, would not tell him a joke the boy was not comfortable to tell.
Flagler County Talks Up Affordable Housing Even as Lawmakers Yet Again Raid Dedicated Fund of $100 Million
The Flagler County Commission this morning approved a proclamation and heard a presentation on the county’s affordable housing efforts, coinciding with revelations last week that the Legislature again broke a promise not to raid the state’s 30-year-old affordable housing trust fund and use its money for other purposes, short-changing needs across the state.
Judge Again Rules Against Muezzin-Like Prayer Before High School Game, But Decision May Have Short Life
In a long-running legal battle, a federal judge has rejected arguments that the Florida High School Athletic Association improperly prevented Christian schools from offering a prayer over a stadium loudspeaker before a 2015 state championship football game. But the decision may have a short life depending on a U.S. Supreme Court’s decision by the end of June on a a somewhat similar case.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, April 4, 2022
The Flagler County Commission talks 911, the Beverly Beach Town Commission meets, the Flagler County Fair’s 4H and FFA Youth Livestock Show and Sale, racist responses to the war in Ukraine, Elisabeth Leonskaja’s complete Mozart sonatas.
Criminal Justice Algorithms: Being Race-Neutral Doesn’t Mean Race-Blind
Justice is supposed to be “blind.” But is race blindness always the best way to achieve racial equality? An algorithm to predict recidivism among prison populations is underscoring that debate.
First Amendment at Center of Lawsuit Against ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Law
A pivotal lawsuit in Florida — related to classroom instruction of sexual identity and gender orientation — could have heavy implications for what the discussions will sound like when it comes to free speech and the First Amendment.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, April 3, 2022
Get set for the Carver Center auction starting tomorrow, Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech, the most expensive beer cities.
Where Are the World’s Nukes?
Fortunately, none of these weapons have been used in war since the U.S. bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. But as recent events remind us, the risk of their use remains a frightening possibility.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, April 2, 2022
The Flagler Youth Orchestra’s top ensemble is in concert, First Saturday Creative Bazaar Arts and Craft Market in Palm Coast’s Town Center, Palm Coast’s traditional Blessing of the Fleet returns, the Malvinas-Falklands war, Ramadan begins.
Danial Marashi, Who Killed Assailant in Drug Deal Gone Bad in R-Section, Is Arrested on Drug Charges
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly called Danial Marashi a “dirtbag” after Marashi was arrested on several felony charges stemming from a car crash. Staly finally named him, as he was prevented to by law weeks ago when Marashi was the “victim drug dealer” in the Dec. 29 shooting of Zaire Roberts in an R-Section home invasion. Marashi had set up what was to be a drug deal before assailants chose to allegedly rob him.
The Supreme Court May Soon Shatter Another Church-State Wall in Schools and on the Field
Lower courts have mostly forbidden public school teachers from openly praying in the workplace, even if students are not involved. Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, a case from Washington state, scheduled for oral arguments on April 25, 2022, could usher in more religious activities by teachers and other staff in public schools.
Federal Judge Refuses to Block Surveys of Ideological Leanings on College and University Campuses
Surveys aimed at gauging “intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity” on college and university campuses are on track to go out to students and employees Monday, after a federal judge refused to block the state from distributing the questionnaires.
Fighting Anti-Trans Legislation Is Suicide Prevention
Anti-transgender legislation, demanding that the word “gay” isn’t whispered in classrooms, and punishing parents that dare to love their children wholly — none of these things is going to change who these kids are on the inside. The only thing these bigoted “solutions” do is make more kids depressed, tear families apart and kill children.
Anguished Neighbors Beg Judge Not to Let Shooter Back In His Home as He Gets Another Big Break on Sentence
Jamal Nejame, the former three-time candidate for office in Flagler Beach, used his victims’ fear that he would reoccupy the property from where he shot at their house last July 4 to successfully reduce his charge from a second-degree felony to two misdemeanors, avoiding prison in exchange for two years on probation.
‘We Are In a Good Place’ as Flagler Cases Fall to 2-Year Low, But Covid Rose to 3rd-Leading Cause of Death in Florida
The 28 positive cases for the week ending today–an average of four a day–is the lowest weekly total since the week of June 20, 2020, and the four-week stretch of cases has also been the lowest since then. Combined with vaccinations and previous infections, the county may be in strong shape even if another variant were to pierce through, the health department director says.
Palm Coast’s Danville I. Tardiel, 64, Retired Nurse, Teacher and Poet, Killed in Collision as He Was on Foot on I-95
Danville Israel Tardiel, a 64-year-old resident of South Coopers Hawkway in Palm Coast, was killed Thursday night on I-95 when an SUV struck him. He was on foot. The circumstances of the fatal crash are not clear.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, April 1, 2022
Jamal “Jamie” Nejame, the former candidate for mayor in Flagler Beach, pleads out, it’s First Friday in Flagler Beach, don’t believe what you read in the Observer today, and it’s Autism Acceptance Month.
Federal Judge Strikes Down Florida’s New Limits on Voting Access, Calling It ‘Cynical Effort to Suppress Turnout’
A federal judge has stricken key voting restrictions that the Florida Legislature passed last year as unconstitutional, concluding that they make voting more difficult for everybody but “intentionally target” minorities and “unduly” burden disabled voters.
Biden’s Bet on Gas Prices: What You need To Know About the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Congress created the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as part of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 in response to a global oil crisis. Does it still serve a purpose, given that the U.S. exports more oil and other petroleum products than it imports?
“Don’t Say Gay” Law Draws Federal Lawsuit Three Days After DeSantis Signs It
Three days after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the measure, LGBTQ-advocacy groups, parents, students and a teacher filed a federal lawsuit Thursday challenging a new law that includes barring instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in early school grades.
Flagler Youth Orchestra’s Top Ensemble Returns to Methodist Church Music Series for Eclectic Saturday Concert
For the first time since 2019, the Flagler Youth Orchestra’s Harmony chamber ensemble, featuring the FYO’s most accomplished musicians, is back in performance at the in the Palm Coast United Methodist Church’s Concert Series. The concert is scheduled for Saturday, April 2, at 4 p.m.
Friends of A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway Dedicate All-American Road
The Friends of A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway, Inc. dedicated A1A as an All-American Road with a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 29, 2022 at the Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine, Florida.
Mom Calls Charles Swindell, 52, ‘Walking Cesspool’ for Raping Her Child as He’s Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison
The 13-year-old victim’s older sister and mother managed to slip two school-issued iPads in her father’s pick-up truck and recorded him sexually assaulting the girl, which helped prosecute him. He had faced life in prison. A plea deal reduced the possible sentence to 15 to 30 years. The judge gave him the maximum 30.
How Palm Coast City Council Skirted Charter Change on Its Own Salaries Even As It Was Claiming to Clarify It
Palm Coast City Council member Nick Klufas, like many residents, thought council members’ salaries could only be changed by charter–not, as Mayor Alfin is proposing, by mere council ordinance. His confusion reflects how the last time the council changed the charter had the effect of deceiving voters into thinking exactly what Klufas thought, even as the city was ostensibly trying to clarify the charter. It’s a revealing history of obfuscation by omission that now undermines the legitimacy of council salary increases.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, March 31, 2022
Charles Swindell, one of the more sadistic defendants on the year’s docket, is scheduled for a sentencing by Circuit Judge Terence Perkins, Cesar Chavez Day, Turgenev on Belinsky and art for art’s sake, and Oklahoma’s opening.
How Fast Can We Stop Earth from Warming?
Global warming doesn’t stop on a dime. If people everywhere stopped burning fossil fuels tomorrow, stored heat would still continue to warm the atmosphere. But where we once thought it would take 40 years or longer for global surface air temperature to peak once humans stopped heating up the planet, research now suggests temperature could peak in closer to 10 years.
Insurrectionist Supporter and QAnon Follower, a DeSantis Appointee, Begins Service on State Board of Education
Two new women members of Florida’s State Board of Education made their debuts Wednesday, revealing a conservative to far right bent that could foreshadow their priorities for the state’s public school system and its 2.8-million students. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Esther Byrd and Grazie Pozo Christie in mid-March, just before the 2022 legislative session was ending.
State Senator Calls for Permanent Closure of Orlando’s FreeFall Ride After Teen’s Death
A teen’s fatal fall last week at an Orlando amusement park has sparked a senator to urge Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried to permanently shut down the Orlando FreeFall ride and “take swift action for the critical safety of others.”
Couple’s Self-Destruction Replays Scenario Familiar to Cops, Only for Charges to Be Dropped Again and Again
Amber Bruder, 30, and Jacob Baer, 29, who have two young children, have been on a self-destructive pattern of arrests and release for charges stemming from confrontations between them for several years. The charges are dropped when the victim chooses not to pursue them, making it difficult for prosecutors to end the cycle.