Job growth has averaged 158,000 a month this year, below the average monthly gain of 223,000 in 2018. August’s employment gain was helped by the federal government’s hiring of 25,000 temporary census workers in preparation for the 2020 census.
Carousel
Flagler and Florida Shift to Dorian Assistance Mode; Hurricane Season May Have Other Ideas
State emergency response workers were advised that, based on meteorological forecasts, they should expect to be back within six weeks.
Long Stand-Off on Palm Coast’s Pheasant Drive Ends With Discovery of Dead Man
Federico Guevara Jr., 52, was discovered dead of an apparent suicide after law enforcement attempted for nearly five hours to make contact within him at 9 Pheasant Drive in Palm Coast today.
Groups Dispute Linking Financial Dues to Restoration of Felons’ Voting Rights
An amendment to the Florida Constitution restoring voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences does not require payment of “legal financial obligations,” plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit challenging the law argue in a new court filing.
County Emergency Management Ends Alert; Rising Waters Briefly a Concern in Flagler Beach
Rising waters from the Intracoastal in Flagler Beach were again a concern with high tide this evening, with reports of flooded streets and yards and water nearing homes.
Hurricane Dorian Closures and Reopenings In Flagler-Palm Coast
Hurricane Dorian closures in schools, government, courts and other sectors in Flagler County, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach and Bunnell. The rolling list of closures will be updated as needed.
72 Nursing Homes and Assisted Living facilities Evacuated Ahead of Storm Along East Coast
Palm Coast’s Grand Oaks Health and Rehabilitation Center off Palm Coast Parkway and Tuscan Gardens of Palm Coast on Colbert Lane are among those evacuated.
Hurricane Dorian in Pictures and Video, Flagler Edition
Hurricane Dorian has monopolized lives in Palm Coast and Flagler County. Here’s a rough visual draft of the emergency as it has unfolded over the past few days in various parts of Flagler.
Hurricane Dorian: Fuel, Telecommunications and Other Emergency Measures In Place
Comprehensive outline of measures in place or readied for deployment across Florida in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, according to state emergency officials and the governor’s office.
Hurricane Dorian, Day By Day
Hurricane Dorian: an archival record of the storm’s path day by day as it impacted Flagler County and Palm Coast, with sequenced National Hurricane Center maps of the cone of uncertainty.
Here’s What You Can Do With Yourself, Dorian
Hurricane Dorian’s fortunate shift away from the Florida peninsula must have at least something to do with the collective obscenities Floridians worn out from three years of hurricanes cussed its way, creating their own defiant weather system.
Florida Is Not Planning One-Way Evacuation Traffic on Highways, But Tolls Will Be Lifted
Since one-way traffic for evacuations could interfered with Hurricane Dorian safety preparations, the so-called “contraflow” approach is not being considered for now.
Hurricane Dorian: Sandbag Locations In Palm Coast, Bunnell, Flagler Beach and the County
Sandbag locations in Palm Coast, Bunnell, Flagler County in preparation for Hurricane Dorian. Most of the locations are self-serve.
Dorian Day Weekend Briefing: Hurricane Prep
Nothing else matters this weekend: it’s about hurricane-safety preparations as Dorian heads for somewhere on the east coast, with Flagler well within the cone of uncertainties.
Flagler County’s Own Prevail Exclusively as Nominating Commission Sends 6 Names
for County Judge to DeSantis
The recommended candidates for Flagler County judge are Alexander Alvarez, Craig Atack, Kip Miller, Scott Spradley, Andrea Totten and Alicia Washington. They were short-listed by the Judicial Nominating Commission, their names now before Gov. Ron DeSantis, who will make the appointment.
Opelka Injures His Back and Falls In 2nd Round at U.S. Open
Reilly Opelka injured his back-during his second-round U.S. Open match and wasn’t ever able to get into a groove, falling in straight sets to Dominik Koepfer.
With No Chance of Appointment, Jim Manfre’s Pledge to Run for Judge in 2 Years Still Sways Nominating Commission’s Questions
Former Sheriff Jim Manfre’s candidacy for county judge was dead on arrival at interviews for the job Wednesday, but he still managed to influence the process by advocating for a Flagler choice.
Thursday Briefing: High Anxiety, Heat Index to 102, Economic Development, Rep. Waltz at KALS
Rep. Mike Waltz visits KALK, a company at the Flagler County Airport responsible for emergency disaster response, the chamber’s Common Ground breakfast focuses on economic development, schools host open houses.
Interviews for Flagler County Judge: Several Convincing Choices, A Few Odd and Startling Ones
After 24 interviews by a nominating commission, several Flagler County based candidates for Flagler County judge stood out for the short-list that will go to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who’ll make the appointment later this year.
Wednesday Briefing: Interviews For County Judge, Parks and Recreation, Facing Grief, Handmaid’s Tale
A judicial nominating commission interviews 24 candidates for Flagler County judge all day at the county courthouse, the county parks and recreation board meets, Blue Power and Facing Grief Together.
Appeals Judges Punt on State Medical Pot Controls and Ask Florida Supreme Court to Decide
The 1st District Court of Appeal asked the Florida Supreme Court to decide whether the state’s “vertical integration” system of requiring licensed operators to grow, process and distribute cannabis and derivative products runs afoul of a constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana in Florida.
Serial Scheming Couple Targeting and Defrauding Older Victims in Palm Coast’s Box-Store Parking Lots
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is warning of the scheme, staged by an older black couple at the expense of at least three Palm Coast victims since spring, usually in the parking lot of large shopping centers. They have yet to be found.
Tuesday Briefing: Heat Index to 103, AdventHealth’s Little League Hearts, Opioid Task Force, Appetizers With Anna
Concluding discussions on next year’s budget at Palm Coast council and Flagler Beach AdventHealth’s donation of AED devices to Palm Coast Little League, commission, Anna Crawford welcomes parents.
Palm Coast’s Rising Opelka Scores 1st U.S. Open Win, Upsetting World’s 11th Best Player
Reilly Opelka, the former Indian Trails Middle School student who is rocketing to tennis stardom more every day, scored the biggest upset of the first day of the U.S. Open Monday.
Palm Coast Pursuing Felony Charges Against Ex-Palm Harbor Golf GM Over Alleged Thefts
Tim Spangler, the former general manager of the Palm Coast-owned Palm Harbor Golf Course, faces two felony charges of fraud following an investigation into allegations he was taking payments for private lessons on city time.
Search for Bodies Will Continue at Dozier Reform School, Site of 55 Graves So Far
Forensic experts are gearing up to conduct a high-tech sweep of the grounds at a notorious Northwest Florida reform school where survivors remain convinced bodies of long-lost boys are still concealed.
Travis E. Stewart, 56, Is Killed, Woman, 53, Critically Injured in Motorcycle Crash on Belle Terre and Ponce DeLeon
A motorcycle crash with a pick-up truck at Ponce deLeon Drive and Belle Terre Parkway in Palm Coast left one rider dead and one in critical condition late Sunday evening.
Monday Briefing: Heat Index to 103, ERA Ratification, St. Johns River Forum, Stamp and Coin
Rep. Paul Renner is among the hosts of a forum on the importance of the St. Johns River, the Florida National Organization still press for ERA ratification, the Flagler Stamp and Coin club meets.
See Something, Say Something? 3 Flagler School Board Members Say Not If It’s Cancer.
Opposition to the Flagler Health Department’s proposal to offer the HPV vaccine in schools is driven by three board members echoing the rhetoric of vaccine denialism though various irrational pretexts.
Affordable Housing Push
Challenges Single-Family Zoning
Cities and states facing rising rents, stagnant household incomes and a tight housing supply are beginning to rethink, restrict and in places end zoning that favors single-family homes.
Flagler Health Department Chief Calls School Board Member ‘Anti-Science’ in Vaccine Clash
Flagler Health Department Administrator Robert Snyder in a live show on WNZF today accused School Board member Maria Barbosa of being “anti-science” and “anti-vaccines,” in a discussion on making the HPV vaccine available to students in schools.
Just 9 Days Into New School Year, FPC Student, 14, Faces Felony For Threats to Kill
The boy allegedly made the threats to kill in voice and text exchanges with another boy, 13, over Instagram on Thursday. Both were at home. No threats were directed toward any school.
Hammock Harbor Re-Developer Seeks to Reassure Skeptical Neighbors of Project’s Scope
Hammock Harbor is a former boat yard slated for redevelopment as a 240 boat-storage facility and restaurant just south of Bings Landing in the Hammock. Neighbors are worried about the intensity of the development.
Gary Ray Bowles, a Serial Killer, Is Executed for 1994 Murder in Jacksonville
Gary Ray Bowles, who was convicted of the 1994 murder of a Jacksonville man who was hit in the head with a concrete block and strangled, was executed by lethal injection shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday night.
Weekend Briefing: Surf for Autism, Hammock Harbor, Rick Shaefer’s Refugees, Farmers’ Markets
Surf for Autism is slated for Saturday in Flagler Beach, the Scenic A1A Pride Committee gets a look at the revised Hammock Harbor redevelopment proposal, Rick Shaefer opens an exhibit.
Flagler Schools Quietly Dropped Controversial “Social Sentinel” Surveillance to Pilot More Targeted Alert System
The Flagler school district dropped the $18,000-a-year Social Sentinel surveillance system in April and replaced it with an entirely different approach, called CrisisGo, a crisis-management system accessible to faculty, staff and students.
Opioid-Related Deaths Decline By 34% in Flagler’s 3-County District in 1st Part of 2018
The decline is far more pronounced in the Flagler region than in the state, strongly suggesting that the introduction of front-line life-saving measures, combined with stricter state rules on prescription drugs, is having an effect.
Thursday Briefing: Heat Index to 102, Tiger Bay Wine Tasting, Transgender Inmate Case, FYO Recruits
The Flagler Tiger Club hosts a community wine tasting, Gary Ray Bowles is scheduled to be executed, the Flagler Youth Orchestra performs in elementary schools, the case of a transgender inmate is heard in court.
Christian Prayer at Flagler School Board Breaks 5-Decade Precedent, Without Most Board Members’ Consent
School Board Chair Janet McDonald’s decision to start Tuesday’s meeting with a prayer by a pastor had not been approved by the board nor placed on the agenda, a violation of board procedures and a break with a nearly 50-year precedent.
Divided School Board Stops Short of Killing Voluntary HPV Vaccine to 6th Graders
The Flagler Health Department wants to offer free, voluntary HPV vaccines to 6th graders in Flagler schools, but three school board members are unwilling to agree without first seeing whether enough parents want the offer.
HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Vaccine: What You Need to Know
The complete Centers for Disease Control’s Vaccine Information Statement regarding the HPV vaccine to prevent infection with human papillomavirus.
Head-On Crash on Old Kings and SR100 Sends 2 Adults and Infant to Hospital
A head-on crash at the intersection of Old Kings Road and State Road 100 in Palm Coast this morning sent two adults and an infant to the hospital.
Wednesday Briefing: Technical Review, Tourism, Planning, Contractor Review and Navy Bombing
A day of workhorse meetings including Flagler’s tourist development council and its technical review committee, the Palm Coast Planning Board and other routines.
Andy Dance Will Resign School Board Seat He’s Held Since 2008 and Run for County Commission
School Board member Andy Dance announce he’ll resign his seat in 2020 in a run for Flagler County Commission Charlie Ericksen’s seat, which Ericksen will not contest.
House Democrats Seek Special Session On Gun Violence, But GOP Set to Quash It
House Democrats on Tuesday said they’ve submitted letters from 41 representatives, more than the required 20 percent of the chamber’s 120 members, to demand that Secretary of State Laurel Lee poll all 160 legislators on the request for the special session.
40 Warrants, 23 Arrests in Latest Drug Sweep Across Flagler, This Time With Pleas For Treatment
The warrants target almost exclusively Flagler and Palm Coast residents, one of them a Waste Pro employee alleged to have been selling heroin while on the job on his route.
A Fence Goes Up at Palm Coast’s Dog Park as Owners Take Sides On Caution Over Danger of Algae
A temporary fence has reduced Palm Coast’s dog park at Holland Park to a quarter its size as city officials test a retention pond for dangerous blue-green algae that could be toxic to dogs, though no such cases have been reported locally.
Palm Coast Makes Candidates’ Campaign Finance Reports Accessible Electronically
Palm Coast candidates for office’s campaign finance reports will finally be accessible to the public through the web, free of charge, through the Flagler County Supervisor of Elections’ website.
Tuesday Briefing: Building in Palm Coast, School Vaccination Protocols, Stormwater, Food Truck Tuesday
Palm Coast government hosts a forum on its building department, the school board talks vaccination, Food Truck Tuesday in Central Park, the Flagler Youth Orchestra recruits.
5 Ways The Economy Is Stacked Against Young People
Stagnant wages, out of control student debt, rising costs of necessities, unaffordable housing: they’re all among the reasons why the rules are rigged against young people trying to make it on their own.