How chambers of commerce have ditched mainstream values, the continuing rape of Appalachia, choice comments of the week, fields of gold, a surge in black-owned businesses, Richard Lewis in pain, and much more.
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Small-Town Big Brother: Bunnell Eying Slew of Spy Cameras In City’s South Side
The eight cameras would allegedly deter crime in the drug-prone south side, though the city has no evidence they’d be effective. The commission is debating costs, but is sold on the idea as one way to buttress the short-staffed police department.
Scott Cutting $3 Billion Out of Education as Per-Pupil Spending Would Drop $300
Some 25,000 teachers’ jobs were saved by the federal stimulus in the past two years. Those jobs are now in jeopardy. Public colleges and universities are also hit hard.
Pride, Prejudice, State Fairs and Curious George: Culture Worth the Miles
It’s state fair time in Tampa, harbor nights at Portofino Bay, Richard Rogers’ music at the Orlando Philharmonic, Curious George at the Orlando Science Center, Jane Austen at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater, and more.
From Flagler’s Washington Oaks, Fla. Audubon Launches Campaign to Save 53 State Parks
Some 65 people gathered at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park Monday to kick-off the campaign to save endangered parks, including two in Flagler County, as Gov. Rick Scott was pledging to cut $5 billion from the budget.
Skipping Specifics, Scott Calls for $5 billion in Spending Cuts, $4 Billion in Tax Cuts
Gov. Rick Scott today unveiled to a tea party crowd a budget that would cut an unprecedented $5 billion and provide for $4 billion in tax cuts, $1.4 billion of which in property taxes. Scott’s details are few.
Tornado Warning for Flagler Is Over; Pea-Size Hail in Flagler Beach
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for southeastern Putnam County and northeastern Flagler County Monday afternoon, in effect until 3 p.m.
Watch Gov. Rick Scott’s Budget Unveiling at Tea Party Rally in Eustis Now
Gov. Rick Scott’s budget unveiling in Eustis, Fla., live before a tea party rally.
Matanzas High School’s Cheerleaders Take 3rd in State Championship
Matanzas High School’s competitive cheerleading team won third place at the FHSAA’s annual Florida championship. Next up: national competition at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando.
Feed Flagler III: Sauce Boss, Linda Cole, Gumbo and Blues at Ag Museum Saturday
Sauce Boss Bill Wharton has been playing and cooking for fellowship and the poor since 1990. He’ll be playing and feeding masses for Feed Flagler Saturday Feb. 12 at the Florida Agriculture Museum’s Hot N’ Spicy Food and Music Festival.
God’s Plagues, Man’s Fates, Roth’s Nemeses
With Nemesis, Philip Roth puts an end to to a quartet of novels about death, dying and disease. Roth’s books are as much elegy as honest preparation. There’s no faulting him for not deluding us.
Florida’s Broke, But It’s Refusing a $1 Million Health Insurance Oversight Grant Anyway
Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty forfeit a $1 million federal grant that was supposed to go toward beefing up oversight of health-insurance rates.
My Journey Out Of Egypt: An FPC Graduate and Cairo Transplant Describes Her Exit
Catherine M., who asked that her last name not be used for security reasons, is the daughter of two prominent Flagler residents–a former sheriff and a commercial real estate broker. She wrote from Dubai.
Stetson Goes Tahrir: Panel Discussion on Egypt’s Future, Thursday (Feb. 10)
In a free event open to the public, Stetson University professor Jamil Khader will moderate a panel discussion titled “The Egyptian Revolution and the Future of American-Arab Relations.”
Death of a Right Whale, Betty Friedan, Liberace and a Disgrace to the Uniform: Live Wire Weekend
Jeb Bush rising again, how Betty Friedan and Liberace shared a date, Henry Miller in the bathroom, a Hardison-Millay special, economic disaster porn, and more.
Decaffeinate This: Imagine’s Ivana Moore Repeats as District Spelling Bee Champion
Eighteen champion spellers from eight Flagler County Schools battled over 48 words at the annual spelling been competition, with Ivana Moore, Sandra Defalco and Olivia Taylor taking first, second and third place.
Reality Check: Censoring Al-Jazeera
It’s no surprise when the thuggish Hosni Mubarak censors al-Jazeera. But American satellite and cable providers have been censoring al-Jazeera English since it went live in 2006, to the detriment of broader perspectives.
Unemployment Drops Again, to 9%, But Job Creation Far Short of Expectations
The U.S. economy added just 36,000 jobs in January as governments continued to shrink, though the 9% rate is the lowest since April 2009. Bad weather contributed to the poorer job creation.
Flagler and St. Johns Counties Suspend Burn Ban–For Now
Recent rains and more humid conditions reduced drought conditions in Flagler and St. Johns counties and allowed the burn ban in effect since December to be lifted.
Flagler Beach and Willing Investor Still Not Moored to New Pier Restaurant Lease
Raymond Barshay and Flagler Beach Commissioners are at odds over the fate of the bait and tackle shop, which has been attached to the Pier Restaurant. They’re at odds over several other issues. But they’re still talking.
Done Deal: City Picks Architecture Firm, Advertises Construction For New City Hall
City council members, including Mayor Netts, insist that until they have a signed contract, nothing is a go. Netts is still waiting for hard data from City Manager Jim Landon justifying the new building.
Flanked by Tea Party, Rick Scott Will Unveil State Budget in Central Florida Monday
As tea party activists gather from Central Florida to Eustis, Gov. Rick Scott’s budget unveiling Monday will have the feel of political rally as he attempts to close a nearly $4 billion hole while still proposing tax cuts.
Detox for Tax Fact Cheats
It’s a resilient urban legend: the top 5 percent of earners pay over 50 percent of taxes, and over half our citizens pay no taxes. It’s also false. Time to set the record straight.
ArtsFest 2011: Free Art in 81 Central Florida Venues, Feb 4-13 (and a Boat Show)
ArtsFest 2011 means all events from Feb 4-13 are free in 81 arts and performing in Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. A wonder sampling of what the Central Florida arts community has to offer. Plus a boat show.
Watch the Egyptian Revolution Live: BBC and Al-Jazeera Feeds Here
Front seat to the revolutions: watch the BBC or al-Jazeera’s live English feeds of the unfolding events in Egypt and the Middle East, embedded on FlaglerLive.
Scott at 35%, Dueling Cellists, Daviana’s Valentine Dance: The Live Wire, Feb. 2
Florida’s power over health care law, Enterprise Florida’s Scott test, how to buy Adam Putnam, smooth criminals and bohemian rhapsody on the ukulele, and more.
Bill Delbrugge Live From Egypt:
“This Is Just a Different Type of Hurricane”
In a 40-minute interview from the outskirts of Cairo today, the former school superintendent explained why he’s staying in Egypt, what Egyptians are after and deserve, and what conditions are like.
More Power to Principals, Less Transparency as Board Kills Policy Inspired by Mockingbird
The rejected policy had called for supporting plays “that challenge, nurture and extend student skills” while respecting community sensibilities. Instead, the board retreated to more general “tweaks” of two existing policies.
Washington Oaks Gardens and Bulow Ruins Among 53 State Parks That Would Close
Similar proposals have been made before, but the state must close a $3.6 billion budget gap, and Gov. Rick Scott is not as friendly to the environment as Charlie Crist was.
Unconstitutional Mandate: Florida Judge Calls for Repeal of Entire Health Care Law
Though Florida Federal District Judge Roger Vinson termed his ruling “reluctant,” he also ruled that the private insurance mandate is so intricately tied to the the law that the entire law must be repealed.
Local Governments Agree To a Therapist To Cut Through Economic Dysfunction
After a meeting lasting two hours and 17 minutes Monday, local governments conceded they have no agreement on economic development, except to meet again and let a “facilitator” help them find some.
Live: Flagler County’s Economic Development Summit
The economic development summit at the Flagler County Emergency Operations Center began at 5:30 this evening. For background on the summit, go here. For a recap and analysis of the meeting, go here. Click below to follow the summit moment by moment. Flagler County Economic Development Summit
Challenging Jon Netts, Charlie Ericksen Runs for Palm Coast Mayor on a Pro-Business Agenda
Charlie Ericksen is critical of a city council that rubber-stamps too many decisions without debating or explaining them, and a city that he says hasn’t given local business a fair shake. Netts has been on the council since 2001.
Economic Development Summit: Can Flagler’s 33 Elected Get It Up?
Many plans, little agreement, no concerted action: Monday evening’s economic development summit between Flagler County’s seven local governments is unlikely to yield substantive results beyond a meet-and-greet of powerpoints.
Flagler Beach City Commission Candidates Down to 3 As Jamie NeJame Withdraws
Jamie NeJame’s last minute withdrawal from the March 8 election increases chances for Phil Busch, Kim Carney and Marshall Shupe, who are vying for the two seats being vacated by Ron Vath and Joy McGrew.
Bob Pickering, Flagler Voice of Climate Safety, Wins National Weather Association Award
Bob Pickering, for 17 years a technician in Flagler County’s Emergency Management, won the national award from the National Weather Association for bridging weather forecasting with public safety.
The Rise of Egyptian Aspirations, The Fall of the American Brand
It’s been exhilarating to watch Egyptians demand an end to the dictatorial regimes controlling their lives for decades. But it’s exhilaration mixed with dread, doubt, disappointment and embarrassment, particularly over American postures and prejudices.
Carla Traister: Myths and Realities of Bunnell’s Cold-Weather Shelter, and Flagler’s Homeless
Carla Traister, director of Flagler County’s cold-weather shelter in Bunnell, dispels misconceptions and stereotypes that have cropped up about the shelter, located in Bunnell behind the Bank of America.
Incentive This: Corporate Tax-Breaking Our Way to Job Creation
Barack Obama’s second State of the Union Address fell flat, argues St. Augustine novelist Jack Cowardin, who makes an original proposal for job creation and a break in the corporate tax rate.
Flagler 911: The Live Crime Blotter
Threats and racist epithets, a stolen and recovered car, Oxycodone and death, head-butting at the Country Store on CR 305, taking a raccoon out of his agony, and more from the files of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Flagler Beach Commission vs. Hurricane Patty’s: A Lot of Noise Over a Few Complaints
Hurricane Patty’s opened as a popular restaurant and bar on Flagler Beach’s side of the Intracoastal in December. A few noise complaints are causing the city to rethink its noise ordinance. Patrons are unhappy.
Against Civility
More handshakes, fewer guns and Fox news sounding more like NPR won’t make us a better country. Fewer assassinations of reason, of facts, of character, and of course of people might.
Guns on Florida Campuses, Bachmann vs. Veterans, the Story of O: Live Wire Weekend, Jan. 28-30
Sen. Greg Evers wants to let students and faculty carry guns openly, Florida might be rethinking its prison madness, Michelle Bachmann wants to cut veterans’ benefits, the anonymous author of O is unmasked, and more.
Bruce Campbell to Remain Flagler Beach’s Manager Until At Least Early Summer
Taking the kind of decisive inaction it’s famous for, the city commission turned back an attempt by Commissioner Jane Mealy to stick by the commission’s pledge last year to discuss the issue in January.
Beyond Controversy: A Video Profile of The Sheltering Tree, Flagler’s Cold-Weather Shelter
Don’t listen to rumors. See Flagler’s homeless for yourself, hear them speak. Charlotte Martne’s special video report of Flagler County’s cold-weather shelter puts faces behind the stereotypes and dispels a few myths.
As Bunnell PD Tries to Clear Its Name, Missing Evidence Turns Up, Discrepancies Remain
A follow-up investigative report by the State Attorney’s office sheds more light, and raises more questions, on the Bunnell Police Department’s habit of producing previously missing evidence and paperwork.
A Cancer Navigator, Flagler’s Agricultural Disaster, Disney’s Lethal Princesses: The Live Wire, Jan. 27
A possible cure for Alzheimer’s, Obama’s lousy Sputnik moment, Thomas Edison’s light bulb, Wikipedia animated, Arizona’s gun deaths, this year’s freshmen, and more.
Video: Ghost Opposition to Cold-Weather Shelter Draws Out Advocates in Bunnell
Unseen and unheard opponents of the cold-weather shelter in Bunnell have complained to that city’s mayor. Shelter advocates made their case at a city commission meeting this week.
From Biggest Flirt (E. Bartley) to Most Likely to Succeed (Kaci Ellis): FPC’s Oscar Night
FCAT results and teacher of the year awards give way to the real student Oscars at FPC: a complete list of the winners and nominees, and an image gallery of the show.
Pill Mill Regulation Price Tag in Florida: $65 Million; Medicine Board Approves New Rules
The $65 million cost of the proposed pill mill rules would be due to urine test requirements on patients and other minor costs that would be spread out among 1,300 pain management clinics and tens of thousands of patients.
