The East Flagler Mosquito Control District (EFMCD) collected 1,441 tires during its Tire Amnesty Days event May 29-31, marking it the most successful collection in the program’s history.
Local Business
Chick-fil-A, Ellianos, Now Taco Bell: Palm Coast Appears to Have a Fast-Food Solo Fetish on Its Hands
A 28-year-old man was jailed this morning on a $5,000 bond following his arrest for public indecent exposure at the door of the Taco Bell on State Road 100 in Palm Coast after a witness spotted him in a recognizably solo act just past midnight. The incident marks the third public masturbation or exposure arrest in Palm Coast in less than a month.
Two Hospitalized Following Violent Road Rage Argument and Shooting at Palm Coast McDonald’s Drive-Thru
A road rage dispute originating on Belle Terre Parkway escalated into a shooting late Tuesday night at a Palm Coast McDonald’s drive-thru. Three individuals exited their vehicles during a secondary argument as a 50-year-old man shot a 61-year-old multiple times with a small-caliber weapon. Flagler County Sheriff’s detectives impounded two vehicles to gather evidence. The investigation remains active without immediate arrests.
Flagler Cares Achieves National COA Accreditation With Flawless Ratings Across All Areas
Flagler Cares achieved national accreditation through COA Accreditation after a nine-month evaluation process. The human services nonprofit received zero negative findings and earned top marks across all evaluated programs. This prestigious validation enhances the agency’s standing among grant funders in a competitive environment and coincides with the organization celebrating 10 years of serving individuals throughout Flagler and 25 in Volusia county.
Flagler County Unemployment Rate Climbs to 5.5% As Florida’s Exceeds Nation’s for First Time Since 2020
Flagler County unemployment rose to 5.5 percent in April, matching a statewide upward trend as Florida’s unemployment rate hit 4.8 percent, surpassing the national average for the first time since 2020. Rising inflation, high interest rates, and the Iran war appears to have ended an era of historic low unemployment. Florida consumer confidence fell for a second consecutive month.
Gas Station and Convenience Store Will Replace Iconic But Long Closed White Eagle Lounge on U.S. 1
Closed for many years, the White Eagle Lounge on U.S. 1, which had a storied history as one of Flagler County’s oldest bars and was a biker favorite, will soon give way to gas station and convenience store. The county’s Planning Board recommended the required land use changes last week and the County Commission approved the elimination of a nearly century-old plat. The deteriorated White Eagle building itself will be demolished.
Marineland’s Last Remaining Taxpayer Readies to Sell Land Holdings, Putting Town’s Future in Doubt
Jim Jacoby, the only private land-holder paying property taxes in Marineland, has reached a tentative agreement to sell all but one of his parcels to Flagler County, the University of Florida and the Department of Environmental Protection. The parties have been working on a deal since mid-2025. If and when the land acquisitions go through, Marineland would lose all property tax revenue and may no longer function as a town. It may have to be absorbed under the county’s governance.
Palm Coast Repeat Offender Faces Felony Indecent Exposure Charge for Pulling Self-Brew at Ellianos Coffee
Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Cory Alan White Jr., 29, for allegedly exposing himself to employees at an Ellianos Coffee drive-up window in Palm Coast. White faces a third-degree felony charge due to a previous 2023 misdemeanor indecent exposure conviction.
Palm Coast Council Counters Fears Over Town Center Data Center: It Is Not a Water and Power-Guzzling AI Facility
Palm Coast council members are reassuring residents that the 35,000-square-foot DC Blox data center in Town Center is an internet cable landing station rather than a resource-heavy artificial intelligence center. The project advanced through administrative approvals without public oversight. It will nevertheless become the city’s largest electricity consumer.
FlaglerLive Editor Calls Libel Lawsuit by Former Commissioner Joe Mullins a SLAPP Suit
Former Flagler County Commissioner Joe Mullins filed a libel lawsuit against FlaglerLive and its editor, Pierre Tristam, over articles documenting Mullins’s controversial public behavior and financial troubles. The lawsuit was filed by attorney Anthony Sabatini. FlaglerLive stands by its documented reporting, labels the case a prohibited SLAPP suit, and maintains that the evidence speaks for itself.
Flagler Beach Will Seek Bids for Paid Parking System as It Parallels Past Decades of Idle Talk
After talking about it for three decades, and 11 years after a committee that had met for two years had recommended it, Flagler Beach is about to issue a request for qualified companies to propose a paid parking system for the city. The request will be issued on June 1. Flagler Beach residents would be exempt. Palm Coast residents, who account for the majority of visitors to the island, would not be. City Commissioners stress that this is still the investigative phase and that there are no done deals.
Judge Deals All But Fatal Blow to Chelsea Herbert Suit Challenging Bunnell’s 1,259-Acre Industrial Rezoning
Circuit Judge Sandra Upchurch today denied a motion for an extension to amend a petition filed by Bunnell resident Chelsea Herbert seeking to quash the industrial rezoning of 1,259 acres in Bunnell. The judge ruled the initial filing was a bare-bones document intended to circumvent 30-day jurisdictional deadlines. The decision complicates the legal challenge as settlement negotiations continue.
Pontieri: Unleashing the Private Sector Is the Conservative Solution to the Palm Coast Housing Squeeze
Flagler County and Palm Coast face a housing squeeze making it difficult for lower-income, elderly and other groups to overcome rental or mortgage burdens. But government interventions are not the way, argues Palm Coast City Council member Theresa Pontieri, as they distort market incentives and unfairly shift infrastructure costs onto existing taxpayers. True affordability requires cutting regulatory red tape and fostering economic growth to raise local wages.
Flagler Beach Planning Board Member Had Explicitly Asked Pastor if He Had Shopping Center’s Permission for Church
When the church was seeking a special zoning exception from the city, a brief exchange between a Flagler Beach Planning Board member and Roderick Palmer, the pastor of Coastal Family Church, all but anticipated the lawsuit Palmer has been battling since January. The board member had asked Palmer explicitly, twice, if he had permission from the shopping center’s property association to run a church at Flagler Square. The answer was non-committal.
Palm Coast Planning Board Receptive to Ending Longtime Ban On Electronic Business Signs
The Palm Coast Planning Board boosted a plan to lift a 27-year ban on electronic business signs in the city. The proposed ordinance allows digital displays on major commercial corridors under strict city regulations. Concerns remain regarding enforcement on mobile vehicle signs and residential proximity.
From Anemia To Cancer Recovery, Phillip McKinney Found Healing Through Specialized Community Care Resources
Phillip McKinney used AdventHealth’s Community Care, which supports patients facing financial and social barriers in Flagler County, to navigate severe gastrointestinal bleeding and aggressive skin cancer. Social worker Briget Parkins coordinated his appointments, paperwork, and transportation through a nonprofit initiative that addresses nonmedical factors to prevent complications. McKinney eventually graduated from the program and now manages his health and housing independently.
Flagler Beach’s 6th Street Deli Among 1st Tenants as Promenade in Palm Coast’s Town Center Recruits
The $79 million mixed-use Promenade project in Palm Coast’s Town Center secured among its initial commercial tenants Flagler Beach’s 6th Street Deli and Fleet Feet as recruiting for the complex continues before late summer openings. Palm Coast is offering significant economic incentives to attract businesses there, though an attempt to attract a craft brewery fell flat. The Promenade includes 204 apartments and 68,000 square feet of retail space.
Final Legal Challenge to Flagler Beach’s Annexations Of Veranda Bay And Summertown Ends
Resident Stephen Noble dropped his lawsuit against Flagler Beach over the annexation of Veranda Bay, making the 756-acre annexations of Veranda Bay and Summertown uncontested. The developer agreed to pay legal fees and transfer property to Noble as part of the settlement.
Supreme Court Denies Coastal Church’s Emergency Request to Resume Services in Flagler Beach Shopping Center
The Florida Supreme Court denied Flagler Beach’s Coastal Family Church’s request to hold in-person services during ongoing litigation, leaving in place a lower court injunction based on restrictive shopping center covenants. The property owner argues that public assemblies at the Flagler Beach shopping center violate agreements. Pastor Roderick Palmer faces separate legal woes from a credit card debt lawsuit and a foreclosure action involving a local property.
Developer Reveals Master Plan For 22,000-Home Western Expansion That’ll Remake Palm Coast
Raydient, the development arm of Rayonier, presented general plans for a 22,000-home development west of U.S. 1 that will nearly double the population of Palm Coast over 30 years. The proposal replaces previous agreements and shifts costs to taxpayers. Despite the scale of the project, its consequences on the city’s future and upcoming city annexation, the reveal at the Palm Coast Community Center lacked a presentation and offered very few specific details regarding infrastructure and funding.
Palm Coast Buys Right-Of-Way For Future Whiteview Parkway Extension Through New U-Haul Storage Facility
The Palm Coast City Council approved the first phase of a multi-phase U-Haul storage facility on U.S. 1 at Whiteview Parkway. The city also bought a right-of-way through the property for $280,000 in cash and $220,000 in impact fee credits. Appraised for $700,000, the land enables the future westward extension of Whiteview Parkway.
Palm Coast Council Approves Tax Rebates of Up to 95% To Jumpstart Stalled Town Center Commercial Development
The Palm Coast City Council approved a construction and tax-incentive program to spark commercial construction in Town Center, offering property tax rebates of up to 90 percent or more for significant investments. Town Center has fallen far short of investment and revenue expectations as the special tax district expires in 2034. Leaders excluded residential projects from the deal, prioritizing vertical density and commercial growth over single-family homes.
Spectrum Launches Virtual American Sign Language Interpretation Service At Palm Coast Store
Spectrum is bringing its virtual American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation service to Palm Coast. The service connects deaf customers and Spectrum store specialists through a live ASL interpreter, enabling real-time communication in store. the virtual ASL interpretation service is now available at Island Walk, 250 Palm Coast Parkway NE, Suite 408.
Historic Old Brick Road Now a Battleground Between Flagler County Preservation and Palm Coast Expansion
Flagler County commissioners are stalling a proposed joint agreement with Palm Coast and Raydient, the developer of over 20,000 homes in the so-called “westward expansion” of Palm Coast, to ensure the preservation of historic Old Brick Road. They demand significant land buffers and flyover bridges instead of at-grade crossings. This firm stance aims to protect the World War I-era Dixie Highway remnant from development. The commission envisions the road as a vehicle-free linear park for nature-tourism.
AdventHealth Palm Coast Among Modern Healthcare’s 100 Top Hospitals
AdventHealth Fish Memorial and AdventHealth Palm Coast are among the nation’s 2026 Modern Healthcare’s 100 Top Hospitals, according to Premier, a national health care improvement organization.
Flagler County February Jobless Rate Drops To 5.8% and Labor Force Adds 500 Workers
Flagler County’s unemployment rate improved slightly to 5.8 percent in February, after a 6 percent showing in January. The local labor force grew by 500 workers. Local wages remain below state and national averages. Single-family home prices decreased from last year and cash buyers accounted for over 40 percent of recent home sales.
Calling Plan ‘Garbage,’ Theresa Pontieri Vows to Block Westward Development Unless Rayonier Pays More for Infrastructure
Palm Coast Council Member Theresa Pontieri rejected Rayonier’s Palm Coast westward expansion plan, labeling the document “absolute garbage” for adding 10,000 homes but eliminating previous developer commitments for roads and parks as taxpayers pick up the $126 million cost of a “Loop Road.” Pontieri demanded the landowner fund infrastructure improvements before a new development order is submitted to the council for approval.
Palm Coast Council Member Theresa Pontieri’s Statement on Westward Expansion Development Proposal
The full text of Palm Coast City Council member Theresa Pontieri’s statement opposing a proposed Master Planned Development order submitted by Rayonier, the Wildlight, Fla.-based company that owns the majority of the 20,000 acres slated for the western expansion.
Neighbors Mobilize Against Development of 39 Houses on Previously Protected Matanzas Golf Course Tract
Palm Coast L-section residents are largely opposed to a plans to develop 39 houses on the so-called Tract 3 of the former Matanzas golf course, a tract the Palm Coast City Council had protected from development in 2021, when it approved the broader, 268-home project. Residents argue the Land Development Code protects their views. The developer is not adding new homes, but shifting them from another tract, which would be give to the city for a public park.
Palm Coast Council Surprised by Discovery of Unannounced CRA Funding for New YMCA Project
The Palm Coast City Council’s Theresa Pontieri was surprised Tuesday after learning the Town Center redevelopment zone is contributing $1.4 million toward the new YMCA. Initial presentations suggested funding came from park impact fees.
Palm Coast City Council Rejects Privatization Of Palm Harbor Golf Course as Near-Term Revenue Improves
The Palm Coast City Council rejected privatizing the Palm Harbor Golf Course following reports of a a surplus through management changes, higher fees and flexible passes. The city may consider returning the facility to an enterprise fund model. Despite current financial success, looming capital costs remain.
Flagler County Unemployment Jumps to 6 Percent, Highest Rate in Five Years
Flagler County unemployment reached 6 percent in January, the highest rate since October 2020 as labor markets in St. Johns and Volusia counties also showed strains in January. Florida lost 20,000 jobs over the year.
Barnes & Noble Coming to Palm Coast’s Target Shopping Center
Palm Coast residents will soon see the end of a long bookstore drought as site plans submitted to the city reveal a Barnes & Noble will be part of a 50,000-square-foot expansion at the Target shopping center. The expansion includes a Five Below and a home goods store.
Ex-AdventHealth Nurse Avoids Prison Time in Plea to 5 Years’ Probation for Fraud and Unlicensed Practice
Autumn Marie Bardisa received five years of probation for practicing nursing without a license at AdventHealth Palm Coast. The 29-year-old treated over 4,000 patients using a stolen identity. Judge Dawn Nichols withheld adjudication and endorsed the plea deal, saying Bardisa had the the necessary medical training, excelled at her job, but showed incredible poor judgment. Bardisa eventually earned her license, but is surrendering it as part of the plea deal.
Future Hammock Restaurant Wins Parking Reduction Despite Strong Opposition From Residents and 2 Commissioners
The Flagler County Commission approved a parking reduction for the future Modern Mexx restaurant in the Hammock despite concerns over parking congestion at other restaurants. Owners reduced the size of the seating area to mitigate concerns.
Appeals Court Will Decide if Flagler Beach Shopping Center Can Legally Ban Coastal Family Church Services
Coastal Family Church is appealing a court injunction prohibiting services at its Flagler Beach shopping center location. The property management company cites private covenants banning public assembly to justify the restriction. The church argues the ban violates First Amendment rights and constitutes selective enforcement. The high-stakes legal battle pits foundational private property rights against constitutional religious protections.
Flagler Beach Leaders Revisit 30 Years of Paid Parking Talk Amid Growing Resentment Toward Palm Coast and County
Flagler Beach commissioners debated a new vision statement today to address identity preservation amid heavy tourism but long-standing resentment toward Palm Coast and Flagler County surfaced during discussions about traffic congestion. Despite 30 years of ignoring parking studies, officials now claim they will prioritize paid parking for visitors. No specific leader was appointed to manage the project.
Palm Coast Gas Prices Reach $4.29 at Several Stations, Florida Average Just Under $4
In Palm Coast and Flagler Beach, the price of unleaded regular gas ranged between a low of $3.82 at BJ’s Wholesale on State Road 100 to $4.29 at RaceTrac at two stations on State Road 100. Elsewhere prices ranged between those two poles.
Flagler Beach Approves Extended Farmers’ Market Hours for Turtle Fest, But with Warning on Future Street Closures
The Flagler Beach City Commission approved extended hours for the farmers’ market during Turtle Fest on April 11, but Commission Chair Eric Cooley has significant reservations about the city’s increasing frequency of downtown street closures and their negative impact on residents and business owners. The market will partner with Turtle Fest on April 11 and the Cedar Bridge Foundation’s autism Run/Walk on April 26, donating its revenue to the two organizations.
Palm Coast City Hall and 3 Schools Lost Internet and Phone Service Thursday and Friday in Accidental Cable Cut
A subcontractor accidentally severed a Fibernet line along U.S. 1 on Thursday, caused significant internet and phone outages for Palm Coast City Hall, Matanzas High School, Belle Terre Elementary and Indian Trails Middle School. Crews worked overnight to repair the damage and restore services by Saturday morning. Teachers transitioned to offline instruction to avoid classroom disruptions. The city manager intends to seek full financial reimbursement for the repair project costs.
Records Reveal Some Details as Construction Starts On Scaled Down Data Center in Palm Coast’s Town Center
Construction started on a 10 megawatt DC Blox data center in Palm Coast serving as an undersea cable landing station by way of Flagler Beach. Records show the developer scaled the building size to under 40,000 square feet to bypass public planning board reviews. FlaglerLive obtained the site plan and other construction documents after numerous requests as the project operated under a state confidentiality law for two years.
Marineland’s New Attorneys Sound Alarm Over Lax Policies, Missing Audits, Lost Records and Potential Litigation
Marineland is grappling with missing audits and vanished public records. New legal counsel warns of financial instability after the town lost a third of its general fund revenue as commissioners seek to renegotiate a marina contract to bolster funds, though that may lead to litigation. The attorneys are preparing a roadmap to address many of the issues.
AdventHealth Executive Outlines Looming Healthcare Crisis and Innovations to Solve Florida Medical Shortages
Florida faces massive nursing and physician shortages and rising costs from uncompensated care, AdventHealth East Florida Division President Rob Deininger told the Flagler Tiger Bay Club Tuesday. But technological innovations like artificial intelligence and telemedicine offer potential relief, as does expanding home-based hospital programs. His conclusion: Collaborative state-level experimentation remains essential for fixing the broken national healthcare value proposition for everyone today.
Target Shopping Center Expansion and Large U-Haul Storage Facility Off Whiteview Are Approved
The Palm Coast Planning Board approved a 119,000-square-foot U-Haul storage facility at Whiteview Parkway and US1, with 950 units and future westward road expansion plans. It also approved a 48,600-square-foot retail extension at Palm Coast Landings to accommodate three new but unnamed businesses. Both applications passed unanimously without any questions by an uncurious planning board.
AdventHealth’s Free Sports Physicals And Heart Screenings to Flagler School Students Set for May
AdventHealth provides free sports physicals and electrocardiogram screenings to middle and high school students across Volusia and Flagler counties this spring. These exams are mandatory for students participating in athletics, band, and JROTC. Flagler County events are held May 20 and 21 at Flagler Palm Coast High School. The screenings help identify potential heart conditions.
Palm Coast Council Candidate Darlene Shelley Preparing to Sue City and Council Member Theresa Pontieri Over ICI Vote
Darlene Shelley filed a lawsuit against Palm Coast and Council Member Theresa Pontieri. The legal action–hung up in an errors cue at the clerk’s office for now–challenges an approved housing expansion in the E Section. Shelley alleges the council violated due process and transparency rules. She also claims Pontieri holds a conflict of interest regarding first responder housing. Pontieri dismissed the claims as frivolous and politically motivated.
County Commission Rejects Hammock Restaurant Parking Plan Amid Skepticism Over Staffing and Size
Flagler County commissioners rejected a parking variance for a proposed 90-seat restaurant in the Hammock, in place of the defunct Fusion 386. Owners Michael Goodman and Bruce Garrison sought 31 spaces instead of the required 41. Commissioners and the public are skeptical that the 3,000-square-foot building will use only five employees per shift. The project was tabled and the owners directed to submit revised plans.
Palm Coast Council Rejects Rezoning For Concrete Plant on Hargrove Grade, Opposing Heavy Industry Precedent
The Palm Coast City Council voted 4-1 to deny a rezoning request from Hard Rock Materials today, preventing a concrete batch plant from opening in the Hargrove Grade industrial park on a 10-acre parcel Hard Rock paid $2.1 million for last year. Local business owners argued that heavy industrial operations would degrade the light industrial area. The council prioritized maintaining zoning consistency and protecting existing property interests over what would have been 20 jobs and modest tax revenue.
As New, Larger Captain’s BBQ at Bings Landing Has Yet to Break Ground, County Extends Lease, with Questions
Flagler County commissioners are preparing to extend the lease for Captain’s BBQ through 2031 to provide more time for the owners to build a new, 5,000-square-foot facility at Bings Landing. Commissioners are frustrated by vague contract language regarding construction deadlines and the absence of a performance bond. The county intends to revise the agreement to ensure accountability. Construction is expected to begin this September.
FPL Scores Highest Profit Margin of Almost All Investor-Owned Utilities in the Country in 2025
Florida Power and Light, which serves around 6 million customers in Florida and serves all of Flagler County, far exceeded the 13 to 15 percent average in profit margin for American investor-owned utilities, ranking atop the list in profit margin for 2025, and second on the list between 2021 and 2024. FPL’s profit margin in 2025 was 27.44 percent, followed by MidAmerivan Energy with 27.16 percent.