The Inspired Mic, Palm Coast’s unpredictable improv, is on at Europa, the Chamber hosts its annual Peers on the Pier party, how Trump does in fact own Obamacare now, and double-standards.
Backgrounders
Wednesday Briefing: Soderberg Kicks Off, Buckets of Tourism Grants, Blood Drive, Malcolm Gladwell
Blood drive in Bunnell, Nancy Soderberg launches her congressional campaign against Ron DeSantis, the tourism council considers dozens of grants, Malcolm Gladwell.
Palm Coast Council Ready To Fire Or Push Out Jim Landon, Dismissing His Secretive “Succession” Ploy
Four Palm Coast City Council members have lost confidence in Manager Jim Landon and want him gone, with severance issues an obstacle. He wants to stay two more years and appoint his successor.
Trump Lawyer Marc Kasowitz Threatens Stranger in Emails: “Watch Your Back, Bitch”
Marc Kasowitz, President Trump’s personal attorney on the Russia case, threatened a stranger in a string of profanity-laden emails Wednesday night.
Thursday Briefing: Aldi Opens, Heat Index to 103, Flagler Beach’s War on Medical Pot, Heretics
Grocery shoppers of the Palm Coast-Flagler world unite today as Aldi opens its SR100 store in earnest, Flagler Beach considers banning all medical pot dispensaries.
Phillip Haire, Accused of Shooting at Cop and Parents, Threatened a Hit on Judge Moore-Stens
Palm Coast’s Phillip Haire threatened Judge Moore-Stens’s life claiming she had put out a hit on him, and that she was scared because he’d flicked her off at his first appearance.
Monday Briefing: Flagler Sheriff Centennial, Heat Index 101 to 105, County Budget, Transitional Housing
The Sheriff’s Office marks its centennial with a gathering of many living ex-sheriffs, the Bunnell City Commission hears an appeal objecting to transitional housing, Thoreau’s bi-centennial.
Owner of Group Home on Palm Coast’s Braddock Lane Faces 5 Felony Counts for Elderly Neglect
Two residents at the group home had to be hospitalized and three evacuated from a house where the air conditioning hadn’t worked for two days, and the indoor temperature hovered around 91.
Your Papers Please: Trump Commission Demands Massive Amounts of Voter Data
A Trump commission has asked all 50 states for copies of their voter records which often include names, addresses and ages. The commission has said it intends to make the information widely available.
At Flagler Beach Pier, A Modest Re-Dedication For a Truncated Treasure
Officials from three governments gathered Saturday morning for a warm-hearted ribbon-cutting at the beleaguered Flagler Beach Pier, with eyes on a future structure.
Apparent Double-Suicide Uncovered in Progress in Palm Coast’s R-Section: Woman Dies, Man Survives
Katherine Goddard, 52, was dead when Flagler County Sheriff’s Office units arrived at 29 Red Clover Lane just after 7 p.m. Bruce Haughton, 52, was unconscious but breathing.
Independence Weekend Briefing: Flagler County Rotary’s Leadership, Fireworks, Pier Ribbon Cutting, Renner Up
Tracy Loftus is the Flagler County Rotary’s new president, it’s all about July 4, Rep. Paul Renner may have a very big day, and everyone else a very long weekend.
Stark Revelations of a Broad Crisis at Domestic Violence Summit, and a Steep Challenge for Task Force
A summit convened by Sheriff Staly produced an unrelenting kaleidoscope of perspectives on one of the most persistent criminal and behavioral problems in Flagler County. It’s now up to a task force to find solutions.
Raul Zambrano, Redoubtable Alumni of Flagler Bench, Will Be 7th Circuit’s Chief Judge
Feared and respected, and a former felony court judge in Flagler, Circuit Judge Raul Zambrano was elected Chief Judge of the 7th Judicial Circuit, which includes Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties.
The GOP Senate Bill’s Hollow Promise To Protect Coverage For Preexisting Conditions
Built into the bill are loopholes for states to bypass protections and erode coverage for preexisting conditions, so insurers could cover chronically ill people but not the diseases they suffer from.
Monday Briefing: Teddy Bears Against Violence, Voting Precincts, Medical Pot Moratorium, Down in the River to Pray
The County Commission is expected to extend the medical pot moratorium on new businesses through mid-September, teddy bears donated to fight domestic violence, Vidal-Buckley ’68.
Behind County Plaint That Relations With Palm Coast “Suck,” a History of Rancor and Cooperation
It’s been five years since Palm Coast and Flagler County governments met jointly, but they have a poor history of it, preferring to work behind the scenes on key issues.
When Elected Officials Block Constituents on Twitter or Facebook, Possibly Breaking the Law
As elected officials increasingly turn to social media to communicate with constituents, some are blocking those who disagree with them. Some say it violates the First Amendment.
Flagler Students Make Gains In Almost Every Discipline, Ranking in State’s Upper Half or Third
By almost every measure, Flagler students improved their English, math, science and social science scores, year over year, according to 2017 test results released today.
Thursday Briefing: Traveling Zoo on World Oceans Day, Comey’s Intellectual History, Heroin, Special Session
Celebrate World Oceans Day at the agricultural extension offices at the Flagler County Fairgrounds, James Comey’s path to center stage, Flagler Beach reroofs, a call for coexistence from 500 years ago.
Tuesday Briefing: Pleasures of Dunking Top Cops, Thunderstorms, Tager’s 1st Workshop, Flagler Sportsfishing
Dunking cops, Superintendent James Tager handles his first school board workshop, Flagler Sportfishing Club meets, Palm Coast council talks streetlights.
Monday Briefing: Drought Index Dips to 399, Replacing the 800MHz System, AIDS, Sean Monti Trial
Repeat offender and felon Sean Monti goes on trial, the County Commission hires a $175,000 consultant to study the future of the emergency radio system, and it talks library expansion.
A Lifetime In One Picture
My Daughter Odysseus
FlaglerLive’s editor reflects on the painful and joyful history behind a moment unexpectedly captured by a photographer at his daughter’s graduation from Grinnell College last week.
Flagler Depleted as 2017 Hurricane Season Begins; Tax Holiday This Weekend on Emergency Supplies
For Flagler County, a season a 70 percent likelihood of 11 to 17 named storms is beginning even as costly and exhausting recovery efforts from Hurricane Matthew have a long way to go.
Flagler Secures Millions for Beach, Roads, Judges, But That’s Before Scott Lifts Veto Pen
Millions of dollars through numerous Flagler-bound appropriations could potentially be vetoed as Gov. Scott today received the state’s budget, and will soon decide what stays and what goes.
This Time Palm Coast Council Agrees to Explore Charter Review, But Under Its Control
The council will solicit public input for possible changes to the city charter, but it will not appoint a charter review committee, and will make changes only if it senses a groundswell for changes.
GOP Defends Health Bill With Euphemisms, False Statements and Deleted Comments
Since the passage of the American Health Care Act, Republican members of Congress have tried to swing public opinion to their side, but through deceptive means.
In Flagler and Palm Coast, Hate Crimes Are a Rarity Even as State and National Stats Soar
Officials and experts cite many reasons why reported hate crimes are rare: there may be more harmony locally, but also more subjectivity, under-reporting and lack of awareness when hate crimes are committed.
The Live Interview
Six Questions For James Tager, Superintendent
James Tager, who begins as Superintendent June 1, answers questions about his temperament, open government, transgender rights, zero tolerance and other issues.
Profile In Resilience: Cindy Dalecki’s Journey From Loss Back to Radiance
Cindy Dalecki, one of the most recognizably sunny personalities and marketing executive in Flagler Beach and Palm Coast, describes her ongoing recovery from losing her husband and companion of 28 years.
Marketing 2 Go, Curley Tail Design and the Branding Box Move to Ripple Coworking in Flagler Beach
Marketing 2 Go, Dalecki’s 7-year-old company and with Kim Fitzgerald’s Curley Tail Design, who together run The Branding Box, moved to Ripple Coworking, a startup in a venerable building.
Citing Chronic Crisis, Sheriff Plans Community Summit on Domestic Violence and Task Force
Sheriff Rick Staly intends to call a community summit followed by a task force that would have a few months to produce a set of recommendations to enact. Other domestic violence initiatives are ongoing.
Flagler Grand Jury Indictments: Gore and Singer May Face Death Penalty, Haire Life in Prison
Dorothy Singer, accused of killing her husband, and Bobby Gore, accused of killing his son, may face the death penalty, and Phillip Haire, accused of shooting at a cop and his parents, may never see freedom again, if convicted.
Gov. Scott Faces Increasing Pressure to Veto Education Bill, Including From Flagler District
The Flagler County School Board joined its voice to a growing chorus of demands from across the state that Gov. Rick Scott veto a massive education bill opponents consider damaging to school districts.
Cyclist Critical After He is Struck By Vehicle on Belle Terre and SR100 in Apparent Hit and Run
Kerry Milich, A cyclist, 57, was struck by a car at the intersection of Belle Terre Parkway and State Road 100 just after 4 p.m. Michael Bailey, the driver of the car, left the scene but was later located.
Critics Urge Gov. Scott to Veto Massive Education Bill as Details of Legislation Emerge
The bill was pushed by House Speaker Richard Corcoran, a Land O’ Lakes Republican who sparred with the governor throughout the session over economic-development incentives and tourism marketing.
Lawmakers Approve Budget With Tax Cuts, Severe Cuts to Medicaid, Minor Increase For Education and Big Boost to Charters
The budget package includes a modest increase in per-student spending through the state’s main education formula, $521 million in Medicaid cuts for hospitals and far-reaching changes to education across the board.
David Ottati Returns: Ex-Florida Hospital Flagler CEO Takes Over 3-County Region
David Ottati’s rise in the Adventist organization is again bringing him to Flagler County as he takes over leadership of a seven hospital-region including Florida Hospital Flagler.
It Would Be Up to Florida to Dismantle Obamacare Protections If GOP Bill Advances
Unless the legislation fails or changes substantially, many consumers across the country could see the amount they pay every year for premiums increase by thousands of dollars, making coverage effectively unaffordable.
La Différence
France’s Answer To Trumpism: Non, Merci
Emmanuel Macron’s election as President of France Sunday repudiates angry, anti-democratic tribalism represented by Marine Le Pen and Donald Trump. But it’s only a qualified win.
Flagler Beach, a.k.a. Ocean City, Gets 9 New Lifeguard Towers, All On Strength of Volunteers
The nine lifeguard towers, on a design from towers in Ocean City, Md., are expected to more than double the life of the structures. Commissioner Rick Belhumeur led the all-volunteer effort.
Holland Park Redemption: Palm Coast’s Storied Playground Readies to Re-Open
A year behind schedule, the reopening of Holland Park, now scheduled for June, will also mark the transformation of an eyesore into a crown jewel, as a visit to the park today suggests.
Thursday Briefing: County Road 13 Construction, Vac-Con Trucks, Kimmel’s Verklempt, Palm Coast Democrats, Josh Crews Book Launch
Josh Crews book project launches at Belle Terre, John & Jen at City Rep Theatre, Jimmy Kimmel loses it over his newborn son and Trump’s gutting of the ACA, Dahlia’s Mexican Kitchen, and CPE Bach.
Palm Coast Would Turn Over Its Cell Towers To Contractor Even as New Law Revamps Landscape
Even as a new state law just has just revamped the whole wireless landscape, the Palm Coast council is about to sign a contract grounded in previous-generation realities about cell coverage.
Tuesday Briefing: Superintendent Choice Time, Monopolizing Palm Coast Cell Towers, Scam Safety
The School Board this morning potentially makes its choice for the next superintendent, the Palm Coast council decides whether to hire a company that would largely control the city’s cell-tower contracts and revenue share.
Progressive Voices Rise to Resist Locally as Flagler Beach “Rally By the Sea” Rebukes Trumpism
Saturday’s rally of progressive-liberal organizations in Flagler Beach, organized by a group barely a few months old, suggests the local Republican sweep is not as total as it appears, or Trumpism the only movement in town.
‘Click It or Ticket’ Laws Are Becoming The Norm. But Do They Work?
Not everyone is convinced the tougher laws reduce fatalities. And some opponents say the laws are another example of government interference and can lead to racial profiling.
“John & Jen” and Generational Shock in Musical Closing City Repetory Theatre’s Season
“John & Jen” features the same two actors portraying family members over two generations crossing America’s tumultuous 60s and beyond, and testing family ties. At Palm Coast’s City Rep Theatre.
Flagler Beach Unanimously Approves Marina Settlement That May End 7-Year Suit
It’s now up to Howard Sklar to sign off on the settlement agreement. His attorney said the marina, idle for almost two decades, could be operating soon, welcoming boats, building and repairing them.
Flagler Beach Pier Repair to Last a Bit Longer and Cost More as Engineers Test Loads
The Flagler Beach Pier was set to fully open May 1, but the opening date has been pushed back to the end of May, and engineering work, which won;t affect the date, will add up to $45,000 in costs.