Palm Coast skims off $700,000 from its annual $7 million contract with Waste Pro. Cheaper garbage rates for customers means less money for the city, which is partly why the city is resisting bidding out the contract.
Backgrounders
Reminder: Florida’s Sales Tax Holiday Is This Weekend: Here’s A Guide
Florida’s Tax Free Days, or sales tax holiday, is scheduled this year for August 12 through August 14. The sales tax exemption applies to clothing and school supplies. A complete guide.
When France Has a Better Credit Rating Than the United States
What does it mean to the United States when France and Britain are considered safer destinations for investors by credit rating agencies such as Standard & Poor? It shouldn’t mean much. But it’s not always about what’s rational.
Garbage Cunning: Palm Coast May Skip Bidding Out $7.7 Million-a-Year Contract
The 5-year contract with Waste Pro is expiring. The city council Tuesday will discuss whether to renegotiate or go out to bid, though so far the city administration is signaling resistance to a bid process
This Week in Flagler and Tallahassee: Garbage, Jobs and Nukes
The Flagler County Commission discusses Enterprise Flagler’s future, the Palm Coast City Council takes on garbage hauling, Bunnell debates adult video arcades, and the PSC takes on nuclear power construction costs.
Fact Check: The Economy By the Numbers
A sobering look at the real economy’s numbers broken down in easy-to-chew bullet points, from national to local numbers. Spam can not included.
Ex-Bunnell Commissioner Jimmy Flynt Faces State Ethics Violations on 3 Counts
Bunnell City Commissioner Elbert Tucker filed a series of ethics charges against Jimmy Flynt last August. Flynt faces fines of up to $10,000 on each of the three violations. Several others were thrown out.
Capital Punishment As a Crime More Dreadful Than Murder: Dostoyevsky on the Guillotine
The death penalty, in this passage from Dostoevsky’s “The Idiot,” is seen as a punishment mostly for what precedes it–and an indictment of those who impose capital punishment.
George W. Bush’s Debt, Thrasher’s $1.3 Million Home, Unnecessary Censorship: The Live Wire
What $15 trillion in $100 dollar bills would look like, Jason Alexander on the Netflix Relief Fund, Florida’s water problems–solved, When Lady Gaga is great, the Muppets’s tribute to Jim Henson, and more.
Auditions Set for Flagler Playhouse’s “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
The Flagler Playhouse will hold open auditions for their upcoming production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” on July 31 and Aug. 1 at 6 pm at the Flagler Playhouse in Bunnell.
Flagler Fish Company’s Pet-Friendly Patio Expands Outdoor Dining
The Flagler Fish Company in Flagler Beach completed an expansion of their pet-friendly outdoor dining area.
Gov. Rick Scott on Impending Federal Government Shutdown: What, Me, Worry?
Rick Scott is unconcerned about the federal shut-down, saying its impact on Florida will be “minimal.” Much of the evidence says otherwise as millions of Floridians’ including Social Security and food stamps recipients, may be affected.
Boehner-Obama Debt-Ceiling Follies: Your Hair-Pulling Guide on Stats and What Ifs
How dire could the consequences of not raising the debt ceiling be? What are the possible solutions? Here’s a reading list to help you keep up as the clock ticks to next week’s deadline.
Slow-Cooked Success: Palm Coast’s Woody’s Bar•B•Q Marks 13th Year
Owned by Flagler County natives, Woody’s BarBQ on State Road 100 in Palm Coast has, like any business, weathered its share of difficulties in the past three years. “We’re not going anywhere,” its owner says.
Flagler County Tax Rates Will Go Up 12%, But Tax Bills Are More Likely to Go Down
Flagler County’s tax rate is going up for the fourth year in a row to make up for collapsing valuations, but the rise will still not translate into a tax increase for most. The contrary may be true.
Florida Graduation Requirements for Students Entering 9th Grade, 2011-2017
Florida high school graduation requirements for entering 9th graders from 2011-12 to 2016-17: a year-by-year guide including FCAT, end-of-year-course assessments and science requirements.
The Greater Threat: Christian Extremism From Timothy McVeigh to Anders Breivik
Those two men—two right-wing reactionaries, terrorists, anti-government white supremacists, Christians—have plenty in common with the fundamentalist politicians and ideologues among us who pretend to have nothing to do with the demons they inspire.
Ayn Rand as Adolescent Sap, Private Prison Scams, Patraeus Rewrites Vietnam: The Live Wire
Ayn Rand’s success: she was a children’s writer, circumcisions of the world unite, music as a way to slow down aging, Steve Carrell, Lucian Freud and Google’s top 20 key words, and more.
Palm Coast’s Rabbi Shapiro and Education Trio Sue Over “Religious Freedom” Amendment
Florida’s so-called “Religious Freedom” amendment is misleading, the lawsuit argues, as it would reopen the way for religious, private school vouchers at public expense and turn the state into an arbiter of public dollars for religious organizations.
Do Flagler School Administrators Making $97,000 a Year Need A Raise? They Say Yes.
Some 25 Flagler school administrators make between $80,000 and $105,000 a year. They’re saying they were disrespected when denied a 2 percent raise. The school board is reconsidering.
Is Flagler County’s Real Estate Industry Finally Brightening? Depends Whom You Ask.
Sales are increasing somewhat by volume but more than half the transactions are for cash, prices keep falling, foreclosures are increasing, and the overall economy shows little sign of improvement.
Fixing The Gays, Paul McCartney at 69, America’s World Cup Women: The Live Wire
Marcus Bachmann’s gay-fixing clinic, Paul McCartney rocks Yankee Stadium, a million millionaires, Google Chrome meets Google+, wages go down, work hours go up, and more.
They Feel Your Pain: Florida Legislature Home to 51 Millionaires
Millionaires make up almost half of the 40-member Florida Senate and nearly one-third of the 120-member Florida House. Legislators are paid $29,697 a year, with presiding officers making $41,181 a year.
Water Management District Tax Rate Cut 26%, Reducing Revenue and Gutting Services
The tax bill on a $200,000 house will be $50, down from $62, but the district is laying off employees and reducing conservation, management and partnership projects in line with a new law approved by Gov. Rick Scott.
Introducing Google+: Why Facebook’s Monopoly and Twitter’s Heyday May Be Over
Kyle Russell walks you through Google’s latest Big Thing, how it beats Facebook, and why it may put Twitter and LinkedIn out of business. Your invitation is in Gmail.
Cell Phone and Texting While Driving Bans: Laws in the 50 States
Texting while driving bans, hand held cell phone while driving bans: laws state by state with age breakdowns, school zones, teens and novices.
City Marketplace in Receivership; Public Sale of the Palm Coast Development Set for August
City Market Place, where Palm Coast has its municipal offices, has been mired in foreclosure proceedings since 2009. The changes aren’t expected to affect tenants except, perhaps, for the better.
Flagler Beach Bids Last Shuttle a Wistful Farewell as It Soars Invisibly Beyond Clouds
Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off on schedule, but no one could see it on Flagler’s beaches or at the pier, though imagination was enough to sense the end of a 30-year journey.
“Colors of the Sea,” A New Cannizzaro Show, Opening at Ocean Publishing July 14
Rick Cannizzaro, Ocean Publishing’s commissioned artist, exhibits paintings of loggerhead turtles while the publishing house showcases a new book on the Southeast National Marine Sanctuaries and Jean-Michel Cousteau.
USA Today’s Dirty Mind, Tour de Palm Coast, Plutocratic Scott: The Live Wire
Rick Scott’s plutocratic brotherhood of governors, why exercise beats depression,debt limit hypocrites, USA Today’s suggestive graphics, 14th amendment memories, and more.
Bunnell’s Challenges: Lawsuits, Layoffs, Deficits, and That $900,000 Police Department
Bunnell entered this year’s budget season facing a $900,000 deficit (about the cost of its police department) and the potential loss of a $1.3 million state contract, among other steep challenges.
Fireworks Blaze Over Flagler Beach In a Thundering Display of Color and Pomp
Anticipation gave way to an explosive display of colors and sounds as Flagler Beach’s July 4th celebration culminated with its traditional fireworks show.
How CSX Bought Mica, Funerals for Space and Symphonies, Internet Dating: The Live Wire
The Times’ John Mica-SunRail expose, the best TV ad ever, John Lennon as a Reagan fan, teabagger etymology, Gmail’s new G-spots, a history of the English language in 10 minutes, and more.
They’re On: County Repeals Ban On Flagler Beach Fireworks in 4-1 Vote
Eleven days after cancelling the county’s Independence Day fireworks shows, the Flagler County Commission this afternoon voted to allow the Flagler Beach show to go on.
County Likely to Reverse Fireworks Ban in Flagler Beach In Special Meeting Friday
A majority of county commissioners are now in favor of overturning the ban on Flagler Beach’s Independence Day fireworks. They’ll decide at a special meeting 4 p.m. Friday.
Hospital Donation Helps Campers Find Adventure at Palm Coast Summer Camp
Palm Coast summer camp for elementary and middle school children runs through August 12, at $75 a week. Scholarships are available. Children may attend as many (or as few) weeks as they choose.
A Dissent on Canceling July 4 Fireworks: When Palm Coast Dictates to Flagler Beach
Canceling the fireworks in Town Center was justified, canceling them in Flagler Beach was not, argues Jeremy Mahoney, who sees the decision as another way of making Flagler Beach subservient to Palm Coast.
Fires and Hurricane Predictions Motivate Ham Radio Operators’ Field Day This Weekend
This annual event in Palm Coast and Flagler Beach is the climax of the week long “Amateur Radio Week” sponsored by the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio.
Fire Update: Lull Persists as
Fires Recede and Rain Approaches
Fire officials reported little but good news on Thursday as fire lines have been holding and chances of rain are increasing through the weekend. Audio of Thursday’s full news conference included.
Espanola Fire Boundaries and Fire Lines: June 22, 2011
Espanola fire boundaries and fire lines as of June 22, 2011. Flagler County, Florida. Division of Forestry map.
Flagler County Fires: All Locations, Latest Acreage, Maps and Firelines
Complete, updated chart of active Flagler County fires, satellite-view locations, acreage, and updated maps including detailed, latest extent of Espanola and White Eagle fires.
Adding to Mounting Legal Challenges for Scott, Public Employees Sue Over 3% Pension Hit
The class-action lawsuit is filed on behalf of 556,296 public employees, including state workers, teachers and police officers. It echoes frustrations that led the Flagler County School Board to talk lawsuit last week.
Espanola Fire Boundaries and Fire Lines: June 21, 2011
Espanola fire boundaries and fire lines as of June 21, 2011. Flagler County, Florida. Division of Forestry map.
Espanola Fire Boundaries and Fire Lines: June 20, 2011
Espanola fire boundaries and fire lines as of June 20, 2011. Flagler County, Florida. Division of Forestry map.
Espanola Fire Boundaries and Fire Lines: June 19, 2011
Espanola fire boundaries and fire lines as of June 19, 2011. Flagler County, Florida. Division of Forestry map.
Espanola Fire Boundaries and Fire Lines: June 18, 2011
Espanola fire boundaries and fire lines as of June 18, 2011. Flagler County, Florida. Division of Forestry map.
Espanola Fire Boundaries and Fire Lines: June 13, 2011
Espanola fire boundaries and fire lines as of June 13, 2011. Flagler County, Florida. Division of Forestry map.
Fish and Wildlife Commission Prohibits Campfires on Public Lands
As a result of ongoing wildfires, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued the executive order prohibiting campfires in wildlife management areas, wildlife and environmental areas and all other lands it manages.
Fifth Grade Graduation, Florida’s Dismal Education Spending, Talk Radio Sellouts: The Live Wire
Why Rick Scott is America’s least popular governor, SlutWalks and feminism, corruption at the transportation department, students who are full of it, and more.
Sprawl-Fighting State Oversight Agency Is Dissolved, To the Delight of Local Developers
The Florida Department of Community Affairs, created in 1969 to manager growth, is being diluted into other agencies, leaving local governments much freer to develop as they choose.