“Regime Change,” the new book by reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, details the reality of Donald Trump’s second administration and a White House consumed by personal vengeance, vanity and strategic cluelessness. The administration ignores actual policy to focus on petty grievances and disastrous foreign conflicts. It is the chronicle of a rapidly decaying empire struggling to survive unprecedented corruption.
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Eight Days of Early Voting Begin Saturday in Flagler County as 6,000 Have Already Cast Primary Ballots
Flagler County begins eight days of early voting Saturday with five polling locations available countywide. Nearly 6,000 ballots have already been cast by mail. Several local races, including School Board and Palm Coast City Council contests, could be decided in the primary. Election officials encourage voters to review sample ballots and bring proper identification before casting ballots.
Judge Rules Palm Coast’s Doubling of Impact Fees Illegal, a Devastating Blow to City’s Revenue and Victory for Builders
In a devastating blow to Palm Coast government, a judge this morning ruled that the city’s doubling of development impact fees in 2025 violates a state law that forbids local governments from imposing restrictive development regulations.
Flagler Beach Budget Maintains Tax Rate for 5th Year, Deferring Looming Amendment’s Consequences
Flagler Beach City Manager Dale Martin presented a proposed general fund budget that keeps the property tax rate flat, and under Florida law represents a slight tax decrease. The city commission is cautiously preparing for a potential constitutional amendment that might significantly alter homestead exemptions. Officials also discussed adding commissioner health benefits and addressing the loss of insurance coverage for beach dune walkovers.
Young Alligator Exercising His Right to School Choice at Rymfire Elementary Is Shown the Pond
Rymfire Elementary Assistant Principal Abra Seay safely relocated a young alligator found under a teacher’s car at the end of a day of training this week, a few days before the resumption of school on Aug. 10. Seay, who grew up in Flagler County, used a broomstick to gently guide the animal into a nearby retention pond. The superintendent said the gator did not qualify for school choice.
Maintenance Worries and Holdouts Aside, County Approves $35 Million Renourishment for 5.5 Miles of Beach
The Flagler County Commission approved a $35 million project to rebuild 5.5 miles of beach from North 7th Street in Flagler Beach to Varn Park, north of Beverly Beach. The rebuilding will start in early 2027 and take four to six months. All but $4.2 million of that is paid for through state and federal grants, so the county’s funding share is 12 percent. It is the first major beach renourishment project in Flagler County since the 2024 Army Corps project in Flagler Beach.
Palm Coast Council Tables Westward Expansion Development Plan, Demanding Economic and Other Guarantees
Nearing midnight following a six-hour meeting Tuesday night, the Palm Coast City Council tabled until Aug. 25–the week after the primary election–the land-use proposals that would clear the way for the so-called westward expansion, the plan to build 22,000 housing units on 21,000 acres west of U.S. 1. The council signaled it would approve the development plan by Raydient pending changes to the development order that the council wants.
Byron and Erika Donalds’ Gospel of ‘School Choice’ Would Turbocharge Vouchers and Privatization
Byron and Erika Donalds are leveraging their political influence and billionaire donations to drastically transform the public education system in Florida. The couple envisions a lucrative free-market educational economy prioritizing universal voucher programs and private charter schools. Critics argue their aggressive privatization agenda unconstitutionally drains essential taxpayer funds from struggling traditional public school districts.
Flagler Judge Repeatedly Refers to Two Black Men as ‘Thugs’ in Bond Hearing for One of Them
Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols repeatedly referred to two Black men as “thugs” during a bond hearing for one of them Tuesday, and ultimately ruled that she would not set the bond lower than $55,000. The term has evolved into a racially charged dog-whistle when whites use it in reference to Blacks, though it continues to be used unwittingly so by whites not necessarily aware of the implication, as was likely the case in court Tuesday.
Flagler County Commissioners Criticize Sheriff and Clerk, But From a Desert of Budget Information
Flagler County commissioners held a frustrating budget workshop Monday amid a dearth of financial documents or a framework for clear discussion. The proposed property tax rate remains virtually unchanged. Commissioners criticized constitutional officers for failing to reduce their budgets sufficiently. Sheriff Rick Staly and Clerk of Court Tom Bexley defended their respective spending requests, pointing out cuts and savings.
Flagler County Commission Will Hold Initial Zoom Interviews with Six Administrator Candidates
The Flagler County Commission will conduct public Zoom interviews with six finalists for the county administrator position later this month. The commission plans to select two or three finalists for in-person interviews in late August before making a final hiring decision shortly thereafter.
20-Year-Old Drunk Driver Avoids Prison in Lenient Sentence for Injuring Ebiker on Belle Terre Parkway
Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols sentenced Mollie Hayes, 20, of Palm Coast, to 180 days in jail and four years on probation for striking and severely injuring an ebiker on Belle Terre Parkway and Pine Grove Drive. Hayes avoided a felony conviction through a plea agreement–for now: The judge is almost certain she will violate her terms. If so, she would be adjudicated a felon and sentenced to prison.
Florida Sheriff’s Association Joins Other Public Safety Groups Raising Alarms Over Homestead Amendment
Public safety groups–and Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly–are warning voters about the property tax cut amendment that will appear on ballots this November. On Monday, the Florida Sheriffs Association released a statement saying they were “significantly concerned” about Amendment 3, which if passed, would increase homestead exemptions from $50,000 to $250,000 over two years.
Ex-Lt. Rainey’s Testimony Shifts Momentum in Fired Flagler Beach Fire Chief Stephen Cox’s Appeal Hearing
Former Flagler Beach Fire Chief Stephen Cox faces a difficult appeal hearing following his sudden firing by City Manager Dale Martin following staff resignations. Cox presented a strong defense emphasizing his spotless record but devastating testimony from former Lt. Morgan Rainey exposed his leadership flaws and shifted the case momentum strongly against him on Friday. The hearing isn’t over.
Facing Devastating $140,000 Cut, Flagler Humane Society Urges Palm Coast to Fully Fund Animal Care
The Flagler Humane Society faces a severe financial deficit because Palm Coast underfunds mandatory stray animal care, Treasurer Rebecca Reynolds argues. She notes the city covers only a fraction of actual costs, leaving the shelter to absorb the difference. With proposed budget cuts looming, Reynolds urges the city to preserve adequate municipal funding.
Seven Palm Coast Employees Escorted Out of City Hall in Broad Cost-Cutting Layoffs and Resignation
In a grim day at Palm Coast City Hall Friday, six employees were laid off and a seventh resigned, five of them in code enforcement and animal control, including long-time Code Enforcement Manager Barbara Grossman, and two in planning, cutting roughly $700,000 from the budget. The administration was under strict directive from the City Council to reduce the budget, though internal issues at code enforcement may also have played a role.
Uthmeier Takes on Catholic Church: Grant Vaccine Exemptions to Students, Or Else
Attorney General James Uthmeier is putting the Roman Catholic Church on notice – if they take taxpayer funded vouchers for their schools, they should accept vaccine exemptions for students, too. In a letter sent Friday to the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, Uthmeier, citing the Catholic Catechism, Pope Leo and scripture, argued Catholic doctrine does not allow its schools to reject vaccine exemptions for religious reasons.
Darlene Shelley, Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview
Darlene Shelley is one of four candidates for the Palm Coast City Council, District 4, an open seat. She faces Dylana Galery, John Kvederis and Ramon Marrero. This is a non-partisan race. All registered voters in Palm Coast may cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary.
Ramon Marrero, Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview
Ramon Marrero is one of four candidates for the Palm Coast City Council, District 4, an open seat. He faces Dylana Galry, John Kvederis and Darlene Shelley. This is a non-partisan race. All registered voters in Palm Coast may cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary.
Florida’s Property Tax Amendment: Trade-Offs and Higher Costs for Some
Florida voters in November will decide on Amendment 3 to significantly increase homestead property tax exemptions. Reducing local revenue by nearly $12 billion annually forces trade-offs across the state. Local governments may raise sales taxes, commercial rates, and utility fees or cut essential services like fire, police, and public parks to bridge massive budget gaps.
Taxpayer-Funded Private School Students in Flagler Near 2,500, Diverting $17.3 Million from District
Flagler County school officials advanced a tentative budget reflecting yet another surge in state-mandated, taxpayer-supported subsidies for private and homeschool students. The total amount of students receiving public funds for private education spiked 28 percent. The state is diverting $17 million in public funds to those students, money that could otherwise be invested in the district. State lawmakers continue to lower school tax rates despite declining property values locally.
John Kvederis, Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview
John Kvederis is one of four candidates for the Palm Coast City Council, District 4, an open seat. He faces Dylana Galery, Ramon Marrero and Darlene Shelley. This is a non-partisan race. All registered voters in Palm Coast may cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary. If none of the candidates get a majority of more than 50 percent, the top two vote-getters will go on to the runoff in the Nov. 3 general election, when again all registered voters in Palm Coast are eligible to vote.
Ethics Panel Dismisses Complaint Filed Against Flagler Commissioner Andy Dance by Candidate Jones
The Florida Ethics Commission found no probable cause that Flagler County Commission Chair Andy Dance misused his position regarding his wife’s employment under former Administrator Heidi Petito. County Commission Candidate Anna Jones filed the complaint in late December. The brief investigation concluded Dance followed proper procedures, maintained no obligation to notify commissioners on contract renewals, and exerted no influence over his wife’s job.
Judge Hears Challenge Claiming Proposed Property Tax Cut Ballot Title Is Misleading Political Rhetoric
A Leon County Circuit Court judge heard arguments regarding a challenge to Florida’s proposed property tax amendment as plaintiffs, who include former local government elected officials and a former Republican legislator, contend the ballot summary uses biased language to sway voters. A decision could force Attorney General James Uthmeier to revise the ballot text before mail printing begins.
Obamacare Enrollment Declines in 49 States, By 10% in Florida, After Congress Guts Subsidies
In 49 states, the number of people enrolled in Obamacare plans has declined since Congress made coverage more expensive by allowing federal subsidies to expire at the end of last year. Florida saw a 10% decline in enrollment, from approximately 4.3 million in 2025 to 3.8 million in 2026. The state does not offer premium assistance.
Europe Is Also Spending Billions to Deport Migrants. It’s Not Working.
The European Union has spent billions of euros on external partnerships and enforcement infrastructure to deport irregular migrants. This strategy fails because return rates remain below ten percent across most of Africa. Financial leverage creates transactional, short-term bargaining rather than long-term cooperation. European policymakers must measure the quality of reintegration, prioritize targeted migration diplomacy, and expand funding for legal labor pathways.
School Board’s Will Furry Pushes Controversial Anti-Abortion ‘Olivia’ Video for Inclusion In Curriculum
Flagler County School Board member Will Furry requested the board review an anti-abortion fetal development video known as “Meet Baby Olivia” for local curriculum integration. Led by activist Andrew Shirvell, public commenters urged adoption despite state-level rejections. Board members are split, with concerns over medical inaccuracies, pending workshop discussions scheduled after the upcoming election.
Dylana Galery, Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview
Dylana “Dee” Galery is one of four candidates for the Palm Coast City Council, District 4, an open seat. Galery faces John Kvederis, Ramon Marrero and Darlene Shelley. This is a non-partisan race. All registered voters in Palm Coast may cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary.
Florida Kills Two Inmates in One Day, Raising DeSantis-Ordered Body Count to 40
The state of Florida executed 80-year-old Dominick Anthony Occhicone Tuesday evening, making him the oldest prisoner executed in Florida’s modern history. He was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend’s parents in 1986. Occhiocone was the 12th inmate Florida to be executed this year and the second executed Tuesday, an event so rare that it hasn’t happened in Florida since 1964. Earlier in the day, Florida killed James Aren Duckett, 68, Tuesday for the 1987 rape and murder of 11-year-old Teresa McAbee.
Flagler County SNAP Recipients Drop by 22% in One Year, Mirroring Sharp Decline Across Florida
Flagler County has 22 percent fewer SNAP beneficiaries than it did a year ago. According to the Department of Children and Families, Flagler County had 13,396 food stamps clients in July 2025. The case load dropped to 10,388 in June. That is the lowest number of local residents on food assistance since September 2009, when the caseload was 10,085, and the county’s population was 35 percent smaller.
Palm Coast Council Members Push to Pause New Deputy Hirings Amid Budget Tensions Over Taxes
The Palm Coast City Council reached what looked suspiciously like a tense impasse over property tax rates, public safety funding, and municipal services at a workshop this morning. The administration outlined three budget options, but council members demanded revised scenarios setting rates at rollback or rollback plus inflation. Proposal discussions included a pause on hiring new sheriff’s deputies.
Anna Jones, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Anna Jones is one of three Republican candidates for Flagler County Commission, District 4. She faces incumbent Leann Pennington and Drew Moss. Only registered Republicans may vote in the primary. The winner of the Republican Aug. 18 primary will still go on to the general because a write-in has filed, but the Republican who prevails is all but certain to win.
Ray Stevens Challenges Dave Sullivan Over Palm Coast City Council Seat Timing Dispute
Ray Stevens is challenging Council member Dave Sullivan over who should occupy the Palm Coast City Council District 3 seat before November. Stevens won the special election unopposed and is pursuing immediate seating under city charter provisions. Sullivan refuses to step down early, insisting appointed members must serve full terms. Stevens consulted state election officials to compel his seating, rejecting Sullivan’s assertions.
Trump Species Act Rollback Threatens More than 100 Florida Animals, Including Panthers and Manatees
More than 100 Florida species, including panthers, manatees and sea turtles, could inch closer to extinction under a set of changes to the Endangered Species Act the Trump administration rolled out this month that would force regulators to disregard damage to critical habitats. Millions of acres of Florida land would also become easier to develop if the federal rule changes survive court challenges.
Drew Moss, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Drew Moss is one of three Republican candidates for Flagler County Commission, District 4. He faces incumbent Leann Pennington and Anna Jones. Only registered Republicans may vote in the primary. The winner of the Republican Aug. 18 primary will still go on to the general because a write-in has filed, but the Republican who prevails is all but certain to win.
A Rare Florida Victory for ‘The Right To Tell People What They Don’t Want to Hear’
Judge Britt C. Grant described the DeSantis “Stop Woke Act” a breathtaking assertion of power aimed at banning unpopular ideas. Academic freedom requires open debate rather than state-mandated silence while suppressing critical discussions regarding race, gender, and history undermines the core educational mission of public universities across the state.
Flagler Beach’s Alice Baker: A Remembrance
Don Deal remembers meeting Alice Baker during the early growth of Flagler Beach in the late 1970s. Over decades, Baker served her community in numerous municipal roles, including step-in mayor and board member, while building enduring local friendships. Even after moving to Georgia, her devotion to Flagler Beach remained strong until her passing, leaving a lasting impact on her beloved coastal town.
Say What? Florida Surgeon General Suggests Measle Outbreak Could Be Tied to Abortion Opposition
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo suggested Friday that opposition to abortion could have helped fuel a measles outbreak in Florida since many cases are tied to a private Roman Catholic college where students may be opposed to the vaccine.
Leann Pennington, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Incumbent Leann Pennington is one of three Republican candidates for Flagler County Commission, District 4. She faces Anna Jones and Drew Moss. Only registered Republicans may vote in the primary. The winner of the Republican Aug. 18 primary will still go on to the general because a write-in has filed, but the Republican who prevails is all but certain to win.
Bob Cuff, Palm Coast Pioneer Whose Wry Wit and Humanity Shaped Policy and Moved Friends, Dies at 75
Former Palm Coast City Councilman Bob Cuff died Wednesday at age 75 following a prolonged battle with cancer. A legal pioneer, he served 17 years as general counsel for ITT Community Development Corporation, shaping the city’s early expansion. Colleagues remembered the former attorney for his sharp intellect, dry wit, unyielding integrity, and deep dedication to authentic public service across decades of local governance.
Florida Immigration Judges Issue Record Number of Removal Orders as National Deportation Rates Surge
Since March, deportations ordered by immigration judges in Florida have increased 18 percent, according to recently released data. In June, judges issued 5,415 removal orders, a 17.6 percent increase compared to March’s 4,605 removal orders. Florida follows a national trend of an increase in deportation orders, which hit an all-time high of 79,000 in June.
Ron Long, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
Ron Long is one of three candidates for Flagler County School Board, District 4. Trevor Tucker and incumbent Christy Chong are the others. It is a non-partisan race: all registered voters regardless of party affiliation or non-party status may vote in the Aug. 18 primary.
Christy Chong, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
Incumbent Christy Chong is one of three candidates for Flagler County School Board, District 4. Trevor Tucker and incumbent Ron Long are the others. Chong has declined to participate in the Live Interview. It is a non-partisan race: all registered voters regardless of party affiliation or non-party status may vote in the Aug. 18 primary, which will decide the winner, who will be sworn-in in November.
Moms for Liberty’s Influence on School Board Races Is Not What It Was in Florida, Its Home State
Moms for Liberty’s influence has been on a long decline in its home state as the organization faced a wave of resignations, chapter dissolutions and scandals among Moms for Liberty leadership.
In 11-1 Vote, Jury Recommends Death For Jermaine Williams In Stabbing Of Wife Yolonda
A Flagler County jury this afternoon took just an hour and 38 minutes to recommend the death penalty for Jermaine Williams Sr. following his conviction for the brutal premeditated murder of his wife, Yolonda Williams. Prosecutors demonstrated four aggravating factors detailing the calculated nature of the attack and emotional victim-impact statements from family members deeply moved the courtroom, overwhelming the defense’s weak mitigating arguments during the penalty phase.
Trevor Tucker, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
Trevor Tucker is one of three candidates for Flagler County School Board, District 4. Ron Long and incumbent Christy Chong are the others. It is a non-partisan race: all registered voters regardless of party affiliation or non-party status may vote in the Aug. 18 primary.
Palm Coast Council Considers Deep Cuts Affecting Cops, Code Enforcement and Humane Society
Anticipating revenue losses from a proposed homestead amendment, the Palm Coast City Council capped its maximum property tax rate while weighing severe service cuts. Council members proposed reducing a request for nine sheriff’s deputies to five, eliminating funding for a school resource deputy, cutting code enforcement staff in half, and trimming animal shelter contributions. Leadership remains divided on balancing the budget without compromising core municipal services or raising property tax rates on local homeowners.
Jermaine Williams Stabbed His Wife 20 Times to ‘Preserve His Sense of Self As a Man,’ Expert Testifies
The penalty phase began today in the murder trial of Jermaine Williams, convicted of stabbing his wife Yolonda to death in August 2024. Prosecutors presented aggravating factors to secure a death sentence recommendation. Defense attempts to offer mitigating testimony backfired through ineffective family testimonies and a psychologist’s assessment revealing Williams murdered Yolonda to remain “the king of his family, and maintain his sense of identity.”
Rob Wood, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
Rob Wood is one of two candidates for Flagler County School Board, District 2, running against first-term incumbent Will Furry, who is not participating in the Live Interview. It is a non-partisan race: all registered voters regardless of party affiliation or non-party status may vote in the Aug. 18 primary, which will decide the winner, who will be sworn-in in November.
Will Furry, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
First-term incumbent Will Furry is one of two candidates for Flagler County School Board, District 2, running against Rob Wood. Furry has declined to answer the Live Interview’s questions. All registered voters are eligible to vote in this non-partisan race in the Aug. 18 primary. The winner will be sworn-in in November.