The new Florida Health Insurance Affordability Exchange Program, or FHIX, would assist Floridians not eligible for Medicaid in purchasing health benefits coverage and gaining access to health services.
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Will U.S. Supreme Court Rule Florida’s Cavalier Death Penalty Unconstitutional?
In 27 of the 31 death penalty states, the jury’s decision to impose life imprisonment is final and may not be disturbed by the trial judge under any circumstances. But not in Florida.
What Palm Coast Won’t Do, What Other Cities Are Doing: Synchronizing Traffic Lights
Transportation experts say that revamping the way signals work will reduce congestion, save fuel costs, cut down on air pollution and make the roads safer.
Sea Ray’s View: We Are Building a Safer Parking Lot, Not Expanding Production
Craig Wall, operations manager at Sea Ray’s Palm Coast plant, counters concerns about the company’s intentions by laying out precisely what the manufacturer intends to do–and not do.
We Don’t Oppose Sea Ray. We Oppose Pollutants and Debasing Flagler Beach’s Quality of Life.
Two Flagler Beach residents lay out the case against Sea Ray’s proposed land use change to accommodate a parking lot, a change opponents say paves the way for more pollution without compelling the company to take stronger toxic-emission control measures.
Favoring Flagler and Other Districts, Lawmakers May Move Up School Start Time to Aug. 10
In the shadow of the state’s recent standardized-testing problems and proposals to curb the amount of time students spend on exams, lawmakers are considering moving up the start date of the school year.
Citing Taxes, Palm Coast Says County Owes City a Fire Truck to Help Mend Aging Fleet
The council heard an unusual proposal from council member Jason DeLorenzo that would reopen old wounds with the county as Palm Coast looks to simultaneously replace three fire engines that have more than 30 years’ service.
Two Bikers Trauma-Evacuated After Wreck in Downtown Bunnell Shuts Down U.S. 1
A man and a woman, neither wearing helmets, were evacuated to Halifax hospital’s trauma unit with head injuries after the single-bike wreck at U.S. 1 and East Booe Street at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
Two More Jewelry Heists Reported,
Again in Hammock and Grand Haven
The burglaries bring the total to six since last week, all of them targeting jewelry and relatively older home owners in the two distinctly higher scale areas.
Education Committee Easily Approves Gun-Carrying By Select Florida School Employees
School superintendents could allow designated people to carry weapons on campus. Those people could be current or former law enforcement officers or current or former members of the military.
Bill Banning Red-Light Camera Tickets for Right-Turn on Red Sails Through House Panel
The proposal and one like it in the Senate would further complicate Palm Coast’s troubled red-light camera program and its relationship with ATS, the private company running the local scheme. Right-turn on red tickets generate the majority of revenue.
Before Going Golden, Girls Have Their Middle Age at Flagler Playhouse’s “Dixie Swim Club”
“The Dixie Swim Club,” now playing at the Flagler Playhouse, makes more demands on funny bones than cerebral cortexes as it explores what makes women tick and men wonder about women.
Fearing Loss of $1 Billion in Federal Aid, Senate Again Considers Medicaid Expansion
Florida’s budget faces an unexpected deficit. Accepting the federal Medicaid money could potentially offset the loss of the Low-Income Pool Funds. But the plan faces stiff opposition.
Palm Coasters Rate Their Town: Great Bedroom, Terrible Workplace, Measly Shopping
Palm Coast residents love their government services even as they attack them in a broad survey, but they also find work opportunities dismal and shopping and cultural opportunities not much better.
Palm Coast Would End Its Red-Light Camera Program With ATS in Two Years
The city would also reduce all operating cameras from 43 to just five. But it would also see its revenue per camera drop, from the current $700 per month to $350 per month. The city’s revenue from the cameras would drop from $361,000 to $21,000.
Don’t Add Guns to “Toxic Mix” of Booze, Drugs and Academic Pressures on Campus, Opponents Say
Members of Everytown for Gun Safety and the Florida chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America held a small rally on the steps of the Old Capitol Monday before meeting with mostly Democratic lawmakers.
Unresponsive to Rescue Efforts, Dwarf Sperm Whale Dies Near Flagler Beach Pier
A beached Kogia sima whale, also known as a dwarf sperm whale, died near the Flagler Beach pier Monday morning after it had appeared in likely distress the previous day a few blocks north and had at times been helped away from the beach by swimmers and surfers.
2 Maintenance Workers in Critical Condition After Vehicle Strikes Them in Palm Coast’s Town Center
One worker is suffered “life-threatening” injuries, the other is in critical condition, an FHP spokesman said, as both were taken to a trauma unit at Halifax hospital.
Why Black America Fears the Police
When shots were fired as a group of black friends walked along the beach, there was no rush to call 911. They feared what could happen if police came rushing into a group of people who, by virtue of their skin color, might be mistaken for suspects.
Don’t Privatize The Postal Service.
Build On It.
Blaming deficits created by a bogus retirement-fund requirement, the USPS is closing distribution centers, cutting worker hours, eliminating delivery routes, and slashing jobs. It needn’t be that way, argues Katherine McFate.
Amendment 1 Money For Land Conservation: House Panel Says Buy Fewer Acres, Manage More
Again seeming to counter voter intent, a Florida House committee crafting rules on spending voter-approved dollars for land conservation would limit new land to be bought under the program.
Sheriff’s Motorcycle Unit Shifts From Harleys To BMWs For $115,000
The 110-horesepower, 1200-cc motorcycle is a model especially modified for police use. Residents and visitors can expect to see the BMW motorcycles throughout Flagler County beginning this weekend.
FDLE Arrests 15 Floridians For Running Human-Trafficking Ring in Five Counties
Women were forced to work as commercial sex slaves, performing sex acts on 25 to 45 men a day, six days a week. Victims ranged in age from 25 to 35. The investigation began in 2013 after the Collier County Sheriff’s Office discovered a human trafficking victim during a traffic stop.
Vacation Rental Company Sues Flagler County Two Weeks After Regulations Are Approved
Steven Milo, head of Vacation Rental Pros, sued the Flagler County Commission, an eight-count action that alleges property, privacy and equal protection rights violations.
Rash of Palm Coast Burglaries Targets Elderly and Jewelry in Sea Colony and Grand Haven
In one case, a couple was burglarized of $50,000 worth of jewelry, with three other cases’ value adding up to more than $12,000. The thefts take place during relatively brief absences of the homeowners.
13-Year-Old Girl Arrested For Threatening To “Kill Everyone” At Calvary Christian Academy
Calvary Christian Academy in Ormond Beach, with some 60 to 70 students from Flagler County, was disrupted Wednesday by the girl’s threats, made in Instagram.
Buoyed by Turn-Around, County Approves $2.75 Million Loan To Buy 3 Buildings at Airport
Flagler County government is vastly expanding its role as a landlord as it approves buying three buildings totaling 58,000 square feet at the county airport in hopes of generating more cash for the airport operation.
Bill Forbidding Local Government Protection for Transgenders In Public Bathrooms Advances
A bill by Florida Rep. Frank Artiles that would overturn local government ordinances protecting transgender use of single-sex bathrooms passed 8-3 on a party-line vote Wednesday after an impassioned discussion in a House subcommittee.
I Am A Throw-Away Piece Of Trash In This Country of Freedom and Liberty and Respect
Cindy Robert Sullivan, a transgender man transitioning to a woman, addressed Rep. Frank Artiles and a House committee before a 9-4 vote approving a bill forbidding certain protections for transgender people.
Bill Would Allow Gun-Carrying Without Concealed-Weapons Permit During Evacuations
An NRA-supported measure that failed last year now has sheriffs’ backing, and would allow legal gun owners to carry their guns without licenses in the first 48 hours after emergency evacuation orders are given.
Major Layoffs Hit News-Journal and Ex-Halifax Chain 3 Months After GateHouse Takes Over
Four newsroom employees lost their job and seven employees lost theirs in advertising. The Flagler Bureau, down to three reporters, is about to lose another as Natalie Kronicks leaves to join the Flagler County government’s communications office, coordinating marketing efforts.
13-Year-Old Indian Trails Boy Arrested on Knife Charge at School and Tied to Stolen Gun
A 13-year-old Indian Trails Middle School student, on probation over a drug charge, was arrested Tuesday on a felony weapons possession charge for taking a knife to school after authorities discovered he had allegedly given a stolen .380 Glock 42 to a friend.
Subsidies For 1.4 Million Floridians In the Balance: What You need To Know as ACA Heads Back to Court
Florida has the largest number of people enrolled in Obamacare, more than 1.4 million of whom will lose their subsidies should the court rule the provision illegal. The case is argued Wednesday.
YMCA May Return to Flagler As School District Considers Leasing Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club
Facing a deficit that will exceed $200,000, the school district’s Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club may find its savior in the Volusia Flagler YMCA, which has been in discussions with the school administration over a potential lease arrangement of the health facility.
7 Flagler Schools Share $668,000 in Bonus Dollars for Improving or Keeping High Grades
The money rewards schools that either maintain A or B grades or improve significantly toward such grades. It is one of the reasons Florida’s high-stakes testing has been facing criticism, as student testing is directly tied to monetary consequences.
Correctly Anticipating State Problems, Flagler Delayed School Testing Until Thursday
Rarely in the spotlight, Shawn Schmidli, the Flagler school district’s assessment director, anticipated that state-issued computer tests would have problems, and delayed Flagler’s testing until Thursday.
Flagler Commission Signals More Culture Support Ahead as It Approves FBI Art Cop Grant For League
Flagler County government has never had a grants program for the arts, aside from its Tourist Development Council grants. Now, Administrator Craig Coffey is suggesting the county begin such a program.
School District’s Broadest Uniform Policy Survey: Tepid Support and No Effect on Discipline or Grades
The survey of more than 2,000 students, parents and faculty was prompted by a student leader’s push to loosen the policy, which has had no effect on improving discipline or grades.
Road Rage on Belle Terre, Car Break-in at Cracker Barrel, Illegal Brass Knuckles and Drinking
Weekend criminal activity in Palm Coast and Bunnell included a young mother and her children in their car being assaulted on Belle Terre Parkway, an underage drinking party at the Holiday Inn and other incidents.
In Fear of ATS: The Palm Coast City
Council’s Red-Light Camera Delusions
After coming close to suspending its red-light camera [program, the Palm Coast City Council has retreated, again exposing a willingness to do its camera vendor’s bidding before looking after its residents’ interests.
The State of the State Floridians Should Hear
With 3.2 million Florida households struggling every month to stretch paychecks to cover basic necessities, former Florida Sen. Dan Gelber outlines a State of the State Floridians swill not hear when the governor opens the Legislative session this week.
Why Almost 1 in 4 Floridian Driver Has No Car Insurance: Poverty
Florida’s poverty rate is 17 percent and 23.8 of its motorists are uninsured. Uninsured drivers face stiff fines in many states, but some that have such penalties on the books often fail to enforce them.
Good Samaritan Act Leads to Charges of Forgery, Grand Theft, Assault and a Stand-Off
John Sole, a 31-year-old resident of Paul Lane in Palm Coast with a brief but recurring history of trouble with the law, became allegedly violent with his mother after she could not cash fraudulent checks.
To Replace Manager Bruce Campbell, Flagler Beach Returns to Old Playbook: Doing Nothing
Like his predecessor, who was an interim manager of Flagler Beach for five years before he decisively quit, Bruce Campbell is finding it difficult to walk away from the job, and the city commission is not making it easy for him.
Bi-Partisan Lawmakers Looking to Expunge Criminal Records of Non-Violent Juveniles
An Orlando Senator is sponsoring a bill that would allow the expunging of records for minors who commit nonviolent misdemeanors and go on to complete diversion programs.
From Harry Potter to Indian Trails Complex, Quidditch Tournament Snitches In on Brooms
Quidditch doesn’t exist. At least not officially. But for two days at Indian Trails, the United States Quidditch South Regional Tournament will feature 14 teams from four states competing in the game Harry Potter made famous, and that’s now played on thousands of college and university campuses.
Palm Coast Will Borrow $30 Million to Build New Sewer Plant, Pledging No Rate Increase For 5 Years
The new plant would be financed with a 20-year loan at less than 1 percent interest, and the city’s total debt load would rise to around $200 million. It also depends on steady growth in coming years.
Pot. Beer Wars. Gambling. Even Pension Reform. Sen. Rob Bradley Says Bring ‘Em On
Many of this Florida legislative session’s thorniest issues — and more — rest in the hands of Sen. Rob Bradley, a laid-back junior legislator and chairman of a committee dubbed by Senate President Andy Gardiner as the “Thunderdome.”
Palm Coast Man, 19, Charged With Raping 11-Year-Old Girl He Met on Facebook
Karl Westgate, a 19-year-old resident of Palm Coast who became a father two months ago, faces a capital rape charge and other charges of possessing child pornography after exchanging nude pictures of himself and the girl with her.
Father Jailed on Felony Child Abuse After 15-Year-Old Films Beating and Abuse on Mac
Anthony Schneider, 42, of Royal Leaf Lane in Palm Coast, represents the fourth arrest of a parent or guardian in Palm Coast this month over charges of violently abusing a child.