The surge in worldwide emissions of carbon dioxide–a greenhouse gas–may be overtaxing oceans, which can absorb only so much of it before altering their acidification, and affecting marine life.
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Should Ronald Thompson Be Serving 20 Years for Firing a Gun to Protect an Elderly Neighbor?
Ronald Thompson, a 65-year-old disabled veteran, is serving 20 years for firing two shots in the ground to protect an elderly neighbor from her grandson and three of his friends. The mandatory sentence spotlights a recurring dilemma with Florida’s sentencing laws.
Lord of the Flies On a School Bus: The Bullying of Karen Klein
Karen Klein is the 68-year-old school bus monitor from Greece, N.Y., cruelly bullied by seventh graders and recorded on a YouTube video that went viral. The middle schoolers are acting out the persecuting spirit that christens their daily lives.
Stepping Up Obama Snubs, Scott Says He Won’t Implement Health Care Law in Florida
As the Supreme Court prepares to hand down its decision on Obama’s health care reform law, Gov. Rick Scott said on a conference call hosted by right-wing think tanks that Florida wouldn’t rush to implement the law.
Romney, in Orlando, Plays Catch-up On Immigration By Promising More Green Cards
Speaking to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials in Orlando, Romney spent most of his time talking about making it easier for legal immigrants to come to America.
A Wife’s Suspicion About Her Husband Leads to a Marijuana Grow House on Birchwood Drive
Kevin Fitzgerald of Flagler Beach and Michael Menear of Palm Coast were arrested as cops seized 91 marijuana pl;ants from Birchwood Drive, where his then-wife, who tipped off deputies, had discovered the plants while suspecting her husband of infidelity.
Mike Pius, Firefighter Just Back from Winning Gold in Europe, Is Seriously Hurt in Wreck
Lt. Mike Pius, one of the more popular and decorated Flagler firefighter-paramedics, suffered several broken bones and may be out six months following a wreck in St. Augustine, after a truck cut through Pius’s right-of-way. Flagler Fire Chief Don Petito said the firefighter brotherhood kicked in immediately after the wreck.
Citing Legal Limitations, Ethics Commission Dismisses Complaint Against Jim Landon
The Florida Ethics Commission said complaints against City Manager Jim Landon and Human Resources Director Wendy Cullen, didn’t involve corruption, but it has yet to rule on a complaint against Public Works Superintendent Tony Capela, in allegations of favoritism, bullying, intimidation and a hostile work environment.
Poll Pots: Floridians Like Stand Your Ground, And Like Voter Roll Purges Even More
A new Quinnipiac University poll shows Floridian voters support the Scott administration’s ineligible-voter purge by 60-35 percent, and approve the stand your ground law by a 56-37 margin.
FPC’s Jacob Oliva Is Named Assistant Superintendent, Lynette Shott Is New Principal
Superintendent Janet Valentine told the school board this evening a deputy superintendent was critical to ensure a proper succession–and to fill in at a critical time, as she tends to her daughter, who was involved in a violent car wreck.
Democrats Outpacing Republicans In Florida Registrations, But Not in Flagler
More Democrats than Republicans registered to vote in Florida in May, driven by women and Hispanics, but Independents continue to make the biggest gains, and in Flagler County, Republicans have widened their registration lead to a full percentage point.
Flagler Sheriff’s Sgt. Roster, Accused By His Own Men, Is Demoted Over Falsifying Records
An internal affairs investigation of Jamie Roster found he’d falsified time sheets by booking at least $8,406.26 he’d not worked for. The investigation was triggered by complaints from men under his supervision, and reveals strains and morale issues at the sheriff’s office. Roster, demoted to deputy, is appealing.
Guns in Flagler Parks? Sure. Public Buildings? Absolutely. The County Airport? No Problem.
Flagler County, like Palm Coast and other local governments across the state, are scrapping local gun regulations to comply with a state law that prohibits local governments from regulating guns or ammo in any way. The Flagler County Commission has no choice but to comply as it takes up the issue Monday evening.
In a Brazen Reversal, Flagler Beach Commission Kills Beach-Bonfire Referendum
Just six weeks ago the Flagler Beach City Commission, fractured and indecisive on the matter, voted 4-1 to place a referendum question on beach bonfires on a coming ballot. But two weeks later, the commission voted to ban bonfires during turtle nesting season anyway.
Rodney King’s Twilight, and Anna Deavere Smith’s: Coming to Palm Coast
Rodney King was found dead at his home’s pool on June 17. Anna Deavere Smith 18 years ago wrote “Twilight,” a one-woman play that retells the story of the Rodney King riots through the voices of 37 people involved in the story. “Twilight” will be staged in Palm Coast this fall.
Uninsured, Unaware of the Health Law Meant To Help Them, or the Court Case Against It
Despite spending tremendous political capital to pass the health law, Democrats are unlikely to win many votes from the law’s future beneficiaries, most of whom live in Republican-dominated states in the South and West.
Charlie Crist’s Sexuality, and Ours
Rome burns. But the greatest issue before us is whether Charlie is gay. The rumors naturally reveal far more about those who spread them than Crist, argues Maty Jo Melone.
Best of the Best Reclimbs a Year of Sightly Heights at the Flagler County Art League
Whatever is your definition of art, Best of the Best likely satisfies it, from the symbolic or abstract to the cathartic, the socially engaging, the decorative or aesthetically pleasing. The show runs through July 11.
Thrasher Won’t Be Florida Senate President as Clearwater’s Latvala Lines Up Votes
John Thrasher, the St. Augustine Republican, now represents all of Flagler County in a newly drawn senate district. Sen. Jack Latvala believes he has enough support to claim the 2016 Senate presidency.
Heckling Obama
Neil Munro, a reporter for the Daily Caller, heckled Obama at the president’s announcement of a new policy regarding young immigrants. Munro’s behavior is indefensible.
Second Drunk Driver Hits Flagler Sheriff’s Deputy Car in 2 Days; No Damage This Time
Karolyn Harris, 22, of Palm Coast, backed into Flagler County Sheriff deputy Frederick Gimbel immediately after Harris was pulled over late Thursday evening, after she had carried out various odd maneuvers with her Chevrolet.
Florida and Flagler Back to Anemic Job Growth as Unemployment Stalls, Reflecting U.S. Trend
Florida added just 5,300 jobs in April, and the state unemployment rate would have risen back sharply had the labor department not revised its April figures to show a much higher unemployment rate than it announced last month.
From Food Lion to Charter School: Deal Close To Convert Long-Vacant Flagler Beach Store
Jacksonville-based Florida International Language Academy has been on the hunt for a location in Flagler for its 364-student K-8, language-oriented school, opening in August. Talks in Bunnell and Palm Coast fell through, returning the company to the Food Lion location in Flagler Beach.
Drunk, She Strikes Sheriff’s Deputy’s Car Thinking She Hit a Mailbox, and Drives On
Colleen Comfort, a 45-year-old resident of Collingwood Lane in Palm Coast, thought she hit a mailbox when she nearly ripped the door off a sheriff’s deputy’s cruiser while the deputy was conducting an unrelated traffic stop on Palm Harbor Parkway Wednesday night.
Everglades Water Clean-Up: After Rejecting Scott’s Earlier Plan, EPA Approves Revisions
The EPA will allow the state and the South Florida Water Management District to move forward with a historic Everglades plan for the construction of stormwater treatment areas and huge new areas of water storage.
Flagler School District Won’t Lift Facebook Ban, But Cracks Are Beginning to Appear
Facebook is blocked on Flagler County school district networks, though students and faculty access it anyway by bypassing the network on phones, and the district, which prides itself on technology uses, is considering lifting the ban during after-school activities.
Heroic Rower Lewis Colam Docks in New York, Completing 1,400-Mile Epic for Alzheimer’s
Lewis Colam, who had no rowing experience, took 100 days to complete his journey, which began in Miami on Mrch 3 and had him in Palm Coast, where he was warmly greeted, on March 20, for 34 hours’ rest.
Zimmerman’s Wife Arrested for Lying as Stand Your Ground Panel Opens Near Crime Scene
The governor-appointed Stand Your Ground panel held its first session near where George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin, 17, in February, and on the same day that Shellie Zimmerman was jailed for lying to a judge at a bond hearing about how much money the Zimmermans had.
Surprise: Palm Coast Hints at Building Its Own Natural Gas Fueling Facility in the Future
One of the reasons Palm Coast renewed its contract with Waste Pro was the garbage hauler’s pledge to build a natural gas refueling facility for itself and the city by next year. Now the city administration is suggesting that a city refueling facility may be more feasible, once the city is ready to move ahead with conversion.
Florida Prison Sentences Lengthen an Average Of 166% Since 1990, Most By Far in U.S.
Costing Florida taxpayers $1.4 billion a year, Florida’s prisons have some of the highest incarceration rates in the nation, too, even though the state still has the nation’s ninth highest violent crime rate, suggesting a poor return on investment.
Calling Their Tactic “Legal but Immoral,” Jim O’Connell Asks Flagler’s Write-Ins to Withdraw
In an open letter to write-in candidates in coming elections, Jim O’Connell, the former Flagler County Commissioner tells the write-ins their presence on the ballot will deny 40,000 voters their right to vote.
Gov. Scott and Obama Administration in Dueling Lawsuits Over Illegal Voter Purge
The U.S. Department of Justice said Monday it will go to federal court to block Florida’s controversial effort to purge ineligible voters, ratcheting up a feud between the Obama administration and Gov. Rick Scott.
In Flagler Beach, 2 Men Accused of
Provoking a Violent Brawl Are Jailed
Steven Hoffman-Brown, 24, and Jacob Visconti, 30, are accused of attacking a dozen people, smashing out a car’s window with a crow bar, and rushing some of them with a truck, resulting in several injuries, including their own.
Judge Rules Flagler Sheriff Candidate John Pollinger Can Run as a Republican
Flagler County Circuit Judge Dennis Craig ruled today that John Pollinger, the candidate for Flagler County Sheriff, has been legally a member of the Republican Party in Flagler County since August 2009, and therefore can remain on the Aug. 14 primary ballot as a Republican.
Facing $5.65 Million Deficit, Flagler County Wrestles With What to Cut and What to Tax
The deficit was reduced to $3.65 million once commissioners agreed to use reserves and include a $1 million cut in the sheriff’s budget, but their debates got more heated on what services to eliminate or reduce, and what taxes to raise–or what new taxes could be imposed.
ACLU Lawsuit Challenging Florida’s Voter Purge
Two naturalized citizens and a Hispanic advocacy group filed suit in federal court Friday to block elections officials from purging the state voting rolls of individuals suspected of being non-citizens.
Gov. Scott Walker and the Pyrrhic Victories of Union-Bashing
Inspired by Ronald Reagan’s union-busting, the latest round in the war on labor is a self-inflicted wound on the American economy, where workers-union and non-union alike–have been losing ground for 30 years.
Beyond George Zimmerman: Five Stand Your Ground Cases You Should Know About
Although Florida was the first to enact a Stand Your Ground law, 24 other states enforce similar versions. Some of the most notable cases where a version of the Stand Your Ground law has led to freedom from criminal prosecution are highlighted.
Understated Slivers: The Unique Fragility and Vitality of Barrier Islands
Barrier islands such as the one that hosts Flagler Beach are fragile, diverse and play a vital, understated but often unappreciated role in coastal ecology and protection. Frank Gromling provides a tour.
Statewide, Democrats Fail to Run Candidates in 47 of 120 House Districts
Republicans failed to field a candidate in 23 House races, leaving either Democrats or no party or third party candidates to win those seats. But Democrats didn’t field a candidate in 47 of the 120 House districts.
Barbara Revels, Suzanne Johnston and Jay Gardner Are Re-Elected As Qualifying Ends
The 2012 primary and general elections will be heavily contested in all but a handful of local and judicial district races. County Commissioner Revels, Tax Collector Johnston and Property Appraiser Gardner are among the automatic winners who faced no opposition.
No Ruling on John Pollinger Case Friday
Flagler County Circuit Judge Dennis Craig’s ruling on whether sheriff candidate John Pollinger can remain on the Aug. 14 primary ballot as a Republican will be handed down on Monday at the earliest.
County and School Boards Ridicule Emergency Meeting Forced by Elections Supervisor Weeks
County Commission Chairman Barbara Revels called the emergency meeting “ridiculous,” School Board member Colleen Conklin called it “nonsense,” but neither commission nor school board felt it had a choice but to comply with Supervisor of Elections Kimberle Weeks’s demand that meeting be held.
Hazing Fallout: Florida A&M President James Ammons Defies Vote of No Confidence
The university board’s vote raised doubts about James Ammons’s ability to weather a series of scandals that have shaken the school, including a hazing incident that has threatened one of FAMU’s most cherished institutions.
Attorney General OK’s Flagler Beach’s Plan to Spend Sales Tax Money on Erosion Projects
In an Attorney General’s opinion, Pam Bondi wrote that Flagler Beach’s plan to spend sales tax revenue on beach erosion projects is authorized by law, but that the ballot language authorizing that sales tax may have to specify erosion projects, not just general infrastructure.
Pollingergate: In Motor Voter Registrations, An Applicant’s Former State Is Barely Relevant
When John Pollinger, the embattled Republican candidate for Flagler County Sheriff, first registered as a Florida voter in 2008 through motor voter, his previous registration status in New Jersey would not have come up, according to the motor voter process.
Florida Is the Most Corrupt State in the Union, According to a Federal Tally of Convictions
Based on U.S. Department of Justice data, Florida led the nation in the number of convictions between 2000 and 2010, according to data compiled by Integrity Florida, a non-profit research group founded earlier this year by former Florida Chamber spokesman Dan Krasner and former Common Cause Florida executive director Ben Wilcox.
Write-In Sham: How an Obscure GOP Group Is Disenfranchising 40,000 Voters in Local Races
Democrats and Independents would normally be allowed to vote in primaries featuring only Republican candidates. By fielding write-ins who have no chance or intention of winning, the Ronald Reagan group is locking out those Democrats and Independents by creating the artifice of a contested general election.
In a Stunning Reversal, Palm Coast Council Bows to Acid Opposition and Kills Utility Tax
The campaign to force the council to reverse course was brutally effective against a council that appeared willing to ignore its own history and a year and a half of its administration’s work on the matter.
With Few Flagler Exceptions, Reading, Math and Science FCAT Scores Drop for Most Schools
As reading and math scores improved statewide in most grades, despite tougher standards, Flagler County students lost ground over last year’s results, and struggled to keep up with state averages.