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.
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Charter, Voucher Advocate Gerard Robinson Is Florida’s New Education Commissioner
Robinson, a Jeb Bush protege, was Virginia’s secretary of education and president of the Black Alliance for Educational Options, a pro-school choice group ideologically aligned with Republican reforms.
2 Firefighters Killed in N. Florida, Underscoring Dangers of Violent Flares on Contained Fires
The Blue Ribbon fire near Jasper was not large and had been declared contained, but the firefighters were reportedly overrun by a sudden flare-up as they were extending fire-lines–as DOF firefighters are doing every day on the Espanola fire in Flagler County.
As Mayor Netts Gives Up On New City Hall in Near Future, Tea Party Wants a Referendum
Palm Coast’s proposed $10 million city hall appears dead for now. Should it rise again, it would be financed by bonds, not cash, and would have to be approved in a referendum, Mayor Jon Netts says in a significant shift, disarming opponents.
Risk-Avoidance: July 4 Fireworks Canceled in Flagler Beach and Palm Coast’s Town Center
The Flagler County Commission canceled both fireworks shows, saying it would be too risky in fire-prone, drought conditions despite projected rains. The $30,000 worth of fireworks may be staged around Labor Day.
20% Down Mortgage Requirement Would End Middle Class Home-Ownership As We Know It
If a proposed Qualified Residential Mortgage Rule (QRM) of 20% down and spending less than 28% of monthly gross income on the mortgage takes effect, Marc Morial of the National Urban League argues, middle class home ownership will be a thing of the past.
4 New Fires Saturday as Division of Forestry Escalates Battle and Tactics Against Espanola
The Division of Forestry now has more firefighting personnel in Flagler County than all the county’s and cities’ squads combined as DOF fights a make-or-break tactical battle against the Espanola fire.
Strong Thunderstorms and Excessive Lightning for Eastern Flagler–And Needed Rain
The National Weather Service has issued a severe weather advisory–involving excessive lightning and wind–for eastern Flagler County, including Palm Coast and Flagler Beach, in effect until 5 p.m. For the fires, it’s a double-edged sword.
Double Chest CT Scans: More Radiation and Costs; FHF’s 8% Rate Higher Than Average
Nationwide, hospitals performed double scans on 5.4 percent of Medicare patients who received chest CTs, but 618 hospitals performed the tests on at least 10 percent of Medicare patients, though experts say the double scans are unnecessary.
Big Stand Against Espanola Fire at Threatened FPL Powerlines In Hopes of Halting Blaze
Damage to the 500Kv FPL lines would affect local electricity customers. Beyond the powerlines lay pine-tree farms doused in herbicide, which has dried out underbrush, making it easier to burn. And beyond that: U.S. 1.
Flagler Unemployment at 13.8%,
Florida’s Down to 10.6%
Flagler County’s April unemployment was revised upward to 14 percent, so May’s figure is, officially, another decline. The county’s labor force grew by 64 over the month, but declined by more than 1,000 over the year.
Espanola Fire, Now Over 5,000 Acres, Breaks Out Again On Three Sides; Calm Elsewhere
The calm on Flagler’s smaller fires was deceptive as Espanola broke out on three sides, and fires by the dozens are breaking out across the state, further thinning resources. Drought conditions are worsening.
Finally, Flagler Beach Agrees to Long-Term Pier Restaurant Deal With River Grille Owner
Paying the city $3,000 a month in base rent, Ray Barshay, owner of River Grille in Ormond and Crabby Joe’s in Daytona, plans to revamp the Pier Restaurant into an American, Southern, New Orleans cuisine destination.
Black Hawks Up: Army National Guard Sends 3 Copters to Aid Flagler Firefighting Crews
The three crews logged eight hours on their first afternoon on the job Wednesday, putting their 780-gallon water buckets to work against the Espanola fire. They’re here on an open-ended mission.
Exceeding Goal, Carver Gym Auction Raises $5,370, With More On the Way
Total fund-raising is approaching $7,000 as the gym’s viability, as a community and youth center for South Bunnell, is ensured for at least several years.
Miracle on Sligo Mill Court: Homes Saved From Another Seminole Woods Eruption
The fire in Seminole Woods burst and ran after 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, coming within two feet of back porches and forcing evacuations of several homes. Firefighters managed to save every single one.
Rapid Response Beats Back Threat to Seminole Woods Homes; Espanola In New Breakout
Firefighters from every available agency, including the National Guard’s Black Hawk helicopters, were being summoned to battle the latest break-out at the White Eagle fire Wednesday afternoon.
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.
“I Saw The Fires As I Was Flying In.” Rick Scott’s Embarrassing Lay-Over in Flagler
Rick Scott spent four and a half hours today hobnobbing with businessmen and chamber of commerce pals in Orlando, but couldn’t spare a moment for firemen on the line during his lightning visit to Flagler County.
“Saturate Us With Resources,” Fire Commanders Tell Rick Scott in Flagler County
Gov. Rick Scott’s drive-by visit through Flagler County Tuesday afternoon entailed a short briefing and a short press conference, but no visit to an actual fire, and no plans of one.
Palm Coast Council Reverses On Redistricting, Enabling Dennis Cross to Stay in the Race
The council voted 3-2 to adopt a less divisive map of voting districts, returning Dennis Cross to contention with Jason DeLorenzo in a race for city council this summer.
Number of Fires Up to 22 As Flagler,
Drenched in Smoke, Awaits Governor
Lightning started seven new fires in Flagler in the last two days, one of them in Bunnell’s Grand Reserve area, just west of Palm Coast. Fire officials are concerned about a “fluid” situation and uncooperative weather.
Gov. Scott Touring Flagler Fires at 4 p.m. After Declaring Emergency and Activating Guard
The long-awaited declaration of a state of emergency places state, regional and local resources under the authority of state emergency management and the Division of Forestry.
Espanola Fire at 4,171 Acres As Lightning Storms Seed New Blazes
Lightning from the last two days’ storms is seeding the area with new fires–including four new ones Sunday–while rainfall remains too light to dent the growth of the Espanola fire.
Flagler’s Economic Development Plans In the Air as County-Wide Summit Is Cancelled
Between the unfinished work of some committees and the divisive fallout from a proposed restructuring of Enterprise Flagler, what was to be the sixth summit since January is delayed to an uncertain date.
Supervisor of Elections Asks for 6.5% Budget Increase As Other County Budgets Fall
The sheriff’s budget is declining, the property appraiser’s is declining almost 9 percent, and county government has asked each department to cut 10 percent. The supervisor of elections’ exception led to new clashes with the county commission Monday.
SUV Rollover on I-95 Sends 2 to Hospital; No Other Vehicle Involved
The Chevy’s roll-over took place two miles south of the Palm Coast Parkway exit at about 10:45 Monday morning, slowing northbound traffic.
When Congress Is a Child Predator: Head Start Targeted for $1 Billion in Cuts
Head Start has given 20 million Americans a positive start in life since 1964. Marian Wright Edelman argues that continued success is in jeopardy as Republicans aim to decimate the program in the name of budget cuts.
Weather Service Issues Excessive Lightening Alert for Espanola Area, Heightening Fire Risks
Rain would be good, but only if it’s drenching and persistent. That’s not what this storm is bringing: fire-feeding wind and fire-starting lightning is also part of that storm.
Jacksonville and Clay Exit, Va. and Miss. Send Help As Espanola Fire Grows to 3,800 Acres
As winds begin to shift, bringing more drift smoke over Palm Coast, the Espanola fire keeps growing and out of county firefighters are rotating back home, though the Division of Forestry has taken over the Espanola fire.
At Second Chance Rescue Near Espanola Fire, 100 Animals Are Prepared for Evacuation
Debi Root’s Second Chance Rescue has pulled 30,000 animals from death row in 26 years. The Espanola fire near the State Road 100 operation is the latest challenge as Root lines up foster homes and volunteers should that becomes necessary.
Dog Pen Fire Jumps Its Lines, DOF Takes Over Espanola, Disaster Declaration Still Off
While most fires have been “behaving” in the past 24 to 36 hours, one fire jumped its lines today, and the 3,000-acre Espanola fire remains the big worry as winds will shift beginning Sunday, pushing smoke, and maybe fire, south and east.
How Flagler County Is Controlling The Public’s Right To Know The Latest On the Fires
On County Administrator Craig Coffey’s orders, the 9:30 a.m. daily “stakeholder’s meeting” on the fires, which includes all agencies and governments involved, politicians, and even members of the public, is closed to media.
Firefighter Hero-Worship and Floridians’ Hypocrisy: When Public Employees Save Lives
Flagler County and Florida residents are falling in heaps with praise for the same public and union employees they and the lawmakers they elected just finished bashing, insulting, demeaning and robbing. The disconnect is sickening.
Bunnell and Flagler Beach Angrily Denounce Enterprise Flagler’s Secretive “Done Deal”
A closed meeting restructuring Enterprise Flagler last week is unraveling into angry reactions by those left out, putting at risk half a year of economic development discussions and further miring the public-private partnership in controversy.
Flagler Students Rank 4th in Algebra in Florida, But New Test Won’t Affect District Grade
Because it’s a new, end-of-course exam, the state isn’t yet giving the test the weight it gives FCAT results, which is a disappointment to Flagler. Individual results, however, count for 30 percent of students’ final grade.
Duval, Clay, Volusia Helping Flagler; 18 Homes Pre-Evacuated; White Eagle Flaring Anew
Other counties’ crews should help relieve local firefighters and press the case for a declaration of a state of emergency. Pre-evacuation warnings affect the western portion of Flagler, north of S.R. 100.
Video Tour: Lt. Richard Bennett Takes You Into the Heart of the Espanola Fire
Lt. Richard Bennett is the Flagler County Fire Department’s operations chief, overseeing all fires. He describes and explains the extent of the Espanola fire and what firefighters have been doing to try to stay ahead of it.
Flagler Fires: New 70-Acre Blaze Northwest of Palm Coast, 3 in Southwest, Espanola Billows
The 70-acre late-afternoon blaze northwest of Palm Coast, beyond Hargrove Grade, was contained by evening, but three fires in the southwest are burning anew, and Espanola is approaching 2,000 acres.
In a Victory for Flagler Boaters, FWC Rejects Its Staff’s Proposed Manatee Speed Zones
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission asked its staff to draw up a new compromise favoring Flagler County’s position on manatee speed zones on the Intracoastal, a significant defeat for manatee advocates.
Coquina Defund: Palm Coast’s Desalination Hopes Dry Up As Last Partners Drop Out
The Coquina Coast Seawater Desalination project unveiled 14 general sites where the plant might be located in Palm Coast, but it may be a moot discussion as the city’s financial partners are quitting, and Palm Coast can’t afford it on its own.
When Will That Walmart Open on Old Kings Road? “Nobody Knows”
Expanding Old Kings Road was to guarantee Walmart’s opening by 2011, with 400 to 500 jobs. Instead, the city is left holding a bag-full of empty promises–and a $6.3 million loan from its utility fund.
No Lawsuit Against the State Yet, But Flagler School Board Warms Up to Actionable Anger
Ronald Meyer, the attorney who’s been challenging imbalances in Florida’s educational system for years, told the Flagler school board Tuesday that building a case will take more time, analysis–and public awareness.
Latest FCAT: Gains in Early-Grade Reading, Losses in Math, Dismal Sciences
FCAT scores for Flagler County schools’ 4th through 11th grades show upper-grade reading scores faring poorly, and science scores faring worse as the district’s quality appears to approach the state average, rather than excel above it.
Day Ends With a New Fire Near CR305 As Dangers Mount and Devastation Sprawls
The Espanola fire has grown to 1,500 acres, with little stopping it from doubling in size soon. By Monday evening, a new, 70-acre fire had exploded past Lake Disston on CR305, further straining limited firefighters’ resources. A complete roundup of Flagler’s forest fires and a photo gallery.
Palm Coast Data Lays Off Dozens and Loses Large NRA Membership Services Account
The NRA account represented 5 million members and a lucrative source of income. The loss compounds other losses in magazine titles that are either closing or migrating to other fulfillment companies.
“P.S. Your Cat Is Dead”: Raunchy, Earnest, Serious Fun at the Flagler Playhouse
In “P.S. Your cat Is Dead,” the early 1970s play by James Kirkwood, the hilarity of losers competes with sexual ambushes through blazing dialogue to produce an endearing, if adult, comedy. A review.
Florida Wants Privatized Camping and RV Sites at 56 State Parks, Including Washington Oaks
The privatization quietly developed plan would bid out the 56 parks to companies that would build and operate the camping and RV sites as a way to generate money and ostensibly help keep the parks running.
Saving Medicare Without Destroying It
Medicare’s demise is overblown. Modest fixes, eliminations of tax favors and a small rise in the Medicare tax can preserve America’s best and fairest government-run single-payer insurance system.
Flagler Sheriff’s Deputy Ensures Safe Birth Of a Hurried Baby at a Palm Coast Home
“I went to go get the cell phone, and then she said she felt the head pop out,” the baby’s father said, quoting the baby’s mother. Flagler Sheriff’s Deputy Erik Pedersen made sure the baby was breathing before paramedics transported the family to Ormond Memorial early Thursday morning.