The woman was at the light at Landing Blvd., in front of Dunkin Donuts, when, according to a witness, a van came “barreling” from behind, never applying the brakes.
Featured
Maybe They Should Bid Out the Contract
Palm Coast alone didn’t have a tough week with sanitation matters: A sanitation truck went through the wall of a third-floor depot in New York Wednesday in an involuntary homage to Magritte.
A Wake for Palm Coast Desalination: Consultants Talk “Hiatus” Rather Than Demise
The seawater desalination initiative Palm Coast led for the last three years held what amounted to an exit interview with the public as the project shuts down for lack of money, participants and, for now and several years to come, need.
From Bad to Worse: Flagler and Florida Students Near Bottom in National ACT Scores
There’s plenty of back-patting when Flagler students are compared to their Florida peers. When Flagler and Florida students are compared to students across the nation, the story is much bleaker.
The Down Side of Fuel Efficiency: Florida Governments Will Take a $5 Billion Hit
As the Obama administration seeks to double average fuel efficiency by 2025, State and local government revenue dependent on gas taxes will see big declines in revenue that pays for roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
Flagler School Board and County Commission Narrow Redistricting Options to Three
The Flagler School Board and the Flagler County Commission took less than an hour in a joint meeting Tuesday to eliminate three of six redistricting options. The public weighs in next, at two hearings in September. See all plans.
As 16 Fires Old and New Burn in Flagler, More Heat But Also More Storms Predicted
Most new fires in Flagler County have been small, but lightning keeps triggering them, and near-record heat combined with lower-than-expected rains are keeping conditions brittle even as more named storms are predicted for the remainder of the hurricane season.
Supreme Court Says Rick Scott Overstepped His Authority By Usurping Rule-Making Powers
In a stinging rebuke of Gov. Rick Scott’s interpretation of his powers, the Florida Supreme Court, in a 5-2 ruling, declared the governor’s attempt to blunt and circumvent state agency rule-making invalid.
Bowing to Public Pressure, Palm Coast Opts for Bidding Out Trash Hauling Contract
Citing an epiphany in the shower, Palm Coast City Manager Jim Landon reversed his recommendation to negotiate an garbage-contract extension with Waste Pro. The city will open up the process through a broader request for proposals.
In a Case With Implications for Palm Coast and Bunnell, Polk Sheriff Shuts Down Internet Cafe
The Internet cafe–or gambling parlor–shut down in Davenport Monday is similar to those in Palm Coast and Bunnell, where local officials and residents are debating whether and how to regulate (or ban) the businesses.
Trash Flips: Waste Pro Lobbies Another County To Go to Bids While Urging Palm Coast Not To
Waste Pro wants to keep the $7-million-a-year garbage hauling in contract in Palm Coast, so it’s opposing a bidding process, but it’s arguing the exact opposite in Hillsborough County, where it’s hoping to win the contract.
Publix and Winn-Dixie Recall Ground Beef Sold in Flagler and St. Johns Over E. Coli Alert
The E. coli-contaminated ground chuck was produced by a Dodge City, Kansas-based meat packer and distributed to Publix and Winn-Dixie. Publix stores in four states and 17 Florida counties are affected.
Blaming County, Elections Supervisor Closes 3 Outlying Precincts for Special Election
Some Flagler County voters will have to travel 21 miles to cast a ballot in the special election for State Senate, District 1, others will have to travel 7 miles because of precinct closures.
Manic Mondex: Love Triangle and Drive-By Shooting Land a Woman in Jail
Kara Buckner is accused of firing a .22-caliber rifle at two people smoking on a porch Saturday night, while a 4-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl were inside. No one was hurt.
UF Survey: Political Acrimony and Economic Ills Hurt Real Estate’s Outlook in Florida
The University of Florida’s quarterly Survey of Emerging Market Conditions concludes that economic and political worries are holding back spending, except by foreigners. Tourism is the state’s strongest bright sport.
This Week in Flagler and Tallahassee: The Cost Of Elections, Garbage and Redistricting
The County Commission has another close encounter with Supervisor of Elections Weeks, the Palm Coast City Council talks garbage, the school board talks redistricting, Bunnell talks special events, and in Tallahassee, the governor and the cabinet meet while several redistricting hearings are held around the state.
When Income Was Taxed at 94%: How FDR Tackled Debt and Reckless Republicans
The last time the nation faced war debts Franklin Roosevelt didn’t hesitate to raise taxes and show up Republicans who stood in the way of fiscal responsibility, argues Sam Pizzigati.
Flagler Sheriff’s Deputy Survives Shattering Wreck Unscathed in Cruiser on US1
A young Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy was driving north on U.S. 1, about 75 yards south of Palm Coast Parkway, when he lost control of his cruiser and crashed in a ditch Saturday evening.
From Federally Owned Foreclosed Homes To Rental Properties: Can It Work?
Government-owned foreclosures as rental property investments: The government is looking for win-win solutions for taxpayers, renters, investors and neighborhoods, but there’s plenty of skepticism about the foreclosure-to-rental concept.
Bunnell Mayor Outflanks Rookie Rogers, Shutting Down Talk of Martinez’s Future
Bunnell City Manager Armando Martinez survived what could have been a vote of confidence tonight thanks to a maneuver by Mayor Catherine Robinson, who prevented it.
Flagler’s Teens-in-Flight Produces Its First Licensed Pilot: 19-Year-Old Juan Rodriguez
Jack Howell started Teens-in-Flight at the Flagler County Airport in the fall of 2008 to give young students from military families or poorer families a chance to learn to fly without paying a dime.
At the Flagler County Jail, Training for Uncooperative Inmates and Lawsuit Deterrence
A member of the US Corrections Special Operations Group was at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office this week, training guards in what he calls “next-generation jail extraction.”
I Love Waste Pro. But.
To my 7-year-old son, Waste Pro’s twice-weekly pickups are a sacred, joyful ritual made more so by Waste Pro’s thoughtful workers. That doesn’t mean Palm Coast should shirk its responsibilities to residents when it comes to bidding out a new garbage contract.
Man Found Dead With a Bullet to the Head at Indian Trails Sports Complex
Jeffrey Biermann, 41, was found by workers Friday morning, with a gun next to him. The sports complex was closed.
FPL’s $18 Billion Nuclear-Reactor Plans Leak Unanswered Questions Before Florida PSC
FPL’s plan to pass along almost $200 million in nuclear construction costs to consumers in just one year raised a question at the Public Service Commission: why charge customers if the $13 billion to $19 billion nukes plants may never be built?
To Ward Off Senility, Make That Bed: UF Researchers’ Advice to the Medicare Generation
University of Florida researchers have used laboratory-based methods to objectively measure the amount of energy older adults use up as they go about their daily activities. Activity means less senility.
Bunnell’s Armando Martinez a Finalist for Melbourne Police Chief; Special Meeting Set
Bunnell City Manager Armando Martinez applied for the Melbourne job one or two months ago. Commissioner John Rogers wants a special meeting of the commission to discuss Martinez’s contract in light of the revelation.
Shortened School Schedule Briefly Fumbles Buddy Taylor’s PAL Football Program
Buddy Taylor Middle School Mike Garrett sent a resignation letter to parents Wednesday when it appeared football students could not stay at the school between the earlier dismissal time and 3 p.m. practice. Principal Winnie Oden calls the situation a misunderstanding that was resolved.
Like Palm Coast, Bunnell Wrestles With Gambling Posing as Games–and Punts
Some define internet cafes as gambling. Some define it as business. Some define it as nobody’s business but their own. A 3-2 vote of the Bunnell City Commission sent the matter to the sheriff with a question: if it’s gambling, would he arrest its practitioners?
Why Palm Coast Doesn’t Want To Lower Your $239 Garbage Rate and Bid Out the Contract
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.
Palm Coast Races: 3 for Mayor, 4 for Council, 2 Elections, No Partridge, No Pear Tree
Qualifying closed Tuesday with Charlie Ericksen and Joe Cunnane challenging Jon Netts for mayor in the Sept. 13 primary, which may prove to be the deciding date in that race. Two council seats will be decided on Nov. 8.
Palm Coast to Raise Tax Rate 14% and Eliminate Stormwater Cost Exemption for Many
Most city services and jobs are protected in a proposed budget that will raise taxes enough to bring in almost as much revenue next year as it did this year, with shifts in sales tax dollars to subsidize the general revenue fund.
Refusing Other Federal Health Care Aid, Florida Welcomes Abstinence-Only Cash
Florida has been against taking federal health care money until being for it–as long as it sustains abstinence-only sex classes.
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
A Divided County Commission Votes 3-2 To End Support for Enterprise Flagler
Alan Peterson, Nate McLaughlin and Milissa Holland agreed to end support for Enterprise Flagler after David Ottati, the agency’s president, made his pitch for an up-or-down vote.
As Proposed County Budget Kills Enterprise Flagler, Ottati Asks for Up Or Down Vote
Mired in disarray, economic development’s future in Flagler County is mobilizing around two competing plans–the county’s and enterprise Flagler’s–with Enterprise Flagler asking for a vote and Palm Coast still sitting it all out.
Florida’s Nuclear Energy Scamming: It’s Not Rickover’s Atomic Power Program Anymore
Customers should not have to pay decades ahead of time for Florida Power & Light’s and Progress Energy’s future nuclear power plans, especially when they may not be built, argues Darrell Smith.
FPL and Progress Energy Again Asking To Pass Along Ghost-Nuke Plant Costs
Florida Power & Light and Progress Energy Florida are seeking to pass along about $335 million in nuclear costs to customers next year, largely to cover costs of nuclear plants that won’t be built for 10 years or more.
Kisses, Spoofs, Puns and Rap Run Wild in Repertory Theatre’s Shakespearean Vaudeville
Director John Sbordone’s first workshop production this weekend at the Repertory Theatre’s stage, at Hollingsworth Gallery, dares grope where no Shakespeare has versed before. It’s high-energy hilarity.
Rick Scott’s Poll Numbers Go From Dismal to Merely Bad in Latest Quinnipiac
Rick Scott remains among the least popular governors in America, with pronounced, and unusual, dislike of him as a person, and 61 percent of Floridians are dissatisfied with the way things are going.
Less Dire Than Feared: Economy Adds 117,000 Jobs, Unemployment Falls to 9.1%
Defying expectations, the national economy added 117,000 jobs in July. Figures for May and June were revised upward to add 56,000 jobs to those two months’ totals, and the overall unemployment rate fell back to 9.1 percent, from 9.2.
Florida Hospital Flagler’s David Ottati Is Among Northeast’s Ultimate CEO Award Winners
The Jacksonville Business Journal’s fifth annual Ultimate CEO Award drew some 40 nominations from northeast Florida. Ottati, Florida Hospital Flagler’s CEO for the past five years, was among 13 winners.
Jail Follows Allegation of Shooting Up in a Kangaroo Bathroom With 4 Kids in the Car
The four children in Michelle Marie Smith’s car are 8 or younger, including twins who are turning 3 on Friday. She was charged with child abuse while a friend was charged with drug possession.
Public Money, Public Purpose, Closed Doors: Enterprise Flagler and Chamber Carry On
In a closed-door session, the Flagler Chamber of Commerce is hosting a delegation from Enterprise Flagler today to discuss economic development plans that would be publicly funded and publicly governed.
Grim, Doleful Post-Mortem as State School Board and Educators Wonder What’s Next
A daylong meeting of the State Board of Education drew dozens of school officials from around the state and dismal assessments of what they’ve been left with after compulsive budget-cutting.
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.
Palm Coast Council Shocked, Shocked To Hear It Ever Had $10 Million for City Hall
The Palm Coast city administration now says that it never had $10 million to build a city hall. The copious record on the matter says otherwise, raising questions about the city’s numbers and verbal shell games.
Allegations of Brutality, Rape and Torture Over 2 Days Emerge from Bunnell Kidnapping
The victim, a Palm Coast woman, told police she was held in a crack house on July 21 and 22 before escaping to a gas station on SR100. Examiners point to evidence of severe beatings, cigarette burns and numerous other injuries.
Condo No-Go: Florida Cabinet Sides With Flagler County Over Hammock Dunes
In a victory for Flagler County, the Florida Cabinet unanimously approved a judge’s order that blocks Ginn-Lubert Adler’s plan to build an oceanfront condominium and hotel at Hammock Dunes, near the 16th Road public park and beach.
Hammock Dunes Showdown: Flagler and Developer Battle Before Florida Cabinet
Ginn-Lubert Adler and investors want to build a 77-foot hotel and significantly increase the residential density in an area adjoining the public beach by 16th Rd. in the Hammock. Flagler County is opposed. The two sides are arguing their case before the Florida Cabinet today.