New leadership at Marineland Dolphin Adventure appeared before the Town Commission to outline a wellness focused future for the attraction, now operated as a non-profit by Apex Associates. Directors Jack Kassewitz and Felicia Cook promised transparency, announced an upcoming National Geographic documentary, and hinted at the return of Ragga Surf Cafe. While commissioners welcomed the vision, the transition removes the property from tax rolls, costing the town one-third of its property tax revenue.
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Frank Walls, 58, Is 19th Inmate Killed By State This Year as Justices Reject Challenges to Death Penalty Law
Frank Walls was killed by lethal injection Thursday at Florida State Prison for the murders of Edward Alger and Ann Peterson on July 22, 1987 in Okaloosa County. Earlier Thursday, the Florida Supreme Court rejected two challenges to a 2023 law that allows judges to impose death sentences without unanimous jury recommendations. Florida and Alabama are the only states among the 27 that still allow the death penalty where non-unanimous juries may recommend the killing of an inmate.
‘Define Yourself’: Stedman Graham, Leadership Coach and Life-Partner of Oprah Winfrey, Tinsels Flagler Tiger Bay
Stedman Graham, author and leadership consultant, addressed the Flagler Tiger Bay Club on Wednesday, sharing his philosophy of “Identity Leadership.” Graham recounted overcoming childhood discouragement in segregated New Jersey to define his own future. He emphasized that self-awareness is a prerequisite for leading others. The event, which also honored a club member with the Fang and Claw Award, drew local officials and followed Graham’s earlier appearance before 250 Flagler County students.
Longtime Homicide Prosecutor Mark Johnson Appointed to Putnam Judgeship, ‘Bittersweet’ Loss to State Attorney’s Office
After 17 years as a prosecutor in the Seventh Judicial Circuit, Mark Johnson has been appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis as a County Judge for Putnam County. Known for his cerebral style and successful partnership with fellow prosecutor Jason Lewis on high-profile homicide cases, Johnson’s departure is a significant loss for State Attorney R.J. Larizza’s office. Johnson will preside over misdemeanors and civil disputes in Putnam, with his investiture expected next year.
Battle Over Developer-Friendly SB 180 Intensifies as Home Builders Side with State Against Cities
The Florida Home Builders Association has intervened in a legal battle defending SB 180, a state law freezing new local land-development regulations until 2027. While 25 local governments and environmental groups argue the law violates home-rule authority and causes administrative turmoil, builders contend that blocking the law would disrupt hurricane recovery efforts. A Leon County judge granted the builders’ motion to intervene ahead of a Friday hearing on the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction.
Ag Commissioner Appoints Perry Mitrano to Mosquito Control Board Seat in Place of Jules Kwiatkowski
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson has appointed Perry Mitrano to the East Flagler Mosquito Control District board, filling the seat left by Jules Kwiatkowski’s recent death. Mitrano, a former critic of the board who lost two elections to Kwiatkowski, will serve until the next election. A former Bunnell waste management director and current GOP Executive Committee chair, Mitrano vows to focus on long-term planning and proper growth, praising the district’s current administrative leadership.
Flagler District Wants Exemption to Later School Start Times Despite Sleep Science on Healthier Adolescents
The Flagler County school district is preparing to exempt itself from a Florida law requiring later start times for middle and high schools by 2026. Citing logistical challenges, transportation costs, and parental preference for current schedules, district officials argue against the change despite scientific evidence supporting more sleep for adolescents. A recent district survey indicates that while parents acknowledge the health benefits of later starts, many fear disruptions to work schedules and extracurricular activities.
Palm Coast’s Gregory Smith, 45, Is Sentenced to 30 Years for Years-Long Sexual Abuse of Stepdaughter
Former Palm Coast resident Gregory Smith, 45, was sentenced to 30 years in prison today after pleading guilty to eight felonies involving the repeated rape of his ex-wife’s adolescent daughter. Facing a potential life sentence if convicted at trial, Smith hesitated during the hearing but ultimately accepted the plea deal. The victim was in the courtroom.
CAIR-Florida, the Muslim Civil Rights Organization, Sues DeSantis Over Defamatory ‘Terrorist’ Designation
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil-rights organization, has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order issued last week designating the group as a “terrorist organization.” CAIR is asking the court to block the executive order and declare it unconstitutional.
Flagler Commission Ratifies Plan to Seek Funds for 153-Acre Bulow Creek Preservation and Hears It’s ‘Not Enough’
Protecting the headwaters of Bulow Creek from development’s proximity went from a hope to a plan Monday as the Flagler County Commission voted 5-0 to ratify an application process seeking several million dollars from Florida Forever, the state’s conservation fund, to buy 153 acres around the creek near Flagler Beach. But several people told the commission that 153 ares is not enough, and that the land around it should not be annexed into Flagler Beach as part of the plan to develop Summertown, the rsidential and commercial development on the west side of John Anderson Highway.
Two Flagler Sheriff’s Deputies Hospitalized After Their Motorcycles Are Struck by Car on Palm Coast Parkway
Two Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies were hospitalized with what appears to be non-life-threatening injuries this morning after a car struck their motorcycles on Palm Coast Parkway near Wawa. Sheriff Rick Staly said the deputies were hit when a driver allegedly entered their path from a side road, though the investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol is ongoing. Staly urged the community to drive patiently during the holiday season, noting this is the third injury to a deputy in ten days.
Acting Manager Lauren Johnston Honored with Rare Ovation as She Prepares to Hand Reins to McGlothlin
Lauren Johnston made history as the first Palm Coast city manager to receive a standing ovation Tuesday morning at the conclusion of her nearly two-year acting tenure. Praised for restoring stability after a period of administrative turnover, Johnston was honored by the City Council and staff before returning to her preferred role as assistant city manager. She will now support incoming City Manager Michael McGlothlin, who assumes the permanent position on Wednesday.
Palm Coast Will Require Registration and Occupancy Caps for Its 18 Sober Living Homes in Residential Neighborhoods
Palm Coast is adopting a new ordinance to legalize and regulate recovery homes, bringing city code into compliance with state law. The rules require all sober living homes, including previously exempt Oxford Houses, to register with the city and obtain certification from the Florida Association of Recovery Residences (FARR). The ordinance caps occupancy at 10 residents—half the state maximum—and mandates a 1,000-foot separation between facilities. Non-compliant homes face closure after a 60-day grace period.
He Called Us ‘Garbage.’ Here is the Somali Community I Know.
President Donald Trump called me and my 221,000 fellow Somali Americans “garbage.” The secretary of defense, who is Minnesota born, eagerly and immediately endorsed the “garbage” remark and Trump’s conclusion that we are unwanted in this country and should be sent away. The secretary of state, the vice president and the rest of the cabinet cheered and banged on the table and applauded this hateful and profoundly ignorant assault on my community.
We Are Paying the Price for Data Centers. It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way.
The data centers proliferating across the country drive up energy costs by powering energy-ravenous generative AI, cloud storage, digital networks, and other energy intensive programs — much of it fueled by coal and natural gas that exacerbate climate change. In some cases, data centers consume enough electricity to power the equivalent of a small city. The wholesale price of electricity in areas housing data centers is up a whopping 267 percent from five years ago — and everyday customers are eating those costs.
Funky Pelican and Flagler Beach Renew Vows: Lease Extended 32 Years Amid Gushing Praise and Makeover Plans
Flagler Beach City Commissioners approved a lease extension for the Funky Pelican restaurant, securing the partnership through 2057. The deal, a lovefest in contrast to 2011’s contentious negotiations on the original lease, requires the restaurant to complete exterior renovations within a year. While base rent remains unchanged, the city retains its lucrative 3 percent cut of gross revenues over $1 million. The business had revenue of $4.7 million in 2024. It’s been a bit slower this year. The vote was 4-0.
With Felony Charge Dropped and IA Closed, Flagler Sheriff’s Detective Coma Accepts Discipline for Speeding
Flagler County Sheriff’s Detective Ardit Coma has been reinstated following the swift dismissal of a fleeing and eluding charge by the State Attorney’s Office. An expedited internal investigation concluded Coma violated agency policies by speeding 88 mph in a 55 mph zone while commuting. His penalty includes a 90-day loss of his take-home vehicle privilege and a two-day unpaid suspension, which is considered satisfied by the time he served immediately following his arrest.
Bunnell Approves 1,259-Acre Industrial Rezoning 3-2, Brushing Aside Commissioner’s Warning of ‘Blank Check’
A split Bunnell City Commission voted 3-2 to rezone 1,259 acres for industrial use, overriding sharp public opposition. Dissenters warned the approval is a “blank check” that explicitly permits a garbage transfer station. While proponents promised millions in future tax revenue, the figures appear off the mark compared to the city’s actual budget and comparatively bullish projections for Palm Coast’s Town Center 20 years ago. Critics blasted the lack of specific plans or identified businesses for the vast tract west of U.S. 1.
‘A Miracle We Got the Place’: Marineland Sale Closes for $7.135 Million, Securing Future of 87-Year-Old Oceanarium
The $7.135 million sale of Marineland Dolphin Adventure to Apex Associates closed Friday, saving the historic facility from bankruptcy. Now operating as a nonprofit under returning General Manager Felicia Cook, the move removes the property from tax rolls but prevents residential development. While three dolphins were relocated, the remaining animals are healthy, and new management plans to focus on research, programming, and facility improvements.
Jury Finds Ex-Flagler Paramedic Melady Guilty of Rape of Unconscious Woman in Ambulance
A jury of four women and two men today found Melady, a paramedic with Flagler County Fire Rescue from 2018 to 2024, guilty of rape of an unconscious woman he was responsible for in the back of an ambulance three years ago. The jury acquitted Melady of video voyeurism. He had recorded the incident, moving the camera a few times for better views of the woman’s privates, and preserved the video on his laptop. He faces up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced early next year.
Florida Lawmakers Belatedly Begin to Grapple with Data Centers’ Burdens on Power and Water
Adding data centers is one of the biggest issues in the electric industry, with utilities taking steps that include restarting nuclear power plants to try to meet demands. Florida has not seen the type of data-center development that has happened in states such as Virginia. But in recent months, proposals have emerged for data-center projects in areas such as Palm Coast, Palm Beach, St. Lucie and Polk counties and have sparked controversy. Palm Coast is permitting a data center in Town Center, but the city continues to refuse to disclose any regulatory information about it.
Defending Pelvic Exam, Ex-Flagler Paramedic Melady Tells Jury What It Saw and Heard Isn’t What It Saw and Heard
Former paramedic James Melady testified that a video showing him performing a pelvic exam on an unconscious woman and smelling his fingers was misinterpreted by the prosecution. Melady claimed the exam was medically necessary—contradicting expert testimony—and that his prior police admissions were Ambien-induced hallucinations. With the defense arguing that the video is misleading, the jury must decide Wednesday if Melady’s account outweighs the visual evidence of sexual battery.
Flagler County Beats Grant Deadline to Buy Land Around Bulow Creek from Veranda Bay Developer
Flagler County met Monday’s deadline to file a Florida Forever grant application, seeking funds to buy 153 acres of floodplain land near the Bulow Creek headwaters and the Veranda Bay/Summertown development along John Anderson Highway. The application follows recent negotiations between the developer and county officials to prevent imminent development.
Flagler Detective Coma Rapidly Cleared of Fleeing Charge After Speeding Incident; Still Faces Ticket and Internal Investigation
The State Attorney’s Office has dropped the felony fleeing and eluding charge against Flagler County Sheriff’s Detective Ardit Coma. Arrested for speeding 88 mph in a 55 zone, Coma claimed he didn’t see police lights due to loud music and sun glare, believing he was stopping to assist officers deploying stop sticks. Reinstatement is underway, but Coma still faces a speeding citation and an internal affairs investigation regarding departmental policy violations.
‘Doing His Job’ or Rape? Starkly Opposing Narratives Open Ex-Flagler Paramedic James Melady’s Trial
Former Flagler paramedic James Melady’s trial began today for allegedly raping an unconscious patient in an ambulance in 2021. Video evidence Melady himself took on his phone and kept on his laptop shows him sexually penetrating the woman. The defense contends Melady was performing a medically necessary pelvic exam after the patient failed to respond to Narcan, arguing the video was recorded for his protection. The jury must decide if the act was a crime or medical necessity.
New Fire Station 51 Replacing Espanola Relic Promises Faster Response Times for Mondex and West Flagler
For the second time in three weeks, Flagler County Fire Rescue marked a fire station groundbreaking Monday, for Station 51, at the intersection of County Road 305 and State Road 100. The station will replace the current Station 51 in isolated Espanola. The ceremony was for an $8.7 million, 10,000-square-foot building next to the big red barn that’s become home to the county’s roads and bridges division. The station was initially planned as a $4 million facility. That was before Covid, inflation and tariffs. It should open in a year.
Unless You’re a Developer, a Lobbyist, or a Fetus, Your Florida Lawmakers Don’t Care for You
Ever get the feeling the Florida Legislature hates you? It does. Unless you’re a developer, a lobbyist, or a fetus. Members are filing hell-born bills for the 2026 session, many apparently designed to torment you, rob your children of their futures, and reduce this state to an ICE-filled, disease ridden, constantly flooding, unaffordable autocracy.
A Message From Lauren Johnston as She Returns to Assistant City Manager Role
Lauren Johnston, acting Palm Coast City Manager since March 2024, returns to her former role as assistant city manager on Dec. 17, the day Michael McGlothlin assumes the title of City Manager. Johnston released the following message this week.
Birthright Citizenship Is Hanging By a Phrase
The Supreme Court on Dec. 5, 2025, agreed to review the long-simmering controversy over birthright citizenship. It will likely hand down a ruling next summer. When the justices weigh the arguments, they will focus on the meaning of the first sentence of the 14th Amendment, known as the citizenship clause. Both sides agree that to be granted birthright citizenship under the Constitution, a child must be born inside U.S. borders and the parents must be “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States. However, each side will give a very different interpretation of what the second requirement means.
Palm Coast and Flagler Beach Cancel Holiday Parades as Weather Hijacks Santa’s Sleigh; No Rain Dates
There was no Santa parachuting from a plane this morning in Flagler Beach and there will be no Santa on a firetruck this evening in Palm Coast’s Town center as grayly grinchy weather forced both cities to cancel their holiday parades. For Palm Coast, it is the fifth time in six years that the Starlight Parade has had to be cancelled, with 2024 the only year in that span when it was held without a hitch.
How the Government, and ICE, Are Tracking Your Location
If you use a mobile phone with location services turned on, it is likely that data about where you live and work, where you shop for groceries, where you go to church and see your doctor, and where you traveled to over the holidays is up for sale. And U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is one of the customers.
The Phoenix Declaration’s Serenade of Dog Whistles
The Heritage Foundation’s “Phoenix” doctrine, recently adopted by Florida, is a Christian nationalist manifesto designed to eradicate educational dissent. It prioritizes “parental omnipotence” over children’s intellectual freedom. By diverting public funds to private vouchers and sanitizing history, the doctrine cements a decades-long conservative war against public education and enforces a “pinched, angry” monoculture that suppresses critical thinking in favor of dogmatic, exclusionary patriotism.
Preservation of Bulow Creek Verging on Reality as Developer Agrees to Conservation Sale, Clearing Annexation Path
In a major breakthrough, Flagler County and the developer of the 2,400-home Veranda Bay/Summertown project have tentatively agreed to preserve 150 acres of floodplain around Bulow Creek. Orchestrated by Commissioner Andy Dance, the deal involves the county applying for state “Florida Forever” funds by Dec. 8 to purchase the land. This compromise largely satisfies the “Preserve Flagler Beach” non-profit and clears the path for the development’s annexation into Flagler Beach in January. Despite the agreement, tension remains regarding traffic on John Anderson Highway.
County Opens Nexus Center in Bunnell, Giving West Side ‘True Jewel’ Library Albanese Imagined 19 Years Ago
Flagler County officials opened the $16 million Nexus Center in Bunnell on Thursday, delivering a long-awaited standalone library to the county’s west side. The 23,000-square-foot facility on Commerce Parkway replaces a cramped storefront and now houses both the library branch and the Health and Human Services Department.
Citing ‘Age of Darkness and Deceit,’ DeSantis Moves to Curb AI Growth and Data Centers
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday proposed an artificial intelligence “bill of rights” to stymie unfettered AI growth, crack down on sexual AI chatbots, and restrict AI data centers in Florida. Hinted at for months, these legislative proposals come in sharp contrast to pro-tech push marking President Donald Trump’s second term in office. Trump — allied with technology titans like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg — toyed with an executive order to thwart state-level AI regulations earlier this month.
County Administrator Heidi Petito ‘Does Not Meet Expectations,’ 3 of 5 Commissioners Say, Putting Her Future in Doubt
In a set of evaluations potentially devastating to Flagler County Administrator Heidi Petito’s tenure, three of her commissioners—Chair Leann Pennington, Kim Carney, and Pam Richardson—concluded in their evaluations of Petito that she “does not meet expectations.” They each rated her a failing 2 out of 5, sharply criticized her leadership, and two of them explicitly said Petito is no longer the person for the job.
Flagler County Paramedic, Step-Father and Homeless Man All Facing Grave Sex Charges and Life Terms Set for Trials
Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols this morning scheduled three men for trials on unrelated sex-assault charges after each man declined to plead out, opting instead to risk facing 55 years to life in prison if convicted. The men are former Flagler County Fire Rescue paramedic James Melady, whose alleged victim was a patient he is accused of raping in an ambulance; Kristopher Henriqson, who is accused of raping his prepubescent stepdaughter for years; and Jose Valerio-Rodriguez, a homeless man accused of statutorily raping a minor.
McGlothlin Applauds ‘Due Diligence’ as Palm Coast Council Strips Several Clauses Before Approving His Contract
The Palm Coast City Council unanimously approved a nearly $300,000 compensation package for incoming City Manager Michael McGlothlin, but not before deleting several clauses from the contract, including a provision that would have made him eligible for additional pay during emergencies. McGlothlin followed the council’s deliberations on YouTube last night, and told FlaglerLive this morning that “I heard absolutely nothing that gives me any pause.”
Mosquito Board’s Julius “Jules” Kwiatkowski, Flagler County’s 2nd Longest-Serving Elected Official, Dies at 90
Jules “Julius” Kwiatkowski, Flagler County’s longest-serving elected official after Bunnell Mayor Catherine Robinson–with 17 years on the East Flagler Mosquito Control District, many of them as chair–died Monday in Palm Coast, the district announced this evening. He would have been 91 on Jan. 4. Kwiatkowski was one of only two Democrats still serving in elected office in Flagler County or its cities.
A Year and A Half Investigation of Drive-By Shooting Leads to Arrest, and Almost Immediate Release
Traycan Verdell, 27, accused of a drive-by shooting into an occupied house in Bunnell in June 2024, was arrested on a Flagler County warrant in Daytona Beach last week, but was almost immediately released after posting bond, and after Bunnell police spent a year and a half investigating the shooting.
Palm Coast Charter Revisions Take Shape: Easier to Run, Stricter Term Limits, No More Health Benefits
As Palm Coast’s Charter Review Committee continues to meet bi-weekly as it did last night, and before audiences that can be counted on one hand, its proposed revisions are taking shape well ahead of a March 1 deadline: the committee expects to be done next month. The council will then decide what, if any, proposals make it onto next November’s ballot. The council may edit, delete, rewrite or accept in whole the committee’s proposals. The committee itself may meet only one or two more times, likely in January. Here’s what it’s come up with.
Defying Trump Threat of Court Martial, Senator Stands by Call for Military to Refuse Illegal Orders
Arizona Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly said Monday the threat of a court-martial for a video he and other senators released telling military members not to follow illegal orders is an effort to silence the president’s political opponents. Kelly, a retired Navy captain, was one of six Democratic lawmakers with backgrounds in the military or intelligence agencies who appeared in the video that was posted on social media in mid-November. President Donald Trump alleged the lawmakers had committed “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”
Consultant’s Report Finds Lead Levels Insignificant at Flagler County Airport as Complaints Again Take-Off
An analysis of lead levels at Flagler County airport yielded insignificant levels in the air and in the soil at four locations, according to the county attorney’s office. Flagler County last winter commissioned the lead analysis from Timothy Scott of Melbourne-based Consolidated Environmental Engineering, what appears to be a one-man shop. The tests he conducted at the far edges of each runway at the airport showed levels of lead exposure to be well below the permissible exposure limits established by OSHA.
Palm Coast City Manager McGlothlin Set for Pay Package of Close to $300,000 and ‘Disaster Pay’ Bonus in Emergencies
Incoming Palm Coast City Manager Michael McGlothlin would be paid $225,000 a year and have a total compensation package that would push the total near the $300,000 mark based on the proposed contract the City Council is set to approve on Tuesday. The base pay is 29 percent higher than that of his predecessor in the permanent job. McGlothlin would be eligible for hourly pay at his base rate for every hour he works during an emergency, past his regular 40-hour week, a first for local government executives.
4-Day School Weeks Winning Popularity But Fail Data Test
Four-day school weeks come down to staff recruitment and retention, fewer discipline problems and improved attendance, while they also help stretch tight school budgets. But the promised benefits have not shown up in the data as longer school days can harm academic performance. Such concerns might not matter as four-day school weeks become more popular nationwide.
Eliminating Property Taxes in These Florida Counties Means ‘Dismemberment of Vital Services’
Local government officials statewide are wary of plans by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Legislature to slash or abolish homestead property taxes, but one group of counties is particularly worried. They are Florida’s “fiscally constrained” counties: 29 mostly rural counties with small populations, few industries and lots of agricultural or conservation land — and therefore small tax bases. Without property tax revenue, there would be very little left for roadwork, emergency services, fire protection, libraries, parks” or cultural efforts such as historic preservation and festivals.
Drone Video Shows Progress of Pier Project as Contractor Nears Demolition; $145,000 Change Order Ahead
Drone footage released by the project engineer of the $16 million Flagler Beach pier reconstruction shows a parallel trestle almost completed as the project nears the point where demolition of the century-old structure will begin. The contractor is asking for a $145,000 change order and a 40-day extension to complete the project, pushing it to mid-January 2027.
From Mentorship to Tradition: Celebrating Student Success in South Bunnell as Bossardet Keeps 2018 Promise to Sugar Pop
The annual Bulldog Block Party returned to Bunnell’s Carver Gym on November 19, drawing 450 people to celebrate student academic progress. FPC Principal Bobby Bossardet honored the late Elijah “Sugar Pop” Emmanuel, keeping a promise made in 2018 to keep the event going. Originally launched to boost GPAs at Buddy Taylor Middle School, the event connects families with support services and celebrates achievements. Superintendent LaShakia Moore praised the initiative for “setting the standard” in community-oriented leadership, continuing a legacy of mentorship.”
Housing Authority Will Demolish 132 Duplexes in Bunnell and Build 272-Unit Apartment Complex in Privatizing Scheme
In the most consequential change affecting affordable housing in the county in 75 years, the Flagler County Housing Authority plans to demolish its 132 public housing duplexes in South Bunnell, seek private investors, and rebuild what it calls Carver Village into a huge apartment complex of 272 apartments in three- and four-story buildings, including an 80-apartment senior-housing building. Public housing will be privatized as all the units will be turned into Section 8 housing under what the federal Housing and Urban Development department calls “repositioning,”
Army Corps Invites Flagler to Apply for Emergency Renourishment to Repair Beach It Rebuilt Just Last Year
The long Nor’easter that sheared through the area in late September and early October caused enough damage to Flagler County beaches that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is inviting the county to apply for a renourishment of the 2.8 miles of shore the Corps renourished only last year. The county could be eligible for an emergency renourishment that would be 100 percent paid for with federal funds. But the county is required to take a few steps first to ensure that the project is evaluated by the Corps, starting with a letter to the federal agency stating the county wishes to proceed. The letter’s deadline is Dec. 12.