A hearing before Circuit Judge Sandra Upchurch is scheduled for Aug. 14 to address a motion by the city of Palm Coast to delay the trial of the Town Center developer’s case against the city. The trial is scheduled for mid-November. Palm Coast is seeking a delay until March.
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local News
Ramon Marrero, Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview
Ramon Marrero is one of four candidates for the Palm Coast City Council, District 4, an open seat. He faces Dylana Galry, John Kvederis and Darlene Shelley. This is a non-partisan race. All registered voters in Palm Coast may cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary.
Taxpayer-Funded Private School Students in Flagler Near 2,500, Diverting $17.3 Million from District
Flagler County school officials advanced a tentative budget reflecting yet another surge in state-mandated, taxpayer-supported subsidies for private and homeschool students. The total amount of students receiving public funds for private education spiked 28 percent. The state is diverting $17 million in public funds to those students, money that could otherwise be invested in the district. State lawmakers continue to lower school tax rates despite declining property values locally.
John Kvederis, Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview
John Kvederis is one of four candidates for the Palm Coast City Council, District 4, an open seat. He faces Dylana Galery, Ramon Marrero and Darlene Shelley. This is a non-partisan race. All registered voters in Palm Coast may cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary. If none of the candidates get a majority of more than 50 percent, the top two vote-getters will go on to the runoff in the Nov. 3 general election, when again all registered voters in Palm Coast are eligible to vote.
Ethics Panel Dismisses Complaint Filed Against Flagler Commissioner Andy Dance by Candidate Jones
The Florida Ethics Commission found no probable cause that Flagler County Commission Chair Andy Dance misused his position regarding his wife’s employment under former Administrator Heidi Petito. County Commission Candidate Anna Jones filed the complaint in late December. The brief investigation concluded Dance followed proper procedures, maintained no obligation to notify commissioners on contract renewals, and exerted no influence over his wife’s job.
Judge Hears Challenge Claiming Proposed Property Tax Cut Ballot Title Is Misleading Political Rhetoric
A Leon County Circuit Court judge heard arguments regarding a challenge to Florida’s proposed property tax amendment as plaintiffs, who include former local government elected officials and a former Republican legislator, contend the ballot summary uses biased language to sway voters. A decision could force Attorney General James Uthmeier to revise the ballot text before mail printing begins.
School Board’s Will Furry Pushes Controversial Anti-Abortion ‘Olivia’ Video for Inclusion In Curriculum
Flagler County School Board member Will Furry requested the board review an anti-abortion fetal development video known as “Meet Baby Olivia” for local curriculum integration. Led by activist Andrew Shirvell, public commenters urged adoption despite state-level rejections. Board members are split, with concerns over medical inaccuracies, pending workshop discussions scheduled after the upcoming election.
Dylana Galery, Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview
Dylana “Dee” Galery is one of four candidates for the Palm Coast City Council, District 4, an open seat. Galery faces John Kvederis, Ramon Marrero and Darlene Shelley. This is a non-partisan race. All registered voters in Palm Coast may cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary.
Florida Kills Two Inmates in One Day, Raising DeSantis-Ordered Body Count to 40
The state of Florida executed 80-year-old Dominick Anthony Occhicone Tuesday evening, making him the oldest prisoner executed in Florida’s modern history. He was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend’s parents in 1986. Occhiocone was the 12th inmate Florida to be executed this year and the second executed Tuesday, an event so rare that it hasn’t happened in Florida since 1964. Earlier in the day, Florida killed James Aren Duckett, 68, Tuesday for the 1987 rape and murder of 11-year-old Teresa McAbee.
Flagler County SNAP Recipients Drop by 22% in One Year, Mirroring Sharp Decline Across Florida
Flagler County has 22 percent fewer SNAP beneficiaries than it did a year ago. According to the Department of Children and Families, Flagler County had 13,396 food stamps clients in July 2025. The case load dropped to 10,388 in June. That is the lowest number of local residents on food assistance since September 2009, when the caseload was 10,085, and the county’s population was 35 percent smaller.
Palm Coast Council Members Push to Pause New Deputy Hirings Amid Budget Tensions Over Taxes
The Palm Coast City Council reached what looked suspiciously like a tense impasse over property tax rates, public safety funding, and municipal services at a workshop this morning. The administration outlined three budget options, but council members demanded revised scenarios setting rates at rollback or rollback plus inflation. Proposal discussions included a pause on hiring new sheriff’s deputies.
Anna Jones, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Anna Jones is one of three Republican candidates for Flagler County Commission, District 4. She faces incumbent Leann Pennington and Drew Moss. Only registered Republicans may vote in the primary. The winner of the Republican Aug. 18 primary will still go on to the general because a write-in has filed, but the Republican who prevails is all but certain to win.
Ray Stevens Challenges Dave Sullivan Over Palm Coast City Council Seat Timing Dispute
Ray Stevens is challenging Council member Dave Sullivan over who should occupy the Palm Coast City Council District 3 seat before November. Stevens won the special election unopposed and is pursuing immediate seating under city charter provisions. Sullivan refuses to step down early, insisting appointed members must serve full terms. Stevens consulted state election officials to compel his seating, rejecting Sullivan’s assertions.
Drew Moss, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Drew Moss is one of three Republican candidates for Flagler County Commission, District 4. He faces incumbent Leann Pennington and Anna Jones. Only registered Republicans may vote in the primary. The winner of the Republican Aug. 18 primary will still go on to the general because a write-in has filed, but the Republican who prevails is all but certain to win.
38-Year-Old Palm Coast Man Arrested for Allegedly Fondling Two Children Over Several Years
Joseph D. Spector, a 38-year-old resident of Firtree Lane in Palm Coast, is at the Flagler County jail on $150,000 bond following his arrest Saturday on two second-degree felony counts of molestation of two alleged victims–formerly his stepdaughters–when they were younger than 16.
Back-to-School Help Night at Flagler Cares Wednesday
Flagler Cares, in partnership with local organizations, will host a free Back-to-School Help Night on Wednesday, July 29, from 3:00 to 6:30 p.m. at 160 Cypress Point Pkwy, Bldg. B, 3rd Floor, Suite 304, in Palm Coast. The event is free and open to the public, and families are encouraged to attend. The one-stop event is designed to help families get ready for the upcoming school year by connecting them with community resources, health screenings, and free giveaways, all in a single visit.
A Rare Florida Victory for ‘The Right To Tell People What They Don’t Want to Hear’
Judge Britt C. Grant described the DeSantis “Stop Woke Act” a breathtaking assertion of power aimed at banning unpopular ideas. Academic freedom requires open debate rather than state-mandated silence while suppressing critical discussions regarding race, gender, and history undermines the core educational mission of public universities across the state.
Flagler Beach’s Alice Baker: A Remembrance
Don Deal remembers meeting Alice Baker during the early growth of Flagler Beach in the late 1970s. Over decades, Baker served her community in numerous municipal roles, including step-in mayor and board member, while building enduring local friendships. Even after moving to Georgia, her devotion to Flagler Beach remained strong until her passing, leaving a lasting impact on her beloved coastal town.
Leann Pennington, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Incumbent Leann Pennington is one of three Republican candidates for Flagler County Commission, District 4. She faces Anna Jones and Drew Moss. Only registered Republicans may vote in the primary. The winner of the Republican Aug. 18 primary will still go on to the general because a write-in has filed, but the Republican who prevails is all but certain to win.
Bob Cuff, Palm Coast Pioneer Whose Wry Wit and Humanity Shaped Policy and Moved Friends, Dies at 75
Former Palm Coast City Councilman Bob Cuff died Wednesday at age 75 following a prolonged battle with cancer. A legal pioneer, he served 17 years as general counsel for ITT Community Development Corporation, shaping the city’s early expansion. Colleagues remembered the former attorney for his sharp intellect, dry wit, unyielding integrity, and deep dedication to authentic public service across decades of local governance.
Bob Cuff, 1950-2026
Letter from the Magic Mountain
We formed an unlikely bond over a shared disdain for local political spectacles and a mutual passion for books no one reads anymore, Thomas Mann’s Magic Mountain especially. And now an illness from the underworld is doing its ravages.
Ron Long, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
Ron Long is one of three candidates for Flagler County School Board, District 4. Trevor Tucker and incumbent Christy Chong are the others. It is a non-partisan race: all registered voters regardless of party affiliation or non-party status may vote in the Aug. 18 primary.
Christy Chong, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
Incumbent Christy Chong is one of three candidates for Flagler County School Board, District 4. Trevor Tucker and incumbent Ron Long are the others. Chong has declined to participate in the Live Interview. It is a non-partisan race: all registered voters regardless of party affiliation or non-party status may vote in the Aug. 18 primary, which will decide the winner, who will be sworn-in in November.
Moms for Liberty’s Influence on School Board Races Is Not What It Was in Florida, Its Home State
Moms for Liberty’s influence has been on a long decline in its home state as the organization faced a wave of resignations, chapter dissolutions and scandals among Moms for Liberty leadership.
In 11-1 Vote, Jury Recommends Death For Jermaine Williams In Stabbing Of Wife Yolonda
A Flagler County jury this afternoon took just an hour and 38 minutes to recommend the death penalty for Jermaine Williams Sr. following his conviction for the brutal premeditated murder of his wife, Yolonda Williams. Prosecutors demonstrated four aggravating factors detailing the calculated nature of the attack and emotional victim-impact statements from family members deeply moved the courtroom, overwhelming the defense’s weak mitigating arguments during the penalty phase.
Trevor Tucker, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
Trevor Tucker is one of three candidates for Flagler County School Board, District 4. Ron Long and incumbent Christy Chong are the others. It is a non-partisan race: all registered voters regardless of party affiliation or non-party status may vote in the Aug. 18 primary.
Palm Coast Council Considers Deep Cuts Affecting Cops, Code Enforcement and Humane Society
Anticipating revenue losses from a proposed homestead amendment, the Palm Coast City Council capped its maximum property tax rate while weighing severe service cuts. Council members proposed reducing a request for nine sheriff’s deputies to five, eliminating funding for a school resource deputy, cutting code enforcement staff in half, and trimming animal shelter contributions. Leadership remains divided on balancing the budget without compromising core municipal services or raising property tax rates on local homeowners.
Jermaine Williams Stabbed His Wife 20 Times to ‘Preserve His Sense of Self As a Man,’ Expert Testifies
The penalty phase began today in the murder trial of Jermaine Williams, convicted of stabbing his wife Yolonda to death in August 2024. Prosecutors presented aggravating factors to secure a death sentence recommendation. Defense attempts to offer mitigating testimony backfired through ineffective family testimonies and a psychologist’s assessment revealing Williams murdered Yolonda to remain “the king of his family, and maintain his sense of identity.”
Rob Wood, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
Rob Wood is one of two candidates for Flagler County School Board, District 2, running against first-term incumbent Will Furry, who is not participating in the Live Interview. It is a non-partisan race: all registered voters regardless of party affiliation or non-party status may vote in the Aug. 18 primary, which will decide the winner, who will be sworn-in in November.
Will Furry, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
First-term incumbent Will Furry is one of two candidates for Flagler County School Board, District 2, running against Rob Wood. Furry has declined to answer the Live Interview’s questions. All registered voters are eligible to vote in this non-partisan race in the Aug. 18 primary. The winner will be sworn-in in November.
Former Flagler Beach Mayor Alice Baker, ‘The Gal Who Did It All’ with Kindly Resolve, Dies at 95
Former Flagler Beach Mayor Alice Baker died at age 95 in Clarkesville, Georgia. Baker spent nearly two decades as a city employee before serving as interim manager and mayor. Colleagues remembered her as a fiercely strong-willed leader who dedicated her life to protecting the community’s small-town charm, supporting local animal welfare initiatives, and listening carefully to local residents.
Palm Coast Dog Trainer Arrested After Two Labrador Retrievers Die Inside Hot Storage Unit
Palm Coast’s Alexia V. Barquet, 21, owner of Rapidfire Retrievers LLC, a dog-training and grooming company, faces two felony aggravated animal cruelty charges after two labrador retrievers died inside a hot Bunnell storage unit she lists as the business’ address. Authorities warned Barquet in March against keeping animals inside the facility. Police officers discovered the deceased dogs following complaints of severe odors.
Will Furry Abruptly Silences School Board Members Ruddy and Ramirez, Declaring Policy Discussion Over
Flagler County School Board Vice Chair Will Furry ended a policy workshop discussion abruptly, overruling requests from board members Janie Ruddy and Lauren Ramirez to continue deliberating proposed insurance requirements for school support organizations. Despite board attorney Ryan Hudak suggesting a five-minute extension, Furry forced the board to move on. Ruddy and Ramirez expressed sharp concerns over Furry’s manner.
Cathy Moon, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
Cathy Moon is one of two candidates for the Flagler County School Board, District 1, running against Jill Woolbright, who has declined to participate in the Live Interview. It is a non-partisan race: all registered voters regardless of party affiliation or non-party status may vote in the Aug. 18 primary, which will decide the winner, who will be sworn-in in November.
Jill Woolbright, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
Jill Woolbright is one of two candidates for Flagler County School Board, District 1, running against Cathy Moon. Woolbright, a former School Board member defeated in 2022, declined to participate, as she did in 2022. It is a non-partisan race: all registered voters regardless of party affiliation or non-party status may vote in the Aug. 18 primary, which will decide the winner, who will be sworn-in in November.
The Wild West of Unregulated Private Schools in Florida and Elsewhere That Collect Taxpayer Dollars
An average of 100 new private schools have launched in Florida each of the last five school years. Florida and other states are taking a hands-off approach to regulating private schools that receive public money. School founders — in one case, a Florida woman prosecuted for sexual abuse who lost her license — often aren’t screened. Some states can’t even say how many of these schools exist.
Jeani Duarte, Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview
Jeani Duarte is one of three candidates for the Palm Coast City Council, District 2, an open seat. She faces Tony Amaral Jr. and Jimmy Hengy. This is a non-partisan race. All registered voters in Palm Coast may cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary.
Jury Finds Jermaine Williams Guilty of Wife’s Premeditated Murder in 22 Minutes; He Now Faces Death Penalty Phase
A Flagler County jury convicted 54-year-old Jermaine Williams Sr. of first-degree premeditated murder today for the August 2, 2024, stabbing death of his 50-year-old wife, Yolonda Williams, in Bunnell. The prosecution successfully leveraged explicit home surveillance footage to prove premeditation. The trial now moves into the penalty phase on Monday, where prosecutors intend to pursue a death sentence for the defendant.
Bunnell Breaks Ground on $4.5 Million Brackish Water Treatment Plant to Supplement Potable Supplies
Bunnell broke ground on a state-funded $4.5-million brackish water reverse osmosis system at its utility plant Thursday. The system will provide 200,000 gallons of drinking water daily by September and will use two upper Floridian aquifer wells of brackish water to reduce strain on freshwater sources. The infrastructure project serves the existing city utility independently from the future 6,100-home Haw Creek Reserve development.
Powerful Evidence of Premeditation in Jermaine Williams Death Penalty Case as Family Testifies
The fourth day of the Jermaine Williams Sr. death penalty trial featured graphic surveillance videos and emotional family testimony as the defendant’s son and father recounted the fatal August 2024 stabbing in Bunnell. Further testimony revealed Williams intentionally disabled his wife’s car before the attack.
Jimmy Hengy, Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview
Jimmy Hengy is one of two candidates for the Palm Coast City Council, District 2. This is a non-partisan race. All registered voters in Palm Coast may cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary.
Palm Coast Planning Board Unanimously Rejects 22,000-Home Western Expansion Over Unanswered Questions
The Palm Coast Planning Board unanimously voted down land use and rezoning changes for a 22,000-home western expansion by Raydient Wednesday evening as board members cited inadequate information on infrastructure, school capacity, tax base diversification and other issues. They expressed concern over the loss of regulatory control to future developers. The non-binding denial moves the requests to the City Council for a decision.
Facing Death Penalty for Wife’s Killing, Jermaine Williams’ Fate Rests With a Nearly All-Women Jury
Jermaine Williams Sr. will face a jury of 12 women and three men, including the alternates, in his death penalty trial for the stabbing death of his wife Yolonda Williams in Bunnell in 2024. The jury is almost all white, Williams is Black (one of the jurors is olive-skinned Mediterranean or possibly south Asian), but color is less relevant than gender in this trial: the jury’s lopsided make-up is a victory for the prosecution.
Tony Amaral Jr., Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview
Tony Amaral Jr. is one of three candidates for the Palm Coast City Council, District 2. He faces Jeani Duarte and Jimmy Hengy. This is a non-partisan race. All registered voters in Palm Coast may cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary.
Palm Coast Council Struggling to Match Budget Needs, Including Cops, With Deepening Revenue Crunch
The Palm Coast City Council set a higher tentative maximum tax rate for next year that nevertheless does not close a $3.3 million gap between needs and projected revenue, including nine additional sheriff’s deputies. A slowing economy and a proposed constitutional amendment could severely reduce municipal revenues by 2028. Officials are struggling to balance funding for essential public safety agreements with cost-of-living increases and recurring operating costs amid declining local property valuations.
Angling for Life in Prison in Williams Trial, Defense All But Concedes Murder in Jury Selection Strategy
In the second full day of jury selection in the capital murder trial of Jermaine Williams for the driveway stabbing of his wife in 2024, Defense attorney Junior Barrett focused heavily on anchoring potential jurors to their individual moral authority to reject execution. Peremptory strikes depleted the initial pool down to 11 members, prompting Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols to summon 60 additional prospects to complete the final panel Wednesday.
Theresa Pontieri, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Theresa Pontieri is a Republican candidate for Flagler County Commission, District 2 in the Aug. 18 primary, running against Greg Feldman. Only registered Republicans may cast a ballot in this race.
Found! Mosquito Control’s John Dunlop Discovers Stolen Turtle Patrol ATV Hidden In Woods Near Marineland
John Dunlop, an East Flagler Mosquito Control District technician, found the stolen Volusia-Flagler Turtle Patrol ATV hidden in the woods near Marineland on Monday. Thieves had stolen the vehicle from a nearby shed last month.
Pick-Up Driver Killed in Head-On Collision with Semi on SR100 Near Water Oak Road
A 57-year-old DeLeon Springs man died in a head-on collision on State Road 100 in West Flagler just after five Monday morning after his pick-up truck swerved into the eastbound lane and struck a semi-truck driven by a 59-year-old Port St. Lucie man. The semi driver sustained minor injuries.
‘Hardships’ and Anxious Reactions to Death Penalty Prolong Jury Selection in Williams Murder Trial
What is expected to be three days of jury selection started today in the death penalty trial of Jermaine Williams for the stabbing murder of his wife in Bunnell in 2024. All but 28 of the 75 potential jurors in the first pool were excused due to personal hardships, prior media exposure or issues with capital punishment. Judge Dawn Nichols is summoning 100 additional potential jurors Tuesday.