The Flagler County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller’s Office announced a series of honors received during the Florida Clerks of Court and Comptrollers (FCCC) Summer Conference, reflecting the work and statewide leadership of both Clerk Tom Bexley and members of the office’s Finance team.
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local News
1.5 Million Voter Advantage in 1-Party State and Still Scared: Florida GOP Ghost-Hunts Progressives at ‘Showdown’
Florida Republicans used the Sunshine State Showdown to energize their base by framing progressive Democratic victories in New York as a radical threat. Appointed statewide officials face their first major electoral tests this November. Concurrently, the gubernatorial primary features tension as leadership restricted debate access, positioning Byron Donalds as the frontrunner against Democrat David Jolly in a state where Republicans hold a highly significant voter registration advantage today.
Florida Property Tax Amendment Faces Growing Pushback From Local Government Advocacy Groups Campaign
A new political committee, Stop Unfair Tax Shifts PC, is raising funds to defeat Florida’s proposed Amendment 3 this November. The constitutional amendment would raise the primary homestead exemption to $250,000 by 2028, a change that would drain $11.86 billion annually from local municipal budgets, forcing huge cuts.
Bunnell Pride Returns for 3rd Year Running Sunday to 2K Ranch, Misinformation and ‘Proud Boys’ Aside
The third annual Bunnell Pride event takes place Sunday at the 2K Ranch as Flagler County’s sole LGBTQ+ festival this year. Organizers face safety concerns following online misinformation and a rumored protest by the Proud Boys over a canceled drag performance, and a radio news clip that amplified the misinformation. The sheriff’s office will provide increased patrols.
Flawed Format Aside, Flagler Tiger Bay Club Forum Exposes Experience Gap Between Newcomers And Incumbents
The Flagler Tiger Bay Club candidate forum Thursday evening for County Commission and Palm Coast City Council candidates exposed a distinct experience gap between seasoned incumbents and ten political newcomers. Candidates faced poorly structured questions regarding development, taxation, and infrastructure. The restrictive format prevented meaningful debate or follow-up questions, forcing most candidates to rely on broad platitudes instead of offering concrete ideas for impending revenue shortages.
Flagler and Florida Officials Praise Rising Assessment Scores that Contradict Much Lower National Exam Rankings
Flagler County Schools reported student achievement gains on state standardized tests, outperforming Florida averages in most categories. The state Department of Education praised the metrics, noting sixty percent of students performed at or above grade level. But state-specific assessments mask Florida’s low national standings on the SAT, ACT, and NAEP exams.
Chipotle Doubles Its Palm Coast Presence with Drive-Thru Location at Belle Terre and Palm Coast Parkway
Chipotle Mexican Grill opens its second Palm Coast restaurant on Belle Terre Parkway next Tuesday, with a drive-thru pickup lane. The restaurant would create about 30 jobs. The restaurant is expected to generate about three times as much property tax revenue as its predecessor, an often disused gas station and convenience store.
Flagler Tiger Bay Political Forum for Palm Coast Council and County Commission Candidates Live
The Flagler Tiger Bay Club is hosting a political forum this evening for the Palm Coast City Council and Flagler County Commission candidates in the August 18 primary. The two-hour forum is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Palm Coast Community Center. It will be simulcast on WNZF and available live on YouTube here.
Army Recruit Faced Life in Prison for Raping Sibling. He Is Sentenced to Probation, No Adjudication, No Sex Offender Status.
A Palm Coast soldier indicted for raping his 10-year-old brother when he was himself 13 avoided prison after a negotiated plea deal that reduced the life-in-prison charge to child abuse, following requests from the family. Circuit Judge Howard Maltz sentenced the defendant to 10 years of sex-offender probation. Adjudication was withheld and Curtis was not designated a sex offender, allowing him to protect his military career.
Victim Testifies On Behalf Of His Attacker Facing Life In Prison To Help Secure Bond, Saying Charges Were Exaggerated
A Flagler County judge granted 29-year-old Shantana Grayson a $66,500 bond following surprise testimony from her boyfriend, the alleged victim. Grayson faced five felony charges, including a charge punishable by life in prison and three counts of child neglect causing harm. Her victim and boyfriend testified that the domestic incident was exaggerated in the arrest report. The prosecutor left the decision to judicial discretion.
Flagler Beach Close to Approving 8-Unit Vacation Rental Building on A1A at South 17th Street, With One More Delay
The Flagler Beach City Commission yet again tabled the site plan for a planned three-story, eight-unit vacation rental building at 1708 South Ocean Shore Boulevard until July 16, but not because it doesn’t want to approve it. It is only seeking further tweaks. Developer Ted Barnhill moved the primary parking lot to front State Road A1A to alleviate traffic in a narrow rear dirt alley. Commissioners required additional screening along the western alley boundary before granting final project approval.
Armed Rape Added to Charges and Bond Denied in Man’s Alleged Attack of Ex as Defense Questions Victim’s Account
A circuit judge denied bond to Antonio Figueroa-Acevedo, 30, following the filing of a charge for the armed rape of his ex-girlfriend in Bunnell on June 12, among seven charges. Figueroa-Acevedo is a federal felon on probation. Four of his seven charges carry life sentences. The defense attorney questioned the victim’s account during the two-hour hearing even as the prosecution presented photos of the defendant at the scene and the victim’s injuries.
Flagler Beach Planning to Install 30 Surveillance Cameras at 15 Locations Around Town for $158,000
The Flagler Beach City Commission votes Thursday on a $158,000 contract with a Jacksonville company to install 30 solar-powered surveillance cameras at 15 locations mostly south of State Road 100. The network requires a $109,859 start-up cost plus a $47,815 annual subscription. Local law enforcement will access the real-time feeds, as will city personnel. The proposal bypassed a formal bidding process and occurs as municipal governments are on their back heels over a proposed homestead tax cut.
Ten Arrested On Prostitution And Drug Charges In Joint Flagler County Undercover Sting, 3 Victims Rescued
A joint Flagler County undercover operation rescued three adult human trafficking victims and arrested 10 individuals on drug, prostitution, and weapons charges. The multi-month investigation targeted online sex markets. No human trafficking charges were filed today. The Sheriff’s Office is investigating suspected traffickers in an ongoing phase of the investigation.
Flagler Judge’s Forgetting Closing Arguments in Fatal DUI Hit-and-Run Case Triggers Unusual Appeal to Reconstruct Hearing
Flagler County Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols omitted closing arguments during the March sentencing to 10 years in prison of Melvin Adona for a double-fatal 2023 hit-and-run. Digital recording systems stopped before the oversight was realized, leaving no official record of subsequent arguments. The defense filed an unopposed motion requesting the appellate court return jurisdiction to the circuit court, intending to reconstruct the missing record.
Flagler County Unemployment Steadies at 5.4% as Employment Grows, Florida’s at 4.8%
In Flagler County, the unemployment rate steadied at 5.4 percent, almost unchanged from April’s 5.5 percent. It was 4.2 percent a year ago. Some 250 more Flagler County residents got jobs in May and the labor force grew by 163 people, about 500 more than a year ago. The number of unemployed remained above 3,000, however.
Palm Coast Approves Two Commercial Developments That Could Bring More Than 200 Jobs
The Palm Coast Planning Board approved two commercial developments expected to create over 200 jobs. A 82,000-square-foot warehouse project on Commerce Boulevard will accommodate an expansion by manufacturer Alleima, and a 62,000-square-foot Palm Harbor Professional Complex will be a multi-suite medical office building, though developers have not secured any tenants for it yet.
Palm Coast Will Install Flashing Stop Signs At Exasperating Royal Palms and Old Kings Intersections with Town Center Blvd
Palm Coast public works crews will install flashing-red stop signs at two major Town Center intersections on July 2 and July 3. The intersections at Royal Palms Parkway and Old Kings Road will convert to three-way stops. The $15,000 project aims to reduce severe rush-hour backups. Drivers should expect overnight lane closures ahead of the Independence Day holiday.
No, Trump’s War on Migrants Isn’t Only Targeting ‘Illegals’
On the eve of its 250th anniversary, America is waging a sinister war against both legal and undocumented immigrants through hostile administrative rules. The federal government targets green card holders, students, and workers of color by restricting employment and speech with xenophobic policies that force self-deportations, empty out universities, and threaten economic survival, destroying the traditional American dream that once welcomed the downtrodden.
Town Center Data Center Planned for 100,000 Square Feet, Triple Footprint Size Palm Coast Approved
A DC Blox executive revealed the ongoing construction of a data center in Palm Coast’s Town Center will eventually consist of two buildings totaling 100,000 square feet, not one building of 35,000 square feet, as approved by Palm Coast planners. The disclosure blindsided city officials. The expanded scope should have triggered public hearings before regulatory boards. Future construction phases will face strict city council scrutiny under impending local development code changes.
Funky Pelican in Flagler Beach Ordered Temporarily Closed Following State Sanitation Inspection
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation temporarily closed the Funky Pelican in Flagler Beach today. An inspection revealed nine total violations. Three high-priority infractions included rodent activity, insects, and improper egg storage. Most issues were corrected on site. The popular pier restaurant generates millions in revenue and recently signed a 32-year lease extension with the city.
Turtle Patrol’s ATV Is Stolen and Building Vandalized in Latest in Series of Criminal Mischief Incidents in Marineland
Thieves burglarized the Marineland Coastal Policy Center, vandalized the facility, and stole the Volusia-Flagler Turtle Patrol’s all-terrain vehicle kept there, alongside a data tablet, forcing Patrol volunteers to conduct morning nesting counts on foot during an especially busy nesting season. The nonprofit organization is offering a $1,000 reward for the return of their equipment. Local law enforcement officials are investigating.
Record-Breaking Walmart Supercenter on SR 100 Clears Palm Coast Planning Board; Nearly 20,000 Car Trips Projected
The Palm Coast Planning Board Wednesday evening unanimously recommended approval for a new Walmart Supercenter and shopping center on State Road 100, what would be the largest single-new commercial development in the city’s history. The project at build-out is expected to add nearly 20,000 daily car trips to State Road 100, which currently handles between 25,000 and 36,000 car trips per day. The site will feature a temporary wastewater facility to avoid stressing the infrastructure of the city, and to avoid getting delayed for lack of city capacity.
3 Years in Prison for National Guardsman Nicholas McLean, 22, for Bike Week DUI Crash That Killed Robert Clark on Belle Terre
Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols sentenced 22-year-old Nicholas Tyler McLean to three years in prison and 12 years of probation today. McLean pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter for the 2025 Bike Week crash that killed 70-year-old motorcyclist Robert Clark on Belle Terre Boulevard as McClean and three other National Guard members were returning to the armory off Fin Way in Palm Coast. McLean registered a 0.108 blood-alcohol level. The plea conditions include a permanent driver’s license revocation and 50 hours of community service.
Flagler County Commissioners Want Public to Learn How Homestead Tax Amendment Would Gut Quality of Life
If voters in November approve the proposed amendment to raise the homestead exemption to $150,000 next year and $250,000 the following year, Flagler County government would have a $28 million deficit out of its $140 million general fund next year, and a $46 million deficit in 2028, if it were to maintain current services, including fire, policing, judicial and all other government responsibilities. The county is not allowed by law to run deficits. It would have to cut services. County commissioners want the public to know what that would mean.
Two Flagler School Board Members Dismiss Concerns Over UNF Deletion of ‘Sexual Orientation’ Protection in District Agreement
The Flagler County School Board will vote on an altered internship agreement after the University of North Florida removed “sexual orientation” from the nondiscrimination clause. School Board members Christy Chong and Will Furry dismissed the change because district policy lacks that explicit phrasing. Legal counsel noted federal law still applies, extending the protection regardless. The discussion surrounding the wording at last week’s workshop underscored the different ways members of the School Board interpret discrimination and how legally to protect students and others against it.
Palm Coast Council’s Pontieri: Why I Reject Mayor Norris’s Flawed, AI-Generated Austerity Budget Proposal
Responding to a proposed “austerity resolution” Mayor Mike Norris submitted as a “shell” for the city manager and city attorney to develop, Palm Coast City Council member Theresa Pontieri rejects the proposal as flawed and reliant on artificial intelligence. It suggests redundancies, counterproductive schedule shifts, and harmful community cuts. Real governance, the vice mayor argues, requires human diligence and council deliberations.
Sheriff Staly Blasts Proposed Homestead Property Tax Amendment as ‘Politics’ That ‘Screw Around With the Cities and the County’
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly publicly criticized a proposed Florida constitutional amendment increasing homestead exemptions to $250,000. While local officials fear election-year backlash for opposing tax cuts, Staly characterized the legislation as reckless politics that defunds municipalities. Addressing the Palm Coast City Council this morning, he urged leaders to launch public education campaigns, warning that vague legislative language threatens critical local government operations despite exemptions for public safety services.
Long Delayed and Debated, $801,000 Sale Closes on Flagler Beach’s Ocean Palm Golf Course, at $148,000 Loss
The $801,333 sale of Ocean Palm Golf Club to current leaseholders Jeff Ryan and Tanuj Seoni closed on Monday after financing delays. The city sold the 37-acre property at a loss compared to its $949,000 acquisition cost. Officials plan to direct the proceeds toward capital projects. A deed restriction and an upcoming ballot amendment will protect the site for continued golf course use.
Palm Coast Woman Shoots Former Friend Who Allegedly Broke Into B-Section House Demanding Money
Michael Ishia McDonald, a 33-year-old resident of Freeland Lane in Palm Coast, was arrested Sunday and held at the Flagler County jail on no bond on a life felony charge of burglary with assault after he allegedly broke into a former friend’s B-Section house. The former friend, a woman, shot him, injuring him.
FDLE Says No ‘Quid Pro Quo’ From Raydient to Mayor Norris, Who’d Agreed to ‘Western Expansion’ in Private Meeting
Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris told state FDLE investigators that he falsely promised to support Raydient’s “western expansion” expansion plans during a 2025 meeting. He later accused the company of offering a quid pro quo for his mayoral tenure. An FDLE report concluded no crime occurred because no funds or services were exchanged.
Popular Food Truck Ragga Surf Café Plans Late Summer Return To Marineland on Dolphin Adventure’s Grounds
Ragga Surf Café plans to return to Marineland by the end of summer, setting up at the Dolphin Adventure. The expansion features a refurbished 39-foot bus and will create 30 new jobs. While local officials welcome the end of the area’s food desert, Mayor Buddy Pinder expressed concerns regarding traffic and potential parking issues on A1A. The company will continue its St. Augustine operations.
World Cup Fever
Why do we watch the World Cup? This is a tournament of paradoxes, a too-big-to-fail quadrennial festival of corruption, cheating, profiteering, nationalist chauvinism and mostly crappy soccer. Yet it can hypnotize and transport to a utopia of competition as idealized and convincing as Pelé’s deification of the sport as “the beautiful game.” We watch not so much for the thrill–most games are snoozfests–but for the nostalgia of a game that never existed, but that we reimagine with every match.
Bunnell Police Say Man Broke Into Ex-Girlfriend’s Apartment Masked and Gloved and Raped Her At Knifepoint
After allegedly taking several steps that prosecutors would say underscore the extent of premeditation, including disabling the victim’s internet and wearing gloves and a mask, Antonio Figueroa-Acevedo, a 30-year-old resident of Anderson Street in Bunnell, is accused of breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment, imprisoning her in her bedroom and strangling her after she screamed for help, then forcibly raping her while holding a knife to her neck, according to an arrest report filed by Bunnell Police Detective Joe Traylor.
New Bull Creek Fish Camp Restaurant Prepares For Labor Day Opening Following Homegrown Resurrection Efforts
Flagler County is completing a $1.5 million rebuild of the Bull Creek Fish Camp following severe damage from Hurricane Nicole. Funded by a state emergency grant, the resilient new facility features an elevated foundation to avoid future floods and was built with in-house crews after County Commissioner Leann Pennington insisted on a replacement amenity for the county’s west side. A local team will operate the restaurant starting around Labor Day, offering breakfast and Southern food.
Ray Stevens Is Reelected to His Own Council Seat Without Opposition, and Suggests Sullivan Should Resign. Sullivan Says No.
Ray Stevens today was reelected to the Palm Coast City Council seat he resigned soon after his first election in November 2024, this time without opposition. Stevens suggested that Dave Sullivan, who was appointed to the seat when Stevens resigned it, should now himself resign and let Stevens pick up the responsibility. Sullivan said he will not do so.
Flagler District Halts Plans For New Schools as Enrollment Shrinks While Private and Homeschool Numbers Surge
Flagler County has abandoned plans to build a middle school and a high school by decade’s end due to shrinking district enrollment. Total school-age children grew by 2,359 since 2018, but these students enrolled in private schools or homeschooling programs instead. Fueled by universal vouchers and lower birth rates, this shift leaves traditional schools under capacity. The district projects a 14 percent enrollment decline by 2035. But it is still collecting development impact fees to finance new schools, which may bring objections by builders.
Thick Smoke Over Palm Coast Is a 470-Acre Prescribed Fire At Faver-Dykes State Park North Of Flagler County
The Florida Park Service is conducting a 470-acre controlled burn at Faver-Dykes State Park today, with heavy smoke visible in Palm Coast and Bunnell and north of the fire. Officials expect the fire to be dead out by 10:25 p.m. this evening. Favorable humidity and winds are keeping the smoke away from park attractions, which have not been affected. Prescribed fires prevents future uncontrolled wildfires.
Palm Coast Fast-Tracks Restrictions and Supermajority Requirements For Approving Future Data Centers
The Palm Coast City Council is fast-tracking strict amendments to its Land Development Code regarding data center approvals. Future facilities are prohibited by right, requiring industrial zoning, strict environmental criteria, and a council supermajority vote. The policy shift addresses growing concerns about data centers–concerns that developed before the secretive 2024 administrative approval of the DC Blox facility in Town Center.
Florida Property Tax Reform Is a State Power Grab at Your Local Government’s Expense
Florida proposals to eliminate property taxes threaten to dismantle decades of local home rule as state control of funding would strip decision-making authority from counties and cities, making both dependent on Tallahassee. This fiscal structural change shifts tens of billions of dollars onto a state facing its own future deficits. Ultimately, the cost burden moves to consumers and renters through alternative fees.
Palm Coast Mayor’s Radical ‘Austerity’ Plan: Hiring Freeze, 4-Day Workweek, Cut Departments, Cut Street Light Hours
Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris is proposing an AI-drafted austerity resolution introducing hiring freezes, department mergers, and reduced public services to counter impending state homestead exemption tax cuts. The draft conflates self-supported enterprise funds with the city general fund, drawing skepticism from city council members and reserve from the city manager. City Attorney Marcus Duffy will format the shell proposal into an official resolution for formal council consideration later this month.
Federal Felon and Identity Thief Charged with Accosting 15-Year-Old Boy in Showers at Planet Fitness
A Daytona Beach man who pleaded guilty in a federal fraud case is accused of exposing himself to a 15-year-old boy inside a Planet Fitness locker room and attempting an unwanted interaction during a shower. The teenager later identified Craig Stevens, 34, in a photo lineup with complete confidence. Detectives charged Stevens with lewd or lascivious exhibition, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Ethics Commission Dismisses Yet One More ‘Legally Insufficient’ Complaint, This Time Against the Council’s Pontieri
In the last two years the Florida Ethics Commission has tossed out complaints against Flagler County Airport Director Roy Sieger, former Palm Coast City Manager Lauren Johnston, Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris, former Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin, former Council member Ed Danko, Bunnell Planning Board member Lynn Lafferty, and Flagler Beach City Manager Dale Martin. It added one more name today: City Council member Theresa Pontieri.
Palm Coast Council Seeks to Protect Old Matanzas Golf Course Viewshed in Perpetuity. Developer Has Other Ideas.
The Palm Coast City Council moved to tighten its Land Development Code to protect golf course viewsheds from development, specifically targeting areas around the old Matanzas Woods Golf Course for protection. There was intense resident opposition against a developer’s plan to build 39 homes on a protected tract at the old gold course when presented at a neighborhood meeting in April. The proposed code changes aim to make view protections permanent, setting up a potential legal battle over property rights.
Palm Coast Mayor Norris Calls for ‘Austerity Budget’ as Council Grapples with Downturn and Homestead Upheaval Ahead
Palm Coast City Council members will consider an austerity budget resolution to prepare for sharp revenue losses from a proposed Florida homestead exemption amendment and this year’s slight downturn in property values. Existing city property values dropped over one percent, prompting discussions of a potential hiring freeze. Residential properties generate 90 percent of local tax revenue. Construction growth is generating enough revenue to keep the budget growing slightly.
County Commissioners Berate Some Constitutionals More Than Others Over Their Budgets as Austerity Era Begins
Flagler County constitutional officers such as the clerk of court, the sheriff and the property appraiser face a grueling budget cycle amid stalled revenues and a looming November ballot amendment to eliminate homesteaded property taxes. In an afternoon workshop today, county commissioners aggressively challenged proposed budget increases from the clerk of court and property appraiser. In response to future shortfalls, Commission Chair Leann Pennington directed the acting administrator to model sweeping 10 percent across-the-board budget cuts.
27-Year-Old Palm Coast Man Stabs a Child in His Care and Faces Aggravated Child Abuse Charge
Devroy Miller, a 27-year-old resident of Rocket Lane in Palm Coast, is at the Flagler County jail on a charge of aggravated child abuse and no bond following his alleged stabbing of a juvenile in his care. Miller is married to the juvenile’s guardian. Aggravated child abuse is a first-degree felony charge punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
Marineland Officials Stunned by an Unauthorized Attempt to Sell Private Boat Slips in the Town’s Marina for $195,000
A boater shocked Marineland town commissioners by reporting an unauthorized salesman offering to sell her a marina boat slip for $195,000. JDI Development owns six of the public marina’s boat slips, which may legally be sold. The surprise solicitation emerged just as commissioners prepared to clarify JDI Marineland’s 2009 lease.
Florida’s Bathtub Hoax on Homesteaded Taxpayers
The Florida Legislature’s proposed constitutional amendment to expand the homestead tax exemption is a hoax that claims the homesteaded are overtaxed and local governments are wasteful. The proposal, if it passes, threatens to severely cripple local government budgets, starving infrastructure, emergency medical responses, social programs, and community safety initiatives. Homeowners will ultimately absorb higher out-of-pocket costs for neglected public services. The current system already unfairly shifts tax burdens onto local businesses and renters.
As County Throws More Cold Water on 22,000-Home ‘Western Expansion,’ Developer Defends Retreat from Previous Commitments
Raydient’s plan to develop 22,000 housing units on 22,000 acres wet of U.S. 1 in Palm Coast continues to draw criticism as it did last Monday at the County Commission, and previously from members of the Palm Coast City Council. On WNZF’s Free For All Friday this morning, Mike Hahaj, the director of commercial development and operations for Raydient, addressed some of the issues in contention.