City Repertory Theatre’s devilish “Hand to God” all weekend, The Caribbean Island Festival returns to Nature Scapes, the Culture Club kicks off at AACS, the Palm Coast Songwriters’ Festival returns, Arbor Day in Town center and plenty more.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
Renner’s Criminal Justice Reform, Including Lesser Punishments and More Work Options, Gets Overwhelming, Bi-Partisan Vote
Florida lawmakers on Friday overwhelmingly approved a criminal-justice package that includes the first change in 35 years to the legal threshold for felony theft and reducing punishment for some non-violent offenders.
3.5% Unemployment Rate Is Lowest Since 1969 as Economy Adds 263,000 Jobs
Wages again increased by 6 cents. Over the year, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.2 percent, well exceeding the 1.6 percent rate of inflation, which means that the difference lifts the net standard of living.
The Real Threat To Free Speech On Campus
Conservatives complain when student protest hate speech, while progressive professors are the ones losing their jobs for speaking out as people of color and other marginalized demographics are demonized.
Bill Pushing Underground Power Lines Passes, But Higher Utility Bills Are Likely
A key part of the bill would change the way underground power-line projects are financed, a change that could lead to more projects — but also higher bills for utility customers.
Thursday Briefing: Cheryl Massaro’s Honor, USS Liberty, Playhouse’s ‘Best Little Whorehouse,’ Anti-Science
Cheryl Massaro is honored by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, the Flagler Playhouse starts its Best Little Whorehouse run, Ernie Gallo speaks of the USS Liberty at the Democratic Club.
Wednesday Briefing: Kaiti Lenhart, Civil Libertarian of the Year, Free Legal Clinic on Family Law, DSC Goal-Setting
Flagler Supervisor of Elections Kaiti Lenhart is the ACLU’s Civil Libertarian of the Year, the clerk of court and Flagler Bar offer a free legal clinic on family law, Democrats and Republican clubs meet.
Florida Senate Passes Bill Prohibiting Local Governments From Regulating Plastic Straws
On a 24-15 vote, the Senate imposed a moratorium on plastic-straw bans, the latest example of the constant tug-of-war between the Legislature and cities and counties over local regulations.
Tuesday Briefing: Bova and Acierno In Court, Entrepreneur Night, Palm Coast FiberNet, Candice Cole’s Cool
Candice Cole’s coolness under pressure, accused murderer Joseph Bova has another date to test his competence for trial, Entrepreneur Night is at Captain’s BBQ, Palm Coast discusses FiberNet.
Senate Approves Vast Deregulation of Hospital Expansions and Opens Way For Canadian Drugs
Under longstanding law, hospitals have needed to seek certificates of need from the state Agency for Health Care Administration to build facilities or to add certain services.THat would be eliminated.
‘Right To Survive’ Initiative: This City Might Give Homeless People the Right to Camp Anywhere
Denver’s ballot Initiative 300, a first-of-its-kind “Right to Survive,” would allow the homeless to camp anywhere on public lands without risk of arrest, If approved supporters aim to copy it elsewhere.
Monday Briefing: Flagler Youth Orchestra Takes A Bow, Bunnell’s State, Tobacco 21
The Flagler Youth Orchestra’s 350-some students in five ensembles present their final concert of the season at the Auditorium, a Bunnell State of the City recap, raising tobacco’s legal limit to 21.
Time is Running Out to Save Right Whales
The North Atlantic right whale is the most endangered whale in U.S. Atlantic waters, and entanglement in crab and lobster roping gear remains the biggest threat to the species’ survival.
Florida Senate Creates New Program Using Public Money To Fund Private School Tuition
Florida senators on Thursday passed legislation that would allow more students to use taxpayer-funded scholarships to pay for private-school tuition, a major step toward expanding school choice in the state.
Weekend Briefing: Curtis Gray Memorial, Community Art, Chorus, Cats, Best Little Whorehouse, Torch Run, Housing Fair
A funeral and celebration of life of Curtis Gray Saturday and Sunday, the NAACP’s Freedom Fund Banquet, Community Cats spring yard sale, ACLU honors Kaiti Lenhart, “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” at the Playhouse and much more.
House Passes Controversial Felons’ Voting-Rights Bill, Setting Up Financial Hurdles Before Restoration
The House’s party-line, 71-45 vote drew a rebuke from backers of the amendment, who called the bill “a failure to live up to the bipartisan commitment” demonstrated by the 61 percent of voters who approved Amendment 4.
Thursday Briefing: Murals in Flagler Beach, Common Ground Does Media in Flagler, Happy Hubble Birthday
The Flagler Beach City Commission takes up a revised ordinance that would allow more expressive murals and some commercial content, the Flagler Chamber hosts a media panel at a Common Ground breakfast.
House Would Toughen Driving and Texting Law But Opposes Hands-Free Only Use of Devices
Police could pull over motorists texting and driving, under a House measure, but the House opposes a Senate proposal that would allow only hands-free use of cell phones while driving.
Wednesday Briefing: Free Clinic’s $5,200 Gift, Matanzas Law and Justice, Stetson Jazz Ensemble
The school district inaugurates the law and justice flagship program at Matanzas High School, Compassionate Friends meet, a multi-day hearing about whether former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum violated ethics laws begins.
Tuesday Briefing: Medders Trial, Felons’ Rights, Spring Band Concert, School Safety
The Senate Rules Committee takes up a controversial proposal to limit felons’ right to vote based on financial obligations, Matanzas has its spring band concert, Jerry Medders’ trial day two.
Suicide Prevention Set To Become Part of Minimum Standard of Care At Addiction Centers
Rising opioids use and rising suicide rates: Suicide prevention advocates have been pushing the addiction treatment community to address the substantial overlap by adopting new standards of care. That starts in June.
Monday Briefing: Gerald Medders On Trial, Stamp and Coin, A1A Update, Minimum Wage, Vietnam Memorial
Gerald Medders, 53, of Palm Coast, arrested in March 2016, goes on trial on four counts of illegal sex with a minor, the Stamp and Coin Club meets, an A1A construction update, Stanley Karnow on the Vietnam Memorial.
Abolish the Electoral College
Abolishing the Electoral College would level the playing field. It would ensure that people, not parties or mechanisms, determine who leads the country. Is that so bad? If you’re a Republican, yes.
It’ll Be Harder For Citizens To Get Their Initiatives On the Ballot If House Has Its Way
Petition-gatherers to be registered with the state, ballots would have to include information about contributions raised by amendment sponsors, whether out-of-state petition circulators were used and whether amendments could lead to tax increases.
New Florida Supreme Court Flexes Rightward Muscle, Overturning Two January Decisions
Justices, in a pair of 6-1 opinions Thursday, overturned the two rulings. The only dissenter in both cases: Justice Jorge Labarga, who had sided with Pariente, Lewis and Quince in January.
Easter Weekend Briefing: Stormy Friday, Easter Egg Hunts, Unemployment Numbers, St. John Passion
Easter egg hunts in Palm Coast, Bunnell and Flagler Beach, March unemployment numbers, Barnett Newman, an uneventful weekend across Flagler, a full new version of Bach’s St. John Passion.
Hands-Free Cell Use In Car May Become Requirement in Florida Under Senate Plan
The House measure matches the Senate proposal in shifting texting while driving from a “secondary” offense to a “primary” offense, but it doesn’t impose a hands-free requirement.
Thursday Briefing: Det. Fiona Ebrill, Officer of the Year, ‘Addressing Crime Together,’ Scholarship Awards Ceremony
The Sheriff’s Detective Fiona Ebrill is the 2019 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, the school district’s scholarship awards at the Auditorium, the sheriff delivers a crime-fighting update.
Supreme Court Sides With DeSantis in Suspension of Okaloosa County School Superintendent
DeSantis stripped Jackson of her post less than a week after he was sworn into office, citing “scathing” grand-jury reports that alleged “dereliction of duty.”
Wednesday Briefing: Walk-Ins at Eight Schools, Jason Altmire at Tiger Bay, Lukasik’s TDC, Parental Consent
Teacher and support personnel unions hold “walk-ins” at eight schools in early morning, the county’s tourism council meets for the first time with Amy Lukasik as interim director rather than Matt Dunn, lawmakers talk parental consent.
Tuesday Briefing: Yo-Yo Ma At the Border, Talent Show Auditions, Food Truck Tuesday, Notre Dame
FPC’s spring concert, auditions for “Spotlight on Flagler,” the annual youth talent show, Food Truck Tuesday in Palm Coast’s Central Park, Stetson Guitar on the Rocks.
Monday Briefing: Considering a New HQ For Sheriff, Carver Gym Auction, Church on the Rock In Court
The Flagler County Commission discusses picking a new home for the Sheriff’s Operations Center, Bunnell’s Church on the Rock is in court on a negligence suit, Amy Lukasik’s appointment at the tourism office is confirmed.
‘Tick Tick Boom’ Musical Brings ‘Rent’ Creator’s Artistic Anxiety to City Repertory Theatre
“Tick Tick Boom” is fueled by that tension between the food-on-the-table demands of everyday life versus one’s artistic ambitions, and all those struggles to make it work.
Weekend Briefing: ‘Tick Tick Boom,’ Microplastics, Bing’s Landing, Safety Expo, FCAL Poetry, Picnics and Pops
An incredibly busy weekend with plenty of live theater, art and poetry openings, the annual Picnics and Pops concert with the Jacksonville Symphony in Town Center, a sheriff’s safety expo, and plenty more.
Nanny Senate: Students Would Have to Get Parental Consent Before Seeking Mental Health or Birth Control
The so-called “Parents Bill of Rights” would allow parents to access and review all of their children’s school records and change the way students can seek mental-health and reproductive-health services, including counseling and birth control prescriptions.
Congress Is About to Ban the Government From Offering Free Online Tax Filing. Thank TurboTax.
A bill supported by Democrats and Republicans would make permanent a program that bars the IRS from ever developing its own online tax filing service.
Thursday Briefing: Volunteer Awards, Rock Walk, Degas, Flagler Beach Golf, African American Student Association
The Flagler Beach City Commission considers another amendment to its Ocean Palms Golf Club lease, sheriff’s volunteers are honored in an award ceremony, Degas at the Lightner Museum, the Florida African American Student Association at BCU.
Bill Allowing Cheaper Drug Imports From Canada Advancing Against Big Pharma Fit
Gov. DeSantis has championed the legislation as a way to curb prescription drug costs. But his effort continues to draw opposition from representatives of the pharmaceutical industry who say importing drugs could increase the amount of unsafe and counterfeit drugs.
AAA-Plus: Road Rangers Patrols Begin on I-95 in Flagler, Assisting Break-Downs, Free
Road Rangers assist motorists whose vehicles have become disabled, and provide assistance during traffic incidents with their flashing lights and other visual-lighted signage that urges drivers to give first responders safe space.
Wednesday Briefing: Domestic Violence Update, Vacation Rentals, Carver Gym Online Auction, Horseshoe Pitching
The annual Carver Gym online auction kicks off, the sheriff’s domestic violence task force meets, a horseshoe pitching tournament in Flagler, a senate panel takes up vacation rentals.
Time for $15 an Hour and a Union
After years of idling lawmakers, the idea now has more traction in Congress thanks to the recently introduced Raise the Wage Act, which would set a national minimum pay of $15 an hour by 2024.
Tuesday Briefing: Bill Baxley at 80, Palm Coast Investments, Plastic Straws, Amendment 4, Red-Light Cameras
Palm Coast City Manager Matt Morton sits for his first workshop, Bunnell’s Bill Baxley turns 80, controversial bills on felons’ right to vote, plastic straws and red-light cameras are debated in Tallahassee.
Senate Panel Divides 5-4 in Advancing Measure Requiring Minors’ Parental Consent for Abortion
After rallying and testimony from numerous activists on both sides of the issue, a Senate panel Monday approved a proposal that would require minors to receive parental consent before having abortions.
Used on Lawns, A Popular Weed Killer’s Alleged Link To Cancer Spreads Concern
Glyphosate is by far the most widely used herbicide in the United States, and probably worldwide. It is used on nearly every acre of corn, cotton and soybeans grown in the U.S. You may have sprayed it on your lawn or garden.
Monday Briefing: Veteran Court, Guns in Church, Bunnell Swearing-In, Amendment 4, Matt Morton’s 1st Day
Judge Bryan A. Feigenbaum discusses Veteran Court services at a DSC event, three commissioners are sworn-in in Bunnell, the Legislature takes up guns in church and Amendment 4, restoring felons’ right to vote.
Felons’ Right To Vote and Paul Renner’s Cynical End Run Around Amendment 4
Paul Renner, Flagler’s GOP representative and future Speaker of the House, is being dishonest and disingenuous in his defense of a bill that would make felons’ right to vote dependent on paying back all financial obligations.
Mayor Milissa Holland’s 2019 State of the City Address: ‘We Are One Palm Coast’
The full text of Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland’s State of the City Address, presented at the Palm Coast Community Center Friday. The theme of the address is “One Palm Coast.”
Weekend Briefing: Culture Club, State of the City, County Fair and Rockin Rib Fest, Turtlefest, Cheer at the Pier
The Flagler County Fair all weekend, Rockin Ribfest on Friday, Mayor Holland delivers Palm Coast’s State of the City, “Tick Tick Boom” at City Repertory Theatre, Turtlefest and Cheer at the Pier in Flagler Beach, and plenty more.
Thursday Briefing: Classroom to Careers Symposium, Social Media Marketing, Daytona Tortugas Opener
The Flagler County school district hosts the 5th annual Classroom to Careers symposium at Flagler Palm Coast High School, Indivisible Flagler has a protest scheduled on Palm Coast Parkway in case the Mueller report isn’t released, the Daytona Tortugas open their season.
House Prepared To Raise Threshold For Felony Shoplifting From $300 to $1,000
Efforts to raise the threshold amount for the first time since 1986 have stalled in the Legislature in the past. This year’s proposal (HB 589) has steadily moved forward in the House, as criminal-justice reform advocates say there is momentum to pass such measures.