The arguments center on part of Amendment 11, which was approved by 62 percent of voters and which changed a more than century-old provision dealing with how revisions in criminal laws should be applied to older crimes.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
Tuesday Briefing: Wetlands Restoration Reckoning, Palm Coast Survey, Starlight Video, MHS Concert
The St. Johns Water Management District board discusses a controversial wetlands restoration plan for Flagler Beach, the Palm Coast council talks citizens survey, Matanzas High presents a winter concert.
Opposing Scott Court Cases, DeSantis
Signals Friendlier Approach to Medical Pot
DeSantis, a Republican who will take office on Jan. 8, is unwilling to continue some of the court battles now being waged by outgoing Gov. Rick Scott’s administration.
Monday Briefing: Michael Bowling in Court, Judge Moore-Stens at Old Kings, Bunnell Containers
A status hearing in the case of Michael Bowling, accusing of sexually assaulting two minor girls, Judge Moore-Stens drops by 6th graders’ classes at Old Kings Elementary, the Bunnell commission again talks containers.
Flagler’s Beach ‘Renourishment’ Is Exorbitant Futility
Whether it’s the Corps of Engineers’ plan for 2.6 miles of Flagler Beach sands or Flagler County’s ongoing dune-rebuilding over 12 miles, there’s no money to sustain either, yet officials are mortgaging the county’s future on a blank check.
DeSantis Names Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat, as Florida’s Emergency Management Chief
Moskowitz will succeed Division of Emergency Management Director Wes Maul, who was appointed by outgoing Gov. Rick Scott last year.
Weekend Briefing: Legislative Delegation, Starlight Parade, Access Flagler First, Narcan Awareness
Flagler’s state lawmakers hear local wish lists, the Starlight Parade in Town Center, Narcan awareness at First Friday and Access Flagler First, plus concerts, plays and dancing all over the place.
The Migrant Caravan’s Lessons from South of the Border
In Tijuana, some Mexicans have embraced the Trump line on Central American migrants. But others have welcomed them with open arms.
Pushing For Charter Schools and Vouchers, DeSantis Will name Corcoran Education Commissioner
Corcoran, a lawyer and Republican from Pasco County, secured the passage of two major charter-school and voucher-friendly bills during his 2016-18 tenure as speaker.
Thursday Briefing: Grand Reserve Booming, Matanzas Band Concert, Bush’s Education Reform
The Matanzas Band and Percussion ensembles present their Holiday Concert, Critic’s Choice Dinner at Salsa’s Restaurant, ex-Gov. Jeb Bush kicks off an education reform conference.
Putnam Stays Out Fight Over Concealed Weapons Permits as His Office Goes to a Democrat
After the concealed-weapons permitting processed revealed serious flaws under Adam Putnam, attempts are afoot to move the process to state police, out of the agriculture commissioner’s purview.
Wednesday Briefing: Bunnell Retreats, Black Violin, African-American Entrepreneurs, FPC Band and Chorus
The FPC Band and Chorus present their winter concert, the Bunnell commission retreats to Princess Place for goal-setting, the African American Entrepreneurs Association hosts a ribbon-cutting.
Save the News-Journal: How Wall Street Is Plundering Newspaper Chains Like GateHouse
Executives at GateHouse, which owns the News-Journal, demanded a $27 million cut from theirf papers’ operating expense to help pay for the hedge fund’s CEO’s $54 million pay package.
Supervisors of Election Seek Answer on Amendment Restoring Felons’ Right to Vote
Florida officials don’t have a plan for how to carry out a constitutional amendment that restores the right to vote to more than a million Floridians convicted of felonies.
Tuesday Briefing: Beach Renourishment in Flagler Beach, Palm Coast Manager Search, Thespian Showcase
The Palm Coast City Council takes a further step in its search for a new manager, Flagler Beach and county government hold a joint meeting on beach repair, thespians from three Flagler schools are showcased at the Auditorium.
Calling Loss of Life a ‘Catastrophe,’ Judge Backs Revoking Nursing Home’s License
The deaths and evacuation of the Broward nursing home drew national attention in the days after Hurricane Irma, which made landfall Sept. 10, 2017 .
Monday Briefing: Joe Mullins v. Craig Coffey, Black Violin, One Ocean One Health, Erik Bosgraaf
Newly-elected County Commissioner Joe Mullins may try to dismiss County Administrator Craig Coffey, the commission hears of an extensive project at Marineland Dolphin Adventure, Black Violin in concert at the Auditorium.
Leery of All-White Supreme Court, NAACP Demands Nomination Process Be Reopened
The call to Ron DeSantis came after revelations that the Supreme Court will not have a black justice for the first time in 36 years when Justice Peggy Quince leaves the bench on Jan. 8.
James Colley Jr. Sentenced to Death in Murders of Ex-Wife Amanda Colley and Lindy Dobbins
James Terry Colley Jr., 38, of St. Augustine, murdered his estranged wife Amanda Colley and her friend Lindy Dobbins in 2015 in St. Augustine after stalking and harassing Amanda for weeks.
Florida Supreme Court Will have No
Black Justice For First Time in 36 Years
None of the nine candidates from whom Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis will select three justices is black, although six of the original 59 applicants were African-Americans.
Weekend Briefing: Holiday Beach Parade, ‘Charlie Brown,’ DSC Enrollment, Community Chorus, Tree Lighting
It’s enrollment Saturday at Daytona State College, a tree-lighting and kick-off of Fantasy Lights in Palm Coast’s Town Center, the Holiday Parade in Flagler Beach, ‘Charlie Brown Christmas’ by Matanzas’s thespians.
Thursday Briefing: Aviation Days at Flagler Beach Museum, Canales Sentencing, Charlie Brown Christmas
Aviation Days continue at Flagler Beach Museum, Matanzas’s thespians put on “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Jonathan Canales, convicted of attempting to murder his ex-girlfriend, is sentenced to life in prison today.
Shortlist of 11 Young Ultra-Conservatives Lined Up for 3 Florida Supreme Court Seats
Ron DeSantis will pick from the list to replace liberal justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis and Peggy Quince, who have reached retirement age. All nominees were GOP appointees.
Flagler College and China’s Foreign Affairs University Sign Exchange Agreement
CFAU is China’s leading university for future diplomats and foreign affairs and policy specialists and will exchange faculty and student with Flagler College.
Wednesday Briefing: Nate Joe Mullins, Aviation Days, Sunshine Law Seminars, Chanticleer
It’s the first of three Aviation Days at the Flagler Beach Museum, Chanticleer performs at the Peabody, the Florida Association of Counties holds its annual legislative conference.
Nancy Pelosi’s Democrats Are Out Of Touch With Progressive Insurgents
Positions the timeworn Democratic leadership staked out are being overrun—outmatched by the cumulative power of dynamic social movements that have generated electoral clout.
Court Sides With Two Central Florida Counties on Juvenile Justice Costs Owed By State
The case — and earlier litigation involving counties and the department — is rooted in a law that involves counties and the state sharing juvenile-detention costs.
Tuesday Briefing: Mid-30s Tonight, Long Creek Preserve Input, NAACP, Entrepreneur Night
The Palm Coast council discusses a series of new joint agreements with the county, Entrepreneur Night is at Tortugas in Flagler Beach, the NAACP meets.
Now That Voters Have Restored Felons’ Voting Rights, Is Case Against Florida Ban Moot?
A federal appeals court is questioning whether it needs to rule in a high-profile case about how Gov. Rick Scott and the state Cabinet have handled requests to restore felons’ voting rights.
Monday Briefing: McDonald, School Board Chair, Bunnell Charter Amendments, Last Call for Flagler Beach Holiday Parade
Janet McDonald is the School Board’s new chairperson, last call for entries into next Saturday’s parade in Flagler Beach, Bunnell talks charter amendments for the March ballot.
In Health Insurance Wastelands, Rosier Options Crop Up For 2019
Across all 50 states, premiums for the average “benchmark” silver plan, which the government uses to set subsidies, are dropping nearly 1 percent.
I’m Making It My Business To Stand Up For Immigrants
A new immigrant wealth test is a cruel maneuver to diminish instead of making the country stronger. We shouldn’t take food and health from people and denies them citizenship because they aren’t rich.
Emails May Be ‘Disgusting,’ But Judge Dismisses Part of NRA Lobbyist Hammer’s Lawsuit
A federal judge said Hammer was not threatened and the ugly emails she received are protected by the First Amendment. She received emails she objected to from three other men.
Thanksgiving Weekend Briefing: Domestic Violence Task Force, Feet to Feast, Thrift Store, Be Local Buy Local
Feat to Feast 5k on Thanksgiving morning, Palm Coast is encouraging shoppers to shop locally the Saturday after Thanksgiving, fund-raiser for the Nearly New Thrift Store.
It Won’t Be Like Medical Pot: Senate President Pledges Not to ‘Slow-Walk’ Amendments
Galvano said of amendments from restoring felon rights to limiting gambling that the “people have spoken,” and “I want to make sure we are being true to the intent of the voters.”
Tuesday Briefing: Swearing In at Palm Coast Council, County Commission and School Board
Seven elected officials, three of them elected for the first time, are sworn in at the County Commission, palm Coast Council and the School Board.
Nelson Concedes as Scott Wins Senate-Seat Recount With 10,000-Vote Margin
Scott, a two-term Republican governor, held a 10,033-vote edge — or 0.12 percent — over Nelson, a Democrat who was seeking re-election to his fourth six-year term in the U.S. Senate.
Monday Briefing: Look Out for Manatees, Look Out at the County Commission, Cottage Fever
It’s all about the County Commission today, starting with a field trip to new cottages at Princess Place, ending with a controversially packed evening agenda before a new commissioner is seated.
In War Over Words, Republicans Continue Easily To Defeat Democrats
The Republican Party lost ground in the Congressional and state elections earlier this month, but the GOP continues to triumph in the all-important contests over words, argues Ralph Nader.
Divided Supreme Court Signs Off On Process to Replace Three Justices
In a 4-3 decision, the court held that the Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission was acting within its authority to conduct a process that resulted in 59 judges and lawyers applying to replace justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis and Peggy Quince.
Weekend Briefing: Fruehan Surrender, CRT’s “Proof,” Radio Aero, Nature Scapes, Book Sale, Solisti
Former Dr. Florence Fruehan is scheduled to surrender his license Friday, radio model planes at the old landfill, CRT’s “Proof” in its last weekend, services for Ron Charles Sunday, Daytona Solisti in concert Sunday.
DeSantis Wins Governor’s Race (Again), Manual Recounts For 2 Other Statewide Races
Ron DeSantis maintained almost his exact lead over Andrew Gillum after a machine recount. Manual recounts are ordered for the Scott-Nelson and Fried-Caldwell races.
No ‘Remedy In the Dark’: Federal Judge Rejects Nelson Bid To Extend Recount Deadline
The ruling could resolve questions about whether the recount process will move forward and whether official election results will be certified Tuesday as scheduled.
Nature Is Dying. Florida Is Sinking. Are Republicans Up to the Challenge?
A string of recent hurricanes reminded Floridians they don’t have to look across the country to see climate change in action. But the GOP continues to be in climate-change denial mode.
Thursday Briefing: Palm Coast’s Buy Local, Recount Results, Gioia Sails, FPC Chorus, Matanzas Band
Counties’ recount results are due at 3 p.m., Gioia Sails opens its new building on Commerce Boulevard, the Matanzas High band and FPC chorus are in concert.
As Nelson Charges Interference, Scott Will Step Down From Canvassing Board
Democrats have alleged that Scott has improperly tried to use his authority as governor to influence the recount, which could decide his political future.
Democrats Won Big. But the Question Is Whether They Can Now Be Bold.
The reforms Democrats in Congress have championed have often been overly complicated and cautious — and deeply compromised by a fear of annoying deep-pocketed donors.
Wednesday Briefing: TNR Forum, Chicks With Cans, Gun Safety for Kids, Diabetes Awareness
Chicks With Cans collects 11,200 pounds of food for Feed Flagler, a Trap, Neuter and Release forum at the Palm Coast Community Center, the Parkland shooting commission meets.
Voters in 3 Red States Approve Obamacare’s Medicaid Expansion, Bringing Total to 36
Florida under Gov. Rick Scott repeatedly blocked Medicaid expansion, which provides benefits to all adults earning up to 38 percent above the federal poverty line, an annual income of $16,753 or less.
Tuesday Briefing: Religion in Schools, Palm Coast Streetlights, Bunnell Panhandling, FPC Band
The Palm Coast Council talks streetlights, the Bunnell Commission passes a draconian panhandling ordinance, the FPC band is in concert at the auditorium.