In what would be the largest budget in state history, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday released a proposed $91.3 billion spending plan that would increase school funding, pump money into water-quality projects and trim taxes.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
Weekend Briefing: Flagler Historical Society, Piano Scholars, A1A Clean-Up, FYO’s Winter, Rotary Tarmac Run, Lisa McDevitt
The Flagler Youth Orchestra’s top ensemble performs at the United Methodist Church’;s concert series, the Flagler and Palm Coast historical societies have events, Lisa McDevit’s life is celebrated.
DeSantis Calls for New Education Standards That Would Scrap Remains of Common Core
DeSantis’ announcement came five years after then-Gov. Rick Scott took aim at the Common Core standards, which were developed by officials in 48 states and have particularly drawn criticism from Republican voters.
Thursday Briefing: Sally’s Safe Haven, City Managers’ Common Ground, Johnny Mathis, Palm Coast Survey
Palm Coast’s, Flagler Beach’s and Bunnell’s managers update the world in the latest Common Ground Breakfast, only two days left to take the Palm Coast survey, an Abba tribute at the Auditorium.
Report Details Ethics Allegations Against Gillum; His Attorney Calls It ‘Trivial Stuff’
The ethics commission also found probable cause to believe the former mayor “misused his position to accept things of value for himself and others in return for access and influence.”
Wednesday Briefing: Sheltering Tree, Pianist Robert Milne, Blue Power, Church and State
The Sheltering Tree, Flagler County’s cold-weather shelter for the homeless, has been busy, the Democrats’ Blue Power 2020 Action Forum meets, pianist Robert Milne performs at Stetson.
Tuesday Briefing: Circuit Judge Bryan Rendzio, Palm Coast Security, “Artrageous,” Great Organists
The Palm Coast Council discusses rebuilding its utilities plant, cell towers and security, Circuit Judge Bryan Rendzio begins his tenure, great organists at Stetson.
Florida Ethics Commission Finds Probable Cause Gillum Violated Law in Accepting Gifts
The ethics complaint added to questions that dogged Gillum throughout his gubernatorial campaign about possible ties to an FBI investigation of Tallahassee City Hall.
DeSantis Rewards Friends With Appointments. Experience Must Wait.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’s appointments are a pile of mismatches in critical state agencies so far, reflecting a normal if immoral right of passage in Tallahassee, writes Nancy Smith.
Monday Briefing: State-Best Dancer Reiko Serrato of FPC, Family Life’s Golf, Stamp and Coin
Senior Reiko Serrato of FPC gets top dance honors, the Bunnell City Commission considers an ordinance to “regulate” large gatherings, the Stamp and Coin club meets.
Trump’s Fabulous Wall Fables
We’re in a post-factual presidency where alternative facts are the equivalent of papal bulls. It’s about belief, not reality. For the sake of appearances though, let’s argue the facts about the wall for a moment.
Secretary of State Ertel Resigns on Revelation of Picture in Blackface Mocking Victim of Hurricane Katrina
Mike Ertel was the elections supervisor in Seminole County for eight months when he wore the bigoted Halloween costume to a party in 2005.
Weekend Briefing: Blue Jeans and Bling, Home and Lifestyle Show, Pottery Days, Tennis Finals
The annual Home and Lifestyle show on the FPC campus, a pro tennis finals at the Palm Coast Tennis Center, Masonic Cemetery clean-up, Jim Belushi, Wynton Marsalis and Don Giovanni.
Transgender Ban in Military Is About Bigotry and Distraction, Not Readiness or Cost
Trump is using the ban purely to provoke the left, throw red meat to his base, and distract us all from the real issues in our nation, like the government shutdown.
Lawmakers Again Trying to Ban
Red-Light Cameras Across Florida
As of December, 49 local governments in Florida had red-light cameras in operation, according to the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Thursday Briefing: Thomas Binkley Trial, Palm Coast Survey, FYO at Kiwanis, Free Tennis
The trial of 62-year-old Thomas Binkley of Bunnell on molestation charges may conclude today, free entry at a professional tennis tournament in Palm Coast continues, the Youth Orchestra at the Kiwanis Club.
In Restoration of Felons’ Voting Rights, Meaning of ‘Murder’ Becomes Stumbling Block
A new constitutional amendment grants “automatic” restoration of voting rights to felons who’ve completed their sentence, but it excludes people “convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense.”
Wednesday Briefing: Pro Tennis, Flagler’s Interim Choices, Vegetable Gardens, Blue Power Forum
The county commission meets in special session to go over a batch of applicants for interim manager, the Palm Coast Tennis Center is host to a professional tournament, lawmakers talk vegetable gardens.
With Carlos Muniz as 3rd Pick, DeSantis Touts ‘Newly Constituted’ Supreme Court
The appointment of Muniz, 49, solidifies a conservative majority on the court after years of justices regularly thwarting the Republican-led Legislature and the GOP governor.
Tuesday Briefing: NAACP’s Linda Sharpe-Matthews, USTA Tournament, Palm Coast Manager Pick
The NAACP’s Linda Sharpe-Matthews is re-installed as president, the Palm Coast council picks its shortlist for manager, Thomas Binkley goes on trial for molesting girls ages 6 and 8.
MLK’s Dream Of Economic Justice Deferred By Increasing Inequalities
King foreshadowed that if we maintain our exploitative economic and political systems, then we’d get not only racial apartheid, but economic apartheid as well.
Faced With Millions in Misused Money, UCF President Acknowledges ‘Broken Culture’
An investigation outlined $84.7 million in state operating funds that were used or slated to be used by UCF in direct violation of state policy.
Capping Weeks of Tension, DeSantis Scraps 46 Midnight Appointments by Rick Scott
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday rescinded 46 of the last-minute appointments former Gov. Rick Scott, now a member of the U.S. Senate, made in his final days in office.
Sheriff’s Sick Building: How To Hire A Savior
To break out of its leadership lethargy on the future of the Sheriff’s Operations Center, Flagler County government should find an obsessively independent project manager untainted by local politics or current administrations.
Martin Luther King Weekend Briefing: Chili Challenge, Peter Noone, Marc Dwyer on MLK, Sheriff’s Benefit Gala
Palm Coast Attorney Marc Dwyer keynotes a celebration of Martin Luther King Jr., the Flagler Woman’s Club host the First Responders Chili Challenge, Great Guitarists at Stetson Series, the sheriff’s gala for employee assistance at the Hammock.
DeSantis Poised To Liberalize State’s Approach to Medical Marijuana, Ending ‘Foot-Dragging’
DeSantis said his medical-marijuana announcement will deal not only with “the litigation” but also with “legislation that I think is needed to implement the people’s will.”
Thursday Briefing: Drug Court Graduation, Flagler Beach Qualifying, Schools’ Teacher and Employee of the Year
Flagler County Commissioner Joe Mullins is the featured speaker at the 33rd Drug Court graduation ceremony, the school district’s teacher and employee of the year celebration is at the Auditorium.
FPL Plans Vast Expansion of Solar Power Fields by 2030, Adding 11,000 MW of Capacity
FPL over the years has shifted away from using coal and oil to fuel power plants and relies heavily on natural gas, nuclear and, increasingly, solar.
Wednesday Briefing: Massage Therapist Plea, Countywide Spelling Bee, Hammock Wine and Cheese, Florence Price
Former massage therapist Justus Scott of Palm Coast may plea to a charge count of secretly recording a client, the annual county spelling bee is at Wadsworth Elementary, discovering Florence Beatrice Price.
Democrats Are Afraid Of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Too. That’s A Good Thing.
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is upsetting fellow Democrats over her support for progressive primary challenges against centrist Democrats. But it’s a sound idea for the party of alleged change.
New Florida Doctors Won’t Have To Disclose Their Own Drug or Mental Health Histories
State regulations will eliminate a question about past treatment of mental health and substance abuse for doctors applying for licenses, replacing it with a question about current conditions.
Tuesday Briefing: New Precinct Chief, Palm Coast Data’s Pink Success, Community Center Prized
Palm Coast has a new precinct chief in Cmdr. Dave Williams, Palm Coast Data’s Pink Army success, FPL wants the school board to sign on to a solar initiative.
DeSantis Appoints Robert J. Luck, Second Miami-Dade Judge in 5 Days, to Supreme Court
Last week, DeSantis appointed Barbara Lagoa, who had served as chief judge of the Miami-based appellate court, to the Supreme Court. Two of three vacancies are now filled.
Democratic Leaders Fail Their First Test on Climate
Youth activists who occupied the offices of Democratic leaders to demand a special congressional committee to plan for a Green New Deal were appeased and brushed off.
Monday Briefing: Interim Manager, Sheriff’s Task Force, Dressing Up Vision in Bunnell, Fun Coast Bartending
The Flagler County Commission holds a pair of key meetings to decide who will be its interim manager and to set up a task force on the Sheriff’s Operations Center, the Bunnell City Commission talks dress code and vision statements.
Gov. Ron DeSantis Suspends Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, Charging ‘Neglect of Duty’
Israel, a Democrat first elected in 2012, has faced fierce criticism for his agency’s handling of the Parkland massacre that resulted in the death of 17 people. Israel vowed to contest his ouster.
To Travel the State, DeSantis Is Using King Air Plane FDLE Seized in a Drug Bust
Gov. Ron DeSantis, with a net worth of just over $300,000, doesn’t have former Gov. Rick Scott’s millions that allowed him to buzz around the state in his own plane.
Weekend Briefing: Light the Way, Charlie Helm Memorial, Pottery Days, Mark Lane, Bronx Wanderers
A memorial celebration for Charlie Helm is scheduled at the Flagler Auditorium, the Flagler Beach Historical Museum has its Native American Pottery Days, the Freedom7 Human Trafficking Task Force leads a walk.
Thursday Briefing: Parking Study in Flagler Beach, Odessa Ballet at Auditorium, Covering McCarthy
The Flagler Beach City Commission hears the results of a much-anticipated parking study, The Odessa National Ballet brings its dancers to the Flagler Auditorium, Halberstam on Joe McCarthy.
DeSantis Names Barbara Lagoa, a Conservative Cuban-American, to Supreme Court
DeSantis’ selection of Lagoa, the daughter of Cuban émigrés, was the first of three Supreme Court appointments the new governor will make, following the mandatory retirement of three justices who comprised what had been the court’s more liberal-leaning bloc.
Wednesday Briefing: Coffey Klatsch, Night in the 30s, A Different Bing’s Victory, Playboy Generation
A special meeting this evening where the County Commission will decide how to accept manager Craig Coffey’s resignation, a meeting of Flagler Beach businesses to contend with coming construction.
Was Elections Supervisor Brenda Snipes Treated Unfairly? Federal Judge Weighs Due Process
Brenda Snipes’ lawyers accused Gov. Rick Scott of trying to embarrass and humiliate the long-serving elections official. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker is hearing her lawsuit.
Tuesday Briefing: Sportsfield Reservations, Palm Coast Fibernet, School Advisory Councils, DeSantis Sworn In
The Palm Coast council talks of expanding its broadband network and scheduling matters at its sports fields, school advisory councils at Matanzas and Rymfire meet, the school board amends policies.
Monday Briefing: Bing’s and Captain’s BBQ, Scouts For Dunes, Inauguration, Community Health Fair
The Flagler County Commission meets in workshop to discuss its controversial lease with Captain’s BBQ at Bing’s Landing, paramedics and others host a health fair in Espanola, it’s inauguration day in Tallahassee.
In Contrast With Scott, DeSantis Expected To Make Easier Access to Medical Pot a Priority
A new administration headed by DeSantis, who takes over as governor Tuesday, seemingly presents a friendlier stance toward medical pot than the administration of outgoing Gov. Rick Scott.
Economy Adds 312,000 Jobs in 99th Consecutive Month of Growth, But Unemployment Rate Up
The December jobs report suggests that despite big drops in the stock market and a slowing housing sector, fears of a recession may be premature.
Transgender Inmate Spurs Appeal as Florida Prisons Seek to Deny Her Gender Identity
Inmate Reiyn Keohane contends that her rights have been violated at least in part because she has not been allowed to wear women’s undergarments and groom as a woman.
Parkland Massacre Report Calls for More Armed Teachers, More Money for School Cops
“Personal and system failures” culminated in the mass shooting that left 14 students and three faculty members dead and 17 people wounded at a Broward County high school, according to a report by a state panel that spent months investigating the Valentine’s Day massacre.
New Year Raises Florida’s Minimum Wage To $8.46 and Lowers Workers Comp Rates
Minimum-wage workers will start earning $8.46 an hour Tuesday, up from $8.25 an hour in 2018 — and more than a dollar above the $7.25 federal minimum wage.
2018 Roundup: For Florida, Another Massacre, Another Hurricane, Another Shift To the Right
Florida was struck by a hurricane for the third year in a row, was the site of yet another mass shooting, saw the end of the Supreme Court’s liberal wing and the election of a Donald Trump acolyte as governor.