Wealthy donors Wayne Huizenga Jr. and Jeff Vinik lobbied then-Gov. Rick Scott for the lucrative tax break for the Rybovich superyacht marina in West Palm Beach — and won it. Poorer communities lost out.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
FDLE Lacked Oversight of Employees’ Text Messages and Use of Personal Devices for State Business
Florida’s top law enforcement agency did not have safeguards in place to ensure text messages sent and received by its employees were retained as required by state law, according to an audit released last week.
Nikki Fried Backs Proposed Requirement to Keep Fingerprints of Concealed-Weapons Applicants
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is backing a measure that would require her agency to retain fingerprints of applicants seeking concealed-weapon licenses.
What Would It Cost to Buy the 2020 Election?
At $100 a vote, a victory in November 2020 would run Michael Bloomberg $6.3 billion. He is currently sitting on a personal fortune worth $52 billion. He could easily afford it.
A Florida City Wants to Ban Styrofoam. State Wants Court to Affirm Preemption Law.
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office Tuesday urged the Florida Supreme Court to reject an appeal in a battle about the city of Coral Gables’ attempt to ban the use of Styrofoam food containers.
Tuesday Briefing: FTI’s Heavy Equipment Simulator, Stetson Choral Union and Chamber Orchestra, Trump in South Florida
Techniques to cope with fatigue, frustration, isolation, and poor sleep at the Flagler Beach library, the Stetson Choral Union and Chamber Orchestra performs in DeLand, William Seward.
State Seeks to Strictly Deny Home Rule to Florida Cities and Counties on Gun Regulations
Pointing to a “hierarchical relationship” with local governments, the state late Friday asked an appeals court to uphold a 2011 law that has threatened tough penalties if city and county officials approve gun regulations.
Monday Briefing: Cooler, Citizens of the Year, Mitigation Strategy, Colin Kaepernick, Alateen Sereniteen
Anthony Butrym and Dawn Butrym were both awarded ‘Citizen of the Year’ for the State of Florida in recognition of their volunteer efforts that led to finding missing and endangered
juvenile Rickey Wheeler alive.
Political Committee Forms to Oppose 2020 Marijuana Legalization Ballot Initiative
Organizers of Floridians Against Recreational Marijuana, or FARM, issued a news release Friday announcing the formation of the political committee, aimed at combating “the mega-marijuana, out-of-state corporate interests” behind legalization.
Daytona Tortugas Respond to Major League Baseball’s Plan to Eliminate The Team
The owners and staff of the Daytona Tortugas minor league team in Daytona Beach respond to Major League Baseball’s plan to eliminate 42 minor league teams, including the Tortugas.
Fast-Track Enrollment Saturday at Daytona State College, Dec. 7
DSC offers an easy-access, no-cost session – Enrollment Day – on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at DSC’s Daytona Beach Campus, Wetherell Center, located at 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd.
Elizabeth Warren’s Medicare For All: Unfair and Irresponsible
Elizabeth Warren’s Medicare for all proposal is right in principle but is not realistic, fair or honest and it ensures that Warren’s candidacy will not succeed at a time when a door knob should have the capabilities of defeating Donald Trump.
Flagler Health Department Increases In-School Flu Vaccinations by 13%
This year, the Flagler Health Department vaccinated 1,391 students and 114 faculty members, a 13 percent increase over 1,331 vaccinated in the 2017-18 school year.
Thursday Briefing: Legislative Delegation, Superintendent Search Public Forum, AdventHealth Robotics, Voltaire
Flagler County’s legislative delegation hears local concerns and hopes for the coming session, the public is invited to a forum on choosing the next school superintendent, the Inspired Mic is at Hidden Treasures.
Americans Love CBD Products, But It’s a Wild West
Americans’ exuberance for CBD could well be short-lived. That’s because many products currently marketed under the CBD banner are of low or variable quality.
Appointments to Federal Bench Open Two More Seats on Florida Supreme Court
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara Lagoa’s appointment to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, setting the stage for Gov. Ron DeSantis to make two appointments to the state’s highest court.
Wednesday Briefing: Paws to Read, Dan Wagner at Tiger Bay, Bombing in Ocala Forest, Stetson Jazz
Nuclear and national security expert Dan Wagner is at Flagler Tiger Bay, A1A construction in pictures, Humane Society’s Paws to Read at the public library, the Stetson Jazz Ensemble performs.
Whose News Literacy? What’s ‘Fake News’? Resources for Teachers and Students Raise Questions.
Inappropriately named “fake news” is real, pernicious and dangerous, but the tools developed to detect it and teach students savvy media literacy can be problematic, with an over-reliance on the status quo.
DeSantis Wants $1 Billion Injection into Public Education, Mostly For Teacher Pay
After dubbing next year the “Year of the Teacher,” DeSantis has made two major teacher-compensation packages the centerpiece of his education spending plan for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
Tuesday Briefing: School Board Prayer, UNF-Palm Coast, Board Reorganizations, Food Truck Tuesday
A committee of the state university system’s board discusses legislative budget requests, among them Palm Coast’s UNF partnership, the school board debates prayers before meetings, Palm Coast adds a cell tower.
Happy Birthday to Sen. Inhofe, Undisputed Champion Climate Denier in U.S. Politics
Jim Inhofe, the Senate’s unwavering climate denier, turns 85 on Sunday. Peter Dysktra requested a Q&A with him when he turns 100 to see how the “hoax” has turned out.
DeSantis Proposes $91.4 Billion Budget, With Focus on Teachers and Environment
Lawmakers will decide whether to move forward with DeSantis’ priorities, such as his plan to set minimum teacher salaries at $47,500 — an idea that would cost $603 million next year.
Fact Check: Surgeon General’s Marijuana Warning of ‘Gateway Effect’ Revives Controversial Claim
Whether marijuana can “prime your brain for addiction” elicits responses all over the map — reflecting just how contested this issue is and how difficult it is to speak definitively about marijuana’s impact.
Monday Briefing: What To Do With the Worthless Sears Building, Mosquitos, Flagler Youth Orchestra’s Legends Concert
The Flagler County Commission reorganizes and decides what to do with its plagued and unwanted Sears building, the Flagler Youth Orchestra holds its first major concert of the season at the Flagler Auditorium.
Daytona State College Announces New Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting
Daytona State College’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting brings the total number of bachelor’s degrees offered by DSC to seven. The new program is scheduled to begin fall 2020.
Flagler Professor Discovers Unknown Spanish-Timucua Book While on Sabbatical
Timothy J. Johnson, Craig and Audrey Thorn Distinguished Professor of Religion at Flagler College, recently discovered a Spanish-Timucua book by the Franciscan Friar Francisco Pareja. The book, previously unknown to scholars, was published in Mexico in 1628.
La Bonne Vieille Veuve Clicquot: History of Champagne’s Great Widow
As you get ready for New Year’s Eve, be sure to pick up the real stuff. Like Veuve Clicquot, the champagne served at Rick’s Cafe in Casablanca. Here’s a brief history of the Veuve Clicquot Champagne and its maker, Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin.
DeSantis Pitches Bonuses for Teachers and Principals Based on School Grades
Bonuses would be up to $7,500 for teachers and up to $10,000 for principals, drawing immediate criticism from the teachers union, which has long pushed for salary increases rather than bonuses.
Now Calling It ‘Dangerous,’ Florida House Moves Toward Abolishing Constitution Revision Commission
The Constitution Revision Commission drew across-the-aisle scorn for the manner in which it successfully put seven amendments on the November 2018 ballot. Voters may get to vote on abolishing it–through a constitutional amendment in 2020.
Sunshine State News and Nancy Smith Say Goodbye After 10 Years
Nancy Smith has been the editor of Sunshine State News, the conservative online news site, for all its 10 years. Smith describes those years and why the time has come to say goodbye.
Lawsuit Over Banned Use of Loudspeaker for Christian Prayer Before School’s Game Is Back On
A federal appeals court Wednesday overturned the dismissal of a lawsuit about whether the Florida High School Athletic Association improperly prevented Christian schools from offering a prayer over the stadium loudspeaker before a 2015 state championship football game.
Wednesday Briefing: Kevin James, Joseph Colon in Court, Human Trafficking, Women in Leadership
Comedian Kevin James is at the Peabody, accused murderer Joseph Colon is scehduled for a pre-trial, the Public Safety Coordinating Council talks human trafficking, the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce hosts a Women in Leadership luncheon.
Measure Would Loosen Minimum Mandatory Drug Sentences, But Police Chiefs Object
A bill would loosen mandatory minimum sentencing laws for some drug-trafficking offenses. The proposed change that ran into opposition from law enforcement officials.
Tuesday Briefing: Judge Totten Seated, Affordable Housing, Town Howl on Dog Chaining, Suicide Loss
Newly appointed County Judge Andrea Totten is seated, the Flagler Humane Society hosts a “Town Howl” on dog chaining, The Bunnell commission considers rezoning for apartments, Flagler’s Community Traffic Safety Team meets.
Solitary Confinement in Florida’s Prisons and Juvenile Detention Challenged in Court
In separate but parallel lawsuits, civil-rights and legal groups are challenging Florida’s use of solitary confinement in prisons and juvenile detention centers —- but are facing pushback from state agencies.
DeSantis Snaps Over Questions About Connections to Indicted Ukrainian-American Businessmen
Pressure has grown over the past month for Gov. Ron DeSantis to answer questions about tensions in the state Republican Party and his ties to two Ukrainian-American businessmen indicted on federal campaign-finance charges.
Thursday Briefing: Chamber’s Salute to Veterans, Rubio Staff at Wickline, Community Meeting on The Gardens
The Chamber of Commerce hosts its Veterans breakfast, Sen. Marco Rubuio’s staff holds office hours at Flagler Beach’s Wickline Center, a group opposing The Gardens development holds a community meeting.
How Republicans, Not Russians, Threaten Fair Elections
Republicans are less likely to win elections when voter turnout is high. So GOP lawmakers have been doing all they can to restrict or roll back voting rights.
Florida Supreme Court Set to Uphold Restrictions on Felon Voting Rights Based on Repayments
Florida Supreme Court justices appeared convinced Wednesday that a constitutional amendment, overwhelmingly approved during the November 2018 election, requires payment of restitution, fees and other legal costs for felons to have their voting rights restored.
With Recreational Pot on Florida’s Horizon, a House Panel Looks to Oregon for Insights
Facing the possibility that Floridians could be asked next year to legalize recreational marijuana, a House panel on Tuesday turned to Oregon to learn more about the economic, environmental and health impacts the state has faced since authorizing adult pot use four years ago.
NRA and Attorney General Moody File Briefs Attacking Proposed Assault Weapons Ban in Florida
Three briefs were filed Friday in opposition to the proposed amendment, which the political committee Ban Assault Weapons NOW is trying to place on the November 2020 ballot.
AdventHealth’s Dr. Martin Alan Kubiet, 1963-2019
Dr. Martin Kubiet, beloved husband, father, son, and brother, and known to friends as “Marty,” passed away on October 31, 2019, at the age of 56. An obituary.
Monday Briefing: Diabetes’ Blue Flag, Amy Lukasik Elevated, Bunnell’s Homeless Shelter, Navy Bombing
The Bunnell City Commission holds a special meeting to comply with a Justice Department request, Amy Lukasik is named Flagler’s permanent tourism director, Maria Howell is back in court.
As Local News Outlets Shutter, Rural America Suffers Most
Amid the steady decline in local news, some states are considering stepping in to support the Fourth Estate. But critics worry that doing so might undermine the press’s role as a government watchdog.
Water Less With Seasonal Focus on Conservation To Sustain Water Supply
The St. Johns River Water Management District has launched a new year-long “Water Less” campaign to help raise awareness about water conservation and to communicate easy ways to integrate outdoor water conservation into our daily lives without sacrificing curb appeal.
Don’t Leave Gender Equality or Definition to the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court’s ruling will have a drastic material impact on the millions of transgender people living in the United States. Allowing this discrimination to continue will threaten many more with unemployment and economic hardship.
School Safety Commission Calls for More Mental Health Funding in Second Major Report
A state commission tasked with making school-safety policy recommendations to the Florida Legislature approved a draft report on Thursday that will highlight a need for more mental health funding.
Thursday Briefing: Turtle Hospital Fundraiser Nets $7,000, Hall of Terror, Sean Kennard’s Piano Studio
The annual Taste of the Fun Coast fund-raiser for Whitney Lab’s turtle hospital raises $7,000 in three hours, the Halloween Hall of Terror continues at Station 21 in Palm Coast, a Stetson faculty concert.
More Questions from Court Ruling Pointing to Allowances for Felons Who Can’t Pay All Obligations Before Voting
Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee has sent a memo to county elections supervisors with direction about complying with a federal judge’s ruling on felons’ voting rights — but questions remain about how the state will move forward.
Wednesday Briefing: Hall of Terror, University Board of Governors, Naturalist John Serrao, Alice Munro
The university system’s Board of Governors votes on UNF’s plans for Palm Coast, Palm Coast Fire Station 21 transforms into a Hall of Terror for Halloween, Alice Munro’s happy shades.
