The district’s congressional candidates speak in St. Augustine, Sheriff’s employees begin moving out of Operations Center, the library debates policy reviews.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
Pious Homophobes Win One
The Supreme Court in its wedding-cake ruling declared gays once again second-class citizens, at least when their sexuality has to compete with someone else’s more stone-throwing version of Christianity.
Rise in Florida’s Uninsured Children Contrasts With Continued Declines in Other Big States
Florida lost ground while states such as Texas and California continued to make progress. Those states lowered their uninsured rates by 1 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively.
Weekend Briefing: Porgy and Bess, Portugal Flag-Raising, Family Fun Day, USS Liberty, ‘What About Me?’
A Portugal flag-raising at Palm Coast City Hall, beach clean-up in Marineland, Porgy and Bess and the First Church of Palm Coast, Watson Realty’s Family Fun Day Summer Party.
Is Your Car a Weapon? Supreme Court Leaning to Yes in Manslaughter Case
Under Florida law, the use of a weapon bumped up the manslaughter charge from a second-degree felony to a first-degree felony, carrying a longer prison sentence.
Thursday Briefing: ‘Smog of the Sea,’ Democrats’ Open House, GOP Congressionals’ Forum
Flagler County Democrats host a daylong open house at their Palm Coast headquarters, Flagler Republicans host a forum featuring three congressional candidates, a film screening at DSC for World Oceans Day.
29 Million Domestic Visitors Push Florida Tourism To New Quarterly Record
Florida drew an estimated 33.2 million visitors from January through March, which was a 7.4 percent increase over the same period in 2017.
Wednesday Briefing: Cars As Weapons, Smart City Workshop, FTI Graduation, Parent’s New Parent
Barbara Holley takes over Parent Magazine, Flagler Technical Institute holds its graduation, Palm Coast talks innovative city districts, Martha Argerich is 77.
Billionaire Investor Jeff Greene Becomes 5th Florida Democrat In Race For Governor
Greene, 63, who lives in Palm Beach two doors down from President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2010.
Questioning War Is No Disrespect to Veterans. It’s a Civic Duty.
Americans remain unconcerned about wars the U.S. is currently fighting (at last count, we’re bombing at least 7 countries) though they foot the bill both in tax dollars and lives.
Tuesday Briefing: Chess on the Porch, Sportsfishing Club, Code of Conduct, Sewer Plant Opening, Road Closure
The school board talks Code of Conduct and surplus property, Palm Coast basks in a new sewer plant, chess at the Humidor, Florida Park Drive road closure.
Domestic Violence’s Overlooked Damage: Concussion And Brain Injury
Survivors of domestic violence may be suffering largely in silence from the same traumatic brain injuries, memory loss and PTSD seen in veterans and athletes.
Monday Briefing: Tascarella v. Flagler, Customary Beach Use, Congressional District 6 Forum
Three Democrats and three Republicans for the congressional district seat that includes Flagler appear at a St. Augustine forum, the Flagler County Commission adopts a customary use of beaches ordinance.
Legalizing Recreational Pot Key Issue For Florida Democrats’ Gubernatorial Candidates
John Morgan calls recreational weed a make-or-break issue for Democratic candidates seeking to replace outgoing Republican Gov. Rick Scott.
Weekend Briefing: First Friday in Flagler Beach, Synchronized Swimming Show, LGBT Pride
Flagler Beach’s increasingly popular First Fridays, assuming there’s no rain, the Synchro Belles put on a show, Flagler Volunteer Services put on a hurricane prep presentation.
Florida Prisons Proposal To Cut Visitation Hours In Half Draws Outrage and Pleas
Visits help cut recidivism and keep families close, as recognized even by state law, but Florida prison officials are looking to cut costs.
Thursday Briefing: Flagler’s Education Leaders, African-American Mentoring Program, Marineland Arch
Flagler County Superintendent Jim Tager and DSC’s Tom LoBasso and FTI’s Renee Stauffacher at Common Ground breakfast, African American Mentors and their students are recognized.
John Ward’s Insult To Puerto Ricans
John Ward is a GOP candidate for the congressional that includes Flagler. He doesn’t think Puerto Rican storm refugees–American citizens, all–should register to vote in Florida. He’s wrong.
Wednesday Briefing: Horseshoe Pitching Champs, Pickleball Open Court, Emerson Quartet’s Bach
Bob Flanagan and Steve Hoffman take horseshow tourney, give pickleball a try, longshot Republican gubernatorial candidates Bruce Nathan and Bob White debate.
Court Largely Sides With Florida State In Weapons Dispute With Florida Carry
An appeals court Friday backed Florida State University in much of a legal battle with a gun-rights group about weapons on campus, though the case goes back to circuit court.
Tuesday Briefing: Graduation Time, County Defends Tourism Website, Palm Coast Shortlists Council Candidates
FPC and Matanzas have their graduation ceremonies at the Ocean Center, Palm Coast short-lists candidates for the appointment to a council seat, the county administration defends its expensive tourism website.
Yes, You May Smoke It: Judge Rules Florida’s Ban on Smoking Medical Marijuana Unconstitutional
Judge Karen Gievers found that a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2016 gives eligible patients the right to smoke the treatment in private.
Voices From the Grave
Maj. Sullivan Ballou’s Last Letter to His Wife
Maj. Sullivan Ballou’s letter to his wife, written a week before he was killed at Bull Run in 1861, is one of the great eulogies of sorrow and divided duty to nation and family. As a memorial to the victims of war, who include survivors, especially civilians, the letter has few equals.
Sales Tax ‘Holiday’ For Disaster-Preparedness Supplies Set For June 1-7 Across Florida
Expanded from three days last year, the tax holiday has drawn added attention after Florida experienced hurricanes in 2016 and 2017 after a decade’s calm.
Memorial Weekend Briefing: Last Day of School, Historical Society Lunch, Lifeguard Classes, Patriotic Jax
Three days of lifeguard certification classes, Scenic A1A Committee meeting, Jacksonville Symphony plays to the armed forces, history talks at Bunnell’s Holden House.
Yet Another Storm Brews With Heavy Rains–and Hurricane Season on Horizon
A massive storm over the Yucatan Peninsula may drench Florida over Memorial Day weekend, days before the start of another hurricane season.
Thursday Briefing: Flagler Beach PD’s Liz Williams Swears-Out, Talent Show, Beach Privatization
Liz Williams retires after 23 years on the Flagler Beach police force, most of them as a detective, the Spotlight on Flagler Youth takes center stage at the Auditorium, FHF officials address the economic development board.
Wednesday Briefing: Chamber Music Camp Recital, Compassionate Friends, 6th Grade Oscars
Flagler Youth Orchestra students are in performance in the annual Chamber Music Camp Recital, Compassionate Friends meet, Belle Terre Elementary’s 6th Grade Oscars.
Brushing Aside 1st Amendment Claim, Appeals Court Uphold Florida Ban on a Prison Magazine
Florida alone among 50 states bans Prison Legal News. Paul Wright, the publisher of the magazine, intends to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Tuesday Briefing: Donating to Emergency Responders, Campaign Event Focuses on Opioids, School Board Procedures
A $3,000 donation for Flagler Beach Police and Flagler County Emergency Services, a candidate for the county commission talks opioids, the Flagler County School Board considers its own procedures.
Palm Coast’s Opelka Wins Pro Tennis Title in France, 2nd on Circuit
Opelka previously defeated former Top 10 player Ernests Gulbis in the semifinals, and now has a lot of momentum heading into French Open qualifying.
FPL Will Reimburse Customers Modest Amount Following Overcharge For Matthew Recovery
For a residential customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a month, the credit would amount to $3.18, to be credited in a future bill.
Monday Briefing: Big Spending at Tourism Bureau, African American Entrepreneurs Club, R-Section Syringes
The county commission readies to spend nearly $300,000 on a website for just one of its divisions, the African American Entrepreneurs Club meets, Ford on man.
Israel’s Mass Shootings
You can always depend on Israel periodically to mass-murder bunches of Arabs in proportions as lopsided and unforgiving as our own mass shootings in the U.S., then scapegoat the bloodletting.
Weekend Briefing: Weeks Sentencing, Singer Verdict, Salvo Comedy, Island Festival, “49 Pulses,” Free Clinic
Another weekend of wall-to-wall events including a comedy show at Salvo, the lifeguard challenge, Community Band Concert, a Free Clinic fund-raiser and plenty more.
In Lawsuit, Pam Bondi Accuses Pill Manufacturers of Causing Opioid Crisis
Bondi filed a civil suit accusing five of the nation’s largest opioid manufacturers and four distributors of causing the opioid crisis that is killing an average 15 Floridians daily.
Thursday Briefing: Dorothy Singer Trial, Palm Coast Ironies, Inspired Mic at Europa, Lifeguard Challenge
A “Palm Coast” billboard in the Hammock has Scenic A1A’s chairman scratching his head over its ironies, the Inspired Mic at the New Europa, Dorothy Singer trial day three.
Wednesday Briefing: New Assisted Living on Cypress Point, Kids v. Plastics, FPC Spring Band Concert
The Flagler Palm Coast High band has its Spring Concert, Old Kings problem solvers had another kids’ town hall in Flagler Beach, Michelle Goldberg on the “grotesque spectacle in Jerusalem.”
Court Upholds Shifting Burden of Proof to Prosecution in Stand Your Ground Cases
With backing from the NRA the Legislature in 2017 shifted the burden from defendants to prosecutors to prove whether self-defense claims are justified.
Tuesday Briefing: School Board Decides Palm Harbor’s Fate, Singer Trial Day 2, Kids’ Town Hall
The school board will vote on whether to revoke Palm Harbor Academy’s charter, opening arguments and the prosecution’s case in the Dorothy Singer murder trial.
After Worst Harvest in 8 Decades, Florida Citrus Industry Is Losing Its Iconic Status
Florida’s overall citrus production for the current season to 49.65 million boxes, the lowest cumulative mark since the 1937-38 season, when 40.87 million boxes were filled.
Monday Briefing: Dorothy Singer Trial, County Goal-Setting, Law Enforcement Memorial, Remembering NAACP’s Harry T. Moore
The Sheriff’s Office hosts the annual memorial ceremony for fallen officers, accused murderer Dorothy Singer goes on trial, the Bunnell City Commission talks LED lights.
Call to Service: An Invitation To Join the Palm Coast Kiwanis Club
The Palm Coast Kiwanis Club, whose foundation makes roughly $80,000 in donations a year, is looking for new members to participate and volunteer in a number of outreach activities.
Haspel, Spies and the Destruction of Evidence
The CIA official who ordered the destruction of videotapes that had documented the treatment of terror suspects, says he told Gina Haspel what he intended to do.
ProPublica, WMFE and Orlando Public Library to Host Forum on PTSD in First Responders
First responders who are interested in sharing their stories are also invited to register for interview recording sessions.
No Move to Plug Budget Despite Warnings About Cuts to Prisons’ Substance-Abuse Programs
The Senate appropriations chairman said lawmakers aren’t planning to plug a $28 million budget gap at the Florida Department of Corrections until next year.
Weekend Briefing: Picnics and Pops, Art League’s Textures, ‘Little Mermaid,’ CRT’s ‘Agnes of God’
The Palm Coast Arts Foundation tries again to host the Jacksonville Symphony’s Picnics and Pops concert, Agnes of God in its final weekend at CRT, FPC’s Little Mermaid at the Auditorium Friday and Saturday, and plenty more.
Thursday Briefing: Customary Beach Use in Flagler Beach, FPC’s ‘Little Mermaid’ at Auditorium, Stetson’s MA Graduates
FPC’s “Little Mermaid” opens at the Flagler Auditorium, Soderberg, Sevigny and Upchurch are at Tiger Bay in Daytona, Flagler Beach votes to protect customary use of beaches.
Trump Is Rescinding $7 Billion in Children’s Health Insurance. Should You Be Worried?
Trump wants to eliminate $15 billion in federal spending, including $7 billion from the popular Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Wednesday Briefing: Skywarn Storm Spotter Class, Florida Park Drive Detour, Rubio Mobile Office Hours
Wannabe storm spotters get a free class at Flagler’s Emergency Operations Center, Sen. Marco Rubio staffers are at the Flagler County Public Library, the Carver Center auction nears its final days.