Palm Coast Fire Station 25 hosts a CPR class, the Flagler NAACP hosts a Get Out the Vote class, Marineland shows “Benji” outdoors, 10 World Cup games over the weekend.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
If Trump Is Giving Diplomacy a Chance in Korea, His Critics Should, Too
The North Korea negotiations are far from over, and could still tip from a fragile diplomacy back to middle-school insults, but diplomacy isn’t just the better way. It’s the only way.
291 Gun Permits Wrongly Issued, But Adam Putnam Says “Public Safety Was Not At Risk”
An employee stopped running background checks on hundreds of applicants. The problem led to heavy criticism of Putnam amid his campaign for governor.
Thursday Briefing: World Cup, Flagler Beach Golf Course, State of the Judiciary, Congressionals at Tiger Bay
The Flagler Beach Commission again talks about what to do with its troubled golf course, the World Cup begins its month-long fanaticism, GOP congressional candidates appear at Tiger Bay.
Beyond Donation of 25 FHP Used Cars to Puerto Rico, an Island’s Policing in Crisis
Puerto Rico right now is all about a cattle pen of system failures — but one of the most important is its broken and bleeding law enforcement structure.
Campaign Cash Fuels TV Ads for Adam Putnam and Philip Levine in Governor’s Race
As the leading fundraisers in their party primaries for governor, Adam Putnam and Philip Levine have an advantage over their rivals when it comes to reaching voters.
Wednesday Briefing: Citizenship Academy Graduates, Live Bombing, Managing Cholesterol, Workforce Summit
Palm Coast graduates 18 from its 43rd Citizenship Academy, learn about managing cholesterol, live bombing in the Ocala forest, Schumann virtuosity.
Trouble For 9 Ballot Proposals, But Homestead Expansion and School Board Term Limits Would Pass
Bans on offshore oil drilling and vaping in workplaces and restaurants, new ethics standard for public officials and voting rights to ex-felons would all fail.
Tuesday Briefing: Old Kings Road Widening, Santore Fireworks Expansion, Bunnell Manager Interviews
The Palm Coast Council discusses buying land for Old Kings Road’s expansion, the Bunnell City Commission interviews three candidates for city manager, Santore and Sons, the fireworks company, seeks a zoning change.
The Truth About ‘Sanctuary Cities’
The term “sanctuary city” typically refers to a jurisdiction that wants to limit the use of local law enforcement resources to carry out federal law enforcement work, in violation of constitutional protections.
School Massacre Commission Hears Troubling Account Of Ineffective Database and Information-Sharing
Panelists on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission discussed shortcomings in a database designed to capture information about troubled students.
Monday Briefing: Congressional Forum, Sheriff’s Moves, Poor People’s Campaign, Library Policies
The district’s congressional candidates speak in St. Augustine, Sheriff’s employees begin moving out of Operations Center, the library debates policy reviews.
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.