Former colleagues say John Bolton, whose job is to marshal information and present it to the president fairly, resists input that doesn’t fit his biases and retaliates against people he disagrees with.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
Weekend Briefing: Cracker Day at Fairgrounds, Flagler Reads Together Finale, Voter Registration, Humane Society Dinner
It’s the 63rd annual Cracker Day Saturday at the Flagler County Fairgrounds, Flagler Humane Society hosts a fund-raising dinner, Flagler Reads Together comes to an end with a final event.
Thursday Briefing: State of Flagler Beach (Free!), Jail ‘N Bail for Cancer Research, Lords of 52nd Street
Larry Newsom presents the State of Flagler Beach at the Beach Front Grille, and since it’s not Palm Coast, it’s free, Lords of 52nd Street at the Auditorium, the Sheriff “arrests” people for cancer research.
Traffic Alert: Fire Moving Toward I-95 Shuts Down Interstate in Portion of Volusia
The Florida Highway Patrol is cautioning that it’s shutting down I-95 in both directions between State Road 44 and Dunlawton because of a wildfire.
Wednesday Briefing: Compassionate Friends, Renner at FCAR, DSC Job Fair, Golden Eagle Dinner
For real this time: Paul Renner is at the Flagler County Association of Realtors, William G. Schwarz, who faces life in prison over two DUI manslaughter charges, is in court, Daytona State has a jobs fair.
Superintendents Say Money May Not Cover All School Resource Officers Despite $100 Million
Superintendents are asking the state Board of Education for support in shifting money allocated to school marshals to the school resource officer program instead.
Tuesday Briefing: Judges’ Forum, Public Money For Private Schools, NAACP Meeting, Hukill
Judges Melissa Moore-Stens and R. Lee Smith appear at a forum as part of their reelection campaign, it’s Entrepreneur Night at Island Grille and at the NAACP’s meeting, Sen. Dorothy Hukill is recognized.
Gov. Scott Fuels Speculation About Senate Run By Tapping Brad Piepenbrink Again
The chief of staff announcement was made within minutes of social-media postings from the governor saying he will make a “big announcement” in two weeks.
Monday Briefing: State of Bunnell’s Police, Renner Speaks to Realtors, Afro-American Entrepreneurs, Cameron
The Bunnell City Commission hears a presentation on its police department, it’s African-American entrepreneur night at AACS, Renner gives Realtors a legislative update, the Magnificat.
Nurses Are Calling #TimesUp on Domestic Abuse, And on Those Who Doubt Victims
Emergency room encounters reveal the work that remains to be done to curb intimate partner violence. Too often, helpers abandon victims if they return to their abuser after attempting to leave.
Florida Voters Denied Choice on Gun Restrictions as Constitution Commission Holsters Proposal
Floridians won’t have an opportunity to decide whether the state should ban semi-automatic weapons or have gun-related restrictions after the Constitution Revision Commission rejected attempts to debate the proposals.
Weekend Briefing: “Blood Knot” at CRT, Home Show, Block Party, Lifeguard Certification, Lewis Black
A block party to benefit Christmas Come True, the play “Blood Knot” at CRT, the role of women in World War II, comedian Lewis Black and the home show in Daytona.
Proposal of 8-Year Term Limits For School Board Members May Head for November Ballot
School board members would be limited to eight years in office under a proposal that moved forward Wednesday in the state Constitution Revision Commission.
Thursday Briefing: Matanzas Showcase, Miss Florida at Belle Terre, Lance Blanchette, Sea Turtle Hospital
Matanzas High holds its showcase for next fall’s incoming 9th graders, Miss Florida is at Belle Terre Elementary, Lance Blanchette is introduced as the Flagler Beach Police Department’s 2nd in command.
Flagler Reads Together:
“The Alice Network”‘s Little Problem
Flagler Reads Together this year chose Kate Quinn’s “The Alice Network,” a novel about women spies during World War I wrapped in a sort of buddy road story.
Wednesday Briefing: Lifesaving Inmates, Holden House Open, Bach’s Birthday, Adult Open Gym Volleyball
Four inmates who kept another inmate from killing himself get a lifesaving award from the sheriff, historic Holden House holds an open house in Bunnell, first day of spring means it’s Bach’s birthday.
Nursing Home Industry Successfully Quashes Residents’ Bill of Rights
Florida Constitution Revision Commission member Brecht Heuchan withdrew a proposal that would have guaranteed rights to nursing-home residents and allowed them to sue facilities if those rights were violated.
Tuesday Briefing: C.J. Nelson Trial, School Fitness, Colbert Ln. Development, Bach at Stetson
The school board buys fitness equipment, Palm Coast talks big development along Colbert Lane, cooling night ahead, Bach’s birthday celebrated at Stetson, Whitney Lab tours, adult basketball at Indian Trails.
Scott Signs Bill Targeting Opioid Addiction, Imposing Limits on Prescriptions
The bill is designed, at least in part, to prevent patients from getting addicted to prescription painkillers and then turning to street drugs such as heroin and fentanyl.
Monday Briefing: Severe Weather Potential, C.J. Nelson Trial, Emergency Communications, Provencher Town Hall
A heavy trial week includes that of C.J. Nelson, severe weather could be plaguing the area today and tomorrow, the county commission settles on a contractor to build the next emergency communications network.
Are Drug Addicts Less Valuable Than Students? Florida Says Yes, Wrongly.
Politically there may be a big difference between students’ safety and drug addicts. Ethically, there is none, and financially, addicts are being lethally short-changed.
Weekend Briefing: Freedom’s Journal, The Nerd, Graham Swamp Endurance, Mozart and Friends, Youth Clinic
The Flagler Playhouse’s last weekend for “The Nerd,” a mountain-biking endurance event at Graham Swamp, NCAA youth sports clinic at Indian Trails Sports Complex, Recycled Percussion at the Auditorium.
Broad-Ranging Gun Control Proposal Could End Up on November Ballot as an Amendment
A proposed constitutional amendment would a minimum age of 21 on all firearm purchases, a 3-day waiting period and a comprehensive background check.
Thursday Briefing: Farm Swap and Music Jam, Enchanted Music of Ireland, Jake Tapper, Buxtehude
Andy Cooney brings his enchanted music to the Flagler Auditorium, and his Enchanted Music of Ireland, the Agricultural Museum’s Farm Swap, Jake Tapper on journalism.
White Supremacist Teacher Dayanna Volitich Mustn’t Be Returned to the Classroom
Try to imagine you’re a non-white student in Volitich’s social studies class. What do you do with this new information about your teacher’s “white superiority”?
Wednesday Briefing: Night in 30s, Building Robots, Cancellations Aplenty, Olde Florida Title
Spring break takes its toll as various meetings are cancelled, one of the county’s oldest businesses marks a grand opening in Flagler Beach, a freezing night ahead, a Dietrich Buxtehude fugue.
Post-Hurricane Initiatives Fall Short of Measures to Prevent Fuel Crises In Next Storms
A strategic fuel-reserve task force and using rail-tank cars to bring fuel into evacuation areas to avoid a repeat of runs on gas stations were among initiatives that failed at this year’s legislative session.
Tuesday Briefing: Marion Hammer’s NRA, Palm Coast “Progress Report,” Free Army Field Band Concert
Marion Hammer’s NRA power in Florida, the Palm Coast Council hears from its administration on the city’s “progress” so far this year, a free concert at the Flagler Auditorium.
From Guns To Opioids To Education, A Legislative Session That Got A Few Things Done
The session became dominated in February by the aftermath of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County.
Monday Briefing: Unemployment Report, Spring Break, Travel Policy, FPC Snow, Mencken on Poetry
Looks like a lot of Flagler County is taking the week off, not just schools, as spring break takes precedence over most duties all the way up to criminal court.
Nobody Knows How Many Kids Get
Caught With Guns in School. Here’s Why.
Lax reporting by schools, lax oversight by state and federal authorities make it nearly impossible to say just how many students get caught taking firearms into public schools each year.
Bunnell Police Find Weapon Used in School Incident, a BB Gun, and Locate 2nd Boy
The gun allegedly brandished during a school-related incident was a BB gun, and the second boy located in relation with the incident may not be facing charges.
NRA Files Challenge Moments After Gov. Scott Signs School-Safety and Gun-Control Bill
The new law raises the permissible age to buy rifles from 18 to 21 and imposes a three-day waiting period for the purchase of rifles and other long guns, among other provisions.
Florida Increases Per-Student Funding By $101, Much Of It For Security and Mental Health
The annual school funding formula would include a new category for mental-health funding with $69 million and increase the school-coop pot by $97 million, to $162 million.
Weekend Briefing: Paul Miller in Court, Commissioner Eric Cooley, Lions’ Dining in Dark, Seafood Festival, Snowfest
Flagler Beach murderer Paul Miller, now 70, comes back to court, the Seafood Festival in Central Park, snow at FPC, the Lions’ Club’s Dining in the Dark fundraiser, symphonic hip hop.
Thursday Briefing: Eric Cooley Takes Office, Flagler Playhouse’s “Nerd,” Matanzas Stands With Parkland, Flood Risks
School and sheriff’s officials talk school security, Matanzas High School stands with Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High, “The Nerd” is back at the Flagler Playhouse.
Wednesday Briefing: Canales in Court, County Commission Candidate Forum, Grand Living, Garcia-Marquez
Jonathan Canales, the veteran who shot his wife in the neck in the Monxed, is scheduled–again–to appear in court, a GOP forum for all county commission candidates, Grand Living replaces Coquina Construction in Flagler Beach.
House Edges Closer to Vote on Bill Mixing Guns With School Safety and New Limits
Those younger than 21 would be prohibited from buying rifles, others would have a 3-day waiting period. Coaches and others could be “deputized” as school marshals.
Tuesday Briefing: School Board Talks Security (Secretly), Palm Coast Photo Contest, Improv for Joy
The Flagler School Board meets in closed-door session to discuss campus security and in open to talk land sale, Palm Coast launches the year’s photo contest, a DC+SC prof talks on the joys of improv.
Senate Passes Safety Plan, Including Armed Teacher Program and $97 Million for More School Cops
Flagler County would be in line for a substantial increase in dollars allocated for school resource deputies, and would have the authority to implement a school marshal program.
First Responders in Florida Aren’t Covered for PTSD. That May Change After Parkland.
Like many states, Florida does not provide lost wages to first responders disabled with PTSD. A bill that would change that is now gaining momentum after 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last month.
Monday Briefing: Kristin McCabe-Kline, Repaving Old Dixie Highway, U.S. Air Force Band, Tennis Day
Dr. Kristin McCabe-Kline, the emergency medicine director, is FHF’s physician of the quarter, the county commission approves a repaving contract, the legislature talks Daylight Saving permanence.
Florida Senate Backs Arming Teachers And Rejects Assault Weapons Ban
The Senate plan and a similar House proposal would allow school boards to decide whether they want to implement a “marshal” proposal to arm certain teachers.
Gov. Scott Pleads For More Cops In Schools as Safety Plans Provoke Divisions
Scott’s $500 million package would require, among other things, school boards to assign a law enforcement officer to each school and at least one resource officer for every 1,000 students.
Weekend Briefing: The Nerd, Student March, Flagler Reads Together, Fearless Women, Chamber Players
Students march to Flagler Beach, “The Nerd” at the Playhouse, Flagler Reads Together kickoff, the Palm Coast Chamber Players in concert, Robert Wittman, founder of the FBI’s art crimes division, is back, and much more.
Tougher Texting-While-Driving Law Passes House Overwhelmingly But Stalls In Senate
Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley has indicated the proposal likely won’t appear in the Appropriations Committee before the legislative session ends next week.
Thursday Briefing: Flagler Volunteer Services’ $10,000, Nate McLaughlin Visits Democrats, Ex-Youth Pastor In Court
Flagler Volunteer Services raised $10,000 at its masked and Venice-styled fund-raiser, Chris Miller, the ex-youth pastor found guilty of molesting children, is in court on a probation violation, spring conferences in elementary schools.
Ding Dong! The Obamacare Tax Penalty Is(n’t) Dead–Not Until 2019
That means you still will owe an Obamacare tax penalty if you didn’t have health insurance or an exemption from the mandate in 2017. The same holds true for this year.
Democrats, ‘Party of Intellectuals,’ Have a Second-Amendment Blind Spot
Americans possesses an unalienable and inherent right of self-defense, a lawfully armed citizenry is a free citizenry, and no government has merited the total trust of its people.
Wednesday Briefing: Wadsworth Skate Park Upgrades, Compassionate Friends, Sabal Palms, Orwell
Wadsworth skate park is getting an $80,000 upgrade, Sabal Palms, another assisted living facility, holds its grand opening, texting while driving at the Legislature, Orwell on poverty.