It’s Down Syndrome Buddy Walk time, an NCAA Youth Sports Clinic at Indian Trails Sports Complex, Artist of the Year Judi Wormeck’s show opens in Flagler Beach, remembering John Updike and Rabbit Angstrom.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
In Stunning Move, State Attorney Ayala Won’t Pursue Death Sentences in Orange and Osceola
Ayala’s decision infuriated Gov. Scott, Attorney General Bondi and police organizations, but drew praise from others who see the position more in line with a growing national trend by courts, some governors and legislatures.
Thursday Briefing: St. Patrick’s Day, Cynical Lawyers, Picnics and Pops Tickets, the Great Yale Snowball Fight
A relatively quiet official day locally but not a quiet St. Patrick’s drinking day, the Palm Coast Arts Foundation’s tickets for the Picnics and Pops concert on sale, the story of the great Yale snowball fight.
Senate Approves Stand Your Ground Change To Make It Easier For Shooters To Use Defense
The bill would shift the burden from defendants to prosecutors in the pre-trial hearings, vastly strengthening defendants’ ability to use the defense, but at significant cost to prosecutors.
Wednesday Briefing: Cue Democratic Social, Changing State Colleges, Islamophobes in Europe
Flagler Democrats gather for ma social with new leader Mike Cocchiola at Cue Note Billiards, pushing financial literacy in Tallahassee, Islamophobia’s comebacks, Beethoven’s genius through deafness.
A Country Unbecoming In the Age of Trump
Immigrants targeted for prosecution or removal could be the people who built your house, picked the fruit for your breakfast, and tidied up the hotel room where you last stayed.
Prohibition on Liquor In Grocery Stores Approaching Repeal as Bill Advances
The contentious bill, sought by Wal-Mart and Target and opposed by Publix and ABC, needs to make it through one more committee in the House and awaits a floor vote in the Senate.
Tuesday Briefing: Recovery Centers, A Night In The 30s, Palm Coast Survey Results, Willoughby Brothers
The Palm Coast City Council hears the results of its citizens’ survey, involving thousands, the Willoughby Brothers are at the Flagler Auditorium, it’ll be in the 30s again tonight.
Florida’s Lethal Injections Ready to Stab Again As Gov. Scott Signs Death Penalty Bill
Florida is again poised to begin executions and prosecute death penalty cases after Gov. Rick Scott signed a law Monday aimed at fixing flaws in the state’s capital sentencing procedure.
Monday Briefing: Flagler Budget Crunch, Ron Bolser, Bunnell’s Fire Chief, Josh Crews Writing Project
The Flagler County Commission gathers to take stock of its Hurricane Matthew-whacked budget situation, Bunnell set to appoint Ron Bolser fire chief, Josh Crews Writing Project at Princess Place.
An Outbreak of Anti-Semitism in an Angry and Fearful America Since Trump’s Election
“Documenting Hate,” an attempt to document hate crimes and bigotry from a divided America, has recorded more than 330 reports of anti-Semitic incidents during a three-month span from early November to early February.
Ron DeSantis’s First Principle: Do Harm
Obamacare repealer Rep. Ron DeSantis, whose congressional district includes Flagler, has a solution for cancer patients without insurance: the emergency room. A few corrections are in order.
Lopsided House Votes To Abolish Enterprise Florida and Economic Development Limbs
The House also voted 80-35 to approve a separate measure (HB 9) that would overhaul the structure and contract-reporting requirements of Visit Florida.
U.S. Economy Adds 235,000 Jobs,
Continuing Long Pace of Robust Growth
The unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent, not quite the post-Great Recession low of 4.6 percent recorded last November, but close enough.
Weekend Briefing: Matanzas Band Plays On, Bike Week, Flagler Reads, Food Giveaway, Seafood Festival
The Matanzas High School Band takes the stage again after the loss of one of its own, the Blessing of the Fleet on Sunday, the Seafood Festival returns to Central Park, Ron DeSantis town halls.
Florida Senate Backs Unanimous Juries in Death Sentences
Thursday’s Senate vote — on the third day of the 2017 legislative session — would ostensibly fix the weaknesses identified by the majority of the Florida Supreme Court with the current law.
Lawmakers Back Secrecy for Murder Witnesses
Witnesses’ identifying information would remain secret for two years after the date of the incidents, except to prosecutors and police.
Thursday Briefing: Flagler Beach Swears-In Shupe and Carney, Tolerance, Islamic Prayer and Back Pain
The Flagler Beach City Commission swears-in its two winning incumbents, Marshall Shupe and Kim Carney, explaining the consequences of self-harm, amusing ourselves to death.
Wednesday Briefing: Flagler Beach v. Sklar Marina, Teacher Pay, Pynchon on Balance, Kiwanis Grants
The Flagler Beach City Commission holds a closed-door meeting to discuss its legal case against Howard Skalr’s marina on the Intracoastal, Thomas Pynchon on balance in media, the Public Safety Coordinating Council meets for the first time in two months.
In State of the State, Gov. Scott Takes Fight for Economic Incentives to House Speaker
The speech to open the 2017 legislative session came just two days before the House is expected to take up legislation that would abolish the economic-development agency Enterprise Florida and restrict tourism-marketer Visit Florida.
Tuesday Briefing: Elections in Flagler Beach and Bunnell, Palm Coast “Radio,” State of the State, Driverless Cars
Two seats in Flagler Beach, two seats in Bunell up in this election featuring three candidates in each contest, Palm Coast will re-discuss the Milissa Holland radio show with a new proposal, Rick Scott does State of the State, the school board holds an epic workshop.
Felons Seeking to Regain Right To Vote Look to Constitutional Amendment
The constitutional change, if approved, could open up voting rights for more than 700,000 Floridians, although fewer than 300,000 could be expected to apply, at least initially.
Monday Briefing: Tourism Tax Increase, Short-Term Vacation Rental Regulation, Felon Voting Rights, Dred Scott at 160
The county commission considers raising the county’s tourism tax from 4 to 5 percent, the Supreme Court reviews the proposed ballot wording of a constitutional amendment that would restore voting rights to felons who complete their sentence,
Rideshare South: Why Way Fewer Teens Are Bothering With a Driver’s License
The drop has been sharpest in the South, where the share of high school seniors with a driver’s license fell from 88.6 percent in 1996 to 71.2 percent in 2015.
Gov. Scott Names Political Loyalists To Constitutional Revision Commission
Scott’s selections included a number of Republican political allies, including influential insurance lobbyist Fred Karlinsky, a major Scott political fundraiser, and Brecht Heuchan, a key player with the governor’s “Let’s Get to Work” political committee.
Florida Supreme Court Upholds Ban On Openly Carrying Guns in 4-2 Ruling
Justices, in a 4-2 ruling, said the state law “regulates only one manner of bearing arms and does not impair the exercise of the fundamental right to bear arms.”
Weekend Briefing: Job Fair, 1st Amendment Vigil, Flagler Reads History, Haw Creek Paddle, Walk for Food
FPC’s Walk for Food on Saturday, First Amendment Vigil in Daytona Saturday evening, Flagler Centennial events from Sisco Deen on the county’s history to a kayaking trip, Florida’s anniversary, much more.
Florida’s Fractured Republican Leaders Heading Into Contentious Legislative Session
A philosophical schism is plaguing a fractured Republican Party leading up to what insiders characterize as potentially one of the most contentious legislative sessions in modern history.
Thursday Briefing: Flagler’s New Website, Thai By Thai Returns, Dr. Seuss Night, Lambert Avenue Drainage, King Kong
It’s Dr. Seuss Night at Rymfire and Wadsworth Elementaries, on Dr. Seuss’s 113th anniversary, Thai by Thai welcomes the diners’ club, Flagler Beach’s Lambert Avenue residents get a drainage presentation.
Guns at Florida Airports, Colleges, Government Buildings: House Speaker Says “Let’s Try It”
Some 39 bills, resolutions and resolution-like memorials have been filed in the Legislature so far that include language that would make gun possession and carrying more permissive in Florida.
Don’t Fall For False Tone of Moderation in Trump’s Fact-Challenged Speech to Congress
Some pundits and lawmakers applauded Trump for this “presidential” moment. Tone aside, however, the substance of the speech doesn’t diverge from Trump’s radical nationalist extremism, argues Peter Certo.
Wednesday Briefing: Thrive, Beer Day, Facts, Ethics, Maya Angelou, Disney’s “Exclusively Gay Moment”
A relatively quiet day in Flagler but it’s Beer Day in Iceland, the trouble dogmatic beliefs, and how Disney’s new version of Beauty and the Beast explores sexuality.
From Pot to Guns to Health Care, 10 Big Issues to Watch During 2017 Legislative Session
Florida lawmakers are poised to return to Tallahassee for the March 7 start of the 2017 legislative session, with a series of bills that have divided House and Senate, or the governor and the Legislature.
Tuesday Briefing: Education Foundation Mardi Gras Gala, Palm Coast Progress, Old Kings Musical, Tooth Fairy Day
The Flagler County Education Foundation’s 14th annual Mardi Gras gala at Halifax Plantation, the Palm Coast Council hears Progress Report 2016, Montaigne’s birthday, Cinema Paradiso themes it up.
Legislating Free Speech on Florida’s College Campuses? Not So Fast.
A Legislative committee pondered on proposed legislation called the Campus Free Speech Act. Stanley Kurtz, a conservative academic, told lawmakers the measure would defend the right for people to speak their minds at the state’s universities.
In Victory for Local Governments, FPL Loses Appeal Over Having to Bury Power Lines
The state Supreme Court on Friday turned down an appeal by Florida Power & Light in a case about whether the utility could be required to install underground transmission lines.
Monday Briefing: Holland Park Closed Until May, Bunnell’s Transparency Policies, Stamp and Coin Club, Jarhead
Palm Coast’s weird concept of private property, Bunnell updates its public records and media policies, the Stamp and Coin Club meets, before fake news, there were the tea parties, and recalling the Gulf War.
Should The Poor Be Barred From Buying Junk Food With Food Stamps?
Lawmakers in at least five states, including Florida, introduced bills this year to ask the USDA for permission to ban the purchase of certain kinds of food or drinks, such as candy and soda, with food stamps.
I Am An Enemy Combatant
The media has been the enemy since the earliest days of the Republic. But to be an enemy in America is what all of us at one point or another have been or will be. It is an American responsibility. It’s proof of our beloved American citizenship.
Support for Obamacare Reaches Record, Putting Repeal-Minded Lawmakers In a Bind
Overall support for the health law ticked up to 48 percent in February, the highest point since shortly after it passed in 2010. That was a 5-point increase since the last poll in December.
Weekend Briefing: Sheltering Tree Fund-Raiser, Family Fun Day, Native American Festival, Holland v. Renner II
The annual Native American Festival returns to Princess Place, a fund-raiser for the homeless shelter, the Bridge Building Program hosts a Family Fun Day, plus Mexico Flag Day.
Donald Trump’s New Deputy CIA Director: a Torturer Who Destroyed Evidence
Gina Haspel was deeply involved in the illegal torture of a prisoner at a secret CIA site, and when questions arose about the brutality, demolished 92 tapes that had documented the abuse.
Thursday Briefing: African-American Read-In at BTES, George Hanns Bridge, Emmanuel’s Closet’s Show
Belle Terre Elementary hosts its first annual African-American Read-In to mark Black History Month, George Hanns has himself a bridge at Princess Place, Emma Goldman speaks.
Wednesday Briefing: Closed-Circuit Traffic Cameras, Scenic A1A, Grand Living, Underachievers, Wind Energy
Palm Coast installs closed-circuit traffic cameras, the county’s economic opportunity council cheers for Enterprise Florida, how schools game underachievers, Scenic A1A.
On the Sad Prospect of CFO Jeff Atwater, Rare Government Royalty, Leaving Tallahassee
It’s going to feel strange without Jeff Atwater’s steady hand and keen mind in the Florida Capitol, writes Nancy Smith of a the state’s Chief Financial Officer, who is resigning to take a post at Florida Atlantic University.
Tuesday Briefing: Superintendent Search Committee, Autism Training for Cops, Malcolm X, Teen Suicide’s Decrease
The school board and the Palm Coast city council meet today (separately), the Legislature considers requiring autism training for Florida Department of Law Enforcement cops, how gay marriage lowered teen suicide.
As Gov. Scott Touts Latest Increase in Tourists, Visit Florida Critics Still Pounce on Spending
Visit Florida received $78 million from lawmakers for the current fiscal year that ends June 30. The Sunshine State attracted 112.8 million tourists in 2016. He credited the 5.86 percent increase from the prior year.
Monday Briefing: Schenone Child-Rape Trial, Raising Flagler’s Bed Tax to 5%, Japanese-Americans’ Internment, 75 Years Ago
The County Commission today discusses raising the sales surtax applied to short-term rentals and hotels, to get more revenue for beach restoration; marking the 75th anniversary of an American tragedy.
Sanctuary Cities Brace For Trump Order Targeting Undocumented Immigrants for Deportation
Many cities, counties and college campuses nationwide are pledging to limit cooperation with immigration enforcers in the face of President Trump’s pledge to quickly deport 2 to 3 million undocumented immigrants.
Congress Signals Opposition to Assisted Suicide; Proponents Fear State Laws in Jeopardy
A congressional committee voted to overturn an assisted-suicide measure in Washington, D.C., last week, signalling more willingness in Congress to possibly reverse more liberal state laws.