Liberals’s hopes that the likes of Jeff Flake or Bob Corker in any way speak for today’s vanilla-white GOP is a refusal to concede that the Age of Trump is here to stay.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
Treatment Overkill: Unneeded Scans, Therapy and Surgery Only Add To Patients’ Ills
Though ample evidence shows breast-cancer radiation treatment for many can be drastically cut down, less than half those eligible received it despite the additional cost and inconvenience.
FPL Seeking To Charge Customers Extra $50 to $60 a Year Through 2020 To Pay Irma Costs
The $1.3 billion FPL wants to recover would start showing up in customers’ bills in March — just as they get done paying off an extra $40 a year from Hurricane Matthew in 2016.
Weekend Briefing: Drug Court Graduation, “Plaza Suite” at the Playhouse, Bed Race, Chamber Players, Bras
Neil Simon’s “Plaza Suite” opens at the Flagler Playhouse, the 8th Fun Coast Bed Race in Flagler Beach, The Chamber Players of Palm Coast present another baroque concert.
A U.S. Soldier Died in Niger. What on Earth Are We Doing There?
If you were surprised to learn the U.S. has nearly a thousand troops in Niger, you’re not alone. But we’ve deployed troops to literally most of the planet, and our leading lawmakers don;t know it.
Florida Lawmakers Looking To Add Treatment Programs To Fight Opioid Epidemic
A combination of short-term intensive treatment beds, long-term outpatient services and medically assisted treatment could be the blueprint for a solution, a powerful lawmaker says.
Senators Angry At Delays In Medical Marijuana Licenses, Blaming Complacency
The head of the state’s medical-use office is blaming the delays on litigation over the constitutional amendment. Senators aren’t buying it, blaming complacency.
Washington, Jefferson, Madison: There’s No Defending Founders Who Practiced Slavery
It is still common, if not a norm, to hear founders’ ownership of slaves excused as part of the prevailing practices of their times rather than a contradiction with founders’ ideals.
Florida State Colleges Seeking Restoration of $30 Million Cut To Address “Employment Gap”
The money would help hire more faculty, provide more counseling services and create more programs aimed at closing the “employment gap” in high-demand jobs.
Monday Briefing: Navy Bombing In Ocala Forest, Stamp and Coin’s Last Meeting, Bunnell’s Manager
Live bombing, part of the Navy’s training, takes place all week at Ocala forest range, which may rattle Flagler windows, Bunnell’s manager’s job will be discussed in a commission meeting.
In Kristen Hadeed’s “Permission To Screw Up,” A Cheerful, Nimble Corrective To Millennial Stereotypes
FPC Graduate Kristen Hadeed’s first book traces the stumbles of her 10-year journey as CEO of Student Maid, a cleaning company in Gainesville, with wit and counter-intuitive insights: a review.
Racist, Violent, Unpunished: A White Hate Group’s Campaign of Menace
the Rise Above Movement, one of whose men beat up protesters in Charlottesville, train to fight. They post their beatings online. And so far, they have little reason to fear the authorities.
Weekend Briefing: Domestic Violence Summit, Legislative Delegation, [Title Of Show] at CRT, Blessing of the Animals
The sheriff unveils a domestic violence task force’s report, the county’s lawmakers listen to wish lists, City Repertory Theatre’s musical in its last weekend, animals are blessed at St. Luke’s Lutheran.
An Aryan Ass Vomits At UF
Protesting honors the flag, so does taking a knee during the anthem, but so does letting an idiotic white bigot have his 90 minutes on a stage at UF. Freedom of thought can take it.
Students Shout Down Richard Spencer’s “White Country” Speech at UF
Hundreds stood in protest on a barricaded street where law enforcement from throughout the state stood watch, on the road, on roofs, in nearby woods, in helicopters and through drones.
Thursday Briefing: Common Ground With Florida Hospital, Flagler Schools Resource Showcase, Paul Dykes
The Flagler Schools Resource Showcase is for all children from birth to grade 12, bringing together some 15 agencies and non-profits, Florida Hospital Flagler’s top leadership speaks at a Common Ground Breakfast.
Us? “Hateful?” White Nationalists Deny Charge as Richard Spencer Readies UF Appearance
At the Charlottesville rally, Spencer supporters carried torches and chanted “Jews will not replace us” before a car plowed into a group of counter-protesters, killing Heather Heyer.
Wednesday Briefing: Planning Board, League of Cities, Wykretowicz Trial, Haumea Rings, Chambery Funeral Home
A new funeral home celebrates its grand opening in Palm Coast, the League of Cities’ mayors meet, Volusia deputies’ affairs, Molly Ringwald’s many other Harveys.
Constitution Revision Panel Advances Proposal to Restrict Abortion Rights and Privacy
The controversial proposals are among the very few, out of 2,000, put forth by the public, as opposed to by the commission itself, for potential inclusion on a referendum ballot.
Tuesday Briefing: Rezoning Off Colbert Lane, Improving Palm Harbor Charter School, Stanley Wykretowicz Trial
Today: Showers likely and slight chance of thunderstorms. Locally heavy rainfall possible in the evening. Lows around 70. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent. Tonight: Breezy. Mostly cloudy. Showers likely and slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning, then chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. […]
Stunner On Birth Control: Trump’s Moral Exemption Is Geared To Just 2 Groups
A separate rule allowing employers that are not religious organization to deny contraceptive coverage to employees is geared toward anti-abortion groups, but its legal status is doubtful.
Monday Briefing: Kristen Hadeed’s Tough Dad, Child-Abuse Trial, Hurricane Make-Up Day
Ex-cop Stanley Wykretowicz goes on trial on charges he brutalized his 2-year-old niece, it’s Kristen Hadeed week, the county commission writes social services checks, Trump forgets the 1st Amendment.
7-Day Limit On Pain-Killer Prescriptions Part of Sweeping Proposal To Crack Down on Opioids
Doctors would be limited to prescribing seven days’ worth of opioids for patients with acute pain and would have to check a statewide database before ordering most prescription pain medications.
How One City Gets Its Guns: Not Big Trafficking Rings, But Mostly Through Little Guys
Unlike the drug trade — often dominated by powerful cartels or gangs — illegal gun markets operate more like the way teenagers get beer, “where every adult is potentially a source.”
Trump Blows Up Obamacare Subsidies: What You Need To Know
Some of Trump’s actions could have an immediate effect on the enrollment for 2018 ACA coverage that starts Nov. 1. Here are five things you should know.
From Mosquito Control to National Guard, Hurricane Costs Taking a Toll on Budgets
Hurricane recovery efforts have already cost the state budget more than $141 million and are likely to increase, with $25 million for the Florida National Guard; $36 million for debris removal and $6 million for mosquito control.
Thursday Briefing: Irma’s Mountain of Loss, Science Matters, A Community Garden in Flagler Beach, Flagpoles
The Flagler Beach City Commission is expected to approve its medical marijuana dispensaries ordinance and a request for a community garden in the city, Ann Coulter speaks at a Lincoln Day dinner.
Stop Playing The National Anthem At Sports Events
The anthem is being used to make statements that reflect anger and divisiveness instead of pride, but primarily so because it’s being performed where it shouldn’t be, argues Nancy Smith.
Florida Cuts Payments To HMOs Caring For Poor, Elderly and Disabled By 3.7 Percent
The hospital cuts accounted for 94 percent of the reduction in rates, which the state says is attributable to lower pharmaceutical costs. Long-term care is seeing an increase.
Florida Lawmakers Hear Grim Picture of Worsening Opioid Crisis and Lack of Treatment
In the first six months of 2016, deaths caused by fentanyl increased by nearly 140 percent, deaths from heroin overdoses jumped by 25 percent, compared to the same period in 2015.
In Boost To Flagler, Committee Approves Bills Including $50 Million a Year For Beach Repair
If the bills survive the coming legislative hurdles, there may be new money for Flagler County to tap into to repair its severely eroded beaches.
Pride In “Our Country”? Count Me Out.
There’s no contending with a president who speaks of his pride in this country in serial tweets even as his every other pronouncement is a cleave, a slur, a boast, a lie or a disgrace.
Florida Opens Its Schools to Puerto Rican Students; Irma Death Toll in State at 69
Florida is waiving rules and regulations to let public schools and higher-education institutions admit students from Puerto Rico on an emergency basis.
What You Should Know About Trump’s Rollback Of Contraception Coverage
The rules will make sweeping changes to the law’s requirement that most employers provide coverage of birth control with no out-of-pocket costs to women.
White Supremacist Scheduled for UF Speech On Oct. 19, Costing University $500,000
University President Kent Fuchs initially balked at a proposal for Spencer, a lightning-rod figure, to speak on campus in September. The threat of a federal lawsuit forced him to reverse course.
Irma Snaps Record 83 Straight Months of Job Gains as Employment Falls By 33,000
Nevertheless the unemployment rate fell to 4.2 percent, a rate not seen since February 2001–lower than the lowest rate reached before the Great Recession.
Yet Another Tropical Storm With Potential Florida Landfall Brews Up Concern
Eventual Tropical Storm Nate has the potential to become a hurricane and impact the Florida Panhandle this weekend, and families must be ready, the governor said.
Doubling Down on Scott, GOP Senator
Asks for $100 Million For Florida Forever
Florida Forever in the past received as much as $300 million a year but for nearly a decade has fallen out of favor among lawmakers and been almost ignored by Gov. Scott.
Exhaling Excuses, Florida Health Department Will Miss Deadline to Issue Medical Pot Licenses
An official is blaming the delay on Hurricane Irma and a pending challenge to a recently passed law that ordered the Department of Health to expand the number of medical marijuana licenses.
Weekend Briefing: Evita, Family Fun Festival, Ballerina’s Tale, Farm-To-Table Dinner, Disaster Recovery
Evita’s final weekend at the Flagler Playhouse, St. Thomas Episcopal’s annual Family Faith Fun Festival, the story of the first black principal ballerina at the American Ballet, Schiff’s French Suites.
Thursday Briefing: Recovery Center Opens in Flagler Beach, Sisco Deen in Bunnell, Soderberg in Daytona
A recovery-help center opens for Flagler Beach for three days, Sisco Deen signs his new book, Nancy Soderberg speaks in Daytona, school open houses and curriculum night.
Wednesday Briefing: Charter Workshop, Cmdr. Ferris Retires, Dads Take Your Child To School Day, FEC Rail
Commander Sam Ferris retired after 21 years at the Sheriff’s Office, Palm Coast holds first of four charter review workshops, a Florida East Coast Railway executive speaks to the economic development board.
Corporations Rejecting Racism Is a Low Bar When Many Still Profit Off It
White supremacy can also wear a business suit on Wall Street. Of the top five Wall Street firms, the highest level decision makers are 86 percent white. That’s no coincidence.
To Fight Opioids, Gov. Scott Will Include $50 Million In Next Year’s Budget For Drug Treatment
The proposal won;t be considered before January. The $50 million would include money for such programs as substance-abuse treatment, counseling and recovery services.
Tuesday Briefing: Palm Coast Fibernet, Lobbying and Mosquito Control, Devore Sentence, Freedom From Prayer
Carl Devore, 20, is sentenced for the murder of Victor James Betty in a 2016 home invasion in Palm Coast’s F Section, the Palm Coast council takes on a series of issues, a talk on freedom of thought.
Monday Briefing: Banned Book Week, Bunnell Budget, Stamp and Coin, a 14-Year-Old Violinist Phenom, Immigrant’s Necessity
Sophie’s Choice is shown twice at the public library to mark Banned Book Week, the Bunnell commission holds its budget workshop, setting next year’s tax rate, a 14-year-old stuns you with her violin skills.
How Florida’s Failing Charter Schools Exploit Voucher Program To Stay Alive on Public Dime
Charter schools that fail two years in a row should close by law. Instead, they reopen as private schools and use publicly funded vouchers to keep operating, with the state’s blessing.
Trying To Make Up For Mistakes, Florida Health Officials Seek To Speed Up Medical Pot Licensing
The Florida Health Department had until Oct. 3 to issue 10 medical pot licenses to producers, a deadline it will almost certainly miss even as it scrambles to ease the application process.
Weekend Briefing: Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Weimar Berlin at CRT, Evita at Playhouse, Paul Renner, Free Museum, J.S. Bach
Great plays at City Repertory Theatre and the Flagler Playhouse, free museum entry at Agriculture Museum Saturday, Paul Renner visits, Alzheimer’s Walk in Flagler Beach, Andras Schiff plays Bach.
That Last-Ditch Effort By Republicans To Replace ACA: What You Need To Know
While the chances for this last-ditch measure appear iffy, many GOP senators are rallying around a proposal that would repeal most of the ACA.