The Florida Supreme Court squashed a broad expansion of slot machines in at least eight counties, saying the decision to allow pari-mutuels to add the lucrative games rests with the Legislature, not voters.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
Weekend Briefing: Flagler Beach Pirates, Hope to Help Dance Against Cancer, Kayaking, Introduction to Bull
Pirates take Flagler Beach, FPC Starlets take the stage, fitness with Palm Coast’s mayor, Choral Arts Society’s May concert, a college course introduction to bullshit, learning about the coming eclipse.
Gov. Scott Faces Increasing Pressure to Veto Education Bill, Including From Flagler District
The Flagler County School Board joined its voice to a growing chorus of demands from across the state that Gov. Rick Scott veto a massive education bill opponents consider damaging to school districts.
Wednesday Briefing: Matanzas High Blood Drive, Baccalaureate Service, Helen Keller on Book Burning
A Matanzas blood drive for scholarships, a country of hackers, Flagler’s graduates get a service at Santa Maria del Mar, Helen Keller’s words to book-burners.
Gov. Scott Continues to Attack Lawmakers Over Tourism Budget as Visitors’ Numbers Rise
A good showing in December aside, when year-over-year tourism tax receipts jumped 18 percent, Flagler County has done less well, and not necessarily because of Hurricane Matthew.
Tuesday Briefing: Barbara Klein Craig Painting, James Tager Contract, Judge DuPont Hearing, Food Truck Tuesday
Circuit Judge Scott DuPont submits to a hearing on his case of improprieties during his reelection campaign, a painting gifted to the Flagler Beach City Commission chamber, the new superintendent’s contract.
Monday Briefing: Sean Monti Trial, Donuts With Doughney at 7-Eleven, AAUW Scholarships, Arts Foundation Fund-Raising Goal
Repeat offender Sean Monti goers on trial before Judge Dennis Craig this morning with jury selection, Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney speaks with constituents over doughnuts at 7-11, the Palm Coast Arts Foundation crosses the 80 percent mark in its fund-raiser.
The Problems With the FBI’s Investigation of Clinton’s Emails Went Well Beyond Comey
A close examination of the FBI’s handling of the Clinton emails reveals a very different narrative that places previously undisclosed judgments and misjudgments by the Bureau at the very heart of what unfolded.
Not My President
Renouncing Donald Trump is the conservative thing to do if one’s allegiance is to the rule of law, to American democratic institutions, to unobstructed law enforcement and to transparency and accountability.
Anger Over Legislature’s Failures on Medical Pot Prompts Talk of Special Session
House and Senate leaders, falling short of implementing the voter-approved amendment, were unable to reach agreement on how many retail outlets medical pot operators should be able to run.
Weekend Briefing: Ocean Art’s Love Can Move the World, Big Fish by FPC Drama, the Best Short Film in Years
Flagler Palm Coast High School Thespian Drama Club’s production of its Spring Musical, “Big Fish,” Love Can Move the World, at Ocean Art Gallery in Flagler Beach, “Alike,” the great short film.
Corrine Brown, Who Had Represented Flagler in Congress, Found Guilty of Corruption on 18 Fraud Counts
Former Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown’s federal corruption trial is the latest chapter in a stunning fall for a longtime Jacksonville political institution.
Thursday Briefing: Judge Craig on Project WARM, Big Fish at Flagler Auditorium, Dunkin Opens, Blues Festival
Flagler Palm Coast High School’s thespians take the stage for four nights, Rymfire chorus in action, Judge Craig reacts to Project Warm, a favored Dunkins Donut reopens in the heart of Palm Coast.
Wednesday Briefing: Singer’s First Court Appearance, Leadership Flagler Graduation, Jail v. Treatment
Dorothy Singer, accused of murdering her husband, appears before Judge Moore-Stens, Leadership Flagler graduates its 24th class, Public Defender James Purdy talks treatment v. jail.
Critics Urge Gov. Scott to Veto Massive Education Bill as Details of Legislation Emerge
The bill was pushed by House Speaker Richard Corcoran, a Land O’ Lakes Republican who sparred with the governor throughout the session over economic-development incentives and tourism marketing.
Tuesday Briefing: Hurricane Matthew After-Action Report, PCAF’s Big Night, Back to War in Afpak, Florida Textbooks
The Palm Coast Council discusses the city’s response to Hurricane Matthew in an after-action report and considers long-term financing, Trump steps up the war in Afghanistan again.
Lawmakers Approve Budget With Tax Cuts, Severe Cuts to Medicaid, Minor Increase For Education and Big Boost to Charters
The budget package includes a modest increase in per-student spending through the state’s main education formula, $521 million in Medicaid cuts for hospitals and far-reaching changes to education across the board.
It Would Be Up to Florida to Dismantle Obamacare Protections If GOP Bill Advances
Unless the legislation fails or changes substantially, many consumers across the country could see the amount they pay every year for premiums increase by thousands of dollars, making coverage effectively unaffordable.
Monday Briefing: France Survives, Bunnell Instant Bingo, Community Fitcamp, CR13 Roadwork
The Bunnell City Commission considers an ordinance that would bring instant bingo to the city, reconstruction of County Road 13 begins, The Legislature finalizes the budget.
La Différence
France’s Answer To Trumpism: Non, Merci
Emmanuel Macron’s election as President of France Sunday repudiates angry, anti-democratic tribalism represented by Marine Le Pen and Donald Trump. But it’s only a qualified win.
Medical Pot Deal Collapses Over Dispensaries, Leaving Framework in Strict Regulators’ Hands
Implementation of the voter-approved amendment now rests in the hands of state health officials, who have been harshly criticized by legislators, patients, vendors and judges.
Preexisting Condition: How Health Care Wrangle May Play Out Over Obamacare Repeal
As Trump pushes for a bill, the latest snag is over whether people with preexisting health conditions should have guaranteed access to affordable coverage, as the ACA mandates.
House Approves Medical Pot Measure That Would Allow Unlimited Number of Retailers
The measure would allow patients to use vaporizers or edibles, but would ban smoking of marijuana products, something critics complain violates the spirit of the constitutional amendment.
Senate Approves Constitutional Proposal That Would Increase Homestead Exemption to $75,000
The homestead exemption proposal would go before voters as a constitutional amendment in 2018, would save homeowners money but cost local governments millions in revenue.
‘Click It or Ticket’ Laws Are Becoming The Norm. But Do They Work?
Not everyone is convinced the tougher laws reduce fatalities. And some opponents say the laws are another example of government interference and can lead to racial profiling.
Right v. Usurpation: State Defends Shifting Death Cases From State Attorney In Seminal Case of Authority
Central Florida State Attorney Aramis Ayala sued Rick Scott after he reassigned 23 death penalty cases, setting the stage for courts to clarify which authority of duly elected officials prevails.
Senate Budget Details Yet to Emerge as House Pushes Potential $2.2 Billion Tax Cut
Lawmakers pushed back against the idea that a deal that many believed had been sealed Tuesday had fallen apart, while House leaders placed tax cuts ahead of more money for per-student allocations.
With Florida as Example, Charlie Crist Files Bill Seeking Seat Belts on School Buses Nationwide
School districts also are concerned about the estimated $7,000 to $10,000 cost of adding seat belts to a new bus, though Florida is already covered: seat belts on school buses is a state law.
House and Senate Move Close to Budget Deal But Visit Florida Would Be Cut
Gov. Rick Scott’s request for $100 million for Visit Florida appears a long distance from the $25 million lawmakers were working toward, absent a change of heart, as budget negotiations continued.
Senate President Joe Negron’s Shabby Response to Repeat Offender Frank Artiles
Even now Artiles doesn’t get it, and seemingly neither does Negron–they don’t understand how ugly racially charged language is to all people of good will, but especially when it comes from a state senator.
Embattled State Attorney Ayala Gets Big-Name Backers In Fight With Scott Over Death Penalty
Ex-prosecutors, former state Supreme Court justices, civil-rights organizations and families of homicide victims from across the country have filed briefs supporting Ayala in her legal battle with Gov. Rick Scott.
Trump, You Bombed Syria Because You Care. Now Get Rid of the Muslim Ban in Any Form.
Both versions of that order, now held up in the courts, would have indefinitely banned all migration from Syria — and suspended refugee resettlement from everywhere.
Secret Hospital Inspections Revealing Errors and Mishaps and May Become Public at Last
The federal government has proposed requiring that accreditors release reports on the problems they find during hospital inspections. Right now, the reports are secret.
Sen. Artiles Resigns as Senate Investigates Racist Insults to Black Colleagues and Others
Sen. Frank Artiles called his presence a “distraction” days after apologizing for a public tirade that included racially charged and vulgar expletives directed at Sen. Audrey Gibson and others.
Lawmakers Set to Enact Long-Sought Solar Energy Tax Break, But Concerns Remain
The House and Senate are working on the proposals to carry out a renewable-energy constitutional amendment, known as Amendment 4, that voters approved during August’s primary election.
Sen. Artiles Apologizes to Sen. Gibson After Cursing Her Out In Racist and Sexist Language
Florida Sen. Artiles unleashed racial and sexist slurs at Sen. Audrey Gibson, who at one time represented parts of Flagler County, in a tirade at the Governors Club near the Capitol Monday night.
No Bong Hits or Joints as Florida Lawmakers Roll Up Medical Pot “Compromise”
House and Senate refuse to allow marijuana products to be smoked despite repeated demands from patients, caregivers and others who insist that smoking provides some with the best type of treatment.
Governments Mull Way To Fight Prescription-Drug Crisis That Worked With Tobacco: Taxes
California, Alaska and the US Congress are considering taxing prescription drugs to raise money for treatment and discourage their use, but the amounts of the taxes would be relatively small.
A Suicide By Gunshot Jolts 911 Call as Sheriff Observes Flagler’s Dispatch Center in Action
A gunshot suicide took place live as a 911 dispatcher was on the phone Wednesday, while Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly sat in as a “trainee” to mark National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.
Florida Supreme Court Upholds Taxing Satellite TV at Nearly Twice the Rate of Cable
Under state law, cable services are taxed at 4.92 percent, while satellite services are taxed at 9.07 percent, according to the Supreme Court ruling, which upheld the different rates.
Goons With Guns, Sheriff Edition
A Florida sheriff’s ISIS-like video warning to drug dealers and the brutalizing of Dr. David Dao on a United flight in the same week are no coincidence, but symptoms of a re-emerging authoritarianism.
With Rising Death Toll From Opioids, Florida Still Gropes For Effective Answers
State officials have few responses as the death rate from synthetic opioids other than methadone increased 72.2 percent from 2014 to 2015, to 3,228 deaths by overdose in Florida.
Thursday Briefing: Protesting Home Rule Violations, G.W. Carver Auction, Wetlands in Flagler Beach, Taxes
Hammock residents plan a protest of their own Senator (Travis Hutson’s) position on home rule, the Carver Center Foundation holds an arts auction at Hammock Dunes Creek Club.
Wednesday Briefing: Matanzas Construction Tech Program, Kids’ Town Hall With Provencher, Staly as a 911 Dispatcher
The sheriff marks his 100 days in office by being a 911 dispatcher for four hours, Flagler Beach Mayor Linda Provencher holds a kids’ town hall, builders inaugurate a program at Matanzas.
Another Bear Hunt? Florida Fish and Wildlife Readies to Look at Latest Numbers
Florida game officials are getting an update on the state’s growing black bear population, a discussion animal-rights supporters contend is a first step toward holding a hunt later this year.
As Washington Piddles, Liberal California Forges Ahead With Universal Health Care Ideas
Organized labor and two lawmakers are leading the charge for a single, government-financed program for everyone in the state. Another legislator wants to create a commission that would weigh the best options for a system to cover everyone.
Florida House and Senate In Duel Over Shifting Stand Your Ground Burden to Prosecution
The two chambers have approved different versions of a proposal (SB 128) intended to shift a key burden of proof in “stand your ground” cases from defendants to prosecutors in pre-trial hearings.
Trump Steps Up Bombing in Iraq, Civilians Die
More U.S. coalition strikes are now causing civilian casualties than strikes by Russia, which was loudly and appropriately accused of war crimes for its bombing of Aleppo, Syria last year.
Florida Senate Wants 81% Increase in Aid for Poorer College Students, and Boost For 1st-Gen
Florida student assistance grants would grow by $121 million. Senators also want to double the state’s matching grants for “first generation” college and university students to a total of $10.6 million.
Florida Colleges Decry Legislature’s Budget Cuts of Up to $85 Million
The Senate budget includes a $55 million reduction in remedial education funding and suspends $30 million in performance funding for the colleges. The House cuts similar amounts to other programs.