Opponents of allowing transgender students to use restrooms of their choice could lead to a breakdown in school discipline or even attacks, supporters say there is no evidence of that.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
Thursday Briefing: Fallen Officers Memorial, Biggest Candidate Forum Yet, Flagler Beach Montessori Lease
The annual memorial commemorating Flagler County’s four fallen officers at 10 a.m., a candidate forum featuring school board, Palm Coast council and county commission candidates, the Flagler Beach City Commission takes on a montessori school’s lease.
FPL Bills Customers for Unbuilt Nuclear Plants But Wants Out of Justifying Need
Attorneys for consumers and business and environmental groups are fighting FPL’s request for a waiver from filing an annual analysis about the feasibility of adding two nuclear reactors in South Florida.
Wednesday Briefing: Flagler Youth Orchestra’s Surprise Soloist, Seniors’ Baccalaureate, Landon Talks
The Flagler Youth Orchestra performs the final concert of the season at the Flagler Auditorium this evening, Palm Coast City Manager talks of the city’s future, the poor can’t win in the court system.
Hundreds Of Thousands Lose Food Stamps In Florida as Work Requirements Kick In
In Florida if you can’t show that you’re working or meet the work requirements some other way, you get penalized and lose your food stamps for the following month. If you fail to meet the requirements again, it’s a three-month sanction and then six months.
Tuesday Briefing: Working-Group Pot, Food Truck Postponed, School Lunch Cost, Brown v. Board of Ed at 62
A committee of local law enforcement, judicial and other government officials meets to develop a proposed pot-decriminalization ordinance, the Palm Coast City Council discusses a European Village revamp, the school board discusses raising school lunches by 25 cents.
My Food Is My Business
I don’t feel comfortable walking into friends’ or families’ homes and berating them for their unhealthy, albeit traditional and quite common, lifestyle choices. Why then do friends and family members feel comfortable walking into my home and berating me for my healthy lifestyle choices, sometimes primarily because they aren’t the norm?
Opponents of Medical Pot Legalization Awaken from Slumber With Warning Video
The video, posted online by the “Vote No on 2 Campaign” alleges the measure would lead to a plethora of “pot shops” similar to the marijuana industry in California.
Monday Briefing: Public Library’s Expansion Plans, Manatee Protection, Romney’s 3rd Party
The county commission examines prospects and timelines for a library addition, and some financing options, and holds a hearing on its manatee-protection plan, Romney may be testing a third-party run with GOP leaders.
A Right To Die, Even For 20-Somethings
The revelation that a 20-something woman chose to die from PTSD related so 10 years of sexual abuse tests the boundaries of assisted suicide, but not if context and compassion replace armchair judgments.
Prince’s Reminder: Opioid Epidemic Intensifies But Steps to Curb It Face Challenges
There is broad consensus on the need for more treatment options, more education, more careful prescribing by doctors. But there’s still much debate about the details—and funding–for each of those steps.
At Florida GOP Gathering, Opposition To Clinton Congeals Support for Trump
Florida Republican leaders are girding themselves for a must-win battle this fall as opposition to Clinton proves more unifying than Donald Trump.
License for Probable Cause: Justices Rule You May Be Pulled Over For Any Visible Tag Issue
Florida Justices, in a 5-2 decision, rejected an appeal from a driver stopped by Orlando police because a tag light and wires were hanging over the license plate on a vehicle he was driving.
Weekend Briefing: FPC’s Beauty and the Beast, Movie in the Park, Middle Class As a Minority, Richard Avedon
Flagler Palm Coast High’s Thespian troupe ends its season with “Beauty and the Beast” Friday and Saturday, “Ant Man” is the free movie in the park, and all weekend on this page, a feature-length movie on the great Richard Avedon.
Gov. Scott Seeks Congressional Hearing On Zika as Florida Cases Pass 100
Scott, who traveled to Washington on Wednesday, is seeking federal money for such things as Zika “preparedness” kits and additional staffing at mosquito control districts, his office said.
George Zimmerman’s Auction Of Gun He Used to Kill Trayvon Martin Misfires
Zimmerman described the gun as “a piece of American history” and said he’d send “portions” of the proceeds to “fight [Black Lives Matter] violence and fight “Hillary Clinton’s anti-firearm rhetoric.”
Thursday Briefing: Right Whale Season Sum-Up, Josh Crews Writing Project, Sister Helen Prejean Honored
Frank Gromling, the Right Whale Guy, gives a State of the Whales talk at the end of the 2015-16 season, Flagler Beach talks bait shop, four schools celebrate the end of the year with various events, Schumann’s Papillion.
Medical Pot Gets 80% Approval in Latest Poll of Floridians; Senate Race Much Blurrier
Early polls in 2014 showed wide support for a similar ballot proposal to legalize medical marijuana. That initiative, however, ultimately fell short of getting the required 60 percent voter approval after facing a barrage of negative ads from opponents.
What Blowout? Trump Even With Clinton in Florida and Pennsylvania, Ahead in Ohio
The latest Quinnipiac poll shows Clinton barely ahead, 43-42 in Florida and Pennsylvania, and Trump somewhat ahead in Ohio, 43-39, though results may be slightly affected by still-ongoing Democratic primary contests.
Florida’s Tortured Medical Pot Law Regulating Nurseries Keeps Drawing New Legal Challenges
The state has spent nearly $500,000 on private lawyers to represent the Department of Health in legal challenges that have delayed implementation of a 2014 law that first opened the door for medical marijuana in Florida.
South Florida Judge Declares State’s New Death Penalty Law Unconstitutional
While the decision is not necessarily controlling in Flagler County and the rest of Florida, it again muddies the fate of a law barely eight weeks old, and further sheds a harsh light on Florida’s outlier system of executions.
The Republican Responsibility to Reject Trump
Derision, racism, default and brutality are strange ways to go about making America great again. Let’s hope for the GOP’s sake and everyone else’s that Republicans have the clarity not to fall for Trump’s latest reality show.
Housing Restrictions on Sex Offenders Spread Even as Evidence Shows They Don’t Work
The restrictions can make offenders’ lives less stable by severely limiting their housing options, and can push them away from family, jobs and social support — all of which make it more likely they will abuse again.
Suicide, Now 2nd-Leading Cause of Death for Young Floridians, Seen as Public Health Threat
While suicide is increasing for nearly every age group, it’s now the second-leading cause of death for Floridians aged 25 to 34, according to the state Department of Health Vital Statistics, and the third-leading cause of death among youths aged 10 to 24.
Weekend Briefing: Arbor Day in Central Park, Bogosian at CRT, Prom Night, Drug Court Graduation
You can get a free hardwood tree in exchange for a food donation at Arbor Day, Pastor Charles Silano keynotes drug court graduation, last chance to see Bogosian’s Sex Drugs Rock & Roll.”
Volusia County Wants Out Of the Next Bear Hunt
The Volusia County Council on Thursday unanimously approved a “symbolic” resolution urging the commission to reinstate a prohibition on hunting Florida black bears.
Thursday Briefing: Bunnell Day of Prayer, Cycle de Mayo, Coastal Cloud, Mentors, Death Penalty
Today is “Cycle de Mayo” Ride Your Bike to Work Day, it’s Bunnell’s annual Day of Prayer, FEMA holds a workshop on new flood maps in the Hammock, the African American Mentor Program’s Young Men of Distinction end-of-year banquet takes place.
Florida Republicans Try to Come to Terms With The Donald, #NeverTrump Notwithstanding
Shortly after Trump’s victory Tuesday, Republican Party of Florida Chairman Blaise Ingoglia issued a statement calling on the party to get over a contentious primary that once included U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
Wednesday Briefing: Election Supervisors Square Off, Code Enforcement Board Enforces, Cruz Out
The three candidates for election supervisor–incumbent Kaiti Lenhart and challengers Kimble Medley and Abra Seay–square off for the first time at a Republican Club forum, Ted Cruz says goodbye.
Road Clears for Charlie Crist’s Election to Congress as Opponent Drops Out for Another Race
Eric Lynn, a former Pentagon official who was battling Crist in the Democratic primary in the newly redrawn Congressional District 13, issued a statement saying he will run for a legislative seat being vacated by state Rep. Dwight Dudley, D-St. Petersburg.
Tuesday Briefing: School Board Talks Football Helmets, Palm Coast Priorities, Talent Show Auditions
The school board is considering football helmets that alert coaches of repeated head crashes, the Palm Coast City Council will adopt yet another set of priorities, it’s talent show audition time, and congratulations to Leicester City for its historic win.
Speculation of Donald Trump-Rick Scott Ticket Increases As Governor Tours Nation
Trump encouraged the rumors when he praised three governors as possible contenders–Rick Scott, Chris Christie and John Kasich. Scott has kept up a rigorous travel schedule to raise his national profile.
Monday Briefing: EMS Ping-Pong, Flagler Edition, New Vote-Counting Machines, Peace Run, The Somme in Poems
The County Commission responds to Palm Coast’s EMS obsession with a proposal of its own, the peace run comes to Palm Coast City Hall, the supervisor of elections gets to buy new vote-counting machines, the Somme in poetry, from the air.
Trump’s Dangerous America First Campaign
Trump holds his own supporters in the greatest contempt as he stokes and manipulates their rage, rooted in frustration with stagnant wages and fear of the unknown. Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric has helped to take fears to the next level.
A New Way to Keep an Eye on Who Represents You in Congress
The project adds pages for each elected official, where you can find their latest votes, legislation they support and statistics about their voting. As we move forward we want to add much more data to help you understand how your elected officials represent you, the incentives that drive them and the issues they care about.
No, Pat Mooney, Immigrants Aren’t Cattle
Republican candidate Pat Mooney, running for the congressional seat that includes Flagler, managed to compare all Syrians to terrorists, all tourists and immigrants to cattle, and called for foreigners to be “chipped” and tracked the moment they enter the country.
Weekend Briefing: Sex, Drugs, Rock n Roll at CRT, Jax Pops and PCAF, Domestic Violence 5K, Ben & Jerry’s Comes to St. Augustine
Local stages will be rich with plays and musicals this weekend–“Sex Drugs, Rock n Roll” at City Rep, “Into the Woods” at the Playhouse, “Spelling Bee” at Matanzas, and of course the Palm Coast Arts Foundation’s annual Picnics and Pops Concert with the Jacksonville Symphony on Sunday.
Lawmakers Are Reducing Florida’s Public Schools To Factories of Failure and Inequity
Time to take a good look at whether the changes we’ve endured — mass privatization, real-dollar funding decreases, high-stakes testing, and loss of local school board authority — gets us closer to carrying out our constitutional duty to our children.
In a Blow to Business, Supreme Court Bans Workers Comp Limits on Attorney’s Fees
The ruling stemmed from a case in which an attorney was awarded the equivalent of $1.53 an hour in successfully pursuing a claim for benefits for a worker injured in Miami.
Thursday Briefing: Community Cats Calling, Inspired Mic, Flagler Beach Sign Forest, Obama’s Lost Narrative
Community Cats of Palm Coast has a fundraiser hosted by SeaCasas in Flagler Beach, where the city commission will talk about dreaded street signs it doesn’t want, and how Obama lost his narrative drive.
Trump Wins Again in Florida as Court Votes For Him in Beachfront Hotel Dispute
The failed Trump International Hotel & Tower Fort Lauderdale is among other Trump-branded projects that tanked and prompted lawsuits from disgruntled investors who lost millions of dollars in deposits.
Wednesday Briefing: Competency Hearing for Man Accused of Slamming Child, Oliva Talks Economy, Indefensible Secrecy on 9/11 Report
Christopher Williams is accused of slamming a 4-year-old to the ground and causing horrendous injuries: his competency to stand trial is in question. Superintendent Jacob IOliva speaks to the economic opportunity council. The 9/11 report’s censored pages must be released.
Homeschooling: Not So Eccentric Anymore
The number of American K–12 children educated at home increased from 1.09 million in 2003 to 1.77 million in 2012. That means they make up 3.4 percent of the nation’s school population.
Florida Health Summit Concludes With One Overriding Prescription: Expand Access to Care
While senators have focused heavily on access, the House and Scott have pushed for health-care changes that include reducing or eliminating some longstanding regulations. They contend that such ideas would create more competition and lower health-care costs.
Tuesday Briefing: Palm Coast Retail Hunt Update, Rapist Sentenced, Flagler Beach’s Wayward Signs, Entrepreneur Night
The Palm Coast council breaks ground on a new wastewater treatment plant this morning before a workshop on how retail is doing, on the budget and other matters. Waldemar Rivera is sentenced after being found guilty of raping his step-daughter. Entrepreneur Night is at the Hammock Cheese Shop.
Monday Briefing: Doughnuts With Doughney in Flagler Beach, Rezoning in Bunnell, Lippmann’s Nutty Elitism
Flagler Beach Police Chief Matthew Doughney has a few donuts with anyone who drops by, FBI investigating Palm Coast Swatting incident, why some Social Security benefits are going away soon.
Right to an Attorney Often a Myth as Public Defenders Are Overworked and the Poor Bullied to Plea
There is a lack of funding for public defense in every state, and people charged with low-level misdemeanors, often poor minorities, suffer the most as public defender offices focus their few resources on felony cases.
Florida Justices Block 24-Hour Abortion Waiting Period Pending Review
On a 5-2 vote, justices granted a stay of a lower court’s order allowing the 2015 law to take effect. The Supreme Court said it would keep the stay in place while it decides whether to review the decision by the 1st District Court of Appeal.
Does Arabic Offend You?
When a traveler’s stupidity and racism lead to a fellow-traveler being searched, interrogated and kicked off a plane for speaking Arabic, not only do we all have a problem. We are the problem.
Florida Justices: Cops May Not Keep Lawyer From Client Even in Voluntary Interviews
While a murder suspect was being voluntarily interrogated before he confessed, his lawyer appeared at the sheriff’s office but cops wouldn’t let the lawyer see his client.