A statement released by Scott’s office said the 14 locally transmitted cases are believed to have occurred in a 1-square-mile area north of downtown Miami. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a notice advising women who are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant to avoid unnecessary travel to the targeted area.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
The American Dream, Canada-Bound
Our country has historically prided itself on being a socially mobile society, where your ability is more important than the race or class you’re born into. Not anymore. If you forgot to be born into a wealthy family, you’re better off today living in Canada or Northern Europe.
Texting 911? After Orlando Massacre, More Cities and States Moving Toward Next-Generation System
Texting 911 could be valuable in emergencies like the Orlando shooting or a domestic violence incident, where it is unsafe to make any noise let alone talk out loud about the danger at hand. And sending text messages to 911 could allow people who are deaf or have speech impairments to communicate without other special devices.
First Four Cases of Mosquito-Borne Zika Virus Reported in Florida–And the U.S.
Florida has seen a steady increase in Zika diagnoses to nearly 400, but until Friday, cases stemmed from people infected while traveling to South America. Today’s revelation is the first Florida-based set of infections.
Weekend Briefing: Meeker Services, Tea Party Candidate Night, Solar Plunge, Trump’s Islam Problem
Services for the late Frank meeker are on Saturday morning in Palm Coast, the Tea Party hosts its traditional meet-the-candidate night Saturday evening, Trump’s Islam problem and Ray Bradbury.
Florida’s Only Openly Gay Lawmaker Describes a Rick Scott More Accepting of LGBT
In the days after 49 people were killed at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Gov. Rick Scott privately expressed some support for gay rights to the state’s only openly gay state lawmaker, David Richardson.
Republicans’ Women Problem
Long before Donald Trump the Republican Party has been relentlessly pushing policies aimed at curtailing women’s reproductive rights, economic freedom, access to health care, and autonomy.
Amazon to Open 1,500-Job Fulfillment Center in Jacksonville, 3rd in Florida
A day after announcing the opening of a 750,000 square-foot shipping center in Romeoville, Ill., Amazon today announced it would open a slightly larger fulfillment center in Jacksonville, employing some 1,500 people. It will be the third Amazon center in Florida. Centers in Lakeland and Ruskin employ a combined 3,000 people.
Dena Minning Grayson Hopes to Keep Alan’s Central Florida Congressional Seat In Family
The marriage in late May between Alan Grayson and Dena Minning reshuffled a Democratic primary for a Central Florida congressional seat being vacated by Grayson, one of the party’s most progressive provocateurs.
Goodbye News-Journal
Rick de Yampert, the former arts writer for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, explains why he cancelled his newspaper subscription for the first time in 43 years.
Clinton, In Tampa, Punches Back Against “Fear and Resentment” as Florida Showdown Looms
Characterizing Trump’s acceptance speech Thursday night as dominated by “fear and resentment,” Clinton painted her opponent as a divisive and angry threat to the nation’s future.
At City Rep’s Theater Workshop for Teens, Homer’s Odyssey Navigates Scylla and Charybdis of Bad Habits
CRT’s “Odyssey,” staged this weekend at City Marketplace in Palm Coast, stars eight performers ages 15 to 21 in the culmination of the six-week-long workshop that sought to break the performers from the bad habits of middle and high school theater.
66-Year-Old Man Seriously Hurt in Single-Vehicle Wreck on Old Kings Road
A 66-year-old man was in serious condition following a wreck on Old Kings Road, about a mile north of Town Center Boulevard in Palm Coast, at noon today.
Weekend Briefing: Back to School Jam, Pehota Closings, Midnight Fishing on Pier, Tour de Palm Coast
The annual Back to School Jam is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Flagler Palm Coast High School, midnight fishing on the Flagler Beach Pier Saturday, another black man shot, this time with his hands up, a puppy dies at Humane Society.
Ted Cruz’s Center-Stage Snub of Trump Ripples Through Florida Delegation
Cruz’s address Wednesday night was greeted with a loud round of boos as it became clear to delegates that Cruz would not offer a direct endorsement. Other Republican candidates who lost to Trump, including U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, have backed the nominee during convention speeches.
Thursday Briefing: Peers on the Pier Party, Florida Delegation Rocks and Rolls, Political Correctness and Thin Skins
Most Americans think too many people are easily offended, the third annual Peers at the Pier party kicks off this evening, Anna Pehota trial day two, Florida’s delegation at the convention heads to the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame.
Circuit Judge Mark Hulsey Faces Allegation of Racist and Demeaning Comments
Hulsey “offhandedly observed” to an aide that African Americans “should go get back on a ship and go back to Africa,” according to the notice of charges, and of of referring to a female staff lawyer as a “bitch” and worse.
Wednesday Briefing: Buckets of Tourism Grants, Complying With New Overtime Rule, Pehota Trial, Cleveland Rips
The Palm Coast Tourist Development Board prepares to grant upwards of $200,000, the Anna Pehota trial begins in earnest, understanding new overtime rules.
Republicans Hope Raucous Convention Distractions Pass as Gov. Scott Predicts Trump Win
So far, the Republican National Convention has seen a raucous fight over the party’s rules and accusations of plagiarism against presidential candidate Donald Trump’s wife. And that was from the first day.
Tuesday Briefing: A Raise for Jim Landon, Value Adjustment, Food Truck Tuesday, The Trouble With Merit
Palm Coast City Manager Jim Landon is up for a raise, Food Truck Tuesday in central Park benefits summer programs, meritocracy isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.
Pyrrhic Vanishing: Democrats Unite, But What Happened To Medicare For All?
Most health policy analysts — including those who are sympathetic to the idea — say moving from the current U.S. public-private hybrid health system to one fully funded by the government in one step is basically impossible. And that’s making a huge assumption that it could get through Congress.
Monday Briefing: Anna Pehota Trial, Canvassing Board Pick, Backing the Blue, D.C. Denied, Heat Waves
Anna Pehota, who killed her husband last fall, goes on trial, the county commission must yet again make a canvassing board appointment, a fund-raising event for fallen cops’ families at European Village.
In Newest Poll, Clinton Leads Trump in Florida, Rubio Narrowly Ahead of Murphy
An NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist Poll released Friday showed Clinton leading Trump by a margin of 44 percent to 37 percent in a head-to-head matchup in Florida, one of the most closely watched states in the country.
For Peace and Solidarity, Tonight’s Black Lives March in Bunnell Should Be Postponed
Postponing tonight’s march would show in deeds what Black Lives Matter supporters say in words: that they, too, respect police and that they want to build bridges. It does not diminish their message. It nobly amplifies it.
Black Lives Matter. Period.
Cops are owed all the appreciation and respect their profession commands. Blacks are owed their right to life. The two are not mutually exclusive, but certain differences matter, especially when they falsely paint cops as the victims and blacks as the aggressors.
Fershtay? Appeals Court Rules Florida May Not Halt Offering Kosher and Halal Meals to Prisoners
Florida prison officials argued they had a right to stop offering kosher meals if they got too expensive. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals said no in a unanimous decision.
Weekend Briefing: Marilyn Levetron at Salvo, North Florida Chess, White Delusions, Baldwin v. Buckley
Sculptor Marilyn Levetron is the featured artist at Salvo’s latest opening Saturday, Green Grass Band’s lead singer at European Village, a killer heat wave on its way, Kristof on white delusions about race in America.
Citing “Public Policy Interests,” Florida Refusing to Disclose Information on Drugs Used in Lethal Injections
Lawyers representing seven Arizona Death Row inmates want information about the drugs used in Florida’s lethal-injection procedure, but corrections officials are asking a judge to keep the documents secret.
Thursday Briefing: Palm Coast Council and Mayor Candidates Forum, Elks Vigil for Dallas Cops, Hottest Year on Record
All candidates for Palm Coast Council, including mayor, meet in a forum this evening, the Elks hold a vigil for fallen cops in Dallas, the Flagler Beach City Commission thinks legislative priorities, the hottest year on record for the ninth consecutive year.
Challenge to Florida’s DUI Breath Test May Be Moot After U.S. Supreme Court Ruling
A majority of the U.S. Supreme Court said a law similar to Florida’s, in Minnesota, allowing breath tests for DUI, does not violate the U.S. Constitution’s Fourth Amendment, which bars unreasonable searches and seizures.
Trump Regains Lead in Florida as Clinton’s Numbers Crash Over Email Server Findings
In a sharp reversal from three weeks ago, presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump has regained the advantage over Hillary Clinton in Florida and Pennsylvania and remains tied in Ohio in the latest Quinnipiac University swing-state poll.
Wednesday Briefing: Pot Citation Verdict, Cultural Art Grants Workshop, Rubio v. Zika, “Terrorist”
The Public Safety Council delivers its verdict on de-criminalizing pot, Palm Coast’s non-profit cultural organizations can learn how to apply for city grants worth up to $3,000, “terrorist” as a biased word, alarm bells over the bond market.
Tuesday Briefing: NAACP Town Hall on Violence, Palm Coast’s Property Tax, School Budget, Syd Schanberg
The sheriff is expected to attend an NAACP town hall on ending violence, the Palm Coast City Council sets its maximum tax rate for next year, the school board gets a presentation on its financial numbers.
Obama Renews Call for Public Option in Health Law to Compete With Private Insurers
Before the public option was dropped in 2010 many liberals hoped — and conservatives feared — that having the government provide insurance alongside private companies would be a step toward a full government-run system.
Latest Florida Newspaper Layoffs Claim Lloyd Dunkelberger of Tallahassee and Recount Fame
Following the latest round of reporter layoffs, they will be replaced, if at all, by younger, cheaper bodies who have not necessarily been taught the difference between putting bylines on news releases and honest reporting, writes Florence Snyder.
Monday Briefing: A New Storwmwater Fee in Bunnell, Cremaine Booker’s Adagio, After Dallas, O’Hara’s Early Youth
Bunnell is considering a $4-a-month stormwater fee that would generate upwards of $70,000 a year for the city, cop killings and killings of cops continue to evoke arrays of reactions, John O’Hara remembers his youth.
Corrine Brown, Representing Northeast Florida in Congress for 23 Years, Indicted Over Sham Charity
Longtime Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown was indicted Friday on charges that she and a top aide used a sham education charity to pay for personal expenses and luxurious events, allegations that pose the most serious challenge yet to her 23-year congressional career.
The Mostly Bogus Case Against Kimberle Weeks
Ex-Elections Supervisor Kimberle Weeks was the most combative, distasteful, deceptive and ethically suspect elected official in the county, but she did not break the law with most of the “secret” recordings she made, contrary to the laundry list of felony counts against her.
Economy Returns to Form With 287,000 New Jobs in June, Erasing Previous Month’s Retreat
The national economy in June added 287,000 jobs, its best performance in eight months and a sharp reversal from May’s slumber, when just 11,000 jobs were created–the worst monthly performance since the end of the Great Recession seven years ago.
Don’t Be Fooled: FPL Knocks Off 34-Cent Nukes Charge Only to Prepare for 22.6% Base-Rate Increase
Typical customers will see a 34 cent a month decrease, but FPL is preparing to ask for a huge base-rate increase of 22.6 percent over three years, which will make the savings from the nuclear charge irrelevant.
Chain Restaurants Hurt the Economy, Pollute, And Pay Poverty Wages. Eat Local Instead.
It’s time for big chains to strengthen local economies by keeping food purchases local and ending worker exploitation. But they don’t. Meanwhile, writes Anna Meyer, look for locally owned restaurants that source local and support raising the minimum wage for all workers.
Data, Drones, Apps: Rush to Protect Privacy Raises Concerns Of Stifling Rights and Innovation
As technology redefines the limits of privacy, some of the restrictions, such as those on drones and body cameras may infringe on free speech protections, and some may be smothering innovation.
The Stupidity of Race:
What My DNA Test Reveals
Arab AND Jew? Greek? Italian? A DNA test unravels the ethnic origins of FlaglerLive Editor Pierre Tristam–and underscores the absurdity of making assumptions about anyone’s race, color or so-called origins.
Siding With Planned Parenthood, Federal Judge Blocks Florida’s New, Restrictive Abortion Law
The law would have barred abortion providers from receiving public funds for other services and required a dramatic increase in inspections of abortion records by health officials.
From DCF to Pam Bondi, Nothing But Contempt for Florida’s Sunshine Law
It’s been decades since Florida had an elected statewide official who paid much more than lip service to open government, and state and local agencies are taking advantage, showing more contempt than respect for the law, argues Florence Snyder.
159 New Laws Kick In Friday on Domestic Violence, Bullying, Same-Sex Marriage, Abortion, Hunting
New laws include a minimum 30-day jail sentence in domestic violence crimes involving intentional injury, tax cuts, school choice, more benefits for veterans, a new Holocaust memorial, and many more.
New Report Doubles Estimate of Transgender People in U.S.; Florida’s Proportion Ranks 6th
The estimate places Florida’s proportion of transgender people at almost 0.7 percent, for a total of 100,000 people, with the national proportion at 0.6 percent, for a total of 1.4 million.
Thursday Briefing: Drug Court, You Have the Right to Remain Private, Universal Basic Income, President Harding’s Erotica
Flagler County is limbering up for a long Independence Day weekend, so no major events or meetings today, giving you a chance to catch up on President Harding’s erotica, how the rest of the world views Trump, and police-state policing in Delray Beach.
Joe Negron’s Plan for Florida As Senate President in Next 2 Years: More Elite Universities
Negron named the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Virginia and the University of Michigan, among others, as examples he wants Florida’s universities to be like.
Wednesday Briefing: Happy 60th, Interstates, Supremes Sans Scalia, Anaïs Nin’s Diary, Civil Rights
Local happenings and events are taking a pre-Independence day breather, leaving you free to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Interstate highway system or listen to Anais Nin read from her diary or contemplate how far and how not so far civil rights have gone in the United States.