The “good Muslims” support those “war on terror” policies that result in the expansion of violence against mostly innocent people. The “bad ones” don’t — and are called terrorists.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
The Problem with Dividing
Both Sides Pressuring Scott on School Bill That Drew Protest Firestorm from Education Leaders
The bill’s passage infuriated school boards, superintendents, the state’s main teachers and other education advocates. Scott hinted that he was considering a veto at the time.
Wednesday Briefing: Sessions Time-Out, National Guard Progress, Ivanka and Marco’s Family Leave, Mohsin Hamid
The Florida Chamber’s education summit in Orlando, Marco Rubio and Ivanka Trump may have family leave in common, Sigmund Freud on our self-destructive selves, Mohsin Hamid.
Tuesday Briefing: Chamber Education Summit, Property Taxes in Palm Coast, Game Day Guns, Ted Talk on Lies
The Palm Coast Council talks property taxes, a court reviews the Florida State case about guns on game day, the Bunnell City Commission discusses a pay study, Reagan talks about The Day After.
Health Providers Prevail Over Gun Promoters in Guns v. Glocks Duel as 2011 Law Dies
The plaintiffs in the case, including individual doctors, argued that the restrictions were a violation of their First Amendment rights. A federal court agreed.
Monday Briefing: Remembering the Pulse Victims, Drought Index Down to 151, Flagler Budget, Reza Aslan’s Firing
A large commemoration ceremony at Lake Eola Park to remember the victims of the Pulse shooting in Orlando, with SunRail providing extra service. Flagler commissioners talk budget.
When Elected Officials Block Constituents on Twitter or Facebook, Possibly Breaking the Law
As elected officials increasingly turn to social media to communicate with constituents, some are blocking those who disagree with them. Some say it violates the First Amendment.
50 Years Later, Israel’s Attack on the USS Liberty Still Provokes Unsettling Conclusions
On June 8, 1967, during the Arab-Israeli war, Israeli jets and gunships attacked the USS Liberty in the Mediterranean, killing 34 Americans. Israel called it an accident. Survivors doubt it to this day.
Cities Can’t Go It Alone: They’ll Need State Help to Meet Paris Climate Goal
Even Palm Coast’s mayor has received requests to join the pledge, but many cities may be hamstrung by Republican governors and state legislatures that are less supportive of policies that would reduce fossil fuel emissions.
Four Funerals and a Wedding
In the past couple of weeks we’ve had four mass funerals and a wedding. Each tells a story about what we’ve become in a world turned on its head. Honorable is the least of it.
A Special Session Gorged on Wheeling and Dealing Ends With All Sides Declaring Victory
The agreement gave each of the three sides at the Capitol — Scott, the House and the Senate — something that could be called a victory, but more vetoes may yet be to come.
Lawmakers Find Agreement On Much Broader Allowances for Medical Pot Dispensaries
The cap on dispensaries would end in less than three years and the number of medical-marijuana operator licenses would increase as the number of patients eligible for the cannabis treatment grows.
Weekend Briefing: Portugal Day, Jiggleman Reading, Sportsfishing Tournament, Fantastic Beasts, Ali on Being Muslim
Celebrating Portugal Day at City Hall, a free movie in the park at dusk, Jiggleman kicks off a summer of reading at the public library, the special session concludes, maybe, Muhammad Ali speaks.
Court Throws Out Medical Malpractice Caps, Legacy of Jeb Bush Years, as Unconstitutional
Justices were sharply divided, with the majority finding that the caps on “non-economic” damages violated equal-protection rights and disputing that a malpractice insurance “crisis” exists.
Thursday Briefing: Traveling Zoo on World Oceans Day, Comey’s Intellectual History, Heroin, Special Session
Celebrate World Oceans Day at the agricultural extension offices at the Flagler County Fairgrounds, James Comey’s path to center stage, Flagler Beach reroofs, a call for coexistence from 500 years ago.
Lawmakers Move Forward With Medical Pot Deal as Vendors Could Each Operate 25 Shops
The state currently has seven licensed marijuana vendors, and the agreement between House and Senate leaders would require health officials to approve 10 new operators by Oct. 3.
Wednesday Briefing: Bike and Pedestrian Safety Improvements, FTI Graduation, Special Session Starts
Matanzas High students present their findings on pedestrian and bike paths to improve safety, the Legislature begins a 3-day special session on the budget, FTI holds its graduation ceremony.
In Blow to Collective Bargaining, Court Upholds Scott Veto of Firefighters’ Pay Raises
Scott’s decision to veto the $1.57 million for state firefighters, including employees who fight forest fires, had drawn criticism even from Agriculture Secretary Adam Putnam.
Tuesday Briefing: Pleasures of Dunking Top Cops, Thunderstorms, Tager’s 1st Workshop, Flagler Sportsfishing
Dunking cops, Superintendent James Tager handles his first school board workshop, Flagler Sportfishing Club meets, Palm Coast council talks streetlights.
Reflecting Bruising Session, Scott Vetoes Target Two-Thirds of House Members
The cuts, to 153 Republican projects and 55 Democratic initiatives, totaled $199 million and erased efforts of 81 different House members, just over two-thirds of the membership.
Monday Briefing: Drought Index Dips to 399, Replacing the 800MHz System, AIDS, Sean Monti Trial
Repeat offender and felon Sean Monti goes on trial, the County Commission hires a $175,000 consultant to study the future of the emergency radio system, and it talks library expansion.
He Was About To Pick Up His Newborn Son After Surgery When He Was Arrested By ICE
The case of Oscar Millan shows ICE’s renewed focus on strict immigration enforcement. Under the Obama administration, agents had discretion in cases of immigrants with gravely sick children.
A Lifetime In One Picture
My Daughter Odysseus
FlaglerLive’s editor reflects on the painful and joyful history behind a moment unexpectedly captured by a photographer at his daughter’s graduation from Grinnell College last week.
Medical Pot Left Out of Scott’s Special Session Call, But Lawmakers Angle For Joint Effort
Florida House and Senate leaders may expand the special session to include medical pot since they failed to reach agreement on implementing the voter-approved amendment in regular session.
Budget Deal Will Increase Per-Student Funding By $100 and Reset Visit Florida at $76 Million; Special Session Next Week
Florida lawmakers will hold a special session next week after Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders announced Friday they have reached the outline of a budget deal.
Weekend Briefing: Dunk a Chief in Flagler Beach, Volleyball at Hammock Beach, Road to Success at Carver, Tax Holiday
Road to Success open house at Carver Center, the fallout from Trump’s Paris pullout, child molester James Taylor is sentenced, Anderson Cooper at 50, volleyball tournament.
In American First, Scott Signs Bill Providing for Birth Certificates In Cases of Miscarriage
The bill, which easily cleared the Senate and House in early May, makes Florida the first state in the nation to issue birth certificates for miscarriages. The implications of the bill are unclear.
In Latest Polling, Obamacare Beats Trumpcare, 49-31, With Little Support For Means-Testing
The health overhaul bill passed by the House earlier this month accomplishes one major feat: It is even less popular than the not-very-popular Affordable Care Act.
GOP Defends Health Bill With Euphemisms, False Statements and Deleted Comments
Since the passage of the American Health Care Act, Republican members of Congress have tried to swing public opinion to their side, but through deceptive means.
Awakening from the Trump Nightmare
Forget impeachment. It ain’t going to happen, not when 19 Senate Republicans would have to join Democrats to pull it off. But public opinion is a different matter, argues Bernard-Henri Lévy.
Only One Flagler Project Lands on Tax Watch’s $178 Million In Budget Turkeys
TaxWatch flagged 111 budget items as turkeys, among them a Bunnell road project, though the organization stresses that it isn’t making a value judgment.
Prohibition-Era Liquor Wall Stays in Place as Gov. Scott Vetoes Bill to Deregulate Stores
ABC Fine Wine & Spirits and Publix win, Target, Costco and Walmart lose, as Gov. Scott, opposing deregulation, signs his first veto of the year.
Home Rule: Palm Beach District Challenges Constitutionality of Charter School Law
It’s a first step in asking the Florida Supreme Court to declare unconstitutional a law that allows the State Board of Education to overturn local denials of charter-school applications.
The Coming Assault on America’s National Monuments
President Trump is on track to throw away part of our national heritage, remove some national monument protections to make way for mining corporations and other extractive industries to operate there.
High Court Denies Challenge to Florida’s New Unanimous Jury Requirement in Death Cases
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision cements a state law enacted this year that requires unanimous jury recommendations for the death penalty to be considered in capital cases.
Funnel Cloud Reported Just North of Marineland; Severe Storm Watch Until 11 PM
A small, brief funnel cloud touched down over the Intracoastal just north of Marineland this morning, scampered over A1A then dissolved over the ocean.
No Coal Resurgence Here: FPL Seeks to Shut Down Dirty-Energy Plant in Jacksonville
FPL says shutting down the coal-fired plant will save customers money and have environmental benefits, including a reduction of carbon-dioxide emissions.
Go Ahead, Gov. Scott, Veto This Bad Education Bill in Good Conscience
Gov. Scott has said he wants to sign only bills that are good for Florida families. This one is not. Its process was particularly dishonest — something even committed conservatives should disown when they look at it up close.
Time Is Running Out For “Repeal and Replace” As Scandal and Summer Loom
Budget procedures, the fact that half the states’ legislatures have already adjourned is making it almost impossible for Congress to fit repeal of the Affordable Health Act just yet.
Whiplash
Donald Trump is rewriting the rules of politics, of time and of the English language, but the resulting explosions are as false a dawn as those of nuclear blasts.
Game Over: Lawmakers, Not Voters, Decide Whether To Allow Slot Machines, High Court Rules
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.
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.