The labor force participation rate should always be taken into account when determining the overall state of the job market and the economy, and that rate has fallen significantly since the Great Recession, argues Dominic Calabro.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
Florida Drops Planned Parenthood Case, Eliciting Charge of Political Motivation
Barbara Zdravecky, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, blasted the state Agency for Health Care Administration for “political gamesmanship” in a statement.
Tuesday Briefing: Art as Day Job at FPC, Entrepreneur Night, Palm Coast Talks Cell Tower
Entrepreneur Night is at the Beachfront Winery, Palm Coast talks debt and cell tower for Corporate Drive, An Art League grants brings a discussion of art as a job to FPC.
As Scott Signs Bill Stifling Abortion Clinics, Planned Parenthood Sees Danger and Cruelty
The restriction means low-income Floridians could lose access to the organization’s health-care and family-planning services. Planned Parenthood said it has more than 67,000 patients in Florida annually.
Monday Briefing: Matanzas Interchange Dedication, Bunnell Health, Kasich’s Jekyll and Hyde Act
The Matanzas Woods Parkway interchange with I-95 is finally dedicated today after decades of efforts to build it, the Bunnell City Commission talks health care, and John Kasich isn’t the man you see on TV.
Scott Signs Medical Marijuana Bill for Terminally Ill, Enabling Experimental Drugs
That law allows terminally ill patients to have access to experimental drugs that have not been approved for general use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Weekend Briefing: Cracker Day Rodeo, Motown Madness for Carver Gym, Newman’s Stations of the Cross
The 61st Cracker Day at the Flagler County Fairgrounds, Good Friday with Barnett Newman’s Stations of the Cross (video), a few egg hunts, Motown Madness, a fund-raiser concert for Carver Gym.
Florida Supreme Court Deals Another Blow to Tobacco Industry, Rejecting Disease Defense
Justices, in a 5-2 ruling Thursday, rejected R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.’s arguments in a Broward County case stemming from the 2002 death of George Ciccone, who started smoking as a child.
America on Xanax: The Disunited State of the Union
An election season defined by popular fury aimed at Wall Street, Muslims, trade deals, Washington, police shootings, President Barack Obama, Republicans, immigrants, and other targets.
Thursday Briefing: Belhumeur Sworn-in, a New Project WARM Playground, Trump Reflexes
Rick Belhumeur takes his seat, without an election, as a Flagler Beach City Commissioner today, a new playground at at the Vince Carter Sanctuary is dedicated in memory of Joan M. Kelly.
Court Upholds Prohibition on Married Couple Claiming 2 Separate Homestead Exemptions
Whether in state or out of state, the Florida appeals court found that the plain language of the law meant that only one homestead exemption was allowed, regardless of location.
Wednesday Briefing: Young Irelanders at Auditorium, Xenophobia Over Brussels, and From Ted Cruz, Grandma Gatewood
The Young Irelanders dance at the Flagler Auditorium this evening, xenophobes and Ted Cruz screech over Brussels, the library’s book discussion group talks about “Grandma Gatewood’s Talk” as part of Flagler Reads Together.
Garlanded: Smart Republicans Need To Find Their Inner Brain
The Republican Senate’s submission to Mitch McConnell and the right-wing lobbies over the blocked Garland nomination is reason enough for voters to elect a Democratic majority, argues Martin Dyckman.
No, Florida, You May Not Count Prisoners Who Can’t Vote in Redistricting Tallies
A federal judge has struck down county commission districts in a rural North Florida county — a potentially precedent-setting decision that could play into a challenge of the state’s congressional lines.
Tuesday Briefing: 99-Home Development Off John Anderson, Rape Trial, More Bombings at Pinecastle
The Navy bombs Pinecastle range again, the trial of Waldemar Rivera, accused of raping his step-daughter, resumes today, the planning board again considers a 99-house development near Bulow Creek.
Obama in Cuba:
The Limits of “Engagement”
Indeed, if engagement is supposed to result in political change, US engagement with Cuba is most likely doomed to fail, writes Jorge G. Castañeda. After all, trade and investment have done nothing to bring about a democratic opening in Vietnam over the last 20 years.
Three Changes You Can Expect In Next Year’s Obamacare Coverage
Ahead: more warning about “surprise” medical bills from out-of-network providers, more standardized out-of-pocket costs and better information about the size of the insurers’ network of doctors and hospitals.
Monday Briefing: FPC Track Team’s Big Wins in Jacksonville, CR 305 Makeover, Genuflecting to AIPAC
Flagler Palm Coast High School’s track and field team cleaned up at the the Bob Hayes Invitational track meet Saturday in Jacksonville, Donald Trump will genuflect to AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Flagler Reads Together:
In Search of Wilderness
Along the Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail reveals the limits and deceptions, but also the joys, of wilderness in urban America: An essay to accompany Flagler Reads Together’s focus on “Grandma Gatewood’s Walk.”
Court Backs New Death Penalty Law But Asks Florida Supremes to Rule on Constitutionality
The 5th District Court of Appeal today sided with the state in two death penalty cases, saying that blocking the executions “impermissibly invades” the discretion of the state to seek the sentence.
Weekend Briefing: Lungfish at City Repertory, Grandma Gatewood Documentary, Up with Down Bike Ride
Last weekend for “Wrong Turn at Lungfish,” the comedy-drama at City Repertory Theatre in Palm Coast, an Emma Gatewood documentary at the public library is the latest Flagler Reads Together event.
Senator, Governor, President, Nothing: For Marco Rubio, a Fuzzy Florida Future
For essentially the first time since he won a city commission seat in 1998, Rubio will soon be without a government office and without a campaign. What office Rubio seeks next, if any, isn’t clear.
Thursday Briefing: Leprechaun Hunt at Gamble Rogers, 8,000 Acres of Hutson Land for Sale, Ulysses
The Hutson family puts up 8,000 acres–four parcels–for sale in southern St. Johns, St Patrick’s Day is all about leprechauns, Guiness and James Joyce.
The Closing of the Academic Mind
Any denial of academic freedom is a blow struck against the meaning of a university. The irony today is that some of the most worrying attacks on academic freedom have been coming from inside university.
Gov. Rick Scott, Likening Himself to “Businessman Outsider,” Endorses Donald Trump
The endorsement was as much a plea for party unity as another signal from Trump that he is open to Trump’s invitation as his vice president nominee.
Wednesday Briefing: New Assisted Living on Cypress Point, Florida Fossils, Elections Recaps
Palm Coast’s planning board considers a new assisted living facility near City Market Place, election-day hangovers, lunch-n-learn series lecture focuses on… fossils.
Tuesday Briefing: It’s Election Day, Historic Flagler Takes the Bus Again, Food Trucks in Park, Voting for Einstein
It’s not just Trump, Sanders and the rest of them today, but Bunnell, too, has an election. It’s Food Truck Tuesday in Palm Coast’s Central Park, plus memories of Albert Einstein.
Where Florida’s Veto-Ready Pork Went: County Fairs, Gun Ranges, Oyster Farms, Space Tourism
Throughout the record spending plan are hundreds of local and agency projects that some lawmakers argued will help the economy or Florida residents. Now, Gov. Rick Scott will use his veto pen to decide which projects survive in the budget that takes effect July 1.
How the Florida Legislature Turned Police Radios Into $7 Million in Rotten Sausages
In a case with echoes in Flagler, experience pokes a hole in the Florida House speaker’s argument that first responders on the state system “need” radios, even though they didn’t ask for them.
Monday Briefing: Waldemar Rivera Trial on Rape Charge, Lab Meat, Chitwood’s Run for Sheriff
The trial of Valdemar Rivera on a rape charge begins before Judge Foxman this morning, Daytona Police Chief Mike Chitwood announces run for Volusia sheriff, meat made in a lab is explored.
I’m For Bernie
Flawed as she is, Hillary Clinton will win the Democratic nomination and crush any Republican opponent. That doesn’t make her the best candidate. The more reason for Bernie Sanders’s candidacy, regardless of outcome.
3-Day School “Tax Holiday” Part of $129 Million Tax-Cut Package Nearing Approval
The package is far short of the $1 billion in tax cuts that Gov. Rick Scott requested. The trimmed-down package is the result, at least in part, of lawmakers responding to state economists reducing revenue forecasts for the next couple of years.
Weekend Briefing: Job Fair, Aerosmith, Lungfish at CRT, Unnecessary Farce at Playhouse, Experiencing the Appalachian Trail
A weekend rich in theater with “Wrong Turn at Lungfish” at CRT and “Unnecessary Farce,” at the Playhouse, an Aerosmith tribute band at the Auditorium, and another Flagler Reads Together event.
Worse Than Trump: Gov. Scott Refuses to Disavow Claim that “Islam Hates Us”
In an appearance on Joe Scarborough’s MSNBC show Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott refused to denounce Donald Trump’s claim the day before that “Islam hates us.” The smear on Florida is the latest of many lows in a lurid election season.
Thursday Briefing: 7 Hours of Live Bombing at Pinecastle, National Guard Homecoming, STEM at Rymfire
A unit of the National Guard’s 265th Air Defense Brigade now permanently stationed at the Flagler County Airport comes home from Afghanistan after a year deployment, more early voting, more bombing at Pinecastle range by the Navy.
“Little Marco” Borne Out in Latest Florida Poll as Trump Trounces Rubio With 2-1 Advantage
Donald Trump is ahead of Rubio in Florida by a 45-22 margin, with Ted Cruz at 18 percent and Ohio’s John Kasich at 8 percent. The Quinnipiac University poll is considered the most accurate in Florida.
Wednesday Briefing: Rubio as GOP’s John Edwards, Early Voting Day 5, Graham Swamp Walk
Why Marco Rubio is the Republicans’ John Edwards, a walk through Graham Swamp is today’s Flagler Reads Together event, the Public Safety Coordinating Council meets.
Donald Trump’s Pledge of Allegiance to 1933 Germany
Asking supporters to raise their right arms and pledge allegiance to himself embodies Trump’s megalomania perfectly, argues Chris Goodfellow, but time may run out before voters realize their mistake.
Florida Lawmakers Unveil $82.3 Billion Budget That Abandons Scott’s Top Priorities
Because Scott’s tax-cut proposal was sharply reduced and a $250 million package of business incentives was dropped entirely, the governor is expected to lean heavily on his line-item veto pen.
Tuesday Briefing: A Raise for Jim Landon, Safer Bus Stops, Early Voting Continues
The Palm Coast City Council will discuss a raise for city manager Jim Landon, still the highest paid city or county executive in local government, along with a few other matters.
Utilities’ Proposed “Smart Solar” Amendment Draws Smarter Questions From Justices
A utility-backed measure intended to put existing solar-energy regulations into the state Constitution drew indications of skepticism and support Monday from Florida Supreme Court justices.
Monday Briefing: Bunnell Candidate Forum, Early Primary Voting, Louis CK and Beck On Heil Trump
Early voting for the presidential primary continues in Flagler at three polling sites, the three Bunnell City Commission candidates vying for two seats in their March election are in their only forum this evening, and Louis CK and Glenn Beck each call Trump Hitler.
With $714 Million For School Construction, Lawmakers Close in on $80 Billion Deal
Lawmakers have to agree on the roughly $80 billion overall spending plan by Tuesday for the legislative session to end on Friday, as scheduled.
Republicans On Crack
The crack-up is upon us. The locks have popped. The insane asylums have emptied. The loons are casting ballots. And Mitt Romney’s string quartet is arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Sandra Lee Ricard, 56, Killed in Putnam County Motorcycle Crash; Husband Lawrence Critical
Sandra Lee Ricard, a 56-year-old resident of Tampa, was killed Friday afternoon in a two-vehicle wreck on State Road 20 in Putnam County that left her husband Lawrence Albert Ricard, 64, in critical condition. The couple were riding a motorcycle.
Troubled Florida Department of Corrections Asks for 734 More Positions for Security. Lawmakers Say No.
The department has been reeling from a series of reports about issues such as contraband smuggling and abuse of inmates. The new jobs were part of an effort by the department to have corrections officers work eight-hour shifts instead of 12-hour shifts.
Florida House Overwhelmingly Approves Use of Full-Strength Pot for Terminally Ill, 99-16
The measure approved Thursday, in part, would likely lead to more licenses for nurseries that would be able to grow, process and distribute the full-strength and non-euphoric types of pot.
U.S. Economy Adds Robust 242,000 Jobs, Leaving Unemployment Rate at 4.9%
After a relatively weaker December, when only 172,000 jobs were created, the job market resumed the late 1990s-like pace it has maintained for most of the past two years.
Weekend Briefing: Early Voting Begins Saturday, Flagler Reads Together Kick-Off, Volusia Decriminalizes Pot Bits
Flagler Reads Together kicks off today with Ben Montgomery, author of the chosen book, at the public library, early voting in the presidential primary begins Saturday.
Gov. Scott Sought $1 Billion in Tax Cuts. Senate Cuts It Down to $129 Million.
The new tax-cut package will combine with about $290 million earmarked to hold down local property taxes that would otherwise go into the state’s school-funding formula.