Circuit Judge William Parsons, twice the chief judge in the judicial district that includes Flagler, will end 17 years on the bench to return to private practice next January.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
Economy Surges With 280,000 Jobs, But Unemployment Remains at 5.5%
The new jobs bring the total to 12.6 million private-sector jobs created over the last 63 months, one of the better performances of extended growth since World War II.
Weekend Briefing: Matanzas Has a New Principal, Leadership Flagler Wants You, Ferris Bueller at 30
Earl Johnson of Volusia County Schools Selected New Principal for Matanzas High School, the Chamber’s Leadership Flagler Class of 2015 wants applicants, First Friday in Flagler Beach.
Opposing “Medicaid in Disguise,” Florida House Set to Kill Senate Health Plan Friday
For all of its new provisions, House Republicans said, the so-called Florida Health Insurance Affordability Exchange, or FHIX, remains Medicaid expansion in disguise.
Opelka’s Fabulous Run in Paris Ends in Quarterfinal Defeat, But He’s Warming Up for Wimbledon
The 17-year-old Palm Coaster lost to fellow-American and friend Michael Mmoh, but he will be climbing the world’s junior rankings as he heads for two grass-court tournaments in England.
Thursday Briefing: Talent Show Night at the Auditorium, Varn Park Reopens, Social Media Day Proclaimed
Spotlight on Flagler Youth Variety and Talent Show is at 7 tonight at the auditorium. Varn Park’s half-million renovation is done. Americans want more equality.
Senate Approves Health Plan to Resolve Budget Impasse, But House Remains Unmoved
Gov. Rick Scott and House Republican leaders staunchly oppose the legislation, which helped grind budget negotiations to a halt earlier this year and spark a special session currently underway.
Palm Coast’s Opelka Continues Stunning Run in Paris, Upsetting World’s No. 1 Junior For Quarterfinals Spot
The 17-year-old Opelka erased a 5-3 third-set deficit to win the final four games of the match Wednesday against No.1-ranked junior Orlando Luz of Brazil at the French Open Juniors tournament.
Wednesday Briefing: “American Sniper” in Palm Coast, a $15/hr Minimum Wage in LA, Texting and Driving at Matanzas
A local coalition launches a texting-and-driving video PSA at Matanzas this evening, LA passes a $15-an-hour minimum wage, Jerry Seinfeld has coffee with comedians again.
The Soccer Mafia
FIFA’s secrecy, its intimidation of the rivals to those who run it, and its reliance on favors, bribes, and called debts do show disturbing parallels to the world of organized crime, writes Ian Buruma.
Federal Government Calls Gov. Scott’s Lawsuit Over Medicaid Expansion “Baseless”
Federal officials fired back in court against Gov. Rick Scott’s contention that the Obama administration has unconstitutionally tried to link expanding Medicaid with the continuation of a key health-care funding program.
Tomoka Eye Foundation Donates $10,000 to the Center for the Visually Impaired
The donation is a result of the foundation’s first annual Tea and Biscuits fundraiser held last month. Funds from the event also went to guide dog support for the visually impaired. The check was presented to the Center for the Visually Impaired at CVI’s Legacy of Light luncheon on May 13.
Tuesday Briefing: School Board Talks Settlement of Discipline Lawsuit, Missing Dog Harley, Morrison’s Nobel
The Flagler school board this evening considers a settlement agreement over a lawsuit charging that black students are disproportionately disciplined, filed in 2012 by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Despite Budget Crunch, Cable and Cell Phone Tax Cuts Still Expected in Special Session
Floridians could still get a reduction in their cable-TV and cell-phone bills as part of a new House tax-cut package, though it’ll fall short of the nearly $700 million package projected earlier this year.
Monday Briefing: Kimberle Weeks Is Arraigned, County Firefighters Get a Contract, Youth Orchestra’s Chamber Players In Concert
Ex-Supervisor of Elections Kim Weeks is arraigned on 12 felony counts in circuit court today, 24 chamber ensembles of the Flagler Youth Orchestra perform in a final concert, the county commission is set to approve a contract with its firefighters.
Elder Abuse: A Huge, Expensive and Lethal Problem
There is little doubt that elder abuse is growing, driven by growth in the elderly population. To address it, some governments are training police and social workers to investigate it.
Weekend Briefing: Growing Energy at Belle Terre, McDevitt Rape Sentencing, Spying in Orange County Schools
Teacher of the Year Ed Wolff showcases the Growing Energy garden at Belle Terre Elementary, Orange County public schools begin tracking students’ social media wholesale, James McDevitt is sentenced in court Friday morning for a 2013 rape.
With Florida Overdue for a Hit, Hurricane Season Begins on a Tide of Pessimism
NOAA predicts a below-normal Atlantic hurricane season, with between six to 11 tropical storms, but Florida’s insurance officials say the state’s nine straight hurricane-free seasons can;t last much longer.
What Florida’s Republicans Can Teach Its Diminishing Democrats
The GOP’s brilliance lay in its rebooted website’s recognition that most voters are sick and tired of political parties, platforms, issues and agendas. So instead, it focuses on action, action, action, argues Daniel Tilson.
Thursday Briefing: FPC Graduates, FCC Wants Broadband for the Poor, FAO Schwartz Closes
FPC’s graduation is at the Ocean Center tonight at 7 p.m., NOAA predicts six to 11 named storms this hurricane season, and how the GOP is miscalculating in Florida.
Forget Its Cause. Fighting Global Warming Is Good For Your Health. Period.
Governments often see climate change as too costly to address. In fact, it is too costly to ignore, with the prevention of disastrous climate change tied to immediate health benefits and health cost savings from the reduction of air pollution.
Proposals: Scrap Hospital Regulatory Process, Give Some Nurses More Power to Prescribe Drugs
House Republicans filed six bills Wednesday that delve into hot-button issues such as getting rid of a regulatory process for new or expanded hospitals and allowing advanced-registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe controlled substances.
Wednesday Briefing: Salvo’s JJ and Petra Call It a Match, Construction Updates, Nebraska Kills Death
Salvo Art’s JJ Graham capped a show opening with a wedding proposal, Flagler schools’ mentor program marks 10 years, the Nebraska Legislature may override a veto and end the death penalty.
Senate Leaders Propose Compromise in Budget Impasse, Gov. Scott and House Reject It
Scott and House Republicans have repeatedly said they have no interest in using Medicaid expansion funds from Obamacare to close a $2.2 billion budget gap and insure more Floridians.
Tuesday Briefing: Murderer David Snelgrove Back in Flagler, De Niro’s Warning to Graduating Actors, Paving Old Kings
Murderer David Snelgrove, sentenced in the double-murder in Flagler in 2000 of two elderly people, is back in court before Judge Walsh today. Rober De Niro tells it like it is to graduating actors.
Assisted Suicide In Your Back Yard: More Prevalent Than You Think
People don’t talk about it, but assisted suicide happens in states where it’s not legal. Just over 3 percent of U.S. doctors said they have written a prescription for life-ending medication, and almost 5 percent reported giving a patient a lethal injection.
R.J. Larizza Says No Charges Against Sheriff’s Deputy in Second Fatal Shooting in 2 Years
State Attorney R.J. Larizza said today no charges will be filed against Volusia County Sheriff’s deputy Joel Hernandez, who shot and killed a man who was allegedly reaching for a gun while sitting in his car at a towing yard in Daytona Beach in September 2014.
Weekend Briefing: Memorial Day Commemorations, Losing Iraq, Gay Eire, Keurig Horrors, Teens Fly
Memorial Day commemorations in Palm Coast, Flagler and Flagler Beach on Monday, Ireland votes on gay marriage, ISIS clobbers Ramadi, Milan Kundera raises questions.
Feds’ $1 Billion Pledge Cuts Florida Health Deficit in Half, Easing Legislative Standoff
If Florida has to instead offset the remaining $1.2 billion deficit for low-income healthcare with tax revenues, that could eat into funding for other priorities, like public education and tax cuts.
Thursday Briefing: A Science Expo at Belle Terre Elementary, Tracking Employees 24/7, Death Penalty’s Death in Nebraska
Belle Terre Elementary holds its public science expo at 4:40 this afternoon. Buddy Taylor’s band is in concert at the Auditorium. Employers tracking their employees 24/7 draws a lawsuit.
From “Sustainable Tourism” to Full Employment: Right and Wrong of Smart Development
The UN’s 169 priorities for sustainable development are too many and are like having none at all, argues Bjorn Lomborg. So he asked leading economists to evaluate which targets would do the most good for every dollar.
Flagler’s Next Congressman? Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford Announces for DeSantis Seat
Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford, term-limited after 12 years, will seek to replace Rep. Ron DeSantis in the 6th Congressional District, which includes all of Flagler County. The open seat is expected to draw numerous candidates.
Wednesday Briefing: State Education Board in Bunnell, Letterman Ends, Digital Journalism Stalls
The state Board of Education holds its meeting in Bunnell Wednesday morning, with the education commissioner in tow. Tonight Dave Letterman ends his 35 years as the king of late night. Michael Massing explores the future of digital journalism.
If Violence Isn’t the Answer, Someone Should Clue In the Police
Nobody wants to see people hurt, businesses burned, or innocent lives disrupted by violence in their communities. But you can’t understand urban unrest in isolation from the violence residents face at the hands of their own government.
As Gov. Scott Seeks Information For His Health Commission, Hospitals Signal He’s On His Own
As Gov. Rick Scott’s newly created health-care commission prepares to meet Wednesday to begin sifting through data about hospital funding, the governor’s request for information has been met with hospitals essentially telling him to go look it up.
Tuesday Briefing: City Council Braced, Man Booker Prize Announced, Ericksen Flocked, Food Truck Tuesday
It’s Food Truck Tuesday in Palm Coast’s Central Park, Britain’s Man Booker Prize is announced at 4:30 p.m., the Palm Coast City Council and Flagler School Boards are in action, 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Commissioner Charlie Ericksen was flocked.
Lawmakers Preparing A Disastrous Overhaul of Florida High School Athletics Ahead
Not a high school in the state of Florida sees anything but disaster in proposed legislation that would overhaul the Florida High School Athletic Association, for good reason, argues Nancy Smith.
Florida’s Smallest Police Department Gets a Mine-Resistant Armored Vehicle
The Pentagon put more than 12,000 MRAPs into service in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Now many of those MRAPs are being unloaded to 780 domestic civilian law enforcement agencies.
Teachers Union has No Standing to Sue Over Florida’s School Voucher System, Judge Rules
The voucher-like program provides tax credits to companies that donate money to nonprofit entities that help pay for children to attend private schools. Some 70,000 students are enrolled.
Monday Briefing: Carver Gym Fund-Raiser Breaks 4-Year Record, Less Military Hardware For Cops, New Airport Tenants
The Carver Gym auction topped the $7,000 mark, Obama tires of sending military hardware to police departments, an investigation reveals the lack of black cops on Florida streets.
Florida Leads Nation in Boating Accidents With 70 Deaths; Coast Guard Releases Safety App
Features of the app include state boating information, a safety equipment checklist, free boating safety check requests, navigation rules, float plans, and calling features to report pollution or suspicious activity.
One Way to Lessen That Pain: Insurers May Not Charge for Anesthesia in Colonoscopies
Although the ACA health law made it clear that the colonoscopy itself must be free for patients, it didn’t spell out how anesthesia or other charges should be handled.
Online Voter Registration in Florida Is Now Law, Over Resistance By Gov. Scott and Detzner
Florida must now develop an online voter registration system by October 2017, joining 20 other states that already provide the service. Gov. Scott was reluctant to sign the measure into law.
Weekend Briefing: Bunnell Festival Returns, Rubio Hawks It Up, The Bush Who Created ISIS
The Bunnell Festival returns Saturday under a new name, sans potato, Hairspray continues at the Auditorium, Mitt Romney faces down Evander Holyfield in Salt Lake City.
When Liberal Democracy Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up to Be
The puzzle is not why democracy so often turns out to be illiberal. It is that liberal democracy can ever emerge.
Gov. Scott’s Latest Tactic in Budget Showdown: Threaten a Government Shutdown
In addition to raising the issue of a government shutdown with state departments, Scott appeared to try to preemptively blame the Senate if negotiations drag on past June 30, the end of the current budget year.
Thursday Briefing: Paid Parking Straw Poll in Flagler Beach? “Hairspray” at the Auditorium, Losing Letterman
Flagler Beach Commissioner Steve Settle tonight proposes a straw poll on paid parking in the city. FPC’s production of “Hairspray” kicks off at the Auditorium. Bidding farewell to Letterman’s art of talk.
Gov. Reubin Askew, Sallye B. Mathis and Edward Daniel Davis Inducted Into Civil Rights Hall
Reubin Askew was named to the hall of fame in part because of his support for desegregation and his appointments of top black officials, including the first black justice on the Florida Supreme Court.
Wednesday Briefing: Jeb Bush’s Iraq War Problem, Open Government Online, Benvenuto Cellini at Epic Theaters
The First Amendment Foundation adds new open-government courses online, Jeb Bush keeps stumbling over questions about the Iraq war, and a relatively quiet day in local government.
Gov. Scott Threatens to Delay Tax Cuts and Education Funding Hike Over Budget Standoff
A roughly $261 per student increase from the current year is at stake, as is a a $690 million tax-cut package, if a health care-fueled budget impasse continues in the Legislature.