Rock ‘n Ribfest launches its band bash at the Flagler County Fair, Travis Hutson and Paul Renner speak to a chamber group, The Gap apologizes, still more bombing runs at Pinecastle range.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
300,000 Floridians Could Lose Food Stamps as State Restores Work Obligations and Time Limits
The requirement was suspended in the aftermath of the recession, but starting Jan. 1, all able-bodied, childless adults 18 to 49 were required to work, get job training or volunteer 20 hours a week to receive food stamps . Otherwise, they’re limited to three months of food assistance in each 36-month period.
Wednesday Briefing: Botched SWAT Raids, County Fair Kick-Off, Auditorium’s Tea at Tiffany’s
The Flagler County Fair begins today and runs through Sunday, the Cato Institute has a map of botched SWAT raids, Palm Coast Code Enforcement board meets, the Flagler Auditorium’s Tea at Tiffany’s, a fund-raiser for the Arts in Education fund.
Raise the Driving Age to 18
Neurologically, kids aren’t ready, argues Catherine Durkin Robinson. Isn’t it time we did what’s best before more die or kill others? Simply focusing on experience ignores what we know about the teenage brain and its predilection for risky behaviors.
Closer to Home: Gainesville’s San Felasco Nurseries Approved for Marijuana Growing
San Felasco’s approval came after an administrative law judge ruled in February that health officials wrongly rejected the nursery’s application last year because of a decade-old drug crime.
Tuesday Briefing: Cell-Tower Approval, Matanzas Woods Parkway Update, Palmyra Demolished, Too Many Photographs
Superintendent Jacob Oliva provides a Matanzas Parkway update this evening, the Palm Coast City Council is expected to approve a 150-foot cell tower, you take too many pictures, and complaints about the loss of Palmyra’s ruins forget about the real loss: civilians.
Has Business Biased Florida’s Workers Comp Law Too Far Against Labor? Court Will Decide
Plaintiffs argue that lawmakers have taken too many rights and benefits from people who get injured on the job, while business groups say a 2003 law kept costs from “spiraling.”
Criminal Immunity: Prosecutors Are Rarely Punished for Mistakes and Misconduct
The Innocence Project alleges that prosecutors across the country are almost never punished when they withhold evidence or commit other forms of misconduct that land innocent people in prison.
Monday Briefing: Palmer Talks Union Power at Caucus, Commissioners Talk Complaints and Bypass, Trump Obscenities
Firefighters union chief Stephen Palmer talks about the new coalition of six public sector unions in Flagler to the Democratic Caucus at AACS, busy county commission meetings, the latest Trump obscenities.
Economy Adds 215,000 Jobs But Unemployment Rises to 5% As Workers Flood Back
The more accurate, so-called U-6 unemployment rate, which includes part-time and discouraged workers, places unemployment and underemployment at 9.8 percent, and 11.5 percent in Florida.
Weekend Briefing: Chamber Players of Palm Coast, Suicide Prevention Walk, Jewish Festival, Rising Seas
A suicide prevention walk Saturday in Town Center with a special focus on Lindsey Brockhaus and Cora Ann Engel, the Chamber Players of Palm Coast in concert Sunday, the fifth Jewish Heritage Festival at the Casements in Ormond Beach Sunday.
Declaring 2008 Amendment Unconstitutional, Judge Closes Book on Gay-Marriage Ban in Florida
In a harshly worded ruling, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle chastised state officials like Pam Bondi for reluctance in acknowledging that the Florida ban had been overturned
Thursday Briefing: More Irish at Auditorium, Inspired Mic Returns at Europa, Torture Insanity
The Inspired Mic returns after a hiatus, this time at its new home at The Europa, at Palm Coast’s European Village. A majority of Americans support torturing terrorist suspects. More Irish spectaculars at the auditorium.
Scrubbing Sexism: Scott Signs Bill Awarding Big Raise to Supervisors of Election
The long-overdue raises, averaging 18 percent, redress salaries traditionally kept low because most supervisors were, and still are, women.
Wednesday Briefing: Spousal Shooting Cases in Court, Problem Solvers in Orlando, Bombing in Ocala
William Carson Merrill, who shot and killed his wife in 2012, and Anna Pehota, who shot and killed her husband, are both in court for various motions today before Judge Matthew Foxman. The school district’s Future Problem Solvers are in state competition in Orlando.
Behind Florida’s Deceptively Low Unemployment Rate
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 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.
