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.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
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.
Tuesday Briefing: Tourism’s Matt Dunn Lands National Board Seat, Obama’s Osama Lies, Palm Harbor Housekeeping
Rymfire Elementary celebrates its new medical lab this evening, Seymour Hersh’s piece on the Obama administration’s alleged lies regarding the killing of Osama bin Laden is making the talk show rounds, Palm Coast gets ready for the Palm Harbor extension.
Commencement Season in an Age of Community Failures
We can make excuses for failure and we too often do so, writes Ed Moore. In life there should be no excuses for quitting, for abandoning dreams and ambitions and for pursuing our goals.
Gov. Scott Stacks Hospital Panel Without a Single Hospital Expert in Overt Snub
Scott’s commission is to make recommendations for a special legislative session on health funding scheduled to begin June 1, but it includes beef, housing, real estate, banking and hospitality experts, but no health care executives.
Monday Briefing: Bunnell Bids Giving Gardners Goodbye, a Puppy-Killer Is Sentenced, Picasso Fetches $140 Million
Wesley Jackson, accused of stomping a dog to death for interrupting his masturbation session, is sentenced this afternoon. The Bunnell City Commission awards appreciation certificates to Beth and Charles Gardner,
Fifteen Years For Sex on the Beach? Seriously?
Federal prisons are full of white collar criminals who won’t serve a day over five years, criminals who destroyed companies and bilked citizens out of their life savings. Yet Elissa Alvarez and Jose Caballero face 15 years for “lewd and lascivious” sex on the beach, a ridiculous excess, argues Nancy Smith.
How Health Care Blew Up the 2015 Session
Dramatic miscalculations and eagerness for showdown over health care derailed Florida lawmakers’ plans in the 2015 legislative session–impulses they must guard against if the special session is to go more smoothly.
Weekend Briefing: Last Weekend for CRT’s “Committed,” Art League Goes Nude, UK Stays Conservative
City Repertory Theatre’s “Committed” has three more shows this weekend, the Flagler County Art League’s new Figuratively Speaking show gives nudes a chance, Team Florida Elite Lacrosse Summer Showcase is at the Indian Trails Sports Complex, and a lot more this weekend.
Economy Resumes Climb With Healthy 223,000 Jobs, Unemployment Ticks Down to 5.4%
The 5.4 percent unemployment rate is another new low since the Great Recession: the rate was last this low exactly seven years ago, in May 2008, when it was beginning to rise rapidly.
Don’t Tell Rick Scott: Pope Francis Wants Action on Global Warming, Steaming Conservatives
Pope Francis’s call for action against global warming has many conservatives in the US up in arms, but his message is a matter of morality, argues Jeffrey Sachs.
Gov. Scott Seeks Court-Ordered Injunction Against Federal Government in Health Fight
Lawyers for the state asked Thursday for a federal judge to immediately bar the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from considering whether the state has expanded Medicaid as the agency weighs a decision on $2.2 billion in funding for hospitals and other health-care providers in Florida.
Thursday Briefing: Fallen Officer Memorial at Courthouse, Day of Prayer in Bunnell, Salamander Pays
The Sheriff’s Office hosts the annual fallen officer memorial at the Justice Center, Bunnell holds its fifth annual Day of Prayer, Ron DeSantis is at Wadsworth Elementary, Hammock Beach Resort makes a $250,000 payment to the county.
Legislators Set Special Session For June 1 But $2.2 Billion in Health Aid for Poor at Risk
Florida House and Senate leaders did not put out a list of topics that would be discussed during the special session, leaving room for disagreement over the final “call” that will be issued to lawmakers.
Wednesday Briefing: Flagler Commissioners Talk Budget, Gov. Scott Pleads in D.C., Surveillance in Baltimore
The Flagler County Commission launches budget season with the first of several workshops. Gov. Scott is in D.C. to plead for money in hopes of resolving a state budget crisis.
Guard Brutality in Florida Prisons: 2 More Corrections Officers Arrested
Correctional Officer Sgt. Christopher Michael Jernigan, 37, and Correctional Officer Donald Dwight Sims, Jr., 21, were arrested for brutalizing an inmate at Columbia Correctional Institution, the latest in a series of guard arrests in the troubled Florida Department of Corrections.
Employers Not Required to Have Defibrillators or CPR-Ready Personnel to Prevent Death, Florida Court Rules
In a case stemming from the fatal heart attack of a CSX railroad employee in Clay County, the 1st District Court of Appeal found CSX not to have been negligent by either lacking defibrillators, not providing CPR training to employees or not responding in time to the incident.
Federal Judge to Florida: Your Children Medicaid Program Is Still in the Poorhouse
Florida Medicaid’s system delays care and outreach to Medicaid-eligible children is inadequate, the federal lawsuit claims. A judge ruled the lawsuit can continue despite a Supreme Court decision Florida cited to dismiss the case.
Tuesday Briefing: A Flagler Court Docket from Dante’s Inferno, Grand Landings Rezoning, Mencken on Shaw
Some of Flagler County’s most notorious suspects appear in pre-trial motions before Judge Walsh this afternoon. The school board and the Palm Coast City council meet this evening. Mencken doesn’t like George Bernard Shaw.
Obamacare Mandate Be Damned: Health Plans Still Stint On Birth Control Coverage
Health insurance plans around the country are failing to provide many legally-mandated services including birth control and cancer screenings, five years after the Affordable Care Act made it a requirement.
Monday Briefing: Muhammad Cartoons Draw Bullets, Flagler Talks Construction, FYO in Concert
An alleged exhibit of Muhammad cartoons in Texas ended in a shooting and the killing of two assailants. The Flagler County Commission tries to figure out what to do with the old patient wings at the old Memorial hospital. The Flagler Youth Orchestra is in concert at the Auditorium tonight.
This Latina Liberal Is Not Kidding: Ronald Reagan’s Big Gift to Immigrant Families
As a progressive young Latina from a working-class background, whose parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico without papers, Cecilia Velasco is actually thankful for something Ronald Reagan did.