The Flagler County Fair begins today, the Palm Coast Observer hires a new writer, for one day, the world’s largest sperm bank lands in Orlando, Apple’s Tim Cook warns of bigotry hiding under the banner of religious freedom.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
Guns and Ammo Included In Sales Tax Holiday Florida Lawmakers Are Set To Approve
Guns and ammunition remain in a proposed Independence Day sales-tax holiday on hunting gear that is part of a wide-ranging tax cut package that advanced Tuesday in the House.
My Surprise Visit From FDLE
FDLE interprets Beatles lyrics as a threat on Gov. Rick Scott, and Daniel Tilson, the columnist, gets a call investigating his intentions. He wonders if this is the way FDLE operates under Rick Swearingen, Scott’s hand-picked replacement of Gerald Bailey.
Pounded By E-Mail Mire, Clinton’s Leads Falter Slightly as Jeb Bush Rises in Florida
For the first time since the poll has been conducted with Hillary Clinton’s name included, the former secretary of state is not ahead in Florida: Jeb Bush would beat Clinton, 45 to 42, in a head-to-head matchup, according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll, released this morning.
Tuesday Briefing: IMAG NE That Sculpture, Anti-Semitism On the Rise, Bigotry Hiding as Religious Freedom
An imaginative sculpture is installed at the Flagler County Public Library, a religious freedom act is used by homophobes to justify discrimination, anti-Semitism rises in Florida and elsewhere.
Three Weeks After ATF Approves Powdered Alcohol, Florida Senate Votes To Ban It
Though federally approved, under Florida’s bill a person selling powdered alcohol would face a first-degree misdemeanor. A second violation within five years would carry a third-degree felony.
Deadliest State: Florida Roads Have Highest Bicyclist Fatality Rate in The Nation
Florida spent decades building roads designed to move commuters from homes in sprawling suburbs as fast as possible. Conventional wisdom says these roads were built for speed, not bicycles.
Monday Briefing: Jeb Bush vs. Scott Walker, Rubio’s Guns vs. Butter, Quiet Flagler
Flagler County’s official calendar decides to extend spring break until Tuesday. Jeb Bush and Scott Walker have their differences, Obamacare gets a surprisingly bright report card.
House Ties Money to School Dress Codes, More Dollars for Charters, Fewer Class-Size Penalties
Most of the school-related bills were passed in lopsided votes, though Democrats united to oppose a measure that could funnel local tax dollars to charter-school construction.
Benghazi Revisited: Private Emails Reveal Ex-Clinton Aide’s Secret Spy Network
Emails disclosed by a hacker show a close family friend was funneling intelligence about the crisis in Libya directly to the Secretary of State’s private account starting before the Benghazi attack.
Florida House Votes To Require Flags Flown By Governments To Be Exclusively U.S.-Made
If the Senate follows suit, Florida flags purchased by governments in Florida after Jan. 1, 2016 would have to be made from materials grown, produced and manufactured in the United States.
Weekend Briefing: Code Enforcement’s Vise On Palm Coast, Wings Over Flagler Rocks
Wings Over Flagler takes off all weekend at the Flagler County Airport, dominating the local scene, The Observer reports on Palm Coast’s obsession with code enforcement, hockey at the Youth Center and new Census numbers on Florida’s growth.
Scott’s Magical ‘Tax Cut Calculator’ Obscures Nation’s 2nd Most Unfair Tax System
As Gov. Scott touts minor tax cuts for consumers, you could ask why that $43 a year saved on the cable bill compares so unfavorably with the $3-4 billion in corporate tax evasion he and his legislative allies let Florida’s biggest, most profitable businesses get away with each and every year, writes Daniel Tilson.
Proposal Would Suspend 3rd Grade Test Required For Promotion to 4th Grade This Year
The proposal calls for suspending the language-arts test for 3rd graders until the state’s new Florida Standards Assessments are found to be valid by an independent examination.
Thursday Briefing: Tallahassee Junket, Cops’ Body Cams, and Bolton Wants To Bomb, Bomb Bomb Iran
Flagler County commissioners are in Tallahassee today in a junket organized by the Florida Association of counties, cop body cameras are all the rage in Florida, and John Bolton returns with more bombing prose.
Household Debt Is a National Crisis. Predatory Lenders, Not Borrowers, Are To Blame.
Placing fair caps on interest rates, ending predatory practices that push people further into debt, and creating a path out of debt for people who are struggling are some of the ways to alleviate a mounting crisis, argues LeeAnn Hall.
Against Voter Wishes, Proposal Would Devote Just 1% of Available Cash to Land Preservation
Sen. Alan Hays, a Umatilla Republican in charge of budget talks with the House–which is already resisting more money for land-buying–says Florida already has enough land in public hands.
Wednesday Briefing: Friends of A1A Talk Environmental Fair, Jeb and Hilary Neck and Neck in Florida
Friends of A1A hold their monthly meeting, the Center for the Visually Impaired leads a tour at the Palm Coast Community Center, Flagler County commissioners are in Tallahassee.
Florida House Pushes $690 Million Tax-Cut Package, Exceeding Gov. Scott’s Request
The proposed cuts include sales-tax holidays and eliminating taxes on gun-club memberships, college textbooks, materials purchased at book fairs and vehicles purchased overseas and brought to Florida by military members.
Tuesday Briefing: Spring Break Doldrums, LED Streetlights Get Poor Reception in NYC, Another Hearing For Red-Light Camera Restrictions
A slow spring-break week in Flagler. The Legislature takes up red-light camera restrictions, and New York Citry’s conversion to LED streetlights, something Palm Coast is planning, is getting an unhappy reception from residents.
Florida Legislature to Voters For Amendment 1’s Water Protection: Drop Dead
Even when expressed via an overwhelming majority “Yes” vote on a constitutional amendment, the Florida Legislature can and does subvert it, argues Daniel Tilson.
Democrat Patrick Murphy, Conqueror of Allen West, Will Run For Rubio’s Senate Seat in 2016
The announcement sets the stage for a big-money, high-profile Senate race next year — whether Rubio seeks re-election or decides instead to run for president.
Monday Briefing: Planning For Disasters, Hemp Production and Guns in Schools
Flagler County Emergency Services’ Mitigation Strategy Session is this morning at EOC (10 a.m.), the Bunnell city commission holds a routine meeting this evening (7 p.m.), the legislature’s attack on Florida’s Sunshine law and the Jeb Bush-Marco Rubio duel, in full swing.
Obama Proposals Would End Tax-Subsidized Loans For Sports Stadiums
The proposal comes as many team owners, including Florida, are pressing cities and states for new facilities, with some threatening to move elsewhere if they don’t get them.
An Amazon Package Delivered To You in 30 Minutes Or Less: It’s Coming, On Drones
Amazon just got an FAA certificate to experiment with what will result in immediate deliveries by drone, or unmanned aircraft, as the drone industry’s potential continues to find new uses. UPS and others are also experimenting.
Israel’s Problem Isn’t Iran or Hamas.
It’s Benjamin Netanyahu.
The manner of Netanyahu’s reelection–his lies, his bigotry, his fear-mongering–lays bare the method of a man who should not be trusted, and who is taking Israel down its most dangerous paths yet.
Reacting to Gov. Scott’s Alleged Climate Change Denial Directive, Group Demands Investigation
Members of Forecast the Facts dropped off about 43,000 electronically signed petitions at the governor’s office, asking for an investigation. Scott, when pressed last year on the issue of climate change, evaded the question by saying he is “not a scientist.”
Weekend Briefing: Suicide Prevention in Town Center, NCAA Clinic at Indian Trails, Duprees at Auditorium
The Duprees’ romantic voices take over the Flagler Auditorium Saturday evening, FPC’s Gay-Straight Alliance hosts a suicide-prevention walk in Town Center, a new bar at the Hammock Wine and Cheese Shop, and more this weekend.
Yes, It’s Retroactive: Florida Supreme Court Rules All Lifers Sentenced as Juveniles Must Be Resentenced
The justices ordered lower Florida courts to apply a 2014 law to inmates who, as juveniles, were sentenced in the past either to life in prison or to terms that would have effectively kept them behind bars until they die. Two of the inmates were convicted of murder.
School Board Honors Cheryl Tristam With Power of One Award For Youth Orchestra’s 10-Year Triumphs
Cheryl Tristam stressed the importance of making music education accessible to every child regardless of background or ability as she received an award bestowed periodically on community members who have had a broad impact on students.
Thursday Briefing: House Construction, Guns in Schools and Civil War Roundtables
Flagler Home Builders Association Government Affairs Director Jason DeLorenzo touts recent housing gains before the county’s economic development council. A busy day at the Legislature regarding education issues, including consideration of the guns-in-schools bill.
School Choice Bill That Vastly Increases Parental Control–And Undermines Educators’–Advances
The measure gives parents the right to have their children attend any school in the state that hasn’t reached capacity and remove their child from one class to another under certain circumstances.
Wednesday Briefing: TDC Finds Its Local Soul, Netanyahu Loses His
Flagler County’s Tourist Development Council is playing on Palm Coast’s trademarked “Find Tour Florida” tagline with one of its own: “Find Your Local Soul.” Elsewhere, an onanist goers to court, and Netanyahu wins big in Israel.
$772 Million Amendment 1 Spending Focuses More On Management and Water Projects Than Land Acquisition
The plan drew mixed reviews from conservationists concerned that lawmakers disregarded the intent of voters who supported a constitutional amendment, known as Amendment 1, in November.
Bill Targeting Transgenders in Public Bathrooms Clears 2nd House Committee, 7-4
The 7-4 vote of the Florida House Government Operations Subcommittee included one dissent from a Republican, though as the bill advances, its chances of becoming law increase.
Tuesday Briefing: New Regimes For Red-Light Cameras and School Uniforms
Today the Palm Coast City Council considers a broadly amended contract with its red-light camera vendor, reducing the pests in the city from 43 to five, while the school board considers liberalizing its school uniform policy.
Senate Panel Approves Communications Tax Cut That Could Net Floridians a $43-a-Year Saving
The cut would lower the communications-services tax on cell-phone and cable TV from 6.65 percent to 3.05 percent and the tax rate on direct-to home satellite services from 10.8 percent to 7.2 percent. State economists estimate the cuts would eventually reduce state revenue by $470.9 million a year.
Plan to Extend Health Insurance to 800,000 Poor Floridians Crawls Against Steep Hurdles
The new Florida Health Insurance Affordability Exchange Program, or FHIX, would assist Floridians not eligible for Medicaid in purchasing health benefits coverage and gaining access to health services.
Monday Briefing: It’s All About Sea Ray
The Flagler County Commission Monday evening considers Sea Ray’s application for an expanded parking lot. The Legislature takes up guns on campus, drones and early school start dates.
Will U.S. Supreme Court Rule Florida’s Cavalier Death Penalty Unconstitutional?
In 27 of the 31 death penalty states, the jury’s decision to impose life imprisonment is final and may not be disturbed by the trial judge under any circumstances. But not in Florida.
What Palm Coast Won’t Do, What Other Cities Are Doing: Synchronizing Traffic Lights
Transportation experts say that revamping the way signals work will reduce congestion, save fuel costs, cut down on air pollution and make the roads safer.
Sea Ray’s View: We Are Building a Safer Parking Lot, Not Expanding Production
Craig Wall, operations manager at Sea Ray’s Palm Coast plant, counters concerns about the company’s intentions by laying out precisely what the manufacturer intends to do–and not do.
Favoring Flagler and Other Districts, Lawmakers May Move Up School Start Time to Aug. 10
In the shadow of the state’s recent standardized-testing problems and proposals to curb the amount of time students spend on exams, lawmakers are considering moving up the start date of the school year.
24-Hour Waiting Period for Abortion Clears Florida House Panel in Partisan 9-4 Vote
Under the bill, a woman seeking an abortion would be required to meet with a physician to get information and then wait at least 24 hours before the procedure could be performed.
Education Committee Easily Approves Gun-Carrying By Select Florida School Employees
School superintendents could allow designated people to carry weapons on campus. Those people could be current or former law enforcement officers or current or former members of the military.
Fearing Loss of $1 Billion in Federal Aid, Senate Again Considers Medicaid Expansion
Florida’s budget faces an unexpected deficit. Accepting the federal Medicaid money could potentially offset the loss of the Low-Income Pool Funds. But the plan faces stiff opposition.
Secretary of Evasion: Hillary Clinton’s Entirely Non-Believable Email Spectacle
Hillary Clinton’s explanation Tuesday of why she used a personal email account for official business made little sense and worsens her credibility gap.
Don’t Add Guns to “Toxic Mix” of Booze, Drugs and Academic Pressures on Campus, Opponents Say
Members of Everytown for Gun Safety and the Florida chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America held a small rally on the steps of the Old Capitol Monday before meeting with mostly Democratic lawmakers.
Florida Blames School Testing Trouble on Cyber Attack as FDLE Investigates
The news came after the rollout for the new Florida Standards Assessment was plagued by slow logins and other technical glitches. The state paid $220 million for the tests over six years.
Unresponsive to Rescue Efforts, Dwarf Sperm Whale Dies Near Flagler Beach Pier
A beached Kogia sima whale, also known as a dwarf sperm whale, died near the Flagler Beach pier Monday morning after it had appeared in likely distress the previous day a few blocks north and had at times been helped away from the beach by swimmers and surfers.