Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty forfeit a $1 million federal grant that was supposed to go toward beefing up oversight of health-insurance rates.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
My Journey Out Of Egypt: An FPC Graduate and Cairo Transplant Describes Her Exit
Catherine M., who asked that her last name not be used for security reasons, is the daughter of two prominent Flagler residents–a former sheriff and a commercial real estate broker. She wrote from Dubai.
Stetson Goes Tahrir: Panel Discussion on Egypt’s Future, Thursday (Feb. 10)
In a free event open to the public, Stetson University professor Jamil Khader will moderate a panel discussion titled “The Egyptian Revolution and the Future of American-Arab Relations.”
Reality Check: Censoring Al-Jazeera
It’s no surprise when the thuggish Hosni Mubarak censors al-Jazeera. But American satellite and cable providers have been censoring al-Jazeera English since it went live in 2006, to the detriment of broader perspectives.
Unemployment Drops Again, to 9%, But Job Creation Far Short of Expectations
The U.S. economy added just 36,000 jobs in January as governments continued to shrink, though the 9% rate is the lowest since April 2009. Bad weather contributed to the poorer job creation.
Flanked by Tea Party, Rick Scott Will Unveil State Budget in Central Florida Monday
As tea party activists gather from Central Florida to Eustis, Gov. Rick Scott’s budget unveiling Monday will have the feel of political rally as he attempts to close a nearly $4 billion hole while still proposing tax cuts.
Detox for Tax Fact Cheats
It’s a resilient urban legend: the top 5 percent of earners pay over 50 percent of taxes, and over half our citizens pay no taxes. It’s also false. Time to set the record straight.
ArtsFest 2011: Free Art in 81 Central Florida Venues, Feb 4-13 (and a Boat Show)
ArtsFest 2011 means all events from Feb 4-13 are free in 81 arts and performing in Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. A wonder sampling of what the Central Florida arts community has to offer. Plus a boat show.
Watch the Egyptian Revolution Live: BBC and Al-Jazeera Feeds Here
Front seat to the revolutions: watch the BBC or al-Jazeera’s live English feeds of the unfolding events in Egypt and the Middle East, embedded on FlaglerLive.
Scott at 35%, Dueling Cellists, Daviana’s Valentine Dance: The Live Wire, Feb. 2
Florida’s power over health care law, Enterprise Florida’s Scott test, how to buy Adam Putnam, smooth criminals and bohemian rhapsody on the ukulele, and more.
Unconstitutional Mandate: Florida Judge Calls for Repeal of Entire Health Care Law
Though Florida Federal District Judge Roger Vinson termed his ruling “reluctant,” he also ruled that the private insurance mandate is so intricately tied to the the law that the entire law must be repealed.
Live: Flagler County’s Economic Development Summit
The economic development summit at the Flagler County Emergency Operations Center began at 5:30 this evening. For background on the summit, go here. For a recap and analysis of the meeting, go here. Click below to follow the summit moment by moment. Flagler County Economic Development Summit
The Rise of Egyptian Aspirations, The Fall of the American Brand
It’s been exhilarating to watch Egyptians demand an end to the dictatorial regimes controlling their lives for decades. But it’s exhilaration mixed with dread, doubt, disappointment and embarrassment, particularly over American postures and prejudices.
Carla Traister: Myths and Realities of Bunnell’s Cold-Weather Shelter, and Flagler’s Homeless
Carla Traister, director of Flagler County’s cold-weather shelter in Bunnell, dispels misconceptions and stereotypes that have cropped up about the shelter, located in Bunnell behind the Bank of America.
Incentive This: Corporate Tax-Breaking Our Way to Job Creation
Barack Obama’s second State of the Union Address fell flat, argues St. Augustine novelist Jack Cowardin, who makes an original proposal for job creation and a break in the corporate tax rate.
Against Civility
More handshakes, fewer guns and Fox news sounding more like NPR won’t make us a better country. Fewer assassinations of reason, of facts, of character, and of course of people might.
Pill Mill Regulation Price Tag in Florida: $65 Million; Medicine Board Approves New Rules
The $65 million cost of the proposed pill mill rules would be due to urine test requirements on patients and other minor costs that would be spread out among 1,300 pain management clinics and tens of thousands of patients.
Spotted Seatrout Fishing Prohibited in February North of Flagler-Volusia Line
The harvest and possession of spotted seatrout is prohibited from Feb. 1 to March 1, 2011 in all waters north of the Flagler/Volusia counties line to the Florida-Georgia border.
Leak at the Flagler Auditorium Pushes
Ten Tenors’ Gigs to Wednesday and Thursday
A leak in the middle of the Flagler Auditorium caused by the heaviest rains of the winter caused the Ten Tenors’ performance Tuesday, Jan. 25, to be rescheduled to Thursday, Jan. 27. Wednesday’s performance will go on as planned.
Palm Coast Largely Rejects County’s Economic Development Track, Including New Tax
Ahead of Jan. 31’s countywide summit on economic development, Palm Coast is saying no to a new sales tax, no to a common pot that limits Palm Coast’s influence, and no to a new economic development council.
Miami Gun Vice, Leadership Flagler Wants You, Edith Wharton Is 149: The Live Wire, Jan. 24
Florida State Rep. Frank Artiles’s nutty new gun bill muzzling doctors, Obama’s average averages 46.7%, George Hanns loves the press, John Cage on silence, and more.
Zora Neale Hurston Festival in Eatonville, Jan. 22-30
The Zora Neale Hurston Festival in nearby Eatonville (just north of Orlando), Jan. 22-30, celebrates the life of one of Florida’s and black and American literature’s greatest 20th century voices.
Palm Coast Half-Marathon Results By Division, Jan. 23, 2011
Palm Coast Half-Marathon Results By Division and overall winners (183 finishers, including 102 women and 81 men. Average time: 2:05:22).
Palm Coast 5K Results By Division, Jan. 23, 2011
Palm Coast 5K Results By division and overall winners, Jan. 23, 2011. (165 finishers, including 104 women and 61 men. Average time: 39:43).
Reality Check: The GOP’s Straw-Stuffing Health Care Repeal
If repealing health care without presenting an alternative is the best thing the new GOP majority can do in an economic crisis, pack up your worries about 2012 right now and congratulate Obama for his second term.
Hold Those Tax Cuts, a Cedar for Town Center, Swiss Guns and AT&T Nonsense: The Live Wire, Jan. 20
Republicans aren’t buying into Rick Scott’s tax-cut deceptions anymore, the Swiss may be rethinking their lust for guns, relationships in the age of the cougar, horoscope nonsense, a Tylenol forum, and more.
St. Johns County Extends Burn Ban Through Mid-April
The St. Johns County Commission extended the burn ban through April 18 as little persistent rain is expected in the region. Flagler County’s burn ban is in effect, but doesn’t yet stretch that long.
Oh Hell! To Choose Love By Another’s Eyes: Culture Worth the Miles
Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater, “Five Course Love,” a manatee festival in Orange City, the Best of Broadway, and more.
A Night at the Homeless Shelter: From the Eyes of a Volunteer
Charlie Ericksen Jr., a volunteer at Flagler County’s homeless shelter–The Sheltering Tree–describes the refuge on a recent cold night.
These Dorks’ Fun Begins After They Get Hit By a Bus: “Forever Plaid” At Flagler Auditorium
“Forever Plaid” is a musical tribute to the 1950s, to innocence, to lovable dorkiness and to four-part harmonies. The show has been pleasing audiences for more than 20 years across most continents.
Legislators Bash Pill Mill Crackdown Delays They — and Gov. Rick Scott — Provoked
Florida senators are complaining about the state department of health’s slow implementation of pill mill crackdowns. But the Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott are to blame for the delays.
Flagler Sheriff’s Deputy With Past Blemish Is Jailed on Cash Evidence Theft and Misconduct
Matthew Koenig, with the Sheriff’s Office since 1998, was accused of burglary in 2008. That charge was dropped. He was jailed Wednesday on a charge of stealing almost $5,000 from evidence envelopes.
Animal Kingdom Hippos, the Parthenon, and a Candlelight Vigil: Culture Worth the Miles
Wild Africa Trek, a unique 3-hour new African-wildlife inspired experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Josh Garrick’s photographic Parthenon retrospective, honoring MLK and swimming in watercolors at Maitland’s Watercolor Society.
FPL’s Bogus $1.25 Billion Rate Increase: Ex-PSC Commissioner Nathan Skop Tells All
The Florida Public Service Commission was right to turn down all but million of FPL’s rate-increase request last year, former commissioner Nathan Skop says
23 Panthers Killed in Florida in 2010, 16 of Them by Vehicles
The endangered Florida panther numbers less than 200 animals in South Florida. Every year, in rising numbers, 12 to 17 panthers are killed on Florida roads. Yet the panther population may be increasing.
My 10 Predictions for 2011
A recap of how I did last year and a look ahead: Obama creeps up, Jon Netts loses, the Supremes overturn health care reform, the fake recovery goes on, Arabs and Israelis go at it again, David Grossman wins big, and a few more.
U.S. Unemployment Rate Falls to 9.4%, But Underlying Improvement Is Limited
The economy added 103,000 jobs in December, but the falling unemployment rate masks persistently bad numbers for the long-term unemployed, including 2.6 million workers no longer counted in the unemployment rate.
9.5-Inch Rain Deficit at Year’s End, Falling Aquifer: Hydrologic Summary for July-December
The latest bi-annual report on water conditions in the region: a severe drought netting a 9.52-inch deficit at year’s end, lower flows on the St. Johns, and a still-declining aquifer.
Nine Ways Health Care Reform
May Affect You in 2011 BB (Before Boehner)
Lower prescription costs for seniors, calorie counters in restaurant menus, higher Medicare premiums, more restrictions on health savings accounts: some of the changes you can expect this year, and more.
A Cabaret in Winter Park, Bryce Hammond Returns to New Smyrna: Culture Worth the Miles
Artist Bryce Hammond returns to his native New Smyrna’s Arts on Douglas Gallery, Heather Alexander is Born to Entertain at the Winter Park Playhouse, brash talent at the he Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park and the Toronto Symphony.
Prediction Rollovers, I: How 2011 Looked to Henry Ford and Other Psychics in 1931
The New York Times in 1931 asked several luminaries of the period to predict what life would be like in 2011. The results were predictably dismal, but not for obvious reasons. A look back at how little things change.
Happy 2011! A Year-End Report from FlaglerLive Editor Pierre Tristam
A summary of FlaglerLive’s first seven months: some explanation about how we grew to 3,200 visits a day and some speculation as to why, and a look back at the site’s highlights, accomplishments and limitations.
Bleeding Dangers: Has Your Dialysis Clinic Been Inspected Lately? Not Likely
The United States spends $20 billion a year to care for some 400,000 Americans who rely on chronic dialysis to live. Inspection rates vary from higher than 40 percent per year in some states to lower than 10 percent in others.
Floridians, Start Your Orwells: Rick Scott’s Buzzword-Assault on State Health Care
Judging from a 68-page transition team report, Rick Scott will seek to accelerate privatization of state health services. He has a willing audience among business-friendly Republican legislative leaders.
Culture for the Visiting In-Laws
Arts columnist Josh Garrick saves the day with a list of suggestions, should you find yourself stuck with in-laws (or any extended family) and the perennial question: “What else is there to see?”
How Sheriff Fleming and FDLE Are Manipulating Press and Public Over Pill Mills
Sheriff Don Fleming on Tuesday led one of of three simultaneous news conferences on prescription-drug related arrests in 10 northeast Florida counties. It was more hype than news, much of it recycled.
Julian Assange’s Greatest Leak: Americans Prefer Their Government Mostly Masked
The case against Julian Assange and Wikileaks is nonexistent, Darrell Smith argues in a column. What case has been built against him unravels the false claim that Americans prefer their government to be transparent.
All Eyes on Pensacola Federal Judge Roger Vinson as Health Reform Faces Its Next Bug
Pensacola-based federal District Judge Roger Vinson will be ruling soon on the constitutionality of Obama’s health care reform. He’s likely to rule it unconstitutional, further weakening the law’s legitimacy as it moves toward the U.S. Supreme Court.
Saluting FPC’s Student Government, Developers’ Psyche, USB’s New Dress Code: The Live Wire, Dec. 16
BP’s other blow-outs, are developers greedy or misunderstood?, your answers if you want to be a journalist, debating Islam, how relationships die, and more.
Toxic Bosses: When Supervisors Inflict the 7 Deadly Sins of Business on Their Employees
When it comes to anger, greed, laziness, pride, lust, jealousy and, of course, gluttony, there’s no beating the boss: Florida State University researchers are documenting the toxic effects of lousy supervisors on their workers.
