Court services’ Mark Weinberg wins a national award, school staff return with a welcome back breakfast, a ribbon-cutting at the new Flagler Auditorium, Palm Coast and Bunnell each have their stormwater discussions.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
What “Abolish ICE” Really Means
All evidence suggests that immigrants are far from the national security threat the Trump administration claims they are. Regardless of status, they’re more law-abiding than native-born citizens.
Lethal Crisis: When Seniors Turn To Suicide
As suicide rates continue to climb, claiming more than 47,000 lives in 2017, a six-month investigation finds that older Americans are quietly killing themselves in nursing homes, assisted living centers and adult care homes.
The Lose-Lose of Trump’s Proposal to Cut 3 Million People Off Food Stamps
The Trump administration’s move to cut low-income people who are eligible for food stamps and school lunch off of those programs isn’t just immoral, it’s short-sighted, argues Jill Richardson.
After 43 Years of Peace, a Joint Agreement Between FPL and AT&T On Utility Pole Uses Breaks Down
FPL alleged that the telecommunications company did not pay about $20 million owed for 2017 and 2018. The companies have had what is known as a joint-use agreement since 1975 that has allowed them to share poles.
Weekend Briefing: Urban Surf, Michael Wilson Sentencing, First Friday, Summer Art, Back to School Jam
It’s First Friday in Flagler Beach, Michael Wislon is sentenced on lesser charges after being acquitted of attempted murder, the annual Back to School Jam is at FPC Saturday.
Abortion Waiting Period Back in Play as Florida Appeal Court Overturns Lower-Court Decision
The 24-hour waiting period case could eventually become a key test for the Florida Supreme Court, which has historically backed abortion rights but is now dominated by conservative justices.
Thursday Briefing: Grades 7 and 8 Schedule Pick-Ups at ITMS, Hurricane Prep with the Lord, Staly’s Lifetime Award
It’s those back-to-school routines again, with grade schedule pick-ups at Indian Trails Middle, a hurricane preparation presentation with Flagler County’s Jonathan Lord, a sheriff’s association award for Rick Staly.
State Will Appeal Ruling That Struck Down Law Penalizing Local Officials For Regulating Guns
Florida will appeal a circuit judge’s ruling that struck down a state law threatening tough penalties for local officials and governments that approve gun regulations.
Wednesday Briefing: Heat Index to 104, McDevitt Back in Court, Glenn Davis, Bombing Runs, DSC Tours
James McDevitt is back in court to contest his 2013 conviction on rape charges, the Navy conducts live bombing runs in the Ocala forest, tours continue on the Daytona State College campus ahead of the fall term.
Assault Weapons Definition Is Key as Proposed Ban Heads For Floridians’ 2020 Ballot
The proposed constitutional amendment would prohibit “possession of assault weapons, defined as semiautomatic rifles and shotguns capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition at once, either in fixed or detachable magazine…”
Tuesday Briefing: A1A Sea Wall Done, Palm Coast’s Sports Fields, End of Leisure Services Committee, Mike Waltz
Construction of the sea wall along State Road A1A in Flagler Beach is complete but for the dune cover, Palm Coast discusses its utilities and other budgets, Rep. Mike Waltz speaks with county staff.
No Medicare For All, But Biden’s ‘Incremental’ Health Plan Still Would Be A Heavy Lift
The former vice president has specifically repudiated many of his Democratic rivals’ calls for a “Medicare for All” system and instead sought to build his plan on the ACA’s framework.
Three University Students Pose With Guns In Front of Shot-Up Emmett Till Memorial
Three students were suspended from their fraternity house, Kappa Alpha, after we shared an Instagram photo one of the men posted that was taken in front of a sign commemorating the murder of the 14-year-old black youth in 1955.
Immigration, the Democrats’ 2020 Waterloo
In this Democratic Party, argues Nancy Smith, moderates have been purged, conservative Democrats are nonexistent, and the party’s leaders seem intent on turning it into a party of hard socialism as quickly as possible.
Monday Briefing: Sportsfishing Club’s Clinic, Bunnell Budget, Last Camp, DSC Tours, Hélène Grimaud’s Chaconne
The Bunnell City Commission studies its general fund budget, your chance to tour the Daytona State College campus in Daytona, the Sportsfishing Club’s successful kids clinic, the great Grimaud plays Bach.
Siding With Local Governments, Judge Strikes Law Penalizing Officials Who Pass Gun Rules Stricter Than State’s
In 2011, Florida lawmakers approved a series of penalties that local governments and officials could face if they violated the prohibition on gun laws that are stricter than the state’s.
Florida’s Hemp Industry Is Born Again As Perception of CBD as Cure-All Turns Manic
The nationwide craze for products containing CBD is evident at supermarkets, gas stations and big-box stores, where lotions, tinctures and bath “bombs” are among the items flying off the shelves as consumers seek to quell anxiety, aches and pains and a host of other ailments.
A Year After Incidents, Embry-Riddle Replacing Bulk of Training Fleet With 60 New Cessna Skyhawks
Last year the university’s planes experienced a string of incidents, one of them fatal to a student and an examiner. Embry-Riddle’s fleet in Daytona Beach and Arizona currently includes more than 100 aircraft,
Coming Out in Rural America
“I came out to my parents via email the same week I figured it out myself because it’s no big deal in our family. Others aren’t as lucky; some people’s families still disown them.”
A Clerk of Court Takes a Case to the Supreme Court (It’s Not Tom Bexley)
The Broward County clerk of court wants Florida Supreme Court justices to take up a dispute about whether the state has unconstitutionally underfunded the clerk’s office.
Weekend Briefing: Tour de Palm Coast, A1A Vet Clinic, First Aid and CPR Class, Summer Sing
Ride along the scenic route of St. Joe Walkway on the annual Tour de Palm Coast, small business development workshop, The Bach Festival Society’s “Summer Sing,” Bexley and Staly.
Florida Population Growing by 900 a Day, Equivalent to a City the Size of Orlando Every Year
In Flagler, the population is projected at 112,000 in 2020, rising to 124,000 in 2025, then 134,000 in 2030, and 152,000 by 2040. The figures are significantly lower than those the bureau projected right after the Great Recession.
Thursday Briefing: Meet the Mayors, Sheriff’s Building Bid Opening, Panhandling
The county’s mayors speak at a public event hosted by the Realtors’ association, the Flagler Beach Commission discusses a panhandling ordinance, the county opens architecture bids for the new sheriff’s operations center.
When They Go Low, the Squad Goes Bold
Despite the frenzy, Omar and Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Ayanna Pressley — popularly referred to as “the squad” — are keeping the focus on policies to bring justice to their constituents.
Bi-Lingual Elections A Go: Florida Preparing Spanish-Language Ballots Statewide for 2020
The issue has been the subject of a federal lawsuit filed last August, three months before the 2018 general election, by groups representing Spanish-speaking Floridians.
Wednesday Briefing: Dangerous Dog Appeal, Facing Grief Together, a $100 Million Signature, Capitalism
Lots of rain, a family’s appeal of a dangerous-dog designation in Palm Coast, a meeting of Facing Grief Together, the county looks for yet another tourism and marketing research firm.
Go Back Where You Came From
No American can tell another to go back where he or she came from, at least not with a straight face: We’re all carpetbaggers in America going back to the original ones who crossed over the Bering Strait.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Now Under Fire as State Senator Seeks Probe in Epstein Case
State Sen. Lauren Book, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, wants the state to investigate how the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office handled sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while he was in its custody more than a decade ago.
Tuesday Briefing: Signing On To a $100 Million Beach Deal, Opioid Task Force, Flagler Beach Land Development
Flagler County holds a ceremonial signing of an agreement with the US Army Corps of Engineers, locking it into the first phase of a $100 million beach renourishment project, the county’s opioid task force meets.
Both Republicans, One Florida Senator Wants to Protect Undocumented Migrants, Another Wants to Punish Them
Senate Judiciary Chairman David Simmons would give undocumented immigrants legal permits to work and drive in Florida while Sen. Joe Gruters would harshen up penalties for the undocumented.
Monday Briefing: Heat Index 102, the Look of Apartments in Town Center, New School Websites, Stamp and Coin
Central Landings at Palm Coast, a 233-unit apartment complex in Town Center, gets its development order, FPC, Matanzas, ITMS and Buddy Taylor have new websites, the Flagler County Stamp and Coin Club meets.
As Hate Incidents Rise, Florida and Other States Increasingly Require Teaching the Holocaust
Ignorance about the Holocaust is growing, particularly among young people. A survey last year showed that two-thirds of U.S. millennials were not familiar with Auschwitz, the largest Nazi death camp complex.
Weekend Briefing: FPC’s Dave Halliday’s State Award, The Moon, Youth Fishing Derby, Jr. Lifeguard Camp
Flagler Palm Coast High School’s Dave Halliday, is a state Coach of the Year, Dive-In movies, Pier fishing tournament and youth fishing derby, “Sleeping beauty” at the Daytona Playhouse.
Florida GOP Leaders Hedge or Keep Silent Before Disavowing Bigoted Chant at Trump Rally
Florida Republican leaders were mostly silent Thursday when asked about a “Send her back!” chant at a campaign rally for President Donald Trump. But once the president disavowed the chant, some GOP elected officials spoke out against it.
Thursday Briefing: Heat Index to 106, Beach Bash on Pier, Inspired Mic, ‘Mississippi Youth’
The Flagler Chamber’s annual Beach bash on the Pier, the Inspired Mic, Flagler’s best improv show, Lisette Otero-Lewis’s winning portrait, continued road closures on U.S. 1 at Old Dixie Highway.
Schools Will Have To Teach Minimum of 5 Hours of Annual Mental Health Instruction in Grades 6-12
The five-hour minimum will be included in curriculums for grades 6-12, but it remains unclear if the classes will begin in the upcoming academic year. The policy finalized Wednesday does not include an implementation date.
Wednesday Briefing: Heat Index to 107, The Gardens Get Technical, Art League’s Photo Winners
The proposed Gardens development on John Anderson Highway goes before the Technical Review Committee, the Flagler County Art league’s annual photo show winners are listed.
The Scam Behind McDonald’s ‘McTeacher’s Nights’
The fast food giant pioneered methods of attracting school children to its stores — from Happy Meals to marketing schemes like McTeacher’s Nights, an exploitative fund-raiser that takes advantage of teachers for very little in return.
As Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund Struggles, Reimbursements May Be Reduced Significantly
Certain crime victims who want financial aid for out-of-pocket expenses like medical bills, lost wages or mental health counseling, will hit a lower cap on reimbursements from the fund if a proposal by the attorney general is approved.
Tuesday Briefing: Heat Index to 107, Sheriff’s Ask to Palm Coast, Superintendent Search, Zambrano on Courthouses
The Sheriff’s Office appears before the Palm Coast council to ask for six additional deputies, the school board begins its discussions on replacing Superintendent Jim Tager by the end of next June, Judge Raul Zambrano on the meaning of a courthouse.
The Broader Attack Behind Trump’s ‘Go Back’ Where They Came From Slur
It would be a mistake to reduce President Trump’s tweets against four members of Congress to their racism. Rather, argues Jeffrey C. Isaac, they also articulated a broader reactionary agenda that goes beyond racism and that targets the left in general.
Total Cost of Governor’s Israel Trip: Taxpayers, $131,000. Political Donors: $311,500
While in Jerusalem, members of the delegations stayed at David Citadel, a five-star luxury hotel selected by Enterprise Florida which cost $425 per night.
Monday Briefing: Heat Index to 103, Frisky Turtles on A1A, Jungle HCut Road, Orientation
The County Commission takes on space issues at the courthouse between the sheriff and the clerk of court and a final decision on a development along Jungle Hut Road, construction’s effect on turtles along A1A.
Weekend Briefing: Movies in the Park, Just Photography Show, Lenhart on Election Issues, Sportsfishing’s Kids’ Clinic
The Art League opens its annual Just Photography Show, Elections Supervisor Kaiti Lenhart is at the Women’s Democratic Club to talk elections, the Sportsfishing Club holds its kids clinic.
Citing Police Role and Trust, South Miami Will Challenge New Law Banning Sanctuary Cities
“As soon as [police] are seen as somebody who might turn you in if you called for assistance, they’re no longer trusted and they can no longer do their primary job,” the South Miami mayor says.
Thursday Briefing: Heat Index to 103, School Board and Flagler Beach Commission Talk Money, Citrus Numbers
The Flagler Beach City Commission will consider setting a substantially higher proposed tax rate for next year, the school board discusses its general and capital funds, the transportation department completes a phase of A1A seawall construction.
Florida’s New Poll Tax Will Cost the State $365 Million a Year
A report by the Institute for Policy Studies cites new research illustrating the cost of felony disenfranchisement in Florida, where recidivism is higher and therefore more costly to taxpayers than in states where it’s lower.
Appeals Court Rules Florida Marijuana Law’s Restrictions Violate Amendment Legalizing Medical Pot
Florida’s law requiring pot operators to grow, process and distribute cannabis and related products created an “oligopoly” and runs afoul of a constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana in the Sunshine State, an appellate court ruled Tuesday.
Wednesday Briefing: Fruehan and Deoliveira Pre-Trials, Fearless and Focused Body Language, Sherwood Anderson
Pretrials are scheduled in the cases of Florence Fruehan, the former Palm Coast physician facing two felony battery counts, and Brandin Deoliveira, the former restaurant manager accused of engaging in unlawful sex with a minor.