Janet McDonald is the School Board’s new chairperson, last call for entries into next Saturday’s parade in Flagler Beach, Bunnell talks charter amendments for the March ballot.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
In Health Insurance Wastelands, Rosier Options Crop Up For 2019
Across all 50 states, premiums for the average “benchmark” silver plan, which the government uses to set subsidies, are dropping nearly 1 percent.
I’m Making It My Business To Stand Up For Immigrants
A new immigrant wealth test is a cruel maneuver to diminish instead of making the country stronger. We shouldn’t take food and health from people and denies them citizenship because they aren’t rich.
Emails May Be ‘Disgusting,’ But Judge Dismisses Part of NRA Lobbyist Hammer’s Lawsuit
A federal judge said Hammer was not threatened and the ugly emails she received are protected by the First Amendment. She received emails she objected to from three other men.
Thanksgiving Weekend Briefing: Domestic Violence Task Force, Feet to Feast, Thrift Store, Be Local Buy Local
Feat to Feast 5k on Thanksgiving morning, Palm Coast is encouraging shoppers to shop locally the Saturday after Thanksgiving, fund-raiser for the Nearly New Thrift Store.
It Won’t Be Like Medical Pot: Senate President Pledges Not to ‘Slow-Walk’ Amendments
Galvano said of amendments from restoring felon rights to limiting gambling that the “people have spoken,” and “I want to make sure we are being true to the intent of the voters.”
Tuesday Briefing: Swearing In at Palm Coast Council, County Commission and School Board
Seven elected officials, three of them elected for the first time, are sworn in at the County Commission, palm Coast Council and the School Board.
Nelson Concedes as Scott Wins Senate-Seat Recount With 10,000-Vote Margin
Scott, a two-term Republican governor, held a 10,033-vote edge — or 0.12 percent — over Nelson, a Democrat who was seeking re-election to his fourth six-year term in the U.S. Senate.
Monday Briefing: Look Out for Manatees, Look Out at the County Commission, Cottage Fever
It’s all about the County Commission today, starting with a field trip to new cottages at Princess Place, ending with a controversially packed evening agenda before a new commissioner is seated.
In War Over Words, Republicans Continue Easily To Defeat Democrats
The Republican Party lost ground in the Congressional and state elections earlier this month, but the GOP continues to triumph in the all-important contests over words, argues Ralph Nader.
Divided Supreme Court Signs Off On Process to Replace Three Justices
In a 4-3 decision, the court held that the Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission was acting within its authority to conduct a process that resulted in 59 judges and lawyers applying to replace justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis and Peggy Quince.
Weekend Briefing: Fruehan Surrender, CRT’s “Proof,” Radio Aero, Nature Scapes, Book Sale, Solisti
Former Dr. Florence Fruehan is scheduled to surrender his license Friday, radio model planes at the old landfill, CRT’s “Proof” in its last weekend, services for Ron Charles Sunday, Daytona Solisti in concert Sunday.
DeSantis Wins Governor’s Race (Again), Manual Recounts For 2 Other Statewide Races
Ron DeSantis maintained almost his exact lead over Andrew Gillum after a machine recount. Manual recounts are ordered for the Scott-Nelson and Fried-Caldwell races.
No ‘Remedy In the Dark’: Federal Judge Rejects Nelson Bid To Extend Recount Deadline
The ruling could resolve questions about whether the recount process will move forward and whether official election results will be certified Tuesday as scheduled.
Nature Is Dying. Florida Is Sinking. Are Republicans Up to the Challenge?
A string of recent hurricanes reminded Floridians they don’t have to look across the country to see climate change in action. But the GOP continues to be in climate-change denial mode.
Thursday Briefing: Palm Coast’s Buy Local, Recount Results, Gioia Sails, FPC Chorus, Matanzas Band
Counties’ recount results are due at 3 p.m., Gioia Sails opens its new building on Commerce Boulevard, the Matanzas High band and FPC chorus are in concert.
As Nelson Charges Interference, Scott Will Step Down From Canvassing Board
Democrats have alleged that Scott has improperly tried to use his authority as governor to influence the recount, which could decide his political future.
Democrats Won Big. But the Question Is Whether They Can Now Be Bold.
The reforms Democrats in Congress have championed have often been overly complicated and cautious — and deeply compromised by a fear of annoying deep-pocketed donors.
Wednesday Briefing: TNR Forum, Chicks With Cans, Gun Safety for Kids, Diabetes Awareness
Chicks With Cans collects 11,200 pounds of food for Feed Flagler, a Trap, Neuter and Release forum at the Palm Coast Community Center, the Parkland shooting commission meets.
Voters in 3 Red States Approve Obamacare’s Medicaid Expansion, Bringing Total to 36
Florida under Gov. Rick Scott repeatedly blocked Medicaid expansion, which provides benefits to all adults earning up to 38 percent above the federal poverty line, an annual income of $16,753 or less.
Tuesday Briefing: Religion in Schools, Palm Coast Streetlights, Bunnell Panhandling, FPC Band
The Palm Coast Council talks streetlights, the Bunnell Commission passes a draconian panhandling ordinance, the FPC band is in concert at the auditorium.
Muslims Surf the Blue Wave
The election of two Muslim women to Congress is a repudiation of Islamophobic domestic and foreign policies and of hostility to migrants and refugees from a number of countries.
As Scott-Nelson Margin Shrinks and Fury Surges, Experts Say Process Is Working
Watching his lead shrink, Scott accused elections supervisors in Broward and Palm Beach counties of “incompetence” and fraud though the process is following state law and timelines.
Veterans Weekend Briefing: “Proof” at CRT, Vet Breakfast, Vet Fest, Community Cats Yard Sale,
City Rep Theatre stages David Auburn’s Pulitzer-winning “Proof,” Community Cats has its annual yard sale, several Veterans Day activities and commemorations throughout the weekend.
DeSantis Win Paves Way for Most Conservative Supreme Court in Generations
Ron DeSantis’ narrow win in Tuesday’s election for governor will bring an unprecedented expansion of conservative Republican power in Tallahassee.
Thursday Briefing: Animal Cruelty Investigations, Rickey Wheeler Appreciation, Wickline Center Uses
Flagler agencies host a two-day training session on animal cruelty investigations, the more than 100 volunteers who helped search for missing child Rickey Wheeler are recognized.
The Death of WNZF’s Ron Charles, Friend and Colleague, at 56
Ron ‘Charles’ Gitschier, 56, built Flagler County’s first radio station WNZF as its chief engineer for the past 10 years, was its news director and a man of rare integrity and humility.
Rick Scott Wins ‘Nasty’ U.S. Senate Race, Ending Bill Nelson’s 46 Years in Government
Scott’s win even more firmly cemented control of Florida and the U.S. Senate for Republicans. Nelson for the past eight years has been the only Democrat elected statewide.
Wednesday Briefing: Wetlands Restoration Meeting, Youth Orchestra Concert, Immigration Attorneys
It’s the day after: no better time than to head to the Auditorium for the Flagler Youth Orchestra’s fall concert, the second of two community meetings on the Flagler County Wetland Restoration Project is scheduled.
Being Trans in America Was Already Scary. Now It’s Terrifying.
On any given afternoon, the author is regularly and publicly catcalled, mocked, laughed at, and treated as an object of social disgust. Donald Trump is about to deny her right to exist.
A Few Big Legislative Races, Scattered Through Florida
Donors, party leaders and political operatives don’t like to toss away money on lost causes. With that in mind, here are some of the races to watch Tuesday in various regions of the state.
Election Day Briefing: Polls Open Until 7 PM, Storm-Damaged Tree Removal, Election Night Parties
Today: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s. South winds 5 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s. Southwest winds 5 mph. Details here. Today’s document from the National Archives and the Astronomy Picture of the Day. Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway. Drought Index: 282 The OED’s Word of […]
Flurry of Polls Show Gillum and Nelson Decisively Edging Past DeSantis and Scott
Andrew Gillum and Bill Nelson have built solid leads among independents, women and minorities, with Ron DeSantis and Rick Scott leading only among white men.
Monday Briefing: Diabetes Flag-Raising, Great Kids Awards, Dangerous Dog Hearing, Flagler Cares
The case of Cooper the dangerous dog finally gets its hearing in circuit court, the Flagler County Commission decides whether to appoint one of its most generous financial contributors to the planning board, November Great Kids.
Save Our Home: We Have 12 Years
There’s an urgent message of hope amid the latest climate report’s dire warning: We’ve got a little bit of time to save the only home planet we’ve got. And it’s going to take all of us to do it.
Yes, Your Car Can Be A Weapon, Florida Supreme Court Rules, Altering ’95 Definition
The Supreme Court made the somewhat-unusual move of backing away from a 1995 decision, which said a weapon must be “commonly understood to be an instrument for combat.”
In Miami on Final Stretch, Obama Chides GOP For ‘Repeated Attempts to Divide You’
The former president’s trip to the Sunshine State was sandwiched between two appearances in Florida by President Donald Trump, who held a rally Wednesday in Lee County.
Unemployment Rate At 3.7% Approaching 50-Year Low as Economy Adds 250,000 Jobs
It is the longest uninterrupted expansion since before the Great Depression. The average monthly gain this year has been just over 210,000 jobs, equal the average monthly gains of the last two Obama years.
Restoring Felons’ Right to Vote:
Why I’m Voting Yes on Amendment 4
In 46 other states, the right is restored either immediately or on completion of probation. Florida stands out for harshness, accounting for a quarter of America’s disenfranchised.
Weekend Briefing: First Friday, Freedom Fest at Airport, Navy Jazz Ensemble, Tommy Tant Classic
Freedom fest brings a couple of dozen aircraft to the Flagler Airport, the Tommy Tant Surf Classic takes Flagler Beach after First Friday there, the Navy’s Jazz ensemble is at the Auditorium.
With 3.7 Million Early Votes In, Election Day Delays May Ease Despite Epic Ballot
While the lengthy ballot will cause some delays, it is not expected to be as bad as 2012 as a majority of voters will have already cast ballots.
Thursday Briefing: Joseph Bova Status, Critics Choice Dinner, Palm Coast Finance’s Winners
The case of Joseph Bova, accused of gunning down store clerk Zuheili Roman Rosado at a Palm Coast gas station in 2013, is back in court, Palm Coast’s finance department wins two awards.
Amendment 13: ‘Humane Treatment of Animals’ Would End Dog Racing in Florida
Florida is one of a handful of places in the country with dog racing, and passage of the amendment would be a serious blow for an industry that has been in the state for decades.
Showdown Over Local Control as State Aims to Stop Miami Beach From Raising Minimum Wage
Attorney General Pam Bondi claims a state law bars Miami Beach from gradually increasing its minimum wage to $13.31 an hour in 2021. The case also has drawn attention from local governments, which have sided with Miami Beach.
Wednesday Briefing: Halloween, Canvassing Board, Stetson Woodwind Ensemble, Trump in Lee County
It’s Halloween: be careful out there, the Flagler Canvassing Board meets again to go through mailed-in ballots, the Stetson Woodwinds Ensemble is in concert, Donald Trump is in southwest Florida.
Journalists Say Trump’s Caravan Claims Are ‘Evidence-Free.’ It’s a Lot Worse Than That.
Journalists have a duty to give context, not just to report on whether a sound bite contains truth on a sliding scale. Otherwise, it’s journalistic malpractice.
Tuesday Briefing: $28,000 Raised For FHF’s Hospice, Taste of Fun Coast, TNR, Bunnell Town Hall, Hall of Terror
It’s Taste of the Fun Coast, a fund-raiser for the Flagler County Free Clinic, at the Hammock resort, Palm Coast talks trap, neuter and release and dangerous dogs, Bunnell hosts a town hall, Fire Station 21 hosts its annual Hall of Terror.
From Wing Joint to Hair Salon, Florida Voters Split on Gillum-DeSantis Race for Governor
Interviews with a diversity of Florida voters reveal the searing differences of opinions between voters–and their solidified opinions about Ron DeSantis and Andrew Gillum, with days left in the gubernatorial race.
Monday Briefing: PCAF’s Latest Turtles, Rotary Club Looking For Bands, Leslie Pitter in Court, Eric Holder on Voting Rights
The Palm Coast Arts Foundation’s community public sculpture project dedicates its latest at Long Creek Nature Preserve, the Flagler Rotary is looking for musical acts to play at Fantasy Lights, corrections as a people skill.
Amendments 1, 2 and 5: Taking Aim at Taxes Through Homestead Exemption, a Cap and Supermajorities
Three proposals on the November ballot that would make tax-related changes to the state Constitution have drawn conflicting views from the real-estate industry, local governments and other groups about the measures’ potential economic impacts.