A town hall focused on Flagler Beach business, iFlagler honored in Orlando, Democrats hold the first presidential debate of the election season in Miami, with the second on Thursday night.
Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions
State and Utilities Gang Up Against Proposed Amendment Deregulating Electricity
The proposal, backed by Citizens for Energy Choices, calls for creating “competitive” electricity markets in which customers would have the right to choose electricity providers or to produce their own power.
Tuesday Briefing: Heat Index to 107, Renters’ Rights, School Diversity Awards, Opioid Task Force, Palm Coast Budget
The Palm Coast Council takes on its 2019-20 budget, teachers Nina deBodisco and DeAndre Harris are Flagler Schools Excellence in Diversity Education Award winners, Flagler County hosts a renters’ rights workshop.
Meth In The Morning, Heroin At Night: Inside The Seesaw Struggle of Dual Addiction
Researchers who have tracked drug use for decades believe the new meth crisis got a kick-start from the opioid epidemic: Across the country, more and more opioid users say they now use meth as well, up from 19% in 2011 to 34% in 2017.
Monday Briefing: Mid-90s, Bunnell Decision on Homeless Shelter, FPC’s Own K-9, Bow Wow Bingo Benefit
The Bunnell City Commission takes up an appeal of its zoning board’s vote shuttering the cold-weather shelter run by volunteers at a Bunnell church, the Flagler Humane Society has a fund-raiser at the Elks Lodge.
Weekend Briefing: JJ Graham’s New Works, ‘Carrie: The Musical’ at Playhouse, Senior Cookout, Wilson Verdict
Artist JJ Graham has a new show at Salvo Art House in Bunnell Saturday, the Spotlight Performers stage “Carrie: the Musical” at the Flagler Playhouse, a family fun day, Dive-In Movies and a senior celebration, among other events.
State By State, the War on Pot Is Ending
Dozens of new state laws are expanding legal cannabis use — and expunging the records of users caught up in the system. This unprecedented wave of legislative activity at the state level is yet further evidence that public consensus on cannabis legalization has undergone a seismic shift.
5th Amendment Extends to iPhone Passcode, Court Rules, Denying Police Access to Defendant’s Phone
The ruling by a panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal in a 2018 Alachua County robbery case came after two other state appellate courts came to different conclusions about forcing defendants to supply passcodes to unlock cell phones.
Thursday Briefing: Wilson Trial, Inspired Mic, ‘Jaws,’ Mullins at AACS, Concert Hall Art Contest
The Inspired Mic, Flagler’s most daring improv for all, holds another edition at Hidden Treasure, Michael Wilson’s trial on attempted first degree murder enters its third day, ‘Jaws’ is 44.
Combative Exchanges Punctuate Hearing on Broward Sheriff Scott Israel’s Fate
Israel and his lawyers maintain that the suspension, something DeSantis pledged to do while running for office last year, was a political ploy aimed at winning favor with voters in Democrat-rich Broward County and supporters of the National Rifle Association.
Wednesday Briefing: Community Stars Nominations, Replanting A1A, Rhonda Harvey at Tiger Bay
The Rotary is taking Community Stars nominations, SMA Healthcare’s Rhonda Harvey speaks at Tiger Bay, County Commissioner Joe Mullins holds a community meeting at the African American Cultural Society, DOT replants A1A.
New Legislation Adds to Early-Voting
Fight on Florida’s College Campuses
A bill Gov. DeSantis is about to sign deals with a variety of elections issues, but a lawsuit is focused on a provision requiring early-voting sites to provide “nonpermitted parking,” which could exclude college campuses.
Tuesday Briefing: Trump in Orlando, Food Truck Tuesday, Community Health Update, Palm Coast’s FEMA Funds
Groups in support and opposition of Trump are busing out of Flagler for Orlando this afternoon, the Health Department’s Bob Snyder presents a community health update, Palm Coast talks FEMA funds.
Denying Voting Rights to Felons Should Be Beneath Us
Who gets to vote should be driven by citizenship, the spirit of the United States Constitution and all America stands for, not by blowhardism and dirty tricks, argues Nancy Smith.
‘Shared Savings’ By Shopping For Lower Health Care Costs? Ballyhooed Florida Plan a Bust
The idea of Florida’s ballyhooed shared-savings programs is to give policyholders an incentive to look for cheaper health services. Early results show no such benefits.
Monday Briefing: Homeless Shelter Meeting, $100 Million Beach Repair, Harriet Tubman $20 Bill, Andolina Sentencing
The Sheltering Tree Board meets with residents to map out an appeal strategy on keeping the cold-weather homeless shelter open, the county commission considers approving a $100 million, 50-year beach-renourishment plan for less than 3 miles of dunes in Flagler Beach.
Weekend Briefing: STEM Camp Showcase, Frances Clemente’s National Flag Day, Publix Apron Culinary School, David Grossman
Wadsworth Elementary’s STEM Camp Showcase is on Friday, which is also National Flag Day, celebrated here with Frances Clemente, Movies in the Park, a trip to Publix’s culinary school, an uncomfortable David Grossman joke.
Owners and Dealers of Anacondas Sue to Reverse Florida’s Broad Ban on Invasive Snake
Owners and dealers of anacondas have launched a legal challenge after the state largely banned the snakes amid a struggle to control damaging invasive species.
Thursday Briefing: Beach Renourishment in Flagler Beach, Panhandling, Altmire at Volusia’s Tiger Bay, Sonia Rubinsky
The Flagler Beach commission gets an update on the status of planned beach nourishment projects that entail a $100 million expense over 50 years, and relies on few certainties.
DeSantis Signs Death Warrant of Homophobic Serial Killer Gary Bowles
Gary Bowles murdered six people in 1994. He is serving life sentences in the murders of John Roberts in Daytona Beach and Albert Morris in Nassau County, and is being killed for the murder of Walter Hinton in Jacksonville.
Wednesday Briefing: Narcan Stock, Flagler Beach Land Development, Florida Association of Counties, Grand Living
County paramedics get a 300-dose delivery of opioid-overdose-reversing Narcan, the Florida Association of Counties meets, Grand Living opens a new location.
Pete Buttigieg, Ahead of Miami Debate, Says No to Heavy-Handed Immigration Enforcement
Pete Buttigieg says he would set aside politics and work with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to fund “good” environmental projects, while expressing his opposition to Florida’s “heavy-handed” approach to federal immigration enforcement and expansion of school voucher-type programs.
Good News: Straight People Don’t Need a Pride Parade
Organizers of the “straight pride parade” in Boston this summer have ties to numerous far-right groups. Here are conditions that would make such a parade easier to embrace.
Tuesday Briefing: Tedarius Abrams, Florida Park Drive’s Airs, Education Law’s Constitutionality
Bethune-Cookman University Senior Tedarius Abrams is the choice for Chevrolet and the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s Discover the Unexpected Program, the Palm Coast council talks air sensors around Florida Park Drive.
The Crisis Formerly Known as Climate Change: Wrong Re-Branding
The Guardian announced it was re-branding climate change, encouraging its writers and contributors to use more urgent terms like “climate crisis.” Here’s why this is very wrong.
Plotting to Win Biggest Battleground State in 2020, Florida Democrats Can’t Get Around GOP-Controlled Legislature
The Florida Democratic Party’s biggest event of the year wrapped up this weekend with a debate over Election Day voter registration, but any such changes would require GOP approval. That’s unlikely.
Why Some CEOs Are Figuring Out That ‘Medicare For All’ Is Good For Business
As health costs continue to grow, straining employer budgets and slowing wage growth, CEOs and others in the business community are beginning to take the Medicare for All option more seriously.
Monday Briefing: Roundabouts, Chief Judge Zambrano, Hurricane Irma Assistance, Bunnell v. Homeless
Raul Zambrano is named Chief Judge for a second term, the Bunnell City Commission may talk about its homeless complex, the transportation department and Commissioner Joe Mullins talk roundabouts.
Attorney General Moody To Supreme Court on Death Row Inmates: Let ‘Em Die
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office is urging the Florida Supreme Court to reverse course on decisions that allowed dozens of convicted murderers to have their death sentences reconsidered.
Green New Deal Me In
The Green New Deal may have a hoaky name but at least it’s a beginning, an attempt to push back against a republic of insects and grass, inviting debate in the face of indefensible Republican inaction.
Weekend Briefing: Donut With a Deputy, Urban Surf 4 Kids, Willie’s Weed, Portugal Flag
The unique Urban Surf for Kids Surf Camp kicks off in Flagler Beach, deputies mark National Donut Day with the public, First Friday in Flagler Beach, a flag-raising at Palm Coast City Hall.
Is State Law Restricting Local Governments’ Gun-Safety Ordinances Constitutional? Judge Hears Arguments.
Florida since 1987 has barred cities and counties from passing regulations that are stricter than state firearms laws. But in 2011, lawmakers went further by approving a series of penalties that local governments and officials can face if they violate the prohibition.
Florida TaxWatch Calls For Eliminating $133 million in Budget ‘Turkeys’; Flagler Is Spared
As of Wednesday afternoon, DeSantis had received 123 of the 174 bills approved by the Legislature during this year’s session. He’d signed 80 and vetoed two.
Thursday Briefing: Last Chance for Disaster-Prep Tax Holiday, D-Day’s 75th Anniversary, ‘At Paso Rojo’
The annual disaster-preparation tax “holiday” ends at midnight tonight, the nation and Europe mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, a Paul Bowles excerpt.
Ex-School Deputy Scot Peterson Arrested On Child Neglect Charge in School Shooting
Peterson, the longtime resource officer at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, refused to investigate when he heard gunshots on campus and retreated while students and faculty members were shot and killed.
Wednesday Briefing: ‘Behind the Walls,’ Beachwalk Development on A1A, Judge’s Reprimand
Flagler Republicans mark D-Day’s 75th anniversary, Broward Judge Dennis Daniel Bailey’s misbehavior at trial, Jaume Plensa’s ‘Behind the Walls,’ the A1A committee discusses a proposed development.
Let Prison Inmates Vote
In the era of mass incarceration, forbidding inmate voting, disenfranchising them after release, and counting them as residents where they’re imprisoned are all components of prison gerrymandering.
$100 Million Will Raise 91-Year-Old Tamiami Trail, Easing Everglades Flow
Environmentalists say the Tamiami Trail, or U.S. 41, has dammed the natural flow of water from Lake Okeechobee through the Everglades to Florida Bay.
Tuesday Briefing: Daytona Tortugas Kids’ Clinic, Homeless Task Force, New Area Code 689
The Daytona Tortugas host a clinic for kids ages 7-13 at Indian Trails Sports Complex, new area code 689 takes effect in Central Florida, the Palm Coast council discusses the city’s new citizens’ portal.
Monday Briefing: Mid-90s, Decision-Time on Captain’s BBQ, Chris Sepe, Albert Roussel
Flagler County Commissioners are expected to make a decision on the lease and location of Captain’s BBQ at Bing’s Landing, the Sheriff’s Chris Sepe graduates from the Commanders’ Academy.
Police Train to Be ‘Social Workers of Last Resort’ as Mental Health Calls Multiply
Lacking proper mental health resources, families and community members across the country all too often call police to respond to someone having a mental health crisis.
Weekend Briefing: Heat Aplenty, Lifeguard Class, Giant Book Sale, Sales Tax Holiday
The Friends of the Flagler Public Library hold the biggest book sale of the year, American Red Cross lifeguard certification classes all weekend, the weeklong sales tax holiday for hurricane preparedness.
Floridians Have a Right To Access Medical Malpractice Records. Shands Sues to Prevent That.
Under Florida law, patients have the right to access adverse medical incident reports, which can play an important role in malpractice cases. UF Health Jacksonville says federal privacy law trumps Florida’s constitutional amendment.
Trump Against the First Amendment
Julian Assange and Wikileaks are giving Trump a chance to challenge First Amendment freedoms of the press and get a radical ruling from his new buddies on the Supreme Court.
Thursday Briefing: FPC and Matanzas Graduations, Salute to Heroes, A1A Committee, Last Day of School
Matanzas High School and Flagler Palm Coast High School hold graduation for their 2019 class at the Ocean Center, a Salute to Heroes in Flagler Beach, the Chamber’s A1A committee meets on A1A construction mitigation.
Laws Restricting Abortion Betray a Judgment: Women’s Sexuality Is Not Equal to Men’s
Men regulating women’s bodies through restrictive abortion laws is the tip of an iceberg in which women’s sexuality is stigmatized, de-legitimized, silenced, controlled, and misunderstood, even by women themselves.
Tax Holiday Begins Friday on Hurricane-Prep Supplies Ahead of Storm Season
Floridians will have seven days to build a hurricane-season stockpile — including batteries, flashlights and radios — free of sales taxes, beginning Friday.
Wednesday Briefing: Talent Show at Auditorium, Early Dismissal, Invisible Cabinet Meeting, Peacekeepers Day
Schools let out early today and tomorrow ahead of summer break, spotlight on youth talent at the Auditorium, the Florida cabinet meets in Israel but can;t be covered live, it’s International UN Peacekeepers Day.
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Seeking To Block Florida Cabinet From Meeting in Israel, Out of Sunshine
The lawsuit, filed by the First Amendment Foundation and four major news organizations, accused the governor and Cabinet members of “willfully violating the law.”
A ‘Precedent-Setting’ Suit Puts Opioid Drugmaker Johnson & Johnson On Trial, Starting Today
Johnson & Johnson is accused of overstating the benefits of opioids and understating their risks in marketing campaigns that duped doctors into prescribing the drugs for ailments not approved by regulators.