An 18-year-old Palm Coast resident faces a felony child abuse charge stemming from a domestic violence incident involving his 16-year-old girlfriend. The case underscores the consequences of teen dating–just as, coincidentally, Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month begins.
Children and Families
Flagler Open Arms Recovery Services Hosting Opioid Response Recognition Training Saturday
Flagler Open Arms Recovery Services is hosting a free Opioid Response Recognition Training on Saturday, January 28, at 9:00 AM at St. James Baptist Church, 609 State St. in Bunnell. Pam Birtolo, Executive Director of Flagler OARS will facilitate the training.
DeSantis Administration Wanted ‘Mental Examination’ of 12-Year-Olds Suing Over Trans Rights
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is asking a federal judge for permission to perform “mental examinations” on a pair of 12-year-olds who are plaintiffs in a challenge to a state rule preventing Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care for transgender people.
Child Vaccination Rates, Already Down Because of Pandemic, Fall Again
Instead of recovering after schools reopened in 2021, historically low rates of child vaccination worsened, according to new data from the CDC. Experts fear that the skepticism of science and distrust of government that flared up during the pandemic are contributing to the decrease.
A Judge Is Relying on a New Supreme Court Decision to Keep Guns in Abusers’ Hands
A judge in Texas struck down the federal law that prohibits access to guns for people subject to domestic violence protection orders, based on a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. He argued that disarming domestic abusers violates the Second Amendment because those types of laws didn’t exist at the founding of the country.
Flagler’s Kindergarteners Have Florida’s Highest Rate of Religious Exemptions from Immunization
Flagler County’s kindergarteners enrolled in public schools have the highest rate of exemption from immunization on religious grounds in Florida–5.5 percent, according to a new report by the Florida Department of Health. It now appears that disinformation about Covid vaccines, which played a large role in keeping the Covid-immunization rate below 70 percent, is infecting trust in other vaccines. That trust is being undermined even by the Florida Department of Health.
75,000 Abortions in Florida in 2020 Before Restrictions and Strike-Down of Roe v. Wade
Florida reported 74,868 abortions during 2020. Of that number, 3,988 abortions or about 5.3 percent were obtained by out-of-state residents. The CDC’s report tracks what’s called the abortion rate, the number of abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44. For Florida, that rate was 19.1 for the year, among the higher rates in the data set.
Tribal Rights and the Case of Non-Indians Adopting Native Americans
The Indian Child Welfare Act, was originally passed by Congress in response to requests from tribal leaders and other advocates for Native Americans to stop states from removing Indian children from their families. Now, in a case before the Supreme Court, non-Indians seeking to adopt or foster Indian children have challenged provisions of the law.
Flagler School Board May Approve Stocking Narcan-Like Agents in Schools to Prevent Overdose Deaths
Taking advantage of a new law, the Flagler County School Board will develop a plan enabling school personnel, starting with nurses, to carry and administer Narcan, the effective naloxone agent in reversing the risks of a fatal drug overdose. A physician will develop the protocols to be used. The Flagler County Drug Foundation is making Narcan available to the district for free for at least two years.
21 Months in Prison for Woman Who ‘Did Nothing’ as Infant Was Repeatedly Tortured by Boyfriend
Luciana Celestin, 29, was present as her boyfriend, Deviaun Toler, repeatedly whipped, beat and once burned his infant son, but she did not intervene to end the abuse, report it, or seek medical attention for the boy, who nearly died as the abuse continued in Palm Coast in early 2018.