Flagler County commissioners unanimously appointed Adam Mengel as interim administrator as Heidi Petito concludes a five-year tenure marked by significant financial accomplishments, including improving reserves from $9 to $46 million. Commissioner Greg Hansen praised her performance as the best in his experience. Mengel begins his new role on April 11 with an annualized salary of $194,602.
All Else
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, April 6, 2026
The Flagler County Commission holds a pair of meetings, including an afternoon workshop to discuss its search for a new administrator, the Beverly Beach Commission meets, a few words about the garish Trump library in Miami, and its kinship with Mao.
Why University Presidents Traded Moral Authority for Self-Censorship
Throughout the 20th century, university presidents often spoke out on significant political and social issues with moral authority. Today, facing immense financial and political pressures, many higher education leaders have adopted strict institutional neutrality. This shift replaces direct, principled leadership with vague, lawyer-approved statements and risk management strategies. Critics argue this cautious approach undermines the essential role universities play in fostering community and open discourse.
Florida Attorney General Threatens NFL Over Rule Giving Minorities a Chance
Attorney General James Uthmeier is warning that he won’t stop pushing the NFL to suspend the “Rooney Rule,” which requires teams to interview minorities before they make a hiring decision. He claims it’s a violation of Florida law.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, April 5, 2026
To include your event in the Briefing and Live Calendar, please fill out this form. Weather: Partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 20 percent. Daily weather briefing from the National Weather Service in Jacksonville here. Drought conditions here. (What […]
How The Apocrypha Influenced Christian History Despite Being Left Out Of The Official Biblical Canon
The apocrypha consists of ancient Jewish and Christian texts excluded from the official biblical canon but highly influential throughout history. Although famous books like the Acts of Peter and the Gospel of Thomas are not found in standard Bibles, they offer valuable insights into early religious practices and theological debates. Exploring these hidden stories reveals how they shaped centuries of religious art, tradition, and belief.
Field of Deals: Daytona Tortugas Offering Discount Tickets to Palm Coast Residents on July 17
As part of the Tortugas’ regional City Nights series, which celebrates local communities, Palm Coast and Flagler County residents can attend the game at a discounted rate. By entering code FLG at checkout, residents can purchase general admission tickets for $9, creating an affordable opportunity for families, friends, and baseball fans to enjoy a night together.
IPads in Kindergarten, YouTube at Snack Time: Parents Are Pushing Back
Many parents are shocked to discover that elementary schools now provide iPads to kindergartners for passive entertainment. This practice often involves children watching YouTube videos and commercials during school hours. Research suggests excessive screen use harms social development and attention spans. Consequently, parent advocacy groups are successfully pushing districts to limit devices. Some schools have started returning to paper-based learning and hands-on activities to prioritize student engagement.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, April 4, 2026
The Second Annual Italian Festival at the county fairgrounds, Celebrating Celine! with Jenene Caramielo at the Fitz, “Godspell” at the Limelight Theatre, ruining the World Cup.
CFO Blaise Ingoglia’s Disinformation Campaign at Local Governments’ Expense
Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia is touring the state to accuse local governments of reckless overspending, but his claims rely on a simplistic formula ignoring critical economic factors like property value increases and essential service needs. Flagler County faced his unsubstantiated attacks last week. Actual budget data reveals that Ingoglia’s claims collapse under the weight of even feathery scrutiny.
What ICE Could Learn from Prohibition’s Failures
The recent massive expansion of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement distinctly parallels the hasty creation of the Prohibition-era federal police force in the 1920s. Both enforcement bodies faced intense public scrutiny for lowering training standards, hiring poorly vetted agents, and utilizing reckless violence to achieve difficult objectives. Historical records of Prohibition’s disastrous enforcement offer a stark warning about the dangers of rapidly scaling federal policing.
Tag Team: Dad Chris Calio Retires from Flagler Fire Rescue as Son Nick Begins Career
Flagler County Fire Rescue Firefighter Paramedic Chris Calio retired on April 1, no joke, and had the privilege of spending the day with his son, Nick Calio – brand new to the department at Fire Station 16 on the Volusia County border. Also on shift were Chris Calio’s best friends: Noah Hunt and Jake Gonzalez.
Palm Coast Restores Full Online Access To Detailed City Council Agenda Packets For Local Residents
Palm Coast restored full online access to City Council agenda packets including all supporting background materials. The city since 2019 limited web access due to ADA compliance concerns and litigation threats. A significant technological upgrade ensures all 2026 digital standards are met. Residents can now review the same staff reports, contracts, and financial data used by council members to make decisions. Whether that will reduce the incidence of belligerently misinformed public comments is unlikely.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, April 3, 2026
Commissioner Andy Dance Free For All Friday, First Friday Garden Walks at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, First Friday in Flagler Beach, Artemis goes Old Lace.
Taming the Moral Menace at Capitalism’s Core
Digital disruption and the climate crisis are often framed as economic or social challenges. But they force crucial moral questions. Who will be held accountable for the human cost? What will it take to transform business culture so that those costs are not treated as inevitable and acceptable? The answers will shape not only technology’s impact on humanity and the planet but the moral foundations of democracy itself.
R.J. Larizza Hosts Former Rivals as Unveiling of 4 State Attorneys’ Portraits Stirs Old Battles and Triumphs
State Attorney R.J. Larizza Friday unveiled a portrait gallery at an event honoring four storied Seventh Judicial Circuit former State Attorneys: Dan Warren, Stephen Boyles, John Tanner and Steve Alexander. Warren’s son Raymond, a former prosecutor and public defender, recalled his father’s role in the summer of 1964, seminal in the state’s civil rights history, and Tanner used the occasion to discuss his 1963 manslaughter indictment by Warren, and subsequent enmity with the state attorney.
Trump Fires Pam Bondi, Ending Combative Tenure as Attorney General
Attorney General Pam Bondi is leaving the Department of Justice and will be replaced for now by President Donald Trump’s former personal defense lawyer, the president announced Thursday.
Appeals Court Will Decide if Flagler Beach Shopping Center Can Legally Ban Coastal Family Church Services
Coastal Family Church is appealing a court injunction prohibiting services at its Flagler Beach shopping center location. The property management company cites private covenants banning public assembly to justify the restriction. The church argues the ban violates First Amendment rights and constitutes selective enforcement. The high-stakes legal battle pits foundational private property rights against constitutional religious protections.
Voting Rights Groups File Suit as DeSantis Signs Proof-of-Citizenship Law
While Congress remains deadlocked on the SAVE America Act that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote, that requirement will soon become the law of the land in Florida now that Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the latest “voting integrity ” legislation. The governor signed the bill (HB 991) into law Wednesday in The Villages following its approval by the Florida Legislature last month. The law requires people who are registering to vote to produce evidence of citizenship, such as a valid passport or birth certificate. It will take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, April 2, 2026
“Godspell,” at the Limelight Theatre in St. Augustine, “My Fair Lady,” at Daytona Playhouse, Story Time with Miss Kim at Flagler Beach Public Library, Model Yacht Club Races at the Pond in Palm Coast’s Central Park and Doug Stanhope on nationalism.
Alma Rock-Yanochko Is First Palm Coast Employee To Earn National Recreation Certification
Alma Rock-Yanochko, the recreation supervisor at the Palm Coast Aquatic Center, has earned the Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) designation. She is the first city employee to obtain the credential during a tenure with Palm Coast.
US, Israel and Iran All Think God Is On Their Side
Political leaders in the United States, Israel, and Iran are increasingly employing religious rhetoric to justify ongoing military actions. From biblical metaphors used by American and Israeli officials to messianic narratives within the Iranian leadership, faith serves as a tool for authoritarian nationalism, but the instrumentalization of scripture sets a dangerous precedent for international relations, complicating efforts toward peace and violating historical secular norms during war.
Supreme Court Appears Likely to Side Against Trump on Birthright Citizenship
Every federal court that has considered a challenge to Donald Trump’s executive order that would end birthright citizenship has struck it down. After just over two hours of oral arguments on Wednesday, before an audience that included (at least for part of the morning) Trump himself, a majority of the Supreme Court seemed likely to do the same.
Flagler Beach Approves Millions In New Debt For Sewer Upgrades Without Clear Resident Cost
The Flagler Beach City Commission approved $37 million of an expected $52 million loan to rebuild its sewer plant, and is applying for an additional, separate $19 million loan for other stormwater improvements. Yet the city cannot currently calculate exact rate increases for residents because outdated studies fail to reflect rising construction costs. Development impact fees will not provide immediate relief.
DeSantis Demands Impeachment Of a Judge as he Signs ‘Missy’s Law’ Ending Some Pre-Sentence Releases
Gov. DeSantis signed Missy’s Law to prevent the release of violent felons awaiting sentencing. The legislation is named after Melissa Mogle, a child killed by her stepfather after he was released on bond. DeSantis called for the impeachment of Judge Tiffany Baker-Carper for her role in that release.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, April 1, 2026
The Artemis launch this evening, Palm Coast’s Code Enforcement Board meets, Conversations in Democracy at Pine Lakes Golf Club, Bingo Night at Palm Coast Elks Lodge.
Why the Moon Again? Why Now?
NASA redesigned the Artemis program to prioritize building a permanent human presence on the lunar surface through strategic infrastructure investments. The agency added intermediate missions in low Earth orbit to test docking systems and life-support technologies. The shift ensures the development of reliable operations for repeated lunar missions. Consistent activity on the Moon will eventually shape international space law expectations.
Dozens of Flagler County Students Qualify for International Problem Solvers Competition
The Future Problem Solving Florida Affiliate Competition hosted more than 150 Flagler Schools students at the state competition earlier this month. Forty-five Flagler Schools students received invitations to the World Finals on June 10-14 at Indiana University.
In Remarkable Display of De-Escalation, Sheriff’s Deputy Bryan Carter Talks 22-Year-Old Down from Gun Suicide
Isaac Malone Lewis, his own gun to his head, was in a two-hour standoff with Flagler County deputies on Burning Ember Lane Monday following a series of domestic incidents. Deputy Bryan Carter negotiated with him and ensured a peaceful surrender. Lewis now faces felony charges for stalking and fleeing police. Sheriff Rick Staly credited the successful resolution to comprehensive de-escalation training.
Flagler County Is 6th Fastest Growing in Florida, with 25,000 New Residents Between 2020 and 2025
Flagler County added 25,000 residents between 2020 and 2025 to reach a total of 140,360 people. The 21.7 percent increase makes it the sixth fastest growing county in Florida. Most growth stems from domestic migration. The aging demographic influences local policy decisions, healthcare infrastructure, and public school enrollment trends. Growth slowed slightly during the most recent 12-month period reported recently.
Trump Gets an Airport in West Palm Beach, Taxpayers Get The $5 Million Bill
Gov. DeSantis signed legislation renaming Palm Beach International Airport after President Donald Trump, a rebranding that’ll cost at $5 million for signage and marketing across the West Palm Beach facility. Republican supporters believe the honor reflects Trump’s presidency as Democrats criticize the wasted money as a political stunt that ignores many pressing state economic priorities for Florida.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Random Acts of Insanity Standup Comedy at Cinematique, Weekly Chess Club for Teens at the public library, Free Tax Preparation Services for a few more days, maga über alles.
Why Leisure Matters
In his powerful book “The Burnout Society,” South Korean philosopher Byung-Chul Han argues that in modern society, individuals have an imperative to achieve. Han calls this an “achievement society” in which we must become “entrepreneurs” – branding and selling ourselves; there is no time off the clock. But there’s a connection between unhealthy forms of leisure and burnout. Philosophy can help us navigate some of the pitfalls of leisure in an achievement society. The celebrated Greek philosopher Aristotle in particular can offer important insights.
Palm Coast Gas Prices Reach $4.29 at Several Stations, Florida Average Just Under $4
In Palm Coast and Flagler Beach, the price of unleaded regular gas ranged between a low of $3.82 at BJ’s Wholesale on State Road 100 to $4.29 at RaceTrac at two stations on State Road 100. Elsewhere prices ranged between those two poles.
Flagler Beach Approves Extended Farmers’ Market Hours for Turtle Fest, But with Warning on Future Street Closures
The Flagler Beach City Commission approved extended hours for the farmers’ market during Turtle Fest on April 11, but Commission Chair Eric Cooley has significant reservations about the city’s increasing frequency of downtown street closures and their negative impact on residents and business owners. The market will partner with Turtle Fest on April 11 and the Cedar Bridge Foundation’s autism Run/Walk on April 26, donating its revenue to the two organizations.
Thousands Of No Kings Protesters Gathered In Red Florida Counties To Challenge Autocracy and War
Thousands of protesters gathered across Florida cities to demonstrate against Donald Trump during the third No Kings event even in Republican strongholds, including Pensacola, Jacksonville, Lakeland and Flagler County. Veterans joined diverse crowds to criticize foreign policy decisions and domestic immigration enforcement. Participants expressed concern regarding government lawlessness and executive overreach.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, March 30, 2026
Clay Jones on King Trump, the Bunnell Police Department’s seminar on “Fraud Fighters,” postcard from Beirut under the bombs, a stroll through the city.
On People Who Reject Gender Labels
It is a tumultuous time in the politics of gender. On the one hand, transgender and queer social movements have sought to expand people’s ability to break out of the gender binary of man or woman. On the other, the Trump administration has aggressively worked to reassert the gender binary by law.
Saturday in Byblos:
François de Rosset’s Story of the Execution of Two Siblings
François Rosset was a bestselling French writer who in 1619 fictionalized the story of the tragic 1603 execution of Marguerite and Julien de Ravalet for adultery and incest after eloping to escape social norms and, for Marguerite, a decrepit husband. Rosset questioned the brutal judicial system and described the couple with remarkable compassion even as he nodded in the direction of the era’s social and religious norms. The theme has since evolved through literature, art and law, with at times surprising results.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, March 29, 2026
The Flagler Home and Lifestyle Show has its second and final day, Yasmina Reza’s “Art,” at City Repertory Theatre, “My Fair Lady,” at Daytona Playhouse, Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village, Richard Ford reminds us to stop blaming baseball.
AI’s Greatest Risk in Education Isn’t Cheating. It’s the Erosion of Learning.
People may use AI to cheat or skip out on work assignments. But the many uses of AI in higher education, and the changes they portend, beg a much deeper question: As machines become more capable of doing the labor of research and learning, what happens to higher education? What purpose does the university serve?
Over 1,300 ‘No Kings’ Protesters at 3 Locations in Flagler Beach and Palm Coast Proclaim Diversity of Opposition to Trump
Demonstrators gathered in Flagler Beach and two locations in Palm Coast Saturday to participate in the third set of anti-authoritarian “No Kings” protests, part of some 3,100 such protests across the country. More than 1,300 people voiced opposition to the Trump administration through signs and chants. A small counter-protest emerged at Palm Coast Parkway. Participants expressed concerns ranging from civil rights to immigration issues, but the movement’s political effectiveness ahead of the November election is unclear.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, March 28, 2026
No Kings rallies and protests in Palm Coast and Flagler Beach, 9:30 to 1 p.m., Flagler Home and Lifestyle Show at FPC, The Jungle Book at the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, Yasmina Reza’s “Art,” at City Repertory Theatre, “My Fair Lady,” at Daytona Playhouse, Gamble Jam, reflections on the shattering of an apartment building in Tehran.
Oil Reserves Last for Weeks. Solar Panels Last Decades.
Rising Middle East tensions highlight the extreme vulnerability of global fossil fuel markets. Cheap renewable technologies provide a permanent solution for energy independence and national security. Transitioning to all-electric systems offers decades of stability compared to volatile fuel prices. Electrification ensures resilience by replacing imported petroleum with reliable domestic solar and wind power.
In latest Attack on DEI, Florida Removes Sociology from University General Education Courses
The State University System Board of Governors on Thursday removed sociology from the public university general education catalog. The move, which wasn’t on the public agenda, was brought up by Chancellor Ray Rodrigues about 40 minutes into the meeting.
Florida Democrat Cherfilus-McCormick Found Guilty of Stealing and Laundering FEMA Funds
U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Florida Democrat, could be expelled from Congress for stealing millions in disaster aid payments laundered through her campaign account, according to a House panel’s Friday findings. The bipartisan House Ethics subcommittee declared Cherfilus-McCormick guilty on 25 of 27 ethics charges, hours after she withstood a lengthy hearing into her alleged double-dealings. It was the committee’s first public tribunal in nearly 16 years.
Palm Coast City Hall and 3 Schools Lost Internet and Phone Service Thursday and Friday in Accidental Cable Cut
A subcontractor accidentally severed a Fibernet line along U.S. 1 on Thursday, caused significant internet and phone outages for Palm Coast City Hall, Matanzas High School, Belle Terre Elementary and Indian Trails Middle School. Crews worked overnight to repair the damage and restore services by Saturday morning. Teachers transitioned to offline instruction to avoid classroom disruptions. The city manager intends to seek full financial reimbursement for the repair project costs.
As War and ICE Fuel Momentum, Throngs Expected at No Kings Rallies in Palm Coast and Flagler Beach Saturday
Organizers in Flagler County scheduled three separate No Kings rallies in Palm Coast and Flagler Beach, joining millions expected to participate in over 3,000 demonstrations across the nation and beyond Saturday. The non-hierarchical protests draw on thematic opposition to recent foreign and domestic policies and the president’s authoritarianism.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, March 27, 2026
The Scenic A1A Pride Committee meets, Yasmina Reza’s “Art,” at City Repertory Theatre, Acoustic Jam Circle At The Community Center In The Hammock, Israel’s long history of funding Hamas.
Europe’s Deforestation Law Could Change the Global Coffee Trade, and Cost
Starting in 2026, companies selling coffee on the European Union market will have to prove that their product is “deforestation-free.” That means every bag of beans, every jar of ground coffee and every espresso capsule must trace back to coffee plants on land that hasn’t been cleared of forest since Dec. 31, 2020. The rule change could transform how coffee is grown, traded and sold.














































