The budget package includes a modest increase in per-student spending through the state’s main education formula, $521 million in Medicaid cuts for hospitals and far-reaching changes to education across the board.
Backgrounders
David Ottati Returns: Ex-Florida Hospital Flagler CEO Takes Over 3-County Region
David Ottati’s rise in the Adventist organization is again bringing him to Flagler County as he takes over leadership of a seven hospital-region including Florida Hospital Flagler.
It Would Be Up to Florida to Dismantle Obamacare Protections If GOP Bill Advances
Unless the legislation fails or changes substantially, many consumers across the country could see the amount they pay every year for premiums increase by thousands of dollars, making coverage effectively unaffordable.
La Différence
France’s Answer To Trumpism: Non, Merci
Emmanuel Macron’s election as President of France Sunday repudiates angry, anti-democratic tribalism represented by Marine Le Pen and Donald Trump. But it’s only a qualified win.
Flagler Beach, a.k.a. Ocean City, Gets 9 New Lifeguard Towers, All On Strength of Volunteers
The nine lifeguard towers, on a design from towers in Ocean City, Md., are expected to more than double the life of the structures. Commissioner Rick Belhumeur led the all-volunteer effort.
Holland Park Redemption: Palm Coast’s Storied Playground Readies to Re-Open
A year behind schedule, the reopening of Holland Park, now scheduled for June, will also mark the transformation of an eyesore into a crown jewel, as a visit to the park today suggests.
Thursday Briefing: County Road 13 Construction, Vac-Con Trucks, Kimmel’s Verklempt, Palm Coast Democrats, Josh Crews Book Launch
Josh Crews book project launches at Belle Terre, John & Jen at City Rep Theatre, Jimmy Kimmel loses it over his newborn son and Trump’s gutting of the ACA, Dahlia’s Mexican Kitchen, and CPE Bach.
Palm Coast Would Turn Over Its Cell Towers To Contractor Even as New Law Revamps Landscape
Even as a new state law just has just revamped the whole wireless landscape, the Palm Coast council is about to sign a contract grounded in previous-generation realities about cell coverage.
Tuesday Briefing: Superintendent Choice Time, Monopolizing Palm Coast Cell Towers, Scam Safety
The School Board this morning potentially makes its choice for the next superintendent, the Palm Coast council decides whether to hire a company that would largely control the city’s cell-tower contracts and revenue share.
Progressive Voices Rise to Resist Locally as Flagler Beach “Rally By the Sea” Rebukes Trumpism
Saturday’s rally of progressive-liberal organizations in Flagler Beach, organized by a group barely a few months old, suggests the local Republican sweep is not as total as it appears, or Trumpism the only movement in town.
‘Click It or Ticket’ Laws Are Becoming The Norm. But Do They Work?
Not everyone is convinced the tougher laws reduce fatalities. And some opponents say the laws are another example of government interference and can lead to racial profiling.
“John & Jen” and Generational Shock in Musical Closing City Repetory Theatre’s Season
“John & Jen” features the same two actors portraying family members over two generations crossing America’s tumultuous 60s and beyond, and testing family ties. At Palm Coast’s City Rep Theatre.
Flagler Beach Unanimously Approves Marina Settlement That May End 7-Year Suit
It’s now up to Howard Sklar to sign off on the settlement agreement. His attorney said the marina, idle for almost two decades, could be operating soon, welcoming boats, building and repairing them.
Flagler Beach Pier Repair to Last a Bit Longer and Cost More as Engineers Test Loads
The Flagler Beach Pier was set to fully open May 1, but the opening date has been pushed back to the end of May, and engineering work, which won;t affect the date, will add up to $45,000 in costs.
Senate Budget Details Yet to Emerge as House Pushes Potential $2.2 Billion Tax Cut
Lawmakers pushed back against the idea that a deal that many believed had been sealed Tuesday had fallen apart, while House leaders placed tax cuts ahead of more money for per-student allocations.
Short of Stellar, FPC and Matanzas Earn Bronze and Silver in U.S. News’ High School Rankings
Matanzas came in at 160 in the state and 2,297 in the nation, getting silver, FPC came in at 183 in the state and did not get a national ranking, though its IB program’s achievements were not calculated as in previous years’ rankings.
Wednesday Briefing: Economic Council’s Engagement, Buddy Taylor Spring Concert, Constitution Revision Hits Gainesville
Buddy Taylor Middle School holds its Spring Concert, the Flagler Economic Opportunity Council talks community engagement, Constitution Revision Commission travels to Gainesville, and Brigitte Bardot.
As Flagler Considers Countywide Burn Ban, Fire Units On Stand-By to Help Elsewhere
Twenty-one counties have a burn ban in effect, though for now that has not been declared in Flagler, where firefighters are on stand-by to assist battling forest fires in Southwest Florida if necessary.
Thursday Briefing: Superintendent Interviews, Senior Scholarships, Bill O’Reilly’s Karma
The last three candidates for school superintendent still standing interview with the school board in successive slots, then attend the annual senior scholarship awards at the Flagler Auditorium.
Life in Prison for Palm Coast Man as Jury Finds Him Guilty of Molesting 11-Year-Old
A two-second feel over the clothes of an 11-year-old in a Palm Coast home by her guardian four years ago will result in a life sentence for James Taylor, a previously convicted sex offender.
Palm Coast’s Thames Envy Holds Weir-dest Ribbon-Cutting You’ve Ever Heard Of
There’s a ribbon-cutting for every imaginable non-event these days, and today Palm Coast cut the ribbon at a water-control structure called a “weir,” in the B-Section.
Tuesday Briefing: Frieda Zamba, Food Truck Tuesday, Spring Band Concert, Taxes, Job Fair, Pool Opening
The public pool in Palm Coast opens for the summer season, Food Truck Tuesday in Central Park, FPC’s band is in concert at the auditorium, the School Board and Palm Coast’s City Council meet.
Google’s Links to Flagler Sheriff’s Office Hacked By Malware, Porn and Clickbait
Users trying to reach the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office through Google are being redirected to pornographic websites, malware and dangerously infected links. Other search engines are not affected, nor is the sheriff’s site itself.
A Suicide By Gunshot Jolts 911 Call as Sheriff Observes Flagler’s Dispatch Center in Action
A gunshot suicide took place live as a 911 dispatcher was on the phone Wednesday, while Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly sat in as a “trainee” to mark National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.
Fatal Irresponsibility:
How Palm Coast Willfully Ignored Street Lights And Sidewalks For 10 Years
Palm Coast’s government’s claim that it didn’t have the money to build sidewalks and street lights is a cynical lie: as people died, the city put luxury ahead of necessity, from city hall to expensive beautification and plenty more.
Cops Out in Force on I-95 Over the Weekend as Part of Drive to Save Lives Campaign
Be warned: cops from Florida to Maine are out in force this weekend (April 8 and 9), pulling over, warning and ticketing speeders, careless, reckless and distracted drivers.
2017 Flagler Jail Bookings and Sheriff’s Crime and Incident Reports (Archived)
Archived 2017 Flagler County jail bookings, day and night shift commanders’ crime and incident reports investigated by Sheriff’s deputies and archive.
Thursday Briefing: The Fair, Classroom to Careers, Holocaust Memorial Lecture, Brigham Young’s Last Marriage
A classroom-to-careers symposium featuring local business at FPC, Democrats’ meeting at AACS, the county fair continues, a Holocaust memorial lecture at Statson.
Monday Briefing: State of the Library, Return of Industrial Hemp, Teddy Bear Picnic, 2001 Odyssey
The Flagler County Public Library Board of Trustees makes a presentation to the county commission, the Legislature talks industrial hemp, Stanley Kubrick’s great movie premiered 49 years ago.
Pranksters, Hackers, Swatting and Service Failures: 911 Systems Need an Upgrade
A rash of disruptions in antiquated 911 emergency-response systems points up the urgent need for new technology to save lives in the wireless age. But money is lacking.
In Superintendent Search, Five Accomplished Candidates From Near and Far Make Shortlist
The shortlist, drawn up Tuesday evening, includes a Palm Coast resident with a long history in Flagler schools, a Volusia County principal, a Clay County administrator and two candidates from Kentucky.
Tuesday Briefing: Rethinking Palm Coast Golf Course, Vacation Rentals Round 3, Flagler Forum Media Panel
The Flagler Forum hosts a media panel with representatives from all local media, the Palm Coast council changes course on golf and ends red-light cameras, the superintendent search advisory committee meets.
Monday Briefing: Computer Coding as Foreign Language, Undocumented Criminals, Trump’s Russian Affinities
Bringing county commissioners up to speed on the budget, harshing up penalties against undocumented immigrant criminals, Trump’s 30 years of dalliances with and affinities for Russia, a Haydn trio.
Wit as Weapon In “Waltz of the Toreadors,” City Repertory Theatre’s French-Accented Farce
The 1951 play by France’s Jean Anouilh is a bitterly funny send-up of middle class pretensions and expectations, and another daring experiment by Palm Coast’s City Repertory Theatre.
Weekend Briefing: Cracker Day, Renner Town Hall, Waltz of Toreadors, Ten Tenors Return, Surf Series, Motown Madness
City Repertory Theatre stages a new production of a great French farce of a play, Surf Series in Flagler Beach, Cracker Day at County Fairgrounds, Renner twon hall on vacation rentals in the Hammock, and Jack London on the Iron Heel.
Lawmakers’ Letters to Constituents on Health Care Are Full of Lies and Misinformation
As the GOP tries to rewrite–or “repeal and replace–the Affordable Care Act, lawmakers in both parties are incorrectly citing statistics, making false claims and leaving out important context in letters to constituents.
Tuesday Briefing: Vacation Rentals, Superintendent Search, Food Truck Tuesday, Patriot Award, Philip Roth
Palm Coast Fire Chief Mike Beadle, Deputy Chief Jerry Forte, and Battalion Chief Ron Petrillo get a Patriot Award, the school board looks over applicants for superintendent, vacation rentals are up for another Senate hearing.
Flagler Tourism “Promotions” Slush Fund Jumps 76% in 3 Years, And We’re Counting Pennies For Beach Repairs?
Paying for critical repairs to Flagler County’s beaches is hostages to a tourism budget’s scandalous and unaccountable promotions spending, which the county administration wants to increase despite the emergency.
Flagler’s Hutson Files Amendment to Vacation-Rental Bill That Would “Eviscerate” Regulations
Sen. Travis Hutson had supported the 2014 law enabling Flagler County to regulate vacation rentals. His amendment, which he calls a “compromise,” would scale that back even though he sees no problems with local regulations or short-term rentals.
At Ocean Art Gallery:
Judi Wormeck, Artist of the Year
Judi Wormeck, a retired art teacher and member of the Flagler County Art League, is the Gargiulo Art Foundation’s 2016 Flagler County Artist of the Year, with her first Florida exhibit opening Friday at Ocean Art Gallery in Flagler Beach.
Monday Briefing: Flagler Budget Crunch, Ron Bolser, Bunnell’s Fire Chief, Josh Crews Writing Project
The Flagler County Commission gathers to take stock of its Hurricane Matthew-whacked budget situation, Bunnell set to appoint Ron Bolser fire chief, Josh Crews Writing Project at Princess Place.
An Outbreak of Anti-Semitism in an Angry and Fearful America Since Trump’s Election
“Documenting Hate,” an attempt to document hate crimes and bigotry from a divided America, has recorded more than 330 reports of anti-Semitic incidents during a three-month span from early November to early February.
Thursday Briefing: Flagler Beach Swears-In Shupe and Carney, Tolerance, Islamic Prayer and Back Pain
The Flagler Beach City Commission swears-in its two winning incumbents, Marshall Shupe and Kim Carney, explaining the consequences of self-harm, amusing ourselves to death.
Tuesday Briefing: Elections in Flagler Beach and Bunnell, Palm Coast “Radio,” State of the State, Driverless Cars
Two seats in Flagler Beach, two seats in Bunell up in this election featuring three candidates in each contest, Palm Coast will re-discuss the Milissa Holland radio show with a new proposal, Rick Scott does State of the State, the school board holds an epic workshop.
Remembering John Hankinson Jr., Towering Force in Environmental Protection in Flagler and Elsewhere
John Hankinson Jr., a long-time resident of Summer Haven just north of Marineland, had been an EPA Regional administrator and had headed a post-Deepwater Horizon spill task force. He was a frequent performer in the local musical scene as Johnny Matanzas.
Rideshare South: Why Way Fewer Teens Are Bothering With a Driver’s License
The drop has been sharpest in the South, where the share of high school seniors with a driver’s license fell from 88.6 percent in 1996 to 71.2 percent in 2015.
Jim Landon’s Fake News
Palm Coast Manager Jim Landon’s plans for a “scripted” weekly radio infomercial hosted by Mayor Milissa Holland demeans the mayor, the council and her listeners. If Holland is to do a show, it should be on her unscripted terms.
Weekend Briefing: Job Fair, 1st Amendment Vigil, Flagler Reads History, Haw Creek Paddle, Walk for Food
FPC’s Walk for Food on Saturday, First Amendment Vigil in Daytona Saturday evening, Flagler Centennial events from Sisco Deen on the county’s history to a kayaking trip, Florida’s anniversary, much more.
Flagler Beach Could Have an 1,100-Foot Pier, But On Concrete, and Not Before 2021
Concepts of a future Flagler Beach pier were unveiled, projecting greater length but less wooden rusticity, and still a lot of uncertainty regarding cost. The earliest date for a new pier would be 2021.
Don’t Fall For False Tone of Moderation in Trump’s Fact-Challenged Speech to Congress
Some pundits and lawmakers applauded Trump for this “presidential” moment. Tone aside, however, the substance of the speech doesn’t diverge from Trump’s radical nationalist extremism, argues Peter Certo.