The East Flagler Mosquito Control District (EFMCD) collected 1,441 tires during its Tire Amnesty Days event May 29-31, marking it the most successful collection in the program’s history.
News Briefs
Float Registration Now Open, for Just $40, for Flagler Beach’s July 4 Parade Celebrating 250th
The Rotary Club of Flagler Beach invites residents, visitors, local businesses, and community organizations to celebrate Independence Day—and America’s 250th birthday—at the Flagler Beach Fourth of July Parade on Saturday, July 4, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in Flagler Beach. Float registration is now open for $40.
Palm Coast Postpones Inaugural Beats & Eats
Due to the forecast for inclement weather, the City of Palm Coast has postponed tonight’s inaugural Beats & Eats event at The Stage in Town Center. The event is rescheduled for June 18.
Flagler County Urges Vulnerable Seniors To Apply For Emergency Home Cooling Financial Assistance
Dangerous summer heat poses severe health risks to older residents throughout Florida. Flagler County Senior Services partnered with ElderSource to promote the Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program. Qualified households with residents 60 or older can obtain up to $2,000 for utility bills or critical cooling repairs.
Flagler Sheriff’s Deputies Now Equipped with Sensory Support Kits for Individuals in Crisis
As part of its focus to create positive community outcomes, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is equipping members of its team with sensory support kits filled with items designed to help neurodivergent individuals or individuals in crisis during encounters with law enforcement.
Daytona State’s Women’s Golf brings home 12th National Title
Daytona State College’s Women’s Golf team captured its 12th NJCAA Division I National Championship on May 14, edging No. 1-ranked Odessa College by a single stroke in a dramatic final-round finish.
Flagler Middle Schoolers Prep for International Stage in Underwater Robotics
For the past three years, Flagler Schools have made international waves in the world of underwater robotics. This spring, three middle school teams from Flagler County have stormed the medal stands of SeaPerch competitions in the Sunshine State. And in two weeks, SeaPerch Advisor Tracy Jones will take three teams of engineers to the International SeaPerch Competition.
Deeply Buried in Forest of Candidates, Paul Renner Digs for a Blade of Grassroots
Former House Speaker Paul Renner is staring up at U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, James Fishback, and even Lt. Gov. Jay Collins in most polling of the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis. But he’s confident that public opinion surveys don’t sync up with what he’s seeing as he travels the state making his case to Republican voters ahead of the August Primary.
45 Flagler County First Responders Hold Joint Training for High-Water and Flooding Emergencies
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and Flagler County Fire Rescue are completing a three-part swiftwater and flood rescue training series to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. Approximately 45 personnel are practicing shallow-water maneuvers, defensive swimming, and multi-agency coordination.
Sergeant Adrian Zapata Named Officer Of The Year During Bunnell Police Awards Presentation
The Bunnell Police Department presented its annual awards on Monday during a city commission meeting coinciding with National Police Week. Sergeant Adrian Zapata received the 2025 Officer of the Year designation following two lifesaving incidents. Volunteer Chaplain Larry Hobbs earned the Chief’s Commendation. The agency reported significant progress, highlighting major annual crime reductions across person, society, and property categories throughout the city.
A Symbolic 457-Day Jail Sentence, On Top of 9 Life Terms, to End Henriqson’s Stay at Flagler Jail
Kristopher Henriqson, 48, got a symbolic 457-day jail sentence today for marijuana distribution and possession of drug paraphernalia following his conviction a month ago on 11 counts of sexual assault involving his stepdaughter. The sentence ends his court cases in Flagler County and clears his transfer to state prison.
AdventHealth Palm Coast Earns Top Quality Rating from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
AdventHealth Daytona Beach, AdventHealth Fish Memorial and AdventHealth Palm Coast each earned five stars, placing them among the top-performing hospitals in the country, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Atlantic Red Snapper Season Expanded to 39 Days, from 2 Last Year
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday revealed there will be a 39-day red snapper fishing season in the Atlantic coast this year, an expansion from the two days allowed last year. The longer fishing season was due to a switch from federal management of the waters off Florida’s east coast for red snapper to state management.
Time to ‘Move On’ From Alligator Alcatraz, Ashley Moody Says
Sen. Ashley Moody says that the migrant concentration camp in the Everglades known as “Alligator Alcatraz” has done its job and that its mission has been fulfilled, after it was opened to handle detainees the federal government couldn’t handle.
Paul Renner’s 2% Delusion
Paul Renner is at 2% in one from Fabrizio, Lee & Associates, which puts him 52 points behind U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds. He is also at 2% in a poll posted by The Floridian, the content of which appears to align with an internal survey referred to recently by Lt. Gov. Jay Collins. Yet he sees a path for victory in August’s Primary for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
Palm Coast’s 21st Arbor Day Draws Thousands
The City of Palm Coast is celebrating another successful Arbor Day following its 21st annual event held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Central Park in Town Center. This year’s celebration drew nearly 2,000 attendees who took part in eco‑friendly activities, educational opportunities, and family fun.
20 Residents are 59th Graduating Class of Palm Coast Citizens Academy
Graduates of this session include Anjanette Stuart, Ashley Katz, Cat Neis, Cathy Moon, Chris Hansen, Christine Carter, Diana Tsai, Dylana Galery, Esther Rita Page, Frank Pfeiffer, George Carofine, Greg Zarobsky, Jadzia Waloch, Jeannette Mendoza, Julia Walthall, Kathryn Summerlot, Lisa Frye Hansen, Milotka Vogt, Mimose Allen, Ron Kovac, Sheldon Keller, Stephanie Giumenta, and Victoria Pfeiffer.
Florida Redistricting Draws Second Lawsuit
The new congressional map signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday has attracted its second legal challenge in as many days. Equal Ground Education Fund, a voting rights group, and 18 Florida voters filed suit against the new map within hours of it becoming law.
Gas Prices Spike 40 Cents in a Week in Florida, to $4.34/Gallon Average
Gas prices in Florida spiked an average of 40 cents over the past week, the second-largest one-week jump since the start of the conflict in Iran. In Flagler County on Monday, gas was selling for $4.37 a gallon at many stations along State Road 100 and $4.39 along Palm Coast Parkway.
Fifth Year MedNexus Challenge Crowns Team ConnectHer
The next generation of healthcare innovators took the stage at the Palm Coast Community Center, presenting bold, community-focused solutions during the 2026 UNF MedNexus Innovation Challenge. Team ConnectHer, mentored by Dr. Riggs-Achorn, earned first place, with each student receiving a $1,000 scholarship.
Only 13 States’s Medicaid Still Cover GLP-1 Drugs to Treat Obesity, and More Are Dropping Out
Medicaid programs in California, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and South Carolina have eliminated coverage of the drugs for weight loss, because the expense strained state budgets. The medications generally have been too expensive for people without insurance. In February, one of the largest producers of these drugs, Novo Nordisk, announced it would reduce their list prices to $675 per month in 2027.
Florida Capitol Protesters Denounce Special Session’s Secret Congressional Redistricting Maps
Approximately 150 protesters gathered outside the Florida Capitol Tuesday as the House of Representatives convened inside, chanting “Hey hey, ho ho, rigged maps have got to go.” The gathering of protesters countered the Florida House’s quick floor session on the first day of a special session called to debate congressional redistricting. (The Senate convened later in the day.)
Florida’s Average Teacher Salary Is Lowest in the Nation
The national union’s annual rankings for teacher pay put Florida’s average starting salary of $49,435 at 19th in the nation. It’s overall average teacher salary of $56,663 ranks 50th among the 50 states and Washington, D.C.
David Jolly and Jerry Demings Are Competitive with Byron Donalds, Stetson Poll Shows
The Stetson University’s Center for Public Opinion Research survey is the latest to show a potentially competitive General Election between Byron Donalds, David Jolly and Jerry Demings in a state national Democrats wrote off until recently.
Investigative Services Division Chief Agustin “Augie” Rodriguez Graduates Commanders Academy
Flagler County Sheriff’s Investigative Services Division Chief Agustin “Augie” Rodriguez graduated from Class 18 of the Florida Sheriffs Association’s Commanders Academy, the Sheriff’s Office reports.
Spectrum Launches Virtual American Sign Language Interpretation Service At Palm Coast Store
Spectrum is bringing its virtual American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation service to Palm Coast. The service connects deaf customers and Spectrum store specialists through a live ASL interpreter, enabling real-time communication in store. the virtual ASL interpretation service is now available at Island Walk, 250 Palm Coast Parkway NE, Suite 408.
AdventHealth Palm Coast Among Modern Healthcare’s 100 Top Hospitals
AdventHealth Fish Memorial and AdventHealth Palm Coast are among the nation’s 2026 Modern Healthcare’s 100 Top Hospitals, according to Premier, a national health care improvement organization.
Democratic Challenger José Javier Rodríguez Accuses James Uthmeier Of Political Theater
A Democrat seeking to oust Attorney General James Uthmeier says Uthmeier has turned the statewide office into political theater instead of fighting for everyday Floridians. “My opponent is the most corrupt Attorney General we’ve ever had … and he’s the least independent we’ve had,” José Javier Rodríguez said in downtown Orlando at the Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida.
Some 200 Attend Annual Housing Fair at Community Center
The City of Palm Coast, in partnership with Flagler County Government and Mid-Florida Housing, hosted the 10th Annual Flagler/Palm Coast Housing Fair on Saturday, bringing together residents, housing professionals, and community partners for a day of education, connection, and opportunity.
Annual Keep Palm Coast Clean Event Collects over 450 lbs. of Waste
The City of Palm Coast’s annual Keep PC Clean event returned this past Saturday, April 11, with dozens of volunteers taking to the streets across the city to lend a hand in a concerted effort to collect trash and debris.
Florida Supreme Court Elects John Couriel Chief Justice
The Florida Supreme Court has unanimously elected John D. Couriel for a two-year term as chief justice, beginning on July 1. He succeeds Carlos Muñiz, who will remain on the court after completing his second term as chief justice on June 30.
County Commissioner Andy Dance Replaces Flagler Beach’s Belhumeur on TPO Executive Board
Flagler County Commissioner Andy Dance joined Palm Coast City Council member Ty Miller on the six-member Executive Committee of the Volusia-Flagler Transportation Planning Organization (TPO). Dance replaces former Flagler Beach City Commissioner Rick Belhumeur, who lost his seat in that city’s March election.
World Cup Security Will Cost Over $80 Million in Florida
The FDLE request involves $8.1 million in a Federal Emergency Management grant to be used for monitoring, tracking and detection through unmanned aircraft systems. Another $73.7 million Federal Emergency Management grant was awarded to the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Most of the money, $63.6 million, will reimburse local law enforcement agencies for overtime expenses.
Byron Donalds Claims Regime Change Is Imminent In Cuba
With tensions still high between Cuba and the U.S., gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday and openly called for a change of government in Cuba.
Snubbed By Big Donors, Paul Renner’s Fundraising Drops
Former House Speaker Paul Renner is finding it more difficult to raise money in 2026 than he did in 2025, suggesting that the Palm Coast Republican will need a lot of grassroots support if he intends to compete with front-runner Byron Donalds in the race for Governor.
Kevin Cichowski, Exonerated at Trial in October, Faces 7 New Violent Charges. He’s Also Running for Governor.
Flagler County deputies arrested Kevin Cichowski following a domestic disturbance involving two elderly victims. The 46-year-old gubernatorial candidate allegedly battered the victims with a cane and a cellphone. Cichowski threatened to kill law enforcement before surrendering to the Sheriff’s Office. He went to trial on domestic violence charges last October and was found not guilty.
Florida Attorney General Investigating ChatGPT for Alleged Role in FSU Shooting
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is investigating ChatGPT for its alleged role in last year’s mass shooting at Florida State University.
Palm Coast Hosting High School District Tennis Tournament at Southern Recreation Center April 14-15
Palm Coast’s Southern Recreation Center will host the High School District Tennis Tournament on April 14 and 15, featuring seven regional schools competing for spots in the state series.
Gas Prices Cruise Past $4 a Gallon Amid Hormuz Impasse
Gas prices in Florida were up an average of 24 cents in the past week, cruising past the $4 mark as the conflict in Iran continued to rattle global oil markets. In Palm Coast on Tuesday, gas was is selling at no less than 4.17–at Wawa on Palm Coast Parkway, for instance–and more often at above $4.20.
Wanted: Palm Coast Deputy City Manager
Palm Coast launched a national search for a deputy city manager to replace Lauren Johnston, a position that offers a salary between $175,000 and $210,000 dollars.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
79 Junior Golfers Compete as Palm Coast Hosts State Tournament at Palm Harbor Club
Seventy-nine golfers aged 13 to 15 competed at Palm Harbor Golf Club on March 21 and 22. Parker Osborne won the boys’ division. Hazel Peters secured the girls’ title by one stroke. The event attracted families from across Florida. This tournament boosted local hotel and restaurant revenue. City officials emphasize that municipal assets drive sports tourism. Palm Coast continues to host regional athletic competitions.
Sheriff’s Gala Raises $70,000 for Employee Assistance Trust
During a night that included dancing, dinner, and honoring Flagler County’s finest, more than 170 guests celebrated the 2026 Sheriff’s Gala and raised over $70,000 to support the Flagler Sheriff’s Employee Assistance Trust. The annual black-tie event, which was held on March 21 at Hammock Beach Resort, raised money to aid Flagler County Sheriff’s Office employees in times of unexpected need.
Flagler County Republican Executive Committee Invites High School Students To Art Exhibit Auction
The Flagler County Republican Executive Committee (FCREC) is inviting local high school students to participate in a special Student Art Exhibit and Auction as part of America 250… A Lincoln Day Dinner, taking place August 8.