There’s no public explanation behind Michael Walker’s decision not to take the police chief’s job. Brannon Snead is linking his decision not to stay to the effects on his reputation from revelations of what led to his resignation from the Florida Highway Patrol in 2016.
All Else
Senior Partner Marc E. Dwyer Wins 2021 Flagler County Pro Bono Attorney Of the Year Award
Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida has recognized Marc E. Dwyer as the recipient of the 2021 Flagler County Pro Bono Attorney of the Year. This award was given to attorney Dwyer recognizing his contributions to providing pro bono services to the community and championing the cause of creating access to the courts for the disenfranchised.
Bunnell Mayor Robinson Re-Elected; Ex-Commissioner, Police Chief and FHP Trooper Pete Young Runs Again
Bunnell Mayor Catherine Robinson, in office for all but two of the last 26 years, won another three-year term as mayor, and Pete Young, a former Bunnell commissioner and police chief, will run for a city commission seat, with two incumbents. Two Beverly Beach commissioners were reelected without opposition, but two Flagler Beach incumbents face one challenger in the March 8 municipal elections.
Flagler Unemployment Hits Post-Covid Low of 3.8% as County Exceeds Pre-Pandemic Job Totals
Flagler County’s unemployment rate in December fell to a 12-month low of 3.8 percent, matching the rate in December 2020. Flagler has now made up the jobs lost during the pandemic, and exceeded the pre-pandemic level, even though for all of 2021, unemployment in the county averaged 4.9 percent.
Opelka Falls to Canadian Star Shapovalov in Australian Open 3rd Round
The No. 23 seed Opelka and the Canadian Shapovalov, seeded 14th, both looking to make the Round of 16 there for the first time in their careers, split the first two sets before the younger Shapovalov pulled away. He broke Opelka’s serve once each in the last two sets to snatch a 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 triumph.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, January 21, 2022
Unemployment figures, “Wait Until Dark” at City Repertory Theatre, “Mass Appeal” at the Flagler Playhouse, Hutson and Renner on Free For All Fridays, an excerpt from Rebecca Makkai’s latest story.
Supreme Court Rejects Trump’s Blocking of Jan. 6 Documents: 3 Takeaways
In a legal blow for Donald Trump, the Supreme Court has indicated a willingness to protect a constitutional system that can ensure transparency and accountability by legitimizing legislative branch oversight over the executive.
House GOP Wants Lower School Board Salaries and Higher Scrutiny of Library Books
The proposal (HB 1467) approved by the House Education & Employment Committee in a 13-7 vote Thursday would require schools to post information about the selection of books and instructional materials on their websites.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, January 20, 2022
Drug Court, “Mass Appeal” returns for a final weekend at the Flagler Playhouse, Federico Fellini talks to Dick Cavett, and a few thoughts on travel.
Will Corbevax, a Patent-Free Covid Vaccine, Be a Game-Changer?
There is still a glaring and alarming gap in global access to covid-19 vaccines. This should be of grave concern to everyone. But there is hope that a new vaccine called CORBEVAX will help close this vaccination gap. Unlike the three vaccines approved in the U.S. CORBEVAX delivers the spike protein to the body directly.
GOP Lawmakers Back Prohibition on Innumerable Ballot Initiatives
Florida voters in recent years have approved high-profile initiatives about issues such as raising the minimum wage and broadly legalizing medical marijuana. Such initiatives would be barred in the future if the House proposal is ultimately approved.
Flagler County Has Been Promising a South Side Library Since 2014. Commission Will Promise Again Next Week.
The Flagler County Commission next week will examine plans for a $14 million, 32,000 square-foot library that’ll also include a conference center and a portion of the building for the county’s Health and Human Services division. But as has been the case since 2014, and absent a surprise, the money for the project may be lacking yet again.
Floridians for Solar Choice Renews Ballot Initiative
Floridians for Solar Choice is organizing a massive statewide effort to collect the required petitions to get the initiative on the ballot. The language has already passed the Florida Supreme Court’s review.
Justice Blinded and a Heroin-Stuffed Doll Spark Thrills in City Repertory Theatre’s ‘Wait Until Dark’
True to part of its mission, City Repertory Theatre once again is offering a play that is typically off the radar of the local theater scene: a genuine, suspense-filled thriller. Susy has just been blinded in a car crash. While Susy’s husband Sam is away, three sadistic thugs track a heroin-stuffed doll they’re looking for to Susy’s apartment. A harrowing cat-and-mouse game ensues and soon involves Gloria, a young girl who lives in a nearby apartment.
Calm and Confident Opelka Wins to Reach 3rd Round of Australian Open
The former Indian Trails Middle School student put forth an outstanding performance Monday night in the second round of the Australian Open, dispatching Germany’s Dominik Koepfer to reach the third round for the first time.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, January 19, 2022
The Palm Coast Planning Board hears an application for yet another self-storage facility on Old Kings Road, 24 hours after the Palm Coast City Council approved one nearby.
A Surge in Rooftop Solar Can Be Problematic: Australia’s Lessons
A dramatic surge in solar output results in increased periods of large oversupply when weather conditions favor solar energy. This leads to energy being wasted due to the need for solar curtailment. On the other hand, there is little solar generation during peak demand hours in the morning and evening. This requires more expensive generators to run. These are huge problems from a market operations perspective.
Land of the Free: Sing the National Anthem or Else, Florida Legislators Tell Sports Teams
Florida’s measure would prohibit government agencies from entering agreements with professional teams without written verification that the anthem would be played. Failure to play the anthem could lead to teams or venues being required to repay government money they received.
Sheriff Hires Don Foley, Ex-TV Producer and Mayoral PR, to Lead Public Affairs Office
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office announces the hiring of a new Public Affairs lead in 2022. Sheriff Rick Staly has recruited Don Foley to his administrative team. Foley comes to Northeast Florida by way of the Mayor’s Office in Huntsville, Alabama where he served as a communications specialist.
Sheriff’s Deputies Investigating an Apparent Self-Inflicted Death at Herschel King Park
A resident of the River Club at Grand Haven called authorities at around 6:20 p.m. on Sunday and asked them to send emergency units to Herschel King Park. When authorities arrived, the man had stabbed himself. He died a few hours later at the hospital.
City Approves Self-Storage Facility on Old Kings Road, Near Hidden Lakes, Against Public Opposition
The rezoning for a 23-acre site for a future self-storage facility–another one–between I-95 and Old Kings Road, and not far from the Hidden Lakes and Toscana subdivisions, drew some pointed opposition from nearby residents and people with family at a neighboring assisted living facility. The self-storage grounds would also accommodate RV’s and boats, neither of which may be parked in Palm Coast driveways.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, January 18, 2022
A busy day in local government and courts with the Palm Coast City Council meeting and likely again discussing July 4 fireworks and the Flagler County School Board discussing a new way to handle library books, and, potentially, controversial titles.
Why the Volcanic Eruption in Tonga Was So Violent, and What to Expect Next
The Kingdom of Tonga doesn’t often attract global attention, but a violent eruption of an underwater volcano on January 15 has spread shock waves, quite literally, around half the world.
Sheriff Staly on Simultaneous July 4 Fireworks in Palm Coast and Flagler Beach: ‘It Will Certainly Strain Our Resources’
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly is cautioning the two cities that simultaneous July 4 fireworks will mean his agency might not be able to support Flagler Beach as it has before on that day. But a Palm Coast City Council member has now shifted position, and favors continuing July 4 and July 3 shows, giving each city July 4 in alternate years. But would Flagler Beach agree to hold its shows on July 3 every other year?
St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society Mourns Death of Rabbi Israel “Sy” Dresner at 92
The St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society mourns the passing of our friend and supporter, Rabbi Israel “Sy” Dresner, who was caught up in the largest mass arrest of Rabbis in US History, here in St. Augustine, June 18, 1964. Dresner died of cancer at age 92.
Palm Coast’s Opelka Starts Australian Open with Commanding Straight Sets Win
In the wee hours of Monday morning Eastern time, Reilly Opelka took the first step toward doing that, easily dispatching former Top 10 stalwart Kevin Anderson in the first round of the Australian Open, winning 6-3, 6-4, 7-6.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Radical Message Is Betrayed With Focus on ‘Dream’
Martin Luther King Jr., the “civil saint” portrayed nowadays was, by the end of his life, a social and economic radical, who argued forcefully for the necessity of economic justice in the pursuit of racial equality.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, January 17, 2022
A voting rights rally near Wadsworth Park in Flagler Beach at noon, how a particular MLK quote is often used as a cudgel against calls for race-specific remedies for Black Americans, the cold-weather shelter is open, schools and courts and most government offices are closed.
Is a Civil War Possible?
Despite the ugly Capitol riot of Jan. 6, 2021, and anti-racism protests of the past few years, some of which included rioting, violent confrontation, and property destruction, America is not likely to descend into civil war in the near future, a scholar argues.
Actually, Y’All, Some of Us Would Prefer Facts with Our Politics
In the first speech of his 2024 presidential campaign, not-so-cunningly disguised as the “State of the State” address, Ron DeSantis declared, We have made Florida the freest state in these United States. He just hopes you don;t look behind the syrup.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, January 16, 2022
The cold-weather shelter is open tonight for the homeless and for anyone who lacks heat, “Mass Appeal” in a matinee at the Flagler Playhouse, a matter of P-Section sex has neighbors frustrated, and a look back at a Jeremiah Wright sermon.
The Problematic Novak Djokovic
Djokovic has long been a polarizing figure in tennis. The drama from the past week will inflame his supporters, infuriate his detractors, and prompt even neutral observers to take a stand in respect to his entry to Australia.
Florida Legislators Are Stealing Money from Environmentally-Sensitive Lands Pot, Without Consequences
In 2014, 75 percent of Florida voters approved an amendment to the state Constitution that said the Legislature had to spend a certain amount of money buying environmentally sensitive land. Legislators have been illegally appropriating hundreds of millions of dollars away from the intended purpose of the amendment.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, January 15, 2022
A Martin Luther King Day celebration parade is cancelled in Bunnell, but a prayer breakfast at Carver Center is still on, “Mass Appeal” at the Flagler Playhouse in Bunnell, a few words on heroes by Voltaire.
Simultaneous Fireworks in Palm Coast and Flagler Beach? ‘Unworkable, Unsafe and Unsound’
Scott Spradley, chairman of the committee the Flagler Beach City Commission appointed to study how best to continue Independence Day events in the city, was sharply opposed to holding fireworks the same day as Palm Coast, as Palm Coast officials have suggested. Spradley took his stand as he delivered the final report of the committee’s work, which had not addressed the Palm Coast issue.
Seditious Conspiracy in Jan. 6 Capitol Attack Faces 1st Amendment Hurdle
The seditious conspiracy charges announced by the Department of Justice against Stewart Rhodes raise the stakes and political temperature of the Jan. 6 investigation, and give rise to serious First Amendment concerns about the rights of others protesting government actions down the road.
Flagler’s Covid Cases Near 1,500 in a Week, Shattering Record Even as Peak Is in Sight; 3 More Deaths Bring Total to 288
Like most communities across the country, Flagler County this week shattered its weekly covid-infection total, with 1,469, exceeding last week’s record of 1,166, though emergency-care clinics’ numbers suggest that the region is near or at its peak of this latest wave, driven mostly by the astonishingly infectious but less lethal omicron variant.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, January 14, 2022
The biggest stories of 2021 in WNZF’s annual media roundtable, Meowy Hour at the Hilton Garden Inn, “Mass Appeal” at the Flagler Playhouse, Georg Büchner on the fatalism of history.
Ocean Heat Set New Record High in 2021. Consequences Ahead.
Globally, it was the sixth hottest year on record for surface temperatures, according to data released by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in their annual global climate report on Jan. 13, 2022. But under the surface, ocean temperatures set new heat records in 2021.
Supreme Court Blocks Vaccine Mandates for Big Employers But Backs Mandates for Health Workers
After Florida and other states fought the plans, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday blocked a Covid-19 vaccination mandate for large employers while clearing the way for a requirement that health-care workers get shots to try to curb the virus.
The Conservative vs. the Rebellious Upstart. Sounds Familiar? ‘Mass Appeal’ at Flagler Playhouse Rings a Bell.
“Mass Appeal,” the Tony-nominated play about an elderly, too-comfortable, don’t-rock-the-boat priest and an idealistic, young-buck seminarian, may be set in a church, but its themes overlap with plenty of current conflicts between old and new, the challenge of doctrine and the limits of rebellion.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, January 13, 2022
The Flagler Beach City Commission will receive the final report of the July 4 committee, “Mass Appeal” opens at the Flagler Playhouse, William Faulkner on his native soil in Oxford, and Neil Postman on smoke signals.
How the Vietnam War Pushed MLK to Embrace Global Justice
By 1967, King’s religious vision for nonviolence went beyond nonviolent street protest to include abolishing what he called the “triple evils” crippling American society. King defined the triple evils as racism, poverty and militarism, and he believed these forces were contrary to God’s will for all people.
David Ayres Is Named President of Flagler Broadcasting and Its 6 Radio Stations
Jim Martin has named David Ayres president of Flagler Broadcasting. Ayres had been its vice president and general manager since 2008. He’ll fill a role previously filled by Martin, who is taking a step back from day to day operations at the network. Martin will be chairman of the company’s board.
Cops and Firefighters Discover Power of GIS in Search and Rescue Drill at Princess Place Preserve
Flagler County Fire Rescue personnel joined with Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies, Flagler County Emergency Management and the county’s IT and GIS teams this morning and into the middle of the afternoon at Princess Place Preserve for the first joint exercise in more than half a decade. Some 75 participants were involved.
Slow Way in Seminole Woods Will Not Close After All as Palm Coast Council Ends Long and Winding Slog
After voting to close Slow Way last year, the Palm Coast City Council has reversed course for good, opting to keep the tiny street open now that no-truck signs appear to have reduced traffic woes and a backlash from residents made council members reluctant to close the street.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, January 12, 2022
The Public Safety Coordinating Council meets, and the Flagler Playhouse hosts its Community Night for “Mass Appeal,” which opens at reduced price tonight, regular price tomorrow.
DeSantis Scripts State of the State’ ‘Freedom’ Rhetoric With Eyes on Re-Election and Presidential Ambitions
Gov. Ron DeSantis opened the 2022 regular session of the Florida Legislature on Tuesday by crowing that he has kept Florida “the freest state in these United States” during the Covid crisis and promising to continue to oppose a “coercive biomedical apparatus.”
Flagler Access Center for Mental Health and Substance Disorders Opens as Glimmer of Help in Crisis
Flagler Access will provide guidance and services to people with mental health or substance disorders through a partnership involving SMA Healthcare and Flagler Health+, and mostly state funds, operating from the building that used to house the Bunnell Branch Library and Sally’s Safe Haven on State Road 100 and U.S. 1.
Full Text: Gov. DeSantis State of the State Address
The prepared text of Gov. Ron DeSantis’s 2022 State of the State Address before the Florida Legislature as he opened the session. “We have 60 days to work together to build upon our rock of freedom,” he said.