On average, America’s CEOs make 312 times what their workers take home — and that has nothing to do with supply and demand. Simply put, markets don’t set executive pay. Board rooms do.
All Else
Calling Florida Prison Officials Ignorant and Bigoted, Judge Orders Accommodations For Transgender Inmate
A federal judge ordered Florida prisons to continue providing hormone treatments to Reiyn Keohane, who identifies as female since age 8. She started serving a 15-year sentence for attempted murder in 2014.
Man, 79, Turns Himself In at Flagler Jail on Scam Warrant. It’s 6 Hours Before Deputies Figure It Out and Release Him.
Alphonso Perry was made to wait for 2 hours in a lobby and 4 hours in a holding cell before detention deputies got to his file and figured out he did not belong at the county jail.
Dr. Fruehan Will Surrender License, Quitting Medicine in Face of Allegation of Sexual Improprieties With Patient
Palm Coast physician Florence Fruehan will surrender his license ahead of the conclusion of a state investigation into allegations that he groped a female patient. He is also under local sheriff’s investigation.
Thursday Briefing: Early Voting, Couch to 5K Challenge, Farm Swap, ‘All The President’s Crooks’
Early voting passes the midpoint before next Tuesday’s election, getting reading for the Pink Army’s 5K, Farm Swap and Music Jam at the Agricultural Museum.
New Review ‘Rejects’ Report Finding Sheriff’s Building Safe But Also Lays Out Steps To Re-Occupancy
Sheriff Rick Staly asked retired scientist Robert Sweeney to review previous reports on mold testing at the Operations Center, judge the work’s quality and make recommendations.
Supreme Court Clears Release of Parkland Massacre Videos School Board Sought to Block
The order sides with a coalition of news organizations and ordered the release of footage from the afternoon of Feb. 14, when 17 people were killed at the school.
Matanzas High Launches Law and Justice Flagship, Giving Students Bridge to Cop and Legal Careers
For Matanzas, whose students often toil in the shadow of FPC, the Law and Justice flagship may right the balance with a program of equal standing with FPC’s fire academy.
Wednesday Briefing: Jerry Forte, Palm Coast Fire Chief, What Is a Smart Community? Canvassing Board
A Chamber of Commerce-hosted event on smart cities at the Community Center, the Canvasing Board counts more mailed-in ballots, Compassionate Friends meet.
Sheriff Says If It’s Up To Him, ‘I Will Be Advocating That We Never Reoccupy The Operations Center’
Sheriff Rick Staly made the startling statement in response to Commission Chairman Greg Hansen saying the decision to reoccupy will be left entirely up to Staly. But Hansen was speaking out of turn.
Judge Orders Proposed Amendment on Charter Schools Off the Ballot, But Appeal Likely
The provision in question would have allowed the state to operate and control public schools “not established by the school board,” wording that could have yielded oversight to private companies.
Once Reviled, Bunnell Bypass’ New Direction Gets Eager Support as Economic Engine
The Flagler County Commission approved an application for an $8 million grant that would build a bypass around south Bunnell, seen as an economic development engine.
Tuesday Briefing: School Board ‘Branding,’ Food Truck Tuesday, Couch to 5K Challenge, De Gaulle
The Flagler School Board wants to take branding more seriously, Bunnell continues its manager interviews, Food Truck Tuesday in Town Center.
Bank Closes Campaign Account of Florida Candidate Who Advocates for Medical Marijuana
Nikki Fried, a lawyer running for Commissioner of Agriculture, once lobbied for medical-marijuana operators and helped shape the state’s laws and regulations regarding pot.
Felony Child Abuse and Battery on Cop Charges for Father Upset His Daughter Was Taking Video of Argument
Brian Dobis, a 61-year-old resident of East Lake Drive in Palm Coast, faces three felony charges, including child abuse and assaulting a law enforcement officer.
Sheriff Lashes Into County Administrator Over “Disregard” of Security Protocols in
Operations Center
Sheriff Rick Staly is blaming County Administrator Craig Coffey for potentially jeopardizing the sheriff’s crime-fighting by improperly sending cleaning crews through secured areas of the evacuated Operations Center.
Monday Briefing: Bunnell Bypass, Industrial Building at Airport, Trial Week, Manager Interviews, Heat Index 102
The Flagler County Commission considers major grants to build the Bunnell bypass and to build an industrial structure at the county airport, the Bunnell commission interviews two candidates, classes begin at Bethune-Cookman.
Purdue Pharma’s OxyContin Sales Pitch Downplayed Risks Of Opioid Addiction
More than 1,500 pending civil lawsuits, filed mostly by state and local governments, allege that deceptive marketing claims helped fuel a national epidemic of opioid addiction and thousands of overdose deaths.
I Grew Up In the Segregated South. For Me, Supreme Court Rulings Are Personal.
The author shares her grave concern for what Brett Kavanaugh’s influence could mean for communities of color, women, the LGBTQ community, and others who’ve fought to advance civil rights.
Four Republicans Vying to Replace Putnam as Agriculture Commissioner Battle Lack of Recognition
The Aug. 28 Republican primary for agriculture commissioner has featured some sniping over issues such as campaign money and Second Amendment support, with the sparring mostly occurring between state Rep. Matt Caldwell of North Fort Myers and Sen. Denise Grimsley of Sebring.
At Buddy Taylor Middle, Dress-Code Violation Escalates to Arrest Over Threats of Suicide and School Shooting
The arrest of a 15-year-old student at Buddy Taylor Middle School Thursday is the year’s first instance of a student allegedly threatening an attack on fellow students, faculty–and herself.
Suspect Pulls Gun on Deputy Duenas, Who For 2nd Time in 9 Months Shows Grit and Restraint
Flagler Sheriff’s deputy Jonathon Duenas Wednesday evening was confronted with a man with a gun and immediately disarmed him, the second time in nine months Duenas faced a deadly situation he defused without harm.
Weekend Briefing: Bus Driver Appreciation, Early Voting Begins, Clergy Politics, Lincoln Day Dinner, DSC Enrollment Day
Early voting begins Saturday, Enrollment Saturday at Daytona State, Rabbi Merrill Shapiro on politicized clergy, “Senior Crime,” Flagler Palm Coast High School v. Atlantic High Friday evening.
Abby Romaine-Greg Hansen Debate Collapses Amid Muddy Accusations and Unanswered Questions
Incumbent Greg Hansen had agreed to County Commission candidate Abby Romaine’s debate proposal only to pull out, making accusations she says are baseless as a race turns an ugly form of silly.
Gwen Graham’s Bid for Governor Tries to Make History But a Legacy Can Be Double-Edged
Gwen Graham, a former one-term member of Congress, could make history this fall by being elected Florida’s first female governor and the first child of a governor to serve in the state’s top job.
In Second Attempt, Bunnell Commission Will Interview 4 Candidates for City Manager
In Bunnell’s latest round of interviews, candidates include one from Iowa, one from Massachusetts, and two from Florida. Interviews are slated for Monday and Tuesday.
Thursday Briefing: Flagler Kiwanis Marks 10 Years, Heat Index to 103, Matanzas High Football Kickoff, Inspired Mic
Join the Flagler Kiwanis Club for a 10th anniversary celebration, Matanzas High opens its football season, the Inspired Mic, Palm Coast’s only open-mic event, holds another edition.
If Ireland Can Get Out of Fossil Fuels, “Tree-City” Palm Coast Can Too
Almost 900 cities, universities, and governments have divested over $6 trillion from the fossil fuel industry by requiring pension funds and other such investments to be green. Why not yours?
Flagler’s Elections Supervisor Urges Confidence in Voting System: Your Ballot Won’t Be Hacked
Flagler County Elections Supervisor Kaiti Lenhart outlines the latest measures to make the county’s election system hack-proof and challenges voters to turn out and cast a ballot.
In Two Days in Flagler, Two Overdoses, Three Incidents With Opioids, One Involving a 1-Year-Old
A 48-hour period in Flagler and Palm Coast saw the varied aspects of opioids’ effects–in overdoses, in arrests, in court–pointing to signs of an epidemic’s spread.
Wednesday Briefing: Canvassing Board, Turtle Talk at Gamble Rogers, 3 Days Left For Shots
Join a park ranger at Gamble Rogers this morning for a glimpse into the intricate world of remarkable sea turtles, the canvassing board tests its voting equipment, three days left for free immunization.
Supreme Court Asked To Block 6 Constitutional Amendments That Combine Multiple Issues
The plaintiffs include a former Supreme Court Justice and take aim at proposed amendments that the Florida Constitution Revision Commission placed on the November ballot.
Florida Hospital Flagler Will Change Name to AdventHealth Palm Coast in Companywide Rebranding
The change to AdventHealth Palm Coast, by Jan. 2, is part of a company-wide rebranding across all 47 Adventist Health System hospitals and dozens of other facilities in nine states.
Tuesday Briefing: Heroin Dealer in Court, Traffic Safety Team, Stormwater Costs, Vivaldi
Joseph Colon, the man facing a first-degree murder charge in a woman’s heroin overdose, is in court, the Palm Coast council talks raising stormwater rates, the traffic safety team meets.
Schools Are Safer Than Your Home
We’re making fortresses of the safest places in America, out of fear that one of those 120,000 schools might at some point be the target of a shooting.
Palm Coast Man Accused of Raping Step-Daughters For Years, and Molesting Their Friend
Gabriel Pardo, a 36-year-old resident of Palm Coast’s F Section, is accused of raping his own step-daughters over several years and molesting one of their friends.
County and Turtle Patrol Relocate Nests as Dune Restoration Project Advances
Nesting season runs through October 31, and Flagler County is working with Turtle Patrol to find and relocate any nests that would be impacted by the dunes project as required by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Monday Briefing: Bunnell’s Historic Watertower? Road Closures, City Manager Search, Dopesick, Nielsen Woodwinds
The Bunnell Commission considers giving the city’s water tower historic status and looks for a manager, another quote from Beth Macy’s “Dopesick,” road closures extended.
Three Teens Arrested In Connection With Burglary Spree in Palm Coast’s R-Section
The teens–19, 18 and 16–had attempted to burglarize six vehicles and been successful entering one of them, seizing a wallet, when a deputy spotted two of them on Rymfire Drive.
From Slinging Possums To Age Discrimination, Florida’s Silly Season Turns Toxic
The weeks leading up to elections are sometimes known as the “silly season,” but on numerous fronts in the Sunshine State, “the nasty season” seems a more fitting label.
Kay Jewelers in Palm Coast’s Target Shopping Center Is Robbed, Search Ongoing
Kay Jewelers in Palm Coast’s Town Center was the target of a robbery this evening. The assailants are at large. No injuries were reported. The robbery was reported at around 7:45 p.m. According to Anna Hackett, a Flagler County Sheriff’s spokesperson, two black males who appeared to be in their early 20s entered the store […]
Residents Largely Opposed, But Construction For 2 Roundabouts on US 1 Slated For 2019
State officials unveiled plans Thursday for a $2.2 million roundabout at Matanzas Woods Parkway and U.S. 1, with construction starting next summer. Another roundabout at U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway begins construction sooner.
Chris Lawhon, 30, Is Found Dead Along Biking Trail in the Hammock
Christopher Lee Lawhon, 30, last of 48 North Coral Reef Court in Palm Coast, was found dead by a biker on the Hammock trail the evening of Aug. 6. No foul play is suspected.
Spurred By Latest Dubious Shooting, Calls For Stand Your Ground Repeal Hit Capitol
The July 19 shooting death of Markeis McGlockton, with his three young children nearby at a Circle K in Pinellas County is prompting the latest calls to repeal the 2005 law.
Weekend Briefing: Back To School, Canvassing Board Testing, Movie In the Park, Free Sportsfighing Club Clinic
It’s back to school for a day before the weekend, the Flagler Sportsfishing Club offers a free clinic, “Beauty and the Beast” free in Palm Coast’s Central Park, Musorgsky’s Pictures.
CDC Experts Will Examine Sheriff’s Operations Center and Meet With Employees
After three weeks of seeming inaction on the troubled Sheriff’s Operations Center, the county has agreed to a two-day site visit from CDC experts in occupational safety and health issues.
A Day Before School Starts, FPC Principal Dusty Sims Announces He’s Leaving District For
State Education Job
Dusty Sims, the popular and charismatic principal at Flagler Palm Coast High School since 2015, is leaving the school for a state Department of Education job, overseeing failing schools.
Thursday Briefing: Roundabout at Matanzas Woods, Meet The Teachers, Music Jam
The state transportation department holds a public information meeting about the coming roundabout at US1 and Matanzas Woods in Palm Coast, elementary schools have Meet the Teacher day, heat index up to 102.
Palm Coast Physician Florence Fruehan Accused Of Groping Female Patient; State Orders Him Restricted
Long-time physician Florence R. Fruehan of Palm Coast Urgent Care, who is also an elected official, is under an Emergency Restriction Order from the State Department of Health.
Wednesday Briefing: Union Negotiations, “Who We Are,” Bunnell Charter Review, School Shooting Commission
The Parkland massacre commission meets for two days, the Bunnell Charter Review board meets, Ron deSantis and Adam Putnam debate.