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Schools Finally Rethink One-To-One Student Laptop Fad

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School districts and state lawmakers across the nation are rethinking one-to-one laptop programs. New policies restrict classroom screen time for young children and emphasize hands-on learning as educational research shows technology improves learning only when students actively use devices to analyze information, solve complex problems, and think critically.

Regime Change: The Banality of Evil in Trump 2.0

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“Regime Change,” the new book by reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, details the reality of Donald Trump’s second administration and a White House consumed by personal vengeance, vanity and strategic cluelessness. The administration ignores actual policy to focus on petty grievances and disastrous foreign conflicts. It is the chronicle of a rapidly decaying empire struggling to survive unprecedented corruption.

Drone Use Is About to Soar as FAA Scraps Line-of-Sight Rule

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Today, almost anyone who flies a drone must maintain visual contact with it at all times, a practice known as visual line of sight. This requirement severely restricts how far craft can fly. When the Federal Aviation Administration rule changes allowing people to fly their drones beyond visual line of sight are finalized, commercial use is likely to soar.

White Parents Who Tell Their Kids Race Doesn’t Matter Ignore Long Shadow of Racism

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Black parents routinely prepare their children for a racially biased society through direct conversations. White parents typically avoid these discussions or rely on race-neutral language, an avoidance that obscures the persistent reality of systemic discrimination. Teaching white children to ignore racial differences prevents them from understanding social inequalities and hinders efforts to address systemic racial injustices.

Young Alligator Exercising His Right to School Choice at Rymfire Elementary Is Shown the Pond

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Rymfire Elementary Assistant Principal Abra Seay safely relocated a young alligator found under a teacher’s car at the end of a day of training this week, a few days before the resumption of school on Aug. 10. Seay, who grew up in Flagler County, used a broomstick to gently guide the animal into a nearby retention pond. The superintendent said the gator did not qualify for school choice.

Maintenance Worries and Holdouts Aside, County Approves $35 Million Renourishment for 5.5 Miles of Beach

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The Flagler County Commission approved a $35 million project to rebuild 5.5 miles of beach from North 7th Street in Flagler Beach to Varn Park, north of Beverly Beach. The rebuilding will start in early 2027 and take four to six months. All but $4.2 million of that is paid for through state and federal grants, so the county’s funding share is 12 percent. It is the first major beach renourishment project in Flagler County since the 2024 Army Corps project in Flagler Beach.

Palm Coast Council Tables Westward Expansion Development Plan, Demanding Economic and Other Guarantees

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Nearing midnight following a six-hour meeting Tuesday night, the Palm Coast City Council tabled until Aug. 25–the week after the primary election–the land-use proposals that would clear the way for the so-called westward expansion, the plan to build 22,000 housing units on 21,000 acres west of U.S. 1.  The council signaled it would approve the development plan by Raydient pending changes to the development order that the council wants. 

Byron and Erika Donalds’ Gospel of ‘School Choice’ Would Turbocharge Vouchers and Privatization

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Byron and Erika Donalds are leveraging their political influence and billionaire donations to drastically transform the public education system in Florida. The couple envisions a lucrative free-market educational economy prioritizing universal voucher programs and private charter schools. Critics argue their aggressive privatization agenda unconstitutionally drains essential taxpayer funds from struggling traditional public school districts.

Flagler Judge Repeatedly Refers to Two Black Men as ‘Thugs’ in Bond Hearing for One of Them

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Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols repeatedly referred to two Black men as “thugs” during a bond hearing for one of them Tuesday, and ultimately ruled that she would not set the bond lower than $55,000. The term has evolved into a racially charged dog-whistle when whites use it in reference to Blacks, though it continues to be used unwittingly so by whites not necessarily aware of the implication, as was likely the case in court Tuesday.

Social Media, Journalism and Credibility

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The gap between what people experience in real time and what journalism can responsibly publish has widened. This gap is partly where trust erodes. Social media collapses the distance between event, exposure and interpretation. Claims circulate before journalists can evaluate them.

Appeals Court Upholds Florida Ban on Children at Drag Shows

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A federal appeals court has upheld a Florida law banning children from attending drag shows, a measure put in place with the support of Gov. Ron DeSantis. In an 8-5 opinion handed down Tuesday, the majority ruled the law was constitutional, while those on the dissenting side criticized the measure as overreach.

Flagler County Commissioners Criticize Sheriff and Clerk, But From a Desert of Budget Information

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Flagler County commissioners held a frustrating budget workshop Monday amid a dearth of financial documents or a framework for clear discussion. The proposed property tax rate remains virtually unchanged. Commissioners criticized constitutional officers for failing to reduce their budgets sufficiently. Sheriff Rick Staly and Clerk of Court Tom Bexley defended their respective spending requests, pointing out cuts and savings.

Calling Homestead Amendment Ballot Measure Misleading Political Rhetoric, Judge Orders Rewrite

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The title and summary of a property tax cut proposal to be placed on the November ballot contain political rhetoric and are misleading, and must be redrafted, a Leon Circuit Court judge ruled late Monday. “Voters are entitled to a fair, clear, accurate and non-misleading ballot statement to assist them in making their critical determination,” Judge David Frank wrote in his 18-page ruling.

A Hamas ‘Breakthrough’ or Another Trump-Conjured Mirage?

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Trump said Hamas’ disarmament would allow for a Palestinian committee to take over governing in Gaza and Israel’s military withdrawal. Hamas cautioned that its disarmament was dependent on Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza. So, is this a major step forward, or are there still too many questions left unresolved?

Ex-Lt. Rainey’s Testimony Shifts Momentum in Fired Flagler Beach Fire Chief Stephen Cox’s Appeal Hearing

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Former Flagler Beach Fire Chief Stephen Cox faces a difficult appeal hearing following his sudden firing by City Manager Dale Martin following staff resignations. Cox presented a strong defense emphasizing his spotless record but devastating testimony from former Lt. Morgan Rainey exposed his leadership flaws and shifted the case momentum strongly against him on Friday. The hearing isn’t over.

Know Palm Coast’s New E-Bike Rules As You Ride Back to School

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As students prepare to head back to school, the City of Palm Coast, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, and Flagler Schools are reminding families that electric bicycles (e-bikes) remain a popular way to get to and from school—but they also come with important responsibilities. Officials are encouraging parents and riders to review Palm Coast’s e-bike ordinance and practice safe riding habits before the first day of school.

Why Odysseus Couldn’t Just Say: I’m Home

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When Odysseus returns to Ithaca, he avoids revealing his identity, choosing deception and alternate personas instead of immediate homecoming. Homer’s epic illustrates severe psychological avoidance born from wartime trauma and moral injury. Rather than facing simple fear, Odysseus carries overwhelming guilt for lost comrades and wartime actions, making his true story impossibly painful to speak directly to those who love him.

Flawed Studies Long Restricted Menopause Hormone Therapy Options for Vulnerable Breast Cancer Survivors

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Flawed early research created widespread fear of prescribing menopausal hormone therapy, causing providers to avoid offering symptom relief to breast cancer survivors. Recent FDA updates removing black box warnings encourage clinicians to move past historic biases, adopting personalized risk assessment strategies so patients can safely access tailored treatment for severe menopausal symptoms.

Ormond Beach Arts District Extends Seward Johnson Sculpture Exhibit Through December

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The Ormond Beach Arts District extended the Seward Johnson sculpture exhibition along Granada Boulevard through December. The installation features 12 lifelike statues positioned on public and private properties. Visitors can view the displays on foot or by car. The district plans to introduce interactive activities and guided tours during this extended exhibition period in Florida.

Seven Palm Coast Employees Escorted Out of City Hall in Broad Cost-Cutting Layoffs and Resignation

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In a grim day at Palm Coast City Hall Friday, six employees were laid off and a seventh resigned, five of them in code enforcement and animal control, including long-time Code Enforcement Manager Barbara Grossman, and two in planning, cutting roughly $700,000 from the budget. The administration was under strict directive from the City Council to reduce the budget, though internal issues at code enforcement may also have played a role.

Uthmeier Takes on Catholic Church: Grant Vaccine Exemptions to Students, Or Else

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Attorney General James Uthmeier is putting the Roman Catholic Church on notice – if they take taxpayer funded vouchers for their schools, they should accept vaccine exemptions for students, too. In a letter sent Friday to the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, Uthmeier, citing the Catholic Catechism, Pope Leo and scripture, argued Catholic doctrine does not allow its schools to reject vaccine exemptions for religious reasons.

Florida’s Property Tax Amendment: Trade-Offs and Higher Costs for Some

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Florida voters in November will decide on Amendment 3 to significantly increase homestead property tax exemptions. Reducing local revenue by nearly $12 billion annually forces trade-offs across the state. Local governments may raise sales taxes, commercial rates, and utility fees or cut essential services like fire, police, and public parks to bridge massive budget gaps.

Taxpayer-Funded Private School Students in Flagler Near 2,500, Diverting $17.3 Million from District

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Flagler County school officials advanced a tentative budget reflecting yet another surge in state-mandated, taxpayer-supported subsidies for private and homeschool students. The total amount of students receiving public funds for private education spiked 28 percent. The state is diverting $17 million in public funds to those students, money that could otherwise be invested in the district. State lawmakers continue to lower school tax rates despite declining property values locally.

Pineapple Corp. Owner Spencer Calvert Sentenced To Prison For Construction Fraud

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Spencer Travis Calvert, 54, was sentenced to five years in prison and 30 years on probation in St. Johns County Circuit Court Wednesday. The negotiated plea agreement includes an order requiring Calvert to pay $8,722,659.05 in restitution. At the time of the sentencing, the defendant paid $1,000,000, which was distributed among the victims based on their percentage loss of the total loss.

John Kvederis, Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview

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John Kvederis is one of four candidates for the Palm Coast City Council, District 4, an open seat. He faces Dylana Galery, Ramon Marrero and Darlene Shelley. This is a non-partisan race. All registered voters in Palm Coast may cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary. If none of the candidates get a majority of more than 50 percent, the top two vote-getters will go on to the runoff in the Nov. 3 general election, when again all registered voters in Palm Coast are eligible to vote.

Europe Is Also Spending Billions to Deport Migrants. It’s Not Working.

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The European Union has spent billions of euros on external partnerships and enforcement infrastructure to deport irregular migrants. This strategy fails because return rates remain below ten percent across most of Africa. Financial leverage creates transactional, short-term bargaining rather than long-term cooperation. European policymakers must measure the quality of reintegration, prioritize targeted migration diplomacy, and expand funding for legal labor pathways.

School Board’s Will Furry Pushes Controversial Anti-Abortion ‘Olivia’ Video for Inclusion In Curriculum

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Flagler County School Board member Will Furry requested the board review an anti-abortion fetal development video known as “Meet Baby Olivia” for local curriculum integration. Led by activist Andrew Shirvell, public commenters urged adoption despite state-level rejections. Board members are split, with concerns over medical inaccuracies, pending workshop discussions scheduled after the upcoming election.