Despite the Affordable Care Act’s rising prices, decreased insurer participation and a vigorous political threat to its survival, consumer enrollment for 2017 is outpacing last year’s.
All Else
Thursday Briefing: Losing Democrats Look Back, Journalism in Age of Trump, Bud Powell
Flagler’s Democrats gather to hear from three of their candidates who lost in November and talk about the future, a man who assaulted police in Flagler Beach goes on trial, how journalists should cover Trump and Trumpism.
Help With Beach Recovery and an Additional County Judge Dominate Requests to Flagler’s Lawmakers
Post-Hurricane Matthew recovery occupied almost half the requests at the annual legislative delegation meeting Wednesday, when Flagler’s governments, non-profits, private associations and citizens submit wish lists to state lawmakers.
European Village Attacker Daniel Noble Pleads Guilty on 3 Charges, Faces 8 to 35 Years
Daniel Noble, the Army veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, had fired two shots with an assault weapon before being wrestled to the ground in a 2014 incident. He’d originally faced attempted murder charges.
Wednesday Briefing: Legislative Delegation Wish List, Beach Restoration Dollars, National Geographic’s Trans Cover
Paul Renner and Travis Hutson hear the county’s wish lists in the annual legislative meeting, seeking tourism dollars to fix beaches, National Geographic breaks ground, belatedly, with a 9-year-old transgender girl on its cover.
Florida Second Only to Texas in Gaining New Residents in 2015
Florida’s gain of 367,525 new residents topped California’s growth of 256,077 new residents; Texas led the nation with a gain of 432,957 people. Florida led the 10 largest states with a 1.82 percent annual growth rate.
Flagler School Board Finds New Way to Recite The Pledge: With Pixels and iPhone For All
In a retreat at Cattlemen’s Hall on the county fairgrounds today, the Flagler School Board faced a dilemma: there was no flag to which to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. A minor debate ensued, then Superintendent Jacob Oliva found a solution.
Sheriff Manfre Talks Up Good of Body Cameras and Bad of Emergency Communications in Adieus
Sheriff Manfre described Flagler’s emergency communications system in dismal terms but spoke highly of other achievements in appearances before local governments.
Tuesday Briefing: Policing Palm Coast, A Lid on Pot, Historic Bus Tour, Centennial Plans, Trans Homicides
State of law enforcement in Palm Coast, pot-bsiness moratorium in Palm Coast, undercounting transgender homicides, “a fabulous” boat parade, the exquisite Billy Evans and his foolish heart.
Effort to Get Electoral College Away From Trump Fizzles as Florida’s 29 Votes Go All In
In Florida, the votes for Trump and his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, were never really in doubt. The slate of electors was made up of GOP stalwarts, from fundraisers to activists to elected officials.
County Tallies Up Almost $60 Million Cost of Repairing Beaches But Lacks Comprehensive Plan
Flagler County commissioners heard sobering costs of repairing 18 miles of beaches but a “unified” plan local cities, state and federal agencies can agree to is entirely lacking.
Monday Briefing: Revels Farewell, Holly Norris Plea, Florida Presidential Electors, ITMS Concert
Florida electors meet today to cast their vote for Donald Trump, Holly Norris, accused of aggravated manslaughter in her uncle’s death 3 years ago, may plea, the county commission says goodbye to Barbara Revels, Gary Kasparov writes.
The Unnecessary Controversy Over “Sanctuary Campuses”
Even if colleges were targeted by the Trump administration, numerous privacy and legal obstacles remain before administrators would be enlisted in identifying students for deportation.
Sheriff Manfre: Against Tribalism
In a call against the fracturing of society into self-interested groups, Sheriff Jim Manfre argues for the importance of resisting the worst of the tribal instincts roused by the last election.
Gail Wadsworth Holds Court A Final Time as Flagler’s Political World Pays Tribute to Legacy
Almost a dozen judges, innumerable elected officials, most of the courthouse staff and many others gathered today to bid farewell to Clerk of Court Gail Wadsworth, who retires after four terms and lifetimes of local politics.
In Tilt to Right Gov. Scott Appoints Appeal Court Judge C. Alan Lawson to Supreme Court
Lawson’s appointment to the Supreme Court reduces the influence of the liberal-leaning court majority, which has been made up of Perry, Chief Justice Jorge Labarga and justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis and Peggy Quince.
Hurricanes Matthew and Hermine Damages Reach $1.59 Billion, A1A a Big Bite
By comparison the University of Florida’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research has placed damages from the 2004 hurricane season, in which four hurricanes hit the state, at $45 billion.
Weekend Briefing: Goodbye Gail Wadsworth, Christmas With a Deputy, Boat Parade, Starlight 5K, Obama’s Nation
Flagler County Clerk of Court Gail Wadsworth’s farewell on the courthouse steps, the Palm Coast Boat Parade, Christmas With a Deputy blares its sirens, The Nation marks the Obama years.
New A1A Options Include Moving It to Central and Daytona Avenues, and 5.2-Mile Sea Wall
Six options for the future A1A in Flagler Beach were unveiled by the stat Transportation Department Thursday, three of them including a huge (but buried) sea wall, and three shifting traffic to Central and Daytona Avenues.
Florida Chamber of Commerce and Business Groups File Suit Against Plan to Raise Minimum Wage
The chamber of commerce joined a retail and a restaurant association to fight a groundbreaking living wage plan adopted in Miami Beach, which could serve as a model for other local governments.
Thursday Briefing: A1A’s Various Futures in Flagler Beach, Rebecca Lawless Docket Sounding, Portman’s Jackie Kennedy
The public gets a first look at options for permanent repairs of State Road A1A in Flagler Beach, Rebecca Lawless, accused of DUI manslaughter in the death of Diane Upton on SR100 last year, has a docket sounding in court.
Salvo Art Is Evicted in Dispute With Nature Scapes, Rendering Vanguard Gallery’s Artists Homeless
JJ Graham’s Salvo Art Project, the vibrant gallery and artist colony, had a 10-year lease with Nature Scapes, but a long dispute with the nursery’s owners culminated in an eviction and mediated settlement today that closes Salvo’s doors on Jan. 7.
Wednesday Briefing: Flagler Beach Holds Non-Public Meeting to Discuss Marina, Lies of the Past Year
The Flagler Beach City Commission meets behind closed doors to figure out whether, and how, to address a judge’s decision on the Howard Sklar marina, Politifacts looks back at a year of lies.
Company Would Get $90,000 in County Subsidies to Build New Palm Coast Plant in Novel Incentive Approach
Manufacturer Gioia Sales employs 42 on Palm Coast’s Hargrove Grade and would build a larger facility on Commerce Boulevard, with 10 years of subsidies from Flagler County.
Twelve Counties Get Money to Reduce Conflicts With Bears, But Flagler Is Not On the List
Volusia and Putnam counties will receive a combined $98,000. Flagler County will receive no grant. The announcement came six months after the Fish and Wildlife commission voted against holding a bear hunt this year.
Ex-Commissioner Barbara Revels Faces $4,500 Fine in Ethics Violations Over Transparency
Barbara revels, the former Flagler County commissioner, agreed to settle the ethics case against her, admitting to numerous errors in three years of required financial disclosure forms.
SBA Approves $50 Million in Disaster Loans For Post-Hurricane Recovery; Dec. 16 Deadline Looms
Some 1,510 disaster loans have been approved so far, totaling $51,5 million, for affected residents and business owners, with interest rates ranging from 1.5 to 4 percent.
Seizing on Orlando Murder Case, Justice Breyer Asks Court to “Reconsider Constitutionality of Death Penalty”
Justice Stephen Breyer characterized the death penalty as cruel and unusual in light of the case of Henry Sireci, 68, who’s been on Florida’s Death Row for 40 years and has yet again been cleared for execution.
Tuesday Briefing: Palm Coast’s Medical Pot Bust, Annexation on SR100, Project GS2, Fetal Remains Rule, Humanism
Improv at the Flagler Auditorium, a potential new business is discussed at Economic Development council, Palm Coast’s medical pot moratorium, humanism as the way out.
In Flagler Beach Again, Sen. Nelson Conveys Feds’ Message on Beach Fix: No Seawalls
Sen. Bill Nelson was back in Flagler Beach to tout the passage of a water bill that includes authorization for $15.6 million in federal beach renourishment dollars for Flagler County. But it’s conditional on the state not building sea walls.
At Home Depot, a Road Rage Incident Goes From Parking Row to Pellet Gunshot
Trevor Mullennix, 37, of Lee Drive in Palm Coast, pulled out a pellet gun and fired a shot at another driver after his vehicle allegedly cut-off another in the Home Depot parking lot, and was charged with felony assault.
Monday Briefing: Buddy Taylor Middle Band Concert, Cops’ Militarism, Age of Outrage, Sunset in Bunnell
The Bunnell City Commission sunsets its short-lived parks advisory committee, the Buddy Taylor Middle School band performs, Aasif Mandvi on Trump, the age of outrage.
How Trump’s Health Secretary Will Alter Policy from Obamacare to Abortion to Birth Control
Tom Price, a Georgia physician who opposes the Affordable Care Act, abortion and funding for Planned Parenthood, among other things, could have a rapid impact without even a presidential order or an act of Congress.
Cops Aren’t Under Siege.
Civilians and Liberties Are.
It’s a widely accepted but dangerous myth: that cops are under siege, handcuffed by “new restrictions.” The reality is the opposite, with more unbridled and brutal policing than we care to admit.
Muslims In Palm Coast and Bunnell Still Feel Welcome Even as Political Rhetoric Snarls
Only a handful of Muslim immigrants live in Palm Coast and Bunnell. They speak of their many years locally fondly, remembering only rare instances of discrimination in the past and a current atmosphere of neighborliness and acceptance.
Child Care Subsidies, Vital for Many Working Poor, Are Dwindling to 20-Year Lows
In 2014, the number of children receiving subsidies fell to its lowest level since 1998. Subsidies may fall further as states implement tougher licensing standards for child care centers.
For 100 Children, Christmas With a Deputy Is a $150 Shopping Spree to Jingle Bells of Sirens
Larry Jones’s and the Sheriff’s Office’s Christmas With a Deputy this year is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 16 at City Centre at 145 City Place in Palm Coast’s Town Center. The event kicks off at 6:30 p.m.
At Palm Coast’s City Rep Theatre, The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Trump Era
The Jane Wagner play made famous by Lily Tomlin comes to Palm Coast’s City Repertory Theatre with a gaggle of prophetic wit and satire about the dawning Donald Trump era.
Weekend Briefing: Starlight Parade, Homeschooling, Handel’s Messiah, DSC Enrollment, Abortion and The Fire Next Time
Another weekend of wall to wall activities with the Starlight Parade in Palm Coast, the search for intelligent life at City Rep Theatre, Handel’s Messiah, enrollment Saturday at DSC, and a lot more.
Thrasher, at FSU, Pledges to Kill “Campus Carry” Gun Bill Again As He Did in 2011
The so-called “campus carry” bill, which in the past has been approved by the House, has already re-emerged as an issue for the 2017 legislative session.
Flagler Schools’ Bus Drivers and Nurses, Among Others, Finally Get Modest Pay Increase
Bus drivers, among the lowest paid employees in the district, will get a $2-an-hour raise, nurses will get a $3.65-an-hour increase, improving recruiting in those positions. Administrators, too, are getting a raise: 25 cents an hour.
Thursday Briefing: John Lennon Re-Imagined at Salvo, Future Water Supply, Preparing for Flagler Beach’s Election
“Imagine,” a show at Salvo Art Project tonight, features music performances and art works celebrating John Lennon, Palm Coast’s beautification committee talks water, Flagler Beach talks elections.
Two FPC Students Involved In Feared Plot Against the School Face Felony Charges
Two of the six students suspended from school after the feared plot was uncovered in September were charged with making false bomb threats and apparently expelled from school today, but have not been arrested.
Jacksonville Air National Guard Base a Finalist to Receive F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in 2022
The F-35 is the most expensive fighter jet–and weapon system–ever built. The program, now seven years behind schedule, has been mired in cost overruns, delays and performance failures.
Palm Coast Moves to Foreclose on Fallow Matanzas Woods Golf Course as Fines Mount
The filing follows a March filing by the golf course owners to enjoin the city against enforcing what the owners call “vague, unspecified and inapplicable ordinances.”
Flagler County Realtors Host 2nd Home For the Holidays Showcase Dec. 10-11
The Flagler County Association of Realtors is partnering with the City of Palm Coast to host its second annual “Home for the Holidays” event on Dec. 10-11 from 1 to 4 p.m. each day.
Parents in Mourning Candle-Lighting Set for Sunday in Flagler Beach’s Veterans Park
The ceremony, organized by Donna Lunsford and Carol Fisher, is part of the Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting that takes place on the same day in every part of the world.
Wednesday Briefing: FPC Band and Chorus Festival, Jingle Ball Social, Pearl Harbor at 75, Ta-Nehisi Coates
FPC’s band and chorus take the stage at the Flagler Auditorium, the Young Professionals take to the Island Grille for their holiday party, It’s Matanzas v. FPC in girls’ soccer, and a conversation with Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Crime in Flagler and Palm Coast Continued Decline in 2016, But Violence Is Up Again
Overall crime declined in the first six months of the year but violent crime was on the rise again, with increases in murders (there were two in 2015), rapes, and aggravated assault.
How Journalists Should Go Beyond Fact-Checking Trump’s Routine Lies and Conspiracy Theories
The story is that the president-elect is more factually irresponsible than any political leader in the United States in memory. Chasing it will be just one challenge of the next four years.