Sept. 1 arguments before the Florida court on the question may be made moot by a decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, expected in June, on the same issue. U.S. Justices were skeptical of breath tests.
All Else
Intersection at Old Kings Road and Town Center Blvd. Will Finally Get a Traffic Light
The $154,000 project will include some new landscaping and will also result in the closure of the makeshift parking area for people who use the Lehigh Trail. The zone must be closed to make the new arrangement safer.
Florida Insurers Requesting an Average 17.7% Rate Increase in Obamacare Plans for 2017
While the requested increases for Florida vary from zero to 40 percent, all requested increases for silver plans are under 14 percent, and half are under 3 percent.
Tuesday Briefing: PTSD Memorial at Heroes Park, Old Kings Traffic Light, Legacy Florida in Everglades
You may finally be looking at a traffic light at Town Center Boulevard and Old Kings Road, you will be looking at a PTSD-suicide memorial at Heroes Park, and the latest analyses on the two most disliked people in America, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
Obama in Hiroshima:
The Shallowness of American Atonement
Paul Tibbets, who captained the Enola Gay to its mission over Hiroshima, proudly sold WMD memorabilia into his old age, and President Obama refused to apologize in what was the first visit by a sitting president to Hiroshima in 71 years.
Hurricane Amnesia Worries Officials as Florida Weathers 11th Year Without Direct Hit
On Friday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration gave a “near-normal” forecast for the 2016 Atlantic season, which means a 70 percent chance of 10 to 16 named storms, of which 4 to 8 could grow into hurricanes.
Flagler County Approves Manatee Protection Plan With Speed Zones on Intracoastal
The county has been under mandate to develop a plan since 2006, when state and federal authorities halted issuing permits for boating slips on the Intracoastal Waterway, where seven manatees have been killed by boats since 2006.
Dangerous Rip Currents Expected As Tropical Depression #2 Approaches S.C. Coast
Elevated onshore flow and building surf will create an elevated rip current risk along the coast today through Memorial Day as Tropical Depression #2 tracks toward the South Carolina coast, the National Weather Service cautions.
Art Walk Renaissance as Calypso and ZinkZank Galleries Open Within Brush Stroke of Salvo
Weldon and Richlin Ryan’s new Calypso Fine Art Gallery at Marvin garden, along with Sheila Skipp Zinkerman’s ZinkZank gallery and Salvo Art Project, are burgeoning an art walk similar to what existed at City Marketplace before an exodus two years ago.
Memorial Weekend Briefing: Ceremonies from Veterans to Heroes Park, FPC Reunion, FBI’s Email Ploy, Sexist Canon
Monday is dominated by Memorial Day ceremonies from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., FPC Class of 1996 have their 20-year reunion, the FBI wants to sneak into your email, thoughts on the sexist canon we still should read.
Golden Lion’s Key Lime Tartar Sauce Yields $2,800 in Latest Donations to Needy
The Bunnell Food Pantry, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and Halifax Urban Ministries of Daytona Beach were the beneficiaries of the third distribution of proceeds from Golden Lion’s sauce.
County, Palm Coast and Flagler Beach Drum Up Trio of Memorial Day Commemorations
Each of the three government is putting on its own ceremony Monday, starting at 8 a.m. in Palm Coast, 10 a.m. at county government, and 1 p.m. in Flagler Beach.
Gov. Scott Likens Obama Guidance on Transgender Equality to “Blackmail”
Gov. Rick Scott issued his harshest comments yet about the federal government’s guidance on how public schools should treat transgender students, but stopped short of saying whether his administration would enter the fray against the Obama administration’s controversial initiative.
Profiling By Computer in Florida: What Algorithmic Injustice Looks Like in Broward
Courtrooms are using computer programs to predict who will be a future criminal, informing decisions from bail to sentencing. Meant to be fairer than human biases, one such program in Florida is particularly likely to falsely flag black defendants as future criminals, wrongly labeling them this way at almost twice the rate as white defendants.
Kenneth Kirkland II Faces Life in Prison for Daytona Car-Jacking and Armed Robbery
Kenneth Jerome Kirkland, II, was convicted late Wednesday (May 25) by a jury of three men and three women on charges of carjacking with a firearm, grand theft, and principal to robbery with a firearm. He faces a life sentence at a sentencing hearing to be set at a later date. The jury deliberated two hours.
Thursday Briefing: FPC and Matanzas Graduation Ceremonies, McLaughlin Town Hall, Imagine’s Colleen Fonte
FPC and Matanzas will both be holding graduation ceremonies at Daytona’s Ocean Center this afternoon and evening, Commissioner Nate McLaughlin holds a town hall meeting, Imagine School’s Colleen Fonte is a national winner.
Neighbor Dispute Over Bird Nesting in Palm Coast’s C-Section Escalates Into Lawsuit
Bryan Streetman’s neighbors on Collingwood Lane accuse him of disturbing the neighborhood’s peace and privacy by busing a drone, laser lights and screeching noises to scare off Purple Martin birds as they nest.
Sen. Travis Hutson Qualifies By Petition for His 4th Election in 4 Years
Sen. Travis Hutson so far faces just one opponent, Democrat Curtis Ceballos of Palm Coast, though qualifying does not end until June 24.
Failed Tag Light Leads to Convicted Felon Carrying Assault Rifle and Ammunition
Gegxan R. Coriano, a 41-year-old convicted felon arrested late Monday night, had to be wrestled to the ground before a search of his car revealed a Century Arms .223 caliber assault rifle and two magazines with ammunition.
Wednesday Briefing: Toby Tobin Talks Home Building, Michelle O’Connell Autopsy, Cornel West on Trump and Clinton
Toby Tobin gives the county economic panel an update on Flagler construction, Cornel West goes off on Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, Pasco bans a book for middle schoolers.
Transgender Indecency
There were pragmatic ways to ensure access to bathrooms for transgender people until lawmakers hijacked the process with predatory bans that dehumanize people and make a mockery of decency.
In Latest Reversal, Sheriff Manfre Does Not Appeal Ethics Judgment as Deadline Passes
That means Manfre will concede to a $6,200 fine and a public reprimand and censure that the ethics commission approved on April 15, thus finally ending a saga that began two years ago and has severely damaged his chances for re-election.
Retired Deputy Edward Lueck Gets 15 Years in Prison Over Child Sex Assaults
The victim was 5 years old at the time of the crimes, and was a neighbor of Lueck’s, who is a 69-year-old retired Volusia County Sheriff’s deputy.
Palm Coast City Employees Get Free Screenings From Florida Hospital Flagler
Florida Hospital Flagler provided free health screenings to 80 City of Palm Coast employees. The screenings included blood pressure, pulse oxygen, carbon monoxide, body mass index (BMI), diabetes testing and musculoskeletal assessment.
Old Kings Road To Be Resurfaced May 24-27
Palm Coast is planning road resurfacing on Old Kings Road South from Utility Drive to Town Center Blvd. starting Tuesday, May 24, and through the rest of the week.
NRA Pressuring Gov. Scott to Block Rep. Charles McBurney’s Bench Bid
McBurney, R-Jacksonville, angered Second Amendment advocates during this year’s legislative session when his committee did not move forward with a measure tied to the state’s “stand your ground” self-defense law.
Flagler’s Third Graders Improve English Skills and Climb to 10th Best in Florida
The proportion of students who scored a 3 or better (out of 5)–that is, students who are proficient in English at their grade level–also improved, from 60 percent to 63 percent.
Tuesday Briefing: Bring Your A Game Camp, Food Truck Tuesdays, Bernie Loses the Halo, Grandma in the Attic
The Bring Your A Game summer camp is explained, Bernie takes flack from his own, what to do when Grandma moves into the attic, and the rescheduled Food Truck Tuesday.
When Bernie Sanders Mirrors Donald Trump
The same Democratic candidate who decried Donald Trump for condoning violence in North Carolina in March turned right around and did the same thing in Nevada when his rally devolved into chaos. He condoned it.
Ex-Traffic Homicide Prosecutor Ray Lee Smith Joins Flagler Bench as Family Law Judge
Smith, 43, a Ponte Vedra Beach resident, will preside over family law cases. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge J. David Walsh earlier this year.
Democrat Morley Qualifies for House Seat By Petition
Adam Morley, the Democratic candidate for the House District 24 seat held by Republican Paul Renner, said in a release today that he had qualified for the race by petition.
Florida Supreme Court Rules That City Utility’s Service Area Trumps Some County Authority
While the case involved a local dispute on the Treasure Coast, it drew attention from counties and utilities across the state, which is carved into territories and includes myriad local franchise agreements.
Monday Briefing: Tasers for Bunnell Cops, Tim Tebow Hosts Best of Preps, Math Madness, Global Warming Madness
The Bunnell City Commission needs to replace its cops’ 10 Tasers, Tim Tebow speaks at a banquet honoring athletes and fans in Daytona Beach, a frightening graphic display of global temperatures over the past 150 years.
Democrats Alan Grayson and Patrick Murphy Borrow From Trump Playbook in Foul Duels
Murphy is the Democratic establishment pick for U.S. Senate. Grayson has churned out the descriptions “lickspittle pillock” and “sock puppet” to deride his fellow congressman.
Indian Trails and FPC Students Win Crime Stoppers Poster Contest
The winning students were Liying Wu, Andrew Moulter, Gage Winecoff, Jonathan DeSousa, Andrea Bowser (who won circuit-wide, too), and Hannah Umpenhour.
Court Sides With Walmart Against Union in Trespassing Dispute in Orange
A three-judge panel of the 5th District Court of Appeal said the case is part of a broader dispute about demonstrations that the union has held against Wal-Mart in various parts of the country.
Are We Finally Ready For Smart Guns? Daytona’s iGuns Technologies Aims For Yes
The iGun’s chip technology only works within centimeters and makes it impossible for anyone other than the person wearing the ring to fire it. Some gun advocates are resistant for various reasons.
Carver Foundation Fundraisers Bring In $10,500 For South Bunnell Gym
The Carver Center is a recreational facility that also offers tutoring, after school study, internet access and also serves the community with GED classes, employment counseling and other services.
Looking for Her Dog, Tamera Pizzo, 56, Is Killed by SUV on A1A in Flagler Beach
Tamera L. Pizzo was killed by a passing car as she tried to cross South Ocean Shore Boulevard (State Road A1A) in Flagler Beach, just south of South 26th Street Friday evening.
6 Local Unions Show Electoral Power as 16 Candidates For School Board, Palm Coast and County Match Mettle
The United Public Employees of Flagler County, representing 6 local public unions, hosted the largest simultaneous political forum in the county’s recent history, yielding a few insights into three races.
“I’m Dead, I’m Dead,” Handcuffed and Repeatedly Tased Man Says Just Before Dying
Chase Sherman was in handcuffs, in the back seat of his when he was Tased 15 times by Georgia police though he was unarmed, and his parents had called 911 to come help.
Flagler’s 5.1% Unemployment Nearly Matches U.S. Rate Even as Jobs and Labor Force Dip
Flagler’s unemployment rate has fallen a full percentage point in a year, and is down from 8.3 percent two years ago. The rate went down even though 179 fewer people held jobs in April, because the labor force shrank by a larger number.
At Salvo Art Saturday, “Transparency” as an Artist’s Conceptual Journey Beyond the Visible
Krystyna Spisak-Madejczyk, the featured artists at Salvo Art’s new show, is highly acclaimed in her native Poland as a sculptor and multimedia conceptual artist. She’s become well known in Flagler County’s expanding artistic circles since taking up residency in one of Salvo’s studios.
Weekend Briefing: Choral Arts Society Concerts, Transparency at Salvo, Calypso Gallery Grand Opening
“Transparency,” a new show opens at Salvo Art Project featuring Krystyna Spisak-Madejczyk, opens Saturday, the Choral Arts Society performs concerts Saturday and Sunday, Albrecht Durer is 545 years old.
Against 1 Objection, Flagler Commissioners Want to Increase Their Travel Budget 184%
Commissioner Barbara Revels called the proposed increase “obscene,” but Frank Meekera and Nate McLaughlin kept pressing for it–increasing the budget from $15,885 to $45,000 for the five commissioners.
Carmen Bourdeau Is Florida Hospital Flagler’s New ICU Nurse Manager
Bourdeau has been a nurse for nearly 25 years and began her career at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in New Jersey, as a nurse in the ICU.
Pressured to Defy Obama Order on Transgender Bathrooms, Scott and Bondi Stay Mum So Far
Opponents of allowing transgender students to use restrooms of their choice could lead to a breakdown in school discipline or even attacks, supporters say there is no evidence of that.
Thursday Briefing: Fallen Officers Memorial, Biggest Candidate Forum Yet, Flagler Beach Montessori Lease
The annual memorial commemorating Flagler County’s four fallen officers at 10 a.m., a candidate forum featuring school board, Palm Coast council and county commission candidates, the Flagler Beach City Commission takes on a montessori school’s lease.
In Victory for Flagler Beach, Dreaded and Un-Scenic A1A Signs Will Not Spear the City
The state transportation department finally barred the signs from Flagler Beach and Beverly Beach after an intense campaign by city officials that reflected almost unanimous public outrage against the signs.
Four Daytona State Students Named to All-Florida Academic Team
Andrew Adie, Corben Champoux, Joel Hinton and Danjha Leon, all associate of arts degree majors, were recognized for their academic achievement, leadership and service to their communities.