The County Commission and Bunnell’s city commission today set their proposed tax rates, and the county reviews the budgets of constitutional officers including a big increase submitted by the sheriff.
All Else
Barack Obama Stands Up to the Warmongers
The US is not a partisan in the Shia-Sunni struggle. If anything, the US confronts mainly Sunni terrorism, funded from Saudi Arabia, not Shia terrorism backed by Iran.
Flagler Live-Blogs Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman,” Chapter 5: Days Of Her Lives
In Chapter 5 of “Go Set a Watchman,” Scout flashes back to childhood as she skates on a date with Henry.
State Ethics Commission Finds Sheriff Manfre in Violation on 3 Counts in 6-1 Vote; He Doubles Down
Meeting in Tallahassee this morning, the Florida Ethics Commission voted 6-1 to find probable cause that Flagler County Sheriff Jim Manfre violated the state’s ethics laws on three counts. The case now goes to the Attorney General’s office for prosecution.
Weekend Briefing: Sheriff Manfre v. Ethics Commission, Credit Card Thief Sought, A Marineland Engagement
Sheriff Manfre’s case goes before the Florida Ethics Commission this morning, the sheriff’s office is seeking the public’s help finding a credit card thief caught on video, a donation drive for the family victimized by a May fire in Palm Coast.
Flagler Live-Blogs Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman,” Chapter 4: Maycomb Delta
In Chapter 4 of “Go Set a Watchman,” Scout and Henry have a date after Lee gives us a brief history of Maycomb, in words almost identical to those used in Mockingbird.
Hobby Lobby, Brass Tap Beer Bar, Moe’s Grill and 500 Jobs: Island Walk Is 84% Full
The developers of Island Walk, the once and future shopping center previously known as Palm Harbor in the heart of Palm Coast, have secured long-term leases with enough retailers to fill 84 percent of its space when it begins opening in phases in 2016.
Palm Coast Back-Pats Its Grim Luck: Red-Light Camera Suit Dismissed After Plaintiff’s Death
Palm Coast’s decision not to settle a lawsuit against it had looked like a mistake once the Supreme Court ruled red-light cameras illegal, until the plaintiff died and was not replaced on the lawsuit, allowing the city to slither out of the it.
Thursday Briefing: Bull Creek Restaurant Celebrates Year 1, Flagler Beach Still Disputes Sea Ray Lot
It’s a weekend celebration at Bull Creek Fish Camp, it’s continuing opposition to Sea Ray’s parking lot plans at the Flagler Beach City Commission, and Christian Thieleman conducts the complete first symphony by Beethoven.
Reporter Kicked Out: When Public Officials Abuse Florida’s Sunshine Law, With Lawmakers’ Blessing
A “health district” run by public officials closes a public meeting under a bogus exemption to the Sunshine law, and gets a blank check to secretly talk about whatever it wishes, though it affects public policy.
Flagler-Palm Coast Score Most “Fantastic” Month of Home Sales Since Recession
The 247 homes sold in June reduced the county’s supply to just five months’ worth, tilting the market to sellers’ advantage, while prices saw a healthy rise as well.
Wednesday Briefing: Vehicle Burglaries Rash, Godspell Auditions, Breakfast With Lawmakers
Vehicle burglaries at Flagler beaches has the sheriff’s office again urging motorists to take basic precautions, City Repertory Theatre auditions for “Godspell,” the campaign against Planned Parenthood.
Flagler Live-Blogs Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman,” Chapter 3: Aunt Alexandra’s Trash
In Chapter 3 of “Go Set a Watchman,” Scout and Aunt Alexandra rumble over Henry, and our 10 readers respond every which way.
The Iranian Nukes Deal and the
Horseman of the Jewish Apocalypse
Netanyahu is an ideologue of Jewish catastrophe. By this logic, risks and challenges cannot be approached with a view toward resolution, yielding instead to paranoia and antagonism, writes Shlomo Ben-Ami.
Racist Graffiti in Palm Coast’s L-Section Ascribed to Stupidity as Confederate Caravan Rumbles Through Bunnell
The racist graffiti in the L-Section was discovered Thursday and Friday, the Confederate caravan drove through Bunnell Monday, though both incidents appear to be isolated reactions rather than organized hate.
Tyler Tracy, 21, of Palm Coast, Is Killed in a Single-Car Wreck on U.S. 1; FHP Seeking Witness
Tyler M. Tracy, a 21-year-old resident of Palm Coast and parent of a toddler, was killed his SUV lost control and overturned on U.S. 1 near County Road 304. The Florida Highway Patrol is seeking a witness.
Tuesday Briefing: A $1,500 Grant for the Youth Orchestra, Palm Coast Taxes, Polygamy, Obama v. Trump
The Palm Coast City Council sets its proposed maximum tax rate for next year, a slight increase, the Flagler Youth Orchestra gets a generous grant from the Palm Coast Arts Foundation, and after gay marriage, legalizing polygamy may be next on courts’s plates.
Flagler Live-Blogs Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman,” Chapter 2: Atticus-Scout Reunion
Ten diverse and opinionated members of the Flagler-Palm Coast community take on Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman” in a new experiment in communal reading, chapter by chapter. Join us.
Charlie Crist Says He’ll Run for Congress If Redistricting Goes His Address’ Way
The newly redrawn district is expected to include Crist’s home, fueling widespread speculation recently that the 58-year-old Crist would launch another political comeback.
The Apple Watch 30 Days In: A Healthy Choice If You Get Past Its Miseries
If you’re buying it as a watch you’ll be miserable. If you’re buying it because you think it’ll be cool talk, text and send heartbeats you’ll be even more disappointed. But if all you wanted was the best health tracker on the market – that also happens to do some really cool stuff, this is surely the device for you.
Monday Briefing: Racism in Palm Coast’s L Section, Beachfront Parking in the Hammock, Bill Cosby Uncut
Racist and Confederate graffiti is spray-painted on a street and on vehicles in Palm Coast’s L Section, the county reconsiders parking at Malacompra’s beach access, the Palm Coast Arts Foundation breaks ground on a pavilion at Town Center, Chuck Jones is profiled.
Flagler Live-Blogs Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman,” Chapter 1: Back to Maycomb
Ten diverse and opinionated members of the Flagler-Palm Coast community take on Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman” in a new experiment in communal reading, chapter by chapter. Join us.
Donald Trump Isn’t the Exception.
He’s the Republican Prototype.
Donald Trump isn’t an exception or an offense to the GOP brand. He’s he’s almost indistinguishable from the other 14 Republican crackpots running for president, starting with Jeb Bush, the alleged “moderate” of the bunch. Bush’s Florida record proves it.
Video of Greg Lynn Jewelers Burglary Points to Suspects Possibly Tied to 5 Recent Incidents
Two burglars are shown in a surveillance video inside Greg Lynn Jewelers. The burglars are possibly tied to a string of incidents in Flagler and Daytona Beach.
Florida Loses 47,000 Jobs, Flagler 190, But Shrinking Labor Force Lowers Unemployment
Florida’s labor force shrank by a significant 79,000 and Flagler’s by 325, bringing down their unemployment rates to 5.5 and 6.3 percent respectively.
Weekend Briefing: Art in Public Places at Salvo, Eid Mubarak, Bunnell Elementary’s Chefs, Dying Mothers
Salvo Art Gallery has a new opening Saturday with Art in Public Places, Bunnell Elementary students will cook at a DeLand restaurant, 1.5 billion Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan.
Florida’s Impending “Pastor Protection Act” Weds Spurious Scenarios With Homophobia
The proposal is aimed at safeguarding clergy members from being forced to perform gay-marriage ceremonies even though they’re categorically protected from doing so by the First Amendment.
Palm Coast Data Evacuated as Suspicious White Powder Discovery Calls For Hazmat Team
The white powder was discovered just after 11 a.m., and Palm Coast Data issued an evacuation order at 1:39 p.m. The response from St. Johns County’s Hazmat team is ongoing.
Rick Look, Long-Time Flagler Sheriff’s Chief Deputy and Cop’s Cop, Dies at 65
Rick Look had been chief deputy for over seven years until three years ago under Sheriff Don Fleming, had two Purple Hearts and 42 years in law enforcement until his last four years’ battle with illness.
Thursday Briefing: Lifeguard Competition in Flagler Beach, McLaughlin’s 100, Ginsberg’s Poem to Bernie Sanders
The Regional Surf Lifesaving Championships, hosted by Flagler Beach Ocean Rescue, starts today; No Child Left Behind is repealed today, and Allen Ginsberg writes a poem on socialism to Bernie Sanders.
Reclaiming Islam’s Enlightenment From Its Fundamentalist Hijackers
Granting that more than a few Muslims back the hijackers’ extremism, what is needed is cultural exchanges instead of armed, panicky overreactions,
Opposing Floridians for Solar Choice, Right-Wing Launches Amendment Drive of Its Own
Consumers for Smart Solar includes two ex-lawmakers, a Jacksonville tea-party founder and an ex-chairman of the Florida Public Service Commission.
Abandoned by Family, Giuseppe Verdone Is Sentenced to Life Without Parole in Carjacking of Chinese Restaurant Owner
Judge J. David Walsh imposed two life terms and two 30-year terms, all concurrently, after denying a motion for a new trial. Verdone, 24, declined to address the court.
Flagler Beach Police Seeking Person of Interest in June Burglary of A1A Beverage
The suspected three male burglars took some 40 lottery tickets valued at $20 each before scratch-off, among other items, but left behind some blood.
Public Art Soars Increasingly Into View, Part of Gargiulo Foundation’s Gifts to Palm Coast
Tom Gargiulo and his foundation will be underscoring the growing role of public art in Palm Coast, between a panel discussion at the Flagler County Art League Saturday and the dedication of two more soaring heron sculptures at Waterfront Park.
Wednesday Briefing: A Competency Hearing for Accused Mobil Mart Murderer, Car Wash on Cypress Point, Improv Comedy and Galuppi
Joseph Bova, accused murderer of Zuheili Roman Rosado, was deemed incompetent to stand trial last year. His case is reviewed. Giuseppe Verdone is sentenced today for his carjacking and brutalizing of a Chinese food restaurant owner.
Against Protest, Walton County in Panhandle Joins Marion to Let Confederate Flag Fly For Now
Walton County flew started flying the Confederate flag at its courthouse in 1964 in direct opposition to the Civil Rights Act, which extended rights protections to blacks.
Palm Coast’s Sign Regulations May Be Forced to Loosen, City Attorney Warns
The changes, which would likely relax Palm Coast’s rules, would be required to comply with a new U.S. Supreme Court ruling making the regulation of temporary signs on private property much more difficult.
Florida Adds Still More Specialty License Plates to Some 120 Accenting Causes
It’s not as if Floridians need more specialized license plates. But more are going on the market and some are being redesigned.
Tuesday Briefing: Bastille Day, Guns at UF, Transgenders in the Military, Weddings in Flagler, Rambo v. ISIS
A court hears arguments today to allow guns at UF dorms, Flagler plays up its wedding-destination cachet, Sylvester Stallone decides to take on ISIS.
Flagler’s Circuit Judge J. David Walsh, Master of Judicial Temperament, Retiring in February
Circuit Judge J. David Walsh, who addresses the state’s too-harsh sentencing guidelines in an interview, was appointed to the bench in 2001 by Gov. Jeb Bush, and has been in Flagler County since 2012.
Millionaires Make Up Nearly One-Third Of the Florida Legislature, More in Senate
Almost half of the Florida Senate is in the millionaires club, and more than two dozen senators saw their net worths grow in the past year.
40-Year-Old Micale Annilus Is Killed on I-95 At Palm Coast Parkway in Wreck With Trailer
Micale Annilus, a 40-year-old resident of Houston, Texas, was killed early Monday morning, Dagobert Laurent, 43, and Winderson Annilus, 21, were taken to Halifax hospital in Daytona Beach.
Monday Briefing: Synchro Belles Silver at Junior Olympics, Financial Audit in Bunnell, Understanding Bernie Sanders
Flagler County’s Synchro Belles got silver at the 2015 Junior Olympics in Greensboro, N.C., Bunnell accounts for its past deficits, why Bernie Sanders is making Hillary Clinton nervous.
4-Year-Old Palm Coast Boy Critical After He’s Found Unresponsive in Locked Van in Driveway
The incident unfolded in early afternoon at a house at the corner of Blakefield Drive and Blare Castle Drive in Palm Coast. No foul play is suspected.
Reilly Opelka Is Wimbledon Boys Champion; Roger Federer Congratulates Him in Person
Reilly Opelka, raised on the courts of Flagler County, used a powerful serve and aggressive groundstrokes to realize a dream that seemed so farfetched even a few weeks ago, defeating Sweden’s Mikael Ymer, 7-6 (5), 6-4 to win his first Wimbledon championship.
Palm Coast Takes Pride as Surging Opelka Plays in Two Wimbledon Finals Sunday
Winning his doubles semifinal match Saturday at Wimbledon, Reilly Opelka will be playing in two straight finals Sunday as Palm Coast gears up congratulations and possibly a watching party.
Memo to GOP Candidates: Why Conservatives Should Embrace Gay Marriage Decision
As a conservative who has always supported gay marriage, it’s difficult for Nancy Smith to understand why so many people of her generation — the ones who grew up witnessing some of the worst discrimination of the 20th century — could consistently rage against it.
John Ruffalo, a Reagan Assemblies Leader, Affronts County Commissioner at Courthouse
Two months after another Reagan Assemblies member had to resign for a public obscenity, a founding member of the group allegedly insulted the county commissioners names at the county courthouse after calling him dishonorable in an email.
Palm Coast’s Opelka Stuns World’s No. 1 and Advances to Wimbledon Boys Final Sunday
The 17-year-old continued his dream run at Wimbledon Friday, defeating No.1 seed Taylor Fritz, 6-3. 7-6 (13) to reach his first-ever Slam final.