The idea that charter school operators should make a profit by providing children a better educational experience should offend no one. The fact that the numbers say they’re not doing a better job, while they’re draining away precious public resources, should alarm everyone.
All Else
In a Major Blow to Obamacare, Court Rules Health Insurance Subsidies Illegal in 36 States, Including Florida; 2nd Court Disagrees
The decision is a potentially fatal blow to the Affordable Care Act, but it conflicts with an opposite conclusion by a different appeals court on the same day. In Florida, 91 percent of those enrolled get an average monthly subsidy of $278 a month. Most could not afford the premiums without the subsidies, which would disappear if the decision sticks.
8-Week Lane Closure On Palm Coast Parkway By Ford Dealership
The lane closure is required in order for the contractor to install a trench drain from Cypress Point Parkway eastbound to the I-95 Southbound on ramp. Traffic will merge down to two travel lanes. The right turn lane will be open to Cypress Point Parkway.
In a Boon to Flagler, National Guard Will Bring “Hundreds of Troops” to County Airport in Long-Term Lease Agreement
The Army National Guard’s 10-year lease agreement with Flagler, to be revealed to the County Commission Wednesday, fills a 19,000-square-foot building at the airport, for $15,185 a month, after the county saw four tenants in eight years fail to make good on their leases there.
Floridia Mosquitoes Are Spreading Chikungunya Virus Once Limited to Caribbean Travelers
This year, 81 cases of Chikungunya have been identified in Florida, including 15 diagnosed last week, including two contracted in Florida. Until Thursday’s announcement, all the cases had been contracted by people who had been traveling in the Caribbean.
Israel’s March of Folly
Israel’s latest attack on Gaza reflects yet again that peculiar blend of arrogance and bigotry that has characterized Israeli policy toward Arabs since 1982: the arrogance that Israel is infallible, and the bigotry that sees Arabs either as inferior creatures to be walled off or as terrorists to be killed. It shouldn’t be surprised when the beasts rebel.
Flagler Film Festival Prepares For 2nd Edition, But More Foreigners Than Locals Send Flicks
Flagler Film Festival Co-Founder Kathy Barry can’t figure it out: of 65 film submissions so far for the January festival, only 20 are from Florida, and none from Flagler-Palm Coast, though she wants the involvement of the much-vaunted video department at FPC.
The Only Immigration “Crisis” Is America’s Refusal to Take In Children With Open Arms
What are we to make of people who will stand in front of a TV camera and say they don’t want “those” people in their town? What are we to make of people who know so little of their beloved country’s history that they will make a mockery of the Statue of Liberty’s welcoming torch by greeting busloads of terrified children with shouts of “Go back where you came from”?
Calling It “Obviously Unconstitutional,” Judge Strikes Down Gay Marriage Ban in the Keys
Judge Luis Garcia, a Jeb Bush appointee, ruled that fundamental rights such as marriage may not be defined by the state, nor can they depend on a vote, such as Florida’s 2008 constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. But the ruling applies only in Monroe County.
Palm Coast’s Brian Matthews Named Educator of the Decade for Southeast Desalting Association
The Southeast Desalting Association has named City of Palm Coast Environmental Specialist Brian Matthews, a longtime employee of Palm Coast’s Utility Division, as its Educator of the Decade for his work to educate water treatment facility operators about membrane technologies.
Palm Coast Activists Drop 1,600 Postcards to Rep. Ron DeSantis, Seeking Better Gun-Safety
The national, week-long “Not One More” campaign was inspired by the passionate plea of Richard Martinez, father of a victim of the May 23 mass shooting in Santa Barbara, in which Elliot Rodger killed six people and injured 13 before killing himself.
O Captain! My Captain! Next Leadership Flagler Class Application Deadline Is July 25
The three-month program nurtures, engages and motivates local business professionals and residents to become community leaders, providing insight about Flagler County’s operations while inspiring participants to take active roles as stewards of and advocates for positive change within the community.
Florida Inverse: 2nd Highest Level of Uninsured, Dead Last in Affordable Care Grants
Judging by the grant totals of other states, Florida appears to have forfeited at least $100 million and possibly $300 million or more, not even including $51 billion the state is forfeiting by saying no to Medicaid expansion.
Find a Lawyer: Flagler Duo Launches Unique Web Venture Rating Attorneys’ Success Rate
CourtCaseResults.com, the brainchild of Trevor Tucker and Darren McGuire, is a freely accessible website that gives consumers full histories of lawyers’ success and failure rates in Flagler cases. Launched Monday, the site is gradually moving to include cases statewide.
Sheriff Asking Public’s Help in Locating Tiffany Alyce Chapman, 16, Missing Since Sunday
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is attempting to locate Tiffany Alyce Chapman, 16, of 65 Blaine Drive in Palm Coast. She left her residence around 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 13.
John Morgan Has $6 Million in Pledges for Medical Pot Amendment, Not Including His Own
Renewed support from Morgan — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist’s boss and close friend — comes as opponents of the measure, aided by Sheldon Adelson, a Las Vegas casino magnate and supporter of Republican Gov. Rick Scott, double down on efforts to kill it.
Thomas Trudell, 65, of Palm Coast, Is Killed in Motorcycle vs. Pick-Up Wreck at Belle Terre and Pine Grove
Thomas Trudell, 65, of Palm Coast, was riding his motorcycle on Belle Terre Parkway when he was killed Sunday morning as a pick-up truck pulled in front of him at the intersection of Belle Terre and Pine Grove Drive.
How U.S. Taxpayers Are Subsidizing Defense of Alleged Revenge Killers of Palestinian Teen
The tax-exempt donations do not appear to run afoul of U.S. law. But they do put U.S. taxpayers in the position of subsidizing aid to Israelis convicted of politically motivated violence.
Hobby Lobby and Religion’s
Assassination of Common Sense
The Supreme Court’s decision granting some companies authority to deny contraception to employees is a reminder that women-hating, science-bashing and religiously-based bigotry veiled as “faith” are alive and well in America.
Eddie Wayne Davis Is Executed for Murder of 11-Year-Old Polk County Girl
Davis is the 19th person executed by Florida since Gov. Rick Scott took office, the most in any governor’s single term, and surpassing the 18 executions that occurred under former Gov. Lawton Chiles, who served two terms between 1991 and 1998.
Edging Out Flagler’s Jill Espinosa, Christie Bassett of Polk Is the 2015 Florida Teacher of the Year
Christie Bassett was named the 2015 Teacher of the Year just after 8 p.m. at the end of a ceremony from Hard Rock Live at Universal in Orlando. Jill Espinoa, Flagler County’s Teacher of the Year, was among the five finalists.
Two Florida Teens Missing 44 Days
Are Found in Montana, Out of Gas
Ivy Warhul, 14, and Ronnie Sousa, 16, went missing on May 27 at 4 a.m. when they left the Gulf Coast area in a gray Honda Element, and were spotted in Flagler before being found by an alert sheriff’s deputy in Montana on July 9.
Blame Democrats for the Court that
Birthed the Hobby Lobby Decision
On the other hand, Democrats appear to have been clueless — and (some even) complicit, writes Stephen Goldstein. Year after year, they approved the radical majority of justices who now make up the “Roberts Court,” even when they knew their extreme agenda.
Thomas Underwood of Palm Coast Sentenced to Life in Prison for Raping Children He Babysat
Thomas Underwood was sentenced to two consecutive life terms on seven counts of raping children and one count of lewd and lascivious molestation. Flagler County Circuit Judge J. David Walsh imposed the sentence today on cases dating back to the 1990s.
Florida Lottery Spikes to Record $5.3 Billion in Sales; Only $1.4 Billion to Education
The Florida Lottery’s increased revenues stems largely from continued growth in scratch-off ticket sales, which range in price from $1 to $25 and are now available at more than 13,000 locations throughout the state.
New Flagler Jail and Sheriff’s HQ Cost Estimates Stun Officials, Who Call It “A Setback”
Construction cost estimates for the new jail came in at $22 million, far more than the county’s plan for $14 to $15 million, while the Sheriff’s Operations Center at the old Memorial Hospital came in at $6.2 million, instead of around $5 million.
Flagler Firefighter’s 3-Year-Old Son Burned in Campfire Accident Now Recovering at Home
Chase Price got 2nd and 3rd degree burns on 20 percent of his body—on his back and on his legs. He was treated at Shands’ burn unit and released on Tuesday to continue recovering at home. A fund-raising campaign was set up to help the family.
Bulldog Drive War Over: Palm Coast Settles With Ajram, Paying Him $215,000 More Than It Offered in 2011
Palm Coast agreed to pay GEA Auto owner Gus Ajram $1.15 million for his two properties on Bulldog Drive, $25,000 more than even he was asking three years ago, ending years of acrimony and clearing the way for the city to eventually (and again) widen Bulldog Drive unimpeded.
Obama as Worst President Since 1945, Pains of Being a Black Gun Owner, Target’s Gun Ban, Killing Civil Rights
A new poll finds a third of Americans rating Obama the worst president since World War II and Reagan the best, Target finally bans guns from its stores, how the Civil Rights Act could never pass today, Huckleberry Finn’s censors, and more.
Tropical Storm Arthur Strengthens Toward Hurricane As It Veers Off Flagler’s Worry Path
Tropical Storm Arthur is strengthening into a hurricane, but is veering off the coast. Still, severe rip current dangers remain on beaches, and some periods of heavy rain are expected between Wednesday night and Thursday, but no impacts on the holiday weekend.
Lawsuit and Ethics Charge Cite Flagler Commissioner Revels Ties to Business Associate in County’s Old Hospital Buy
A group calling itself the Flagler Palm Coast Watchdogs filed a lawsuit against Flagler County, seeking to stop construction on the old Memorial Hospital property slated to be the sheriff’s headquarters, and alleging that Commissioner Barbara Revels did not disclose owning shares in the bank run by one of the men who sold the hospital to the county for $1.23 million last August.
USA 1, Belgium 2: Back to Flanders Fields (or Houligan’s)
A US win over Belgium is a spot in the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time since 2002, but Belgium is fielding the strongest team in its history, stronger than both Ghana and Portugal. There will be goals.
Thank You EPA: Satellite Imagery Shows Dramatic Air Quality Improvements
An animated map created from NASA satellite data shows stunning improvements in air quality in U.S. cities between 2005 and 2011.
Birth Control Coverage: Hobby Lobby Decision May Not Be The Last Word
The Supreme Court’s decision Monday saying that “closely held corporations” do not have to abide by the contraceptive coverage mandate in the Affordable Care Act may not give those firms the ability to stop providing that coverage after all.
Crist and Scott Campaign Cash Keeps Rolling In, But Spending Differs Widely
Scott’s political committee spent about $3.94 million on advertising during the first three weeks of June, while Crist continued to stay off the airwaves, funneling money to the Florida Democratic Party instead.
Corporate Religious Liberty: The Supreme Court’s Misguided Decision
When companies have clear policies on religious discrimination, their employees are less likely to be looking for a new job. The Hobby Lobby decision may undercut such successes when companies opt to follow its dictates, writes Joyce S. Dubensky.
Brazil 1, Chile 1 (Brazil on PKs): Sudden Death
Brazil have not been performing as a World Cup-winning team. They’ve been playing like the scattered parts of a Swiss watch, and some of them have yet to be wound up. Now they face a Chilean team that could give them nightmares.
FPC’s David Halliday, Now Hall of Famer, a Finalist for National Inspiring Coach Award
FPC’s Dave Halliday is one of 25 national finalists for the Brooks Inspiring Coach award. He’s already earned $5,000 worth of gear for FPC and $500 for team expenses. Winning will double that. But he needs your votes.
Jane Carman, Wife of Sheriff’s Palm Coast Precinct Commander, Found Dead at Her Home
Jane Carman, the 56-year-old wife of Mark Carman, commander of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Palm Coast precinct, was found dead on a bedroom floor at her home Sunday morning. The cause of death was attributed to aspiration, or choking, according to a Flagler County Sheriff’s report.
As Florida Eases Harsh Approach, Study Shows Locking Up Juveniles Makes Them Likelier Adult Criminals
Between fiscal year 2010-11 and fiscal year 2012-13, juvenile arrests in Florida declined 23 percent and felony juvenile arrests declined 17 percent, while transfers to adult court declined 36 percent.
On Tuesday, 158 New Laws Go Into Effect in Florida. Here Are the Highlights.
Here’s a run-down of the most important of the 158 new laws going into effect in Florida on Tuesday, from granting parents power to contest textbook selection to the “Florida GI Bill” which is intended to make Florida the most military-friendly state in the nation, to lowering college costs.
USA 0, Germany 1: Small Loss for a Big Win
There are numerous ways for the Americans to advance to the next round, but only two ways to guarantee it: a win or a tie against Germany, which happen to be the hardest and second-hardest results to achieve. That may leave the American fate yet again in Ghana’s hands.
John Thrasher’s Quest for FSU Presidency Out of Special Treatment With New Consultant
The search for Florida State University’s next president won’t be sidetracked again for a powerful state politician — or any other individual — who wants the job, the new consultant said.
From Houligan’s to the Portuguese-American Club, the World Cup Inflames Palm Coast
FlaglerLive’s Ezra Salkin braved the brawn and brash of Palm Coast’s emerging soccer–sorry, football–culture and reports on his close encounters with fandom in two of the city’s most football-fevered spots.
The Despicable Luis Suárez Bites Again: Time to Ban the Cannibal From Football
Uruguay’s Luis Suárez bit Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini moments before Uruguay took a 1-0 win into the next round. It’s Suárez’s third recorded biting incident on top of other repulsive acts on the field. Time to ban the little chomp of horrors.
Silver Alert: Howard Franklin, 83, Last Seen in St. Augustine South Monday Morning
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating Howard Franklin, 83, last seen at his residence in the 300 block of Orchis Rd., Monday at 7 a.m. by a relative.
Novices Flood Local Elections as 21 Candidates Qualify for Palm Coast, County and Schools
Unlike previous cycles, not a single seat is going uncontested. That means no incumbent is getting an easy path to re-election. But virtually every challenger is a newcomer to politics.
Obama’s Mistake in Iraq: Getting Sucked Back Into a Religious War Already Lost
The United States had no business invading and occupying Iraq in 2003, it has no business now arbitrating a religious war between Sunnis and Shiites. The mayhem unleashed by the Bush administration is being made worse by further American meddling.
USA 2, Portugal 2:
Triumph and Agony
Beating Ghana was thrilling, but only beating Portugal will prove that the Americans are serious about their World Cup campaign. Against whiny, brilliant Cristiano Ronaldo, and without Jozy Altidore, the Americans may have a crucifying 90 minutes in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest.
Room For Debate:
Should The Washington Redskins Change Name?
The U.S. Patent Office’s decision to block trademarks for the Washington Redskins has renewed debate on the NFL team’s name, which Indians find offensive and the team owner and NFL commissioner defend as traditional and respectful. The debate is outlined.