Rick Scott doesn’t like appointing black judges, Bill Maher gives ISIS the business, China’s booming torture trade, your password doesn’t work anymore, “Madame Secretary” stinks, and a few moments with Erik Satie and Mike Royko.
All Else
John Thrasher, Minus Academic Credentials, Moves to Final Step in FSU Presidential Search
The action came despite opposition to Thrasher from faculty and students expressing concern about the school’s reputation and the need for the next leader to have stellar academic credentials.
Domestic Violence: Challenges Go Beyond A Brute’s Fists or White, Middle-Class Women
Because the movement to help battered women largely has been driven by white, middle-class women, the attention has generally been on generic domestic violence, with absent attention to the nuances of race and class.
Tenacity Charlie: County Commissioner Ericksen, 71, Completes 24,902-Mile Bike Trek, Equivalent to Circling the Equator
Charlie Ericksen’s odometer turned the last mile early this morning after six years or 2,263 days, biking an average of 77 miles a week around Flagler and Palm Coast, despite three tips to the hospital along the way and many more repairs for his bike.
Florida Sheds 4,000 Jobs and Unemployment Rate Ticks Up to 6.3%, Also Rising in Flagler
In Flagler County, the unemployment rate went up to 9.5 percent, the number of people with jobs fell by 207, and the labor force, an indicator of local economic vitality, fell by 186 after rising in previous months.
Florida Virtual School v. K12 Inc.: Supreme Court Clears Way For Legal Fight
Justices unanimously rejected arguments that Florida Virtual School could not sue the private K12 Inc. over copyright infringement. K12 provides online-education services in Florida and has used the names Florida Virtual Academy and Florida Virtual Program.
Joan Rivers Enters Heaven, Runs Into God, Jesus and Robin Williams: A Live Report
Joan Rivers makes it into heaven and has a few choice words with God before discovering that Robin Williams got in despite Catholic prohibitions of heaven for suicides: God made an exception.
Insurers’ Latest Ploy: Shifting Costs to the Sick By Making Them Pay More For Drugs
The Affordable Care Act is designed to forbid it, but health insurers are finding a new way to extract money from policy holders with pre-existing conditions–by steering them to more expensive drugs.
Commission Chairman Questions Election’s Integrity in Broad Criticism of Supervisor Kim Weeks’ Methods
George Hanns unleashed an unusually blunt and broad critique of Weeks at the end of a county commission meeting and went as far as questioning whether it was time to involve the state Division of Elections “about some of the things that are transpiring.”
Palm Coast Boy, 9, Faces Battery and Molestation Charges After “Playing Around” With 11-Year-Old Girl
The 9-year-old boy is accused of grabbing the girl’s breasts from behind, asking her to “give me a hug or I’ll rape you,” and hitting her with a flip-flop when she got away from him.
Judge Raul Zambrano Sentences Kentrell Johnson to Death For FSU Student Vincent Binder’s Murder
Vincent Binder’s mutilated body was found in a St. Augustine field in April 2010, weeks after he was murdered by three convicts escaped from a Louisiana prison. Two were sentenced to death, one to life in prison.
Gamble Rogers Rec Area Will Keep Its Name as Flagler Beach Concedes: “Not Worth the Fight”
The Flagler Beach City Commission and the County Commission both retreated from a push to remove Gamble Rogers’s name from the Flagler Beach recreation area following a series of setbacks and a public backlash against the idea.
Kimble Medley Appointed to Palm Coast Code Enforcement Board, 3 Others Reappointed
Neil Copeland, Robert Branin and Gerry Chagnon, who had previously been an alternate, were re-appointed to the powerful board. Kenneth Klinkenberg, a former member, was appointed an alternate in City Council votes this morning.
Flagler Youth Orchestra’s Enrollment Approaches 400 as 10th Anniversary Season Begins
The Flagler Youth Orchestra drew a record number of students as it began its 10th season today with bi-weekly classes at Indian Trails Middle School, a testament to the school district’s sustained support of its broadest, most successful afterschool arts program.
Flagler Celebrating 2nd Annual Arts in Education Week From Stage to Frames to Slams
More than a dozen arts and culture events put the focus this week on arts in education in Flagler and Palm Coast, including theater, art shows, a poetry slam and a costume gala.
For or Against Medical Marijuana, Seven Ex-Supreme Court Justices Explain Why They Oppose Amendment 2
Amendment 2, promoted as a compassionate effort to legalize marijuana for medical purposes, should be rejected – regardless of one’s position on the issue of medical marijuana, seven ex-Florida Supreme Court justices argue.
Ken Yarborough, 53, of Palm Coast, Is Killed In Single-Car Wreck at I-95 Exit Overnight
Kenneth E. Yarborough, 53, of Palm Coast, was driving a 2005 Nissan Altima with passenger Omayra Rodriguez Jarrett, 31, who was seriously injured as the car struck trees and ended in a retention pond.
Nature Scapes Is Now Home to a Bird Sanctuary in the Late Marylou Baiata’s Memory
Local bird expert Trudy Tappan helped started the Baiata Bird Sanctuary after the death of long-time owner Marylou Baiata in July. Her son has since taken over Nature Scapes, which now also includes on its grounds the new Hollingsworth Gallery and other features.
Elections Supervisor Weeks Scuttles Latest Attempt to Resolve Elections Conflicts in Heated Meeting
A Canvassing Board meeting Friday devolved into a partisan and often heated debate, but no resolution, as many conflicts that have framed Kimberle Weeks’s supervision of the last election remain unresolved ahead of November’s election.
Amendment 1: GOP Raising Objections to Sensitive Lands Conservation Funding Measure
The proposed “Water and Land Conservation” amendment would earmark 33 percent of the state’s documentary-stamp tax revenues — fees paid when real estate is sold — for 20 years. The money would go to buy conservation lands, protect areas vital to the water supply and restore natural systems that have been degraded, such as the Everglades.
Daytona State College Adds $500 Scholarship Drawing to Fall Open Houses and Kicks Off Accelerated Semesters
A Fall Open House will be held at each of Daytona State College’s five campuses, including Palm Coast, and two instructional sites. And the college’s “mini-mester” makes for accelerated program completion
3rd Palm Coast International Festival Set for Oct. 4 at Town Center
Celebrate Palm Coast’s diverse cultural heritage – through food, wine, beer, entertainment and art – at the third annual Palm Coast International Festival, scheduled from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at Central Park in Town Center.
Flagler’s Constitutional Officers, With Combined Salaries of $1 Million, Get 0.4% Bump
When the $140,406 in salaries to city elected officials is added to the figure, the combined total, for elected officials in Flagler County, stands at $1.13 million for the coming year, not including benefits.
John Thrasher Among Final Four in Run For Florida State Presidency, and Only Floridian
While Thrasher vowed during his interview Tuesday to make the school “proud” if he gets hired, a number of students and faculty members implored the committee to focus on candidates with strong academic backgrounds.
Americans Don’t Learn: Step Up the Bombing; Common Core Myths, Fox’s Ray Rice Shame, Clinton and Bush Rejoined
Americans want more bombing in Iraq and Syria, more common core myths are exploded, the pity of Gaza, the largest greenhouse gas increases in 30 years, and remembering Sam Kinison and Pablo Neruda.
In Florida, Police Can Use Deadly Force Without Fearing Prosecution
“In the past 20 years, not a single officer in Florida has been charged with using deadly force,” The New York Times reported last week, a startling prevalence of de-facto immunity in a state where police violence is not rare.
Flagler Youth Orchestra: Open House and Enrollment for 10th Season at Indian Trails
The Flagler Youth Orchestra, in partnership with the Flagler County School District, is launching the tenth season of its strings program. An open house and information session is taking place this evening, Sept. 8, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Indian Trails Middle School cafeteria. The school is on Belle Terre Parkway in Palm Coast.
John Seay, Maverick Flagler Property Appraiser for a Quarter Century, Is Dead at 76
John W. Seay’s tenure as Flagler property appraiser was highlighted by his victory over ITT in a four-year lawsuit ITT had started, only to end with the company agreeing to pay the equivalent of $4.7 million, in today’s dollars, in back taxes.
Lillian Gobitas Klose, Who Defied Mandatory Pledge of Allegiance, Is Dead at 90
Lillian Gobitas Klose was 12 when she was expelled from school for refusing to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Eight years later, in the midst of World War II, the U.S. Supreme Court vindicated her decision.
Vaccine-Deniers Aside, Flagler Schools Seek Parental Consent for Broad Flu-Shot Campaign
Vaccine consent forms went out this week to all parents with children in Flagler schools, where the district is partnering with Healthy Schools, the for-profit company, to administer flu shots to students on Sept. 18.
Chris Quinn Earns Palm Coast 13th Consecutive Financial Reporting Excellence Award
Chris Quinn’s calm, clear and generally jargon-free presentations are familiar to followers of the city council, especially during the laborious months of budget season.
Flagler Sheriff’s PAL Baseball Enrollment Is Open For Ages 4-15
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Police Athletic League (PAL) has opened enrollment for the fall baseball season for children ages 4-15. Practice begins the second week of September. Opening day is Monday, Sept. 29.
Reagan Assemblies’ “Watchdogs” Can’t Take Defeat: As One Suit Is Tossed, a Pledge to File Another
Just after a judge threw out a lawsuit this afternoon, the attorney for an obscure “Watchdogs” group said he’d file a new lawsuit alleging illegal conversations outside of meetings by county commissioners.
Flagler Fire Rescue Rolls Out Two, $219,000 Ambulances, Workhorses of Local Emergencies
The county has seven ambulances on duty 24 hours a day (11 units in all) that each log 5,000 miles and 1,000 calls a month, by far the majority of the 14,000 annual emergency calls in Flagler.
Flagler Beach Wins County’s Backing To Kill Gamble Rogers In Recreation Area’s Name
The recreation area was named after folk singer Gamble Rogers in 1992 after he drowned there trying to save a man. Flagler Beach thinks reverting the area’s name to give the city prominence would help tourism and “branding” efforts.
Gamble Rogers State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach: The Lure of the Modest
Gamble Rogers State Park is a 145 acre expanse on the barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal in Flagler Beach, named for the Florida folk singer who drowned there in 1991 while trying to save another swimmer in distress.
Watch Out, I’m an Arab! How I Changed My Name and Pledged a Take-Over of Flagler County.
Two local ex-candidates–Dennis McDonald and Mark Richter–have been insinuating to government officials that FlaglerLive Editor’s Arab background and name change are a security risk, and his failure to recite the pledge proof of his sinister sympathies.
Tag Fees Drop Monday and Gov. Scott
Pledges More Tax Cuts on Campaign Trail
Over the next two weeks Gov. Rick Scott will campaign across the state on a pledge to cut $1 billion in taxes over the next two years.
Flagler Beach Rejects Commissioner Carney’s Proposal to Put $600,000 Fire Truck Buy on Hold
When Commissioner made a motion to pull the $600,000 truck buy proposal out of the budget this year and “think about what we’re doing,” the rest of the commission snubbed her during a contentious, at times anger-tinged meeting.
The End of Flagler Beach’s Blue Restaurant: A Loss Beyond Mahi Mahi Almondine
In her first interview since the announcement of the closure of Blue at the Topaz, Kelli O’Reilly describes the financial and other difficulties of keeping the business going, and many others reacted to the loss and its meaning.
The Palm Coast City Council as Labor Tribunal: Firefighters Union and Administration Face Off
Palm Coast firefighters and the city administration reached an impasse in December after more than three years of negotiations over a contract, leaving it to the city council on Friday to settle the dispute in an unusual hearing.
Do the Math: You Couldn’t Live On Minimum Wage
Imagine living on $290 a week before taxes. It’s not a wage you can live on, Mark O’Brien, a minimum wage earner for a time recently, argues, challenging opponents of raising the minimum wage to try it for themselves.
Andy Dance Wins, McLaughlin, Meeker and Tucker Survive, Fischer and Both Palm Coast Races Headed for November Run-Offs
Full results for the 2014 primary election in Flagler County and in statewide races relevant to the county, with the latest updates.
Palm Coast Manager Jim Landon Handed Wrong Ballot in Early Voting, Raising Questions About Election’s Integrity
Two of the three ballots handed City Manager Jim Landon, his stepdaughter and his wife Friday did not include Palm Coast City Council races, echoing a similar report by another voter, prompting discussions by the county Canvassing Board about better ensuring the integrity of the vote. But Supervisor Weeks put that responsibility squarely on voters.
Flagler Leads 20 North and Central Florida Counties in Early Voting Turnout With Double Average Rate
Flagler County’s comparatively high turnout took place despite the county’s and city’s prohibition on campaign signs, suggesting that the election supervisor’s claim that the prohibition would discourage voters was not accurate.
Lynnette Callender, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
Lynnette Callender is one of eight candidates in three races for Flagler County School Board in the Aug. 26 primary election: all Flagler voters, regardless of party affiliation and address, may cast a ballot in these races.
Janet McDonald, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
Janet McDonald is one of eight candidates in three races for Flagler County School Board in the Aug. 26 primary election: all Flagler voters, regardless of party affiliation and address, may cast a ballot in these races.
Toni Baker, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
Toni Baker is one of eight candidates in three races for Flagler County School Board in the Aug. 26 primary election: all Flagler voters, regardless of party affiliation and address, may cast a ballot in these races.
Michael McElroy, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
Michael McElroy is one of eight candidates in three races for Flagler County School Board in the Aug. 26 primary election: all Flagler voters, regardless of party affiliation and address, may cast a ballot in these races.
Trevor Tucker, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview (2014)
Trevor Tucker is one of eight candidates in three races for Flagler County School Board in the Aug. 26 primary election: all Flagler voters, regardless of party affiliation and address, may cast a ballot in these races.