The state of Florida executed 80-year-old Dominick Anthony Occhicone Tuesday evening, making him the oldest prisoner executed in Florida’s modern history. He was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend’s parents in 1986. Occhiocone was the 12th inmate Florida to be executed this year and the second executed Tuesday, an event so rare that it hasn’t happened in Florida since 1964. Earlier in the day, Florida killed James Aren Duckett, 68, Tuesday for the 1987 rape and murder of 11-year-old Teresa McAbee.
All Else
Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly Is Elected Vice President of Florida Sheriffs Association
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce that Sheriff Rick Staly was sworn in as vice president of the Florida Sheriffs Association during the Sheriffs 2026 Summer Conference in Miami on July 28.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, July 29, 2026
The City of Palm Coast hosts “SBDC Day” at City Hall connecting local entrepreneurs, startups, and established business owners with free expert guidance, conversations in democracy, Eugene O’Neill.
South Dakota’s Abortion Pill Advertising Ban Is Unconstitutional
A federal court injunction blocked South Dakota’s ban on advertising abortion pills after a nonprofit legal challenge. The ruling established that restricting truthful medical information violates First Amendment protections regarding free speech and viewpoint neutrality. This legal dispute highlights a growing national conflict as states attempt to restrict telehealth services and out-of-state prescription access despite federal approval of medication abortion procedures.
Flagler County SNAP Recipients Drop by 22% in One Year, Mirroring Sharp Decline Across Florida
Flagler County has 22 percent fewer SNAP beneficiaries than it did a year ago. According to the Department of Children and Families, Flagler County had 13,396 food stamps clients in July 2025. The case load dropped to 10,388 in June. That is the lowest number of local residents on food assistance since September 2009, when the caseload was 10,085, and the county’s population was 35 percent smaller.
Flagler Sheriff’s Employees Donate $22,777 to the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office employees donated $22,777 to the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, making FCSO employees’ total donations to the FSYR approximately $226,777 since 2017. Sheriff Rick Staly presented the latest employee donation check to Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, who serves as chairman of the FSYR board of directors, during the Florida Sheriffs Association Summer Conference.
Anna Jones, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Anna Jones is one of three Republican candidates for Flagler County Commission, District 4. She faces incumbent Leann Pennington and Drew Moss. Only registered Republicans may vote in the primary. The winner of the Republican Aug. 18 primary will still go on to the general because a write-in has filed, but the Republican who prevails is all but certain to win.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, July 28, 2026
The Palm Coast City Council talks budget, the School Board has a trio of meetings, including the setting of its tentative property ax rate over which it has no control, Ric Diez, Michiko Kakutani on postmodernism.
Resurgence of Measles Signals Dangerous Decline in Public Health
Falling vaccination rates have triggered a dangerous measles resurgence across the United States. The trend threatens the nation’s 25-year elimination status and imposes massive economic burdens on the healthcare system. Measles serves as a critical proxy for overall public health capacity. Declining trust in government agencies and eroding herd immunity signal a systemic vulnerability. These cracks in our public health defense complicate efforts to manage future infectious disease threats effectively.
Trump Species Act Rollback Threatens More than 100 Florida Animals, Including Panthers and Manatees
More than 100 Florida species, including panthers, manatees and sea turtles, could inch closer to extinction under a set of changes to the Endangered Species Act the Trump administration rolled out this month that would force regulators to disregard damage to critical habitats. Millions of acres of Florida land would also become easier to develop if the federal rule changes survive court challenges.
Flagler Home Builders Association Outfits 96 Students with Backpacks for New School Year
The Flagler Home Builders Association gathered its members and sponsors to hand out 96 fully stocked backpacks to local students heading back to school, continuing an annual tradition aimed at easing the financial burden of classroom prep in Flagler County.
Drew Moss, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Drew Moss is one of three Republican candidates for Flagler County Commission, District 4. He faces incumbent Leann Pennington and Anna Jones. Only registered Republicans may vote in the primary. The winner of the Republican Aug. 18 primary will still go on to the general because a write-in has filed, but the Republican who prevails is all but certain to win.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, July 27, 2026
The Bunnell City Commission meets, Mme de Sévigné on the relative length of lives, Mozart’s variations, the president finds himself a new rallying cry, Kamel Daoud on dying at 100.
Why Democrats Are Clueless About Losing the Working Class
It is an open question whether reformist Democrats are really interested in understanding working-class voters on their own terms. Because working-class voters, as they tell us themselves, are not simply waiting to be activated by the right program, the right messenger, the right phrase. “Fight the oligarchy” probably isn’t going to do it.
Poll Shows Homestead Amendment Can Pass–If Voters Are Kept in the Dark About Consequences
New polling from the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab shows Amendment 3 has a narrow path to passage on Florida’s General Election ballot this November — but one contingent almost entirely on voters not knowing what the measure would do to local budgets.
Back-to-School Help Night at Flagler Cares Wednesday
Flagler Cares, in partnership with local organizations, will host a free Back-to-School Help Night on Wednesday, July 29, from 3:00 to 6:30 p.m. at 160 Cypress Point Pkwy, Bldg. B, 3rd Floor, Suite 304, in Palm Coast. The event is free and open to the public, and families are encouraged to attend. The one-stop event is designed to help families get ready for the upcoming school year by connecting them with community resources, health screenings, and free giveaways, all in a single visit.
A Rare Florida Victory for ‘The Right To Tell People What They Don’t Want to Hear’
Judge Britt C. Grant described the DeSantis “Stop Woke Act” a breathtaking assertion of power aimed at banning unpopular ideas. Academic freedom requires open debate rather than state-mandated silence while suppressing critical discussions regarding race, gender, and history undermines the core educational mission of public universities across the state.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, July 26, 2026
2026 PBA South Region Palm Coast Open at Palm Coast Lanes, Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village, Gemini takes us on an odiferous tour of the Tour de France peloton, Red Smith’s Bike Ride.
America’s Promise of Religious Freedom Has Long Clashed with Prejudice
American history demonstrates a persistent tension between constitutional guarantees of religious liberty and acts of exclusion. Early state laws often restricted civic participation to Protestants. Over time, shifting attitudes and legal changes fostered a more inclusive “Judeo-Christian” and eventually multicultural identity. Modern incidents of arson and political rhetoric suggest that the founding promise of universal religious protection remains a contested ideal.
Fraternal Order of Police Latest Group to Oppose Property Tax Amendment
The Florida chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police is the latest public safety organization to oppose Amendment 3, the proposed constitutional amendment designed to provide property tax relief to homeowners but which critics allege could radically reduce revenues for local government essential services, including public safety.
Flagler Beach’s Alice Baker: A Remembrance
Don Deal remembers meeting Alice Baker during the early growth of Flagler Beach in the late 1970s. Over decades, Baker served her community in numerous municipal roles, including step-in mayor and board member, while building enduring local friendships. Even after moving to Georgia, her devotion to Flagler Beach remained strong until her passing, leaving a lasting impact on her beloved coastal town.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, July 25, 2026
Bowling: 2026 PBA South Region Palm Coast Open qualifying at Palm Coast Lanes, Gamble Jam, the Saturday Flagler Beach Farmers Market, Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground.
Say What? Florida Surgeon General Suggests Measle Outbreak Could Be Tied to Abortion Opposition
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo suggested Friday that opposition to abortion could have helped fuel a measles outbreak in Florida since many cases are tied to a private Roman Catholic college where students may be opposed to the vaccine.
The Government Is Ramping Up Mass Surveillance with AI Tools
The U.S. government now purchases massive quantities of your information from commercial data brokers. The information is not subject to the same restrictions as information it collects directly. The federal government is also ramping up its abilities to directly collect data through partnerships with private tech companies. These surveillance tech partnerships are becoming entrenched, domestically and abroad, as advances in AI take surveillance to unprecedented levels.
Flagler County Emergency Management’s Ryan Simpson Graduates FEMA’s Advanced Academy
Flagler County Emergency Management Manager Ryan Simpson on Thursday (July 23) graduated from the FEMA National Disaster & Emergency Management University’s Advanced Academy.
Leann Pennington, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Incumbent Leann Pennington is one of three Republican candidates for Flagler County Commission, District 4. She faces Anna Jones and Drew Moss. Only registered Republicans may vote in the primary. The winner of the Republican Aug. 18 primary will still go on to the general because a write-in has filed, but the Republican who prevails is all but certain to win.
Bob Cuff, Palm Coast Pioneer Whose Wry Wit and Humanity Shaped Policy and Moved Friends, Dies at 75
Former Palm Coast City Councilman Bob Cuff died Wednesday at age 75 following a prolonged battle with cancer. A legal pioneer, he served 17 years as general counsel for ITT Community Development Corporation, shaping the city’s early expansion. Colleagues remembered the former attorney for his sharp intellect, dry wit, unyielding integrity, and deep dedication to authentic public service across decades of local governance.
Bob Cuff, 1950-2026
Letter from the Magic Mountain
We formed an unlikely bond over a shared disdain for local political spectacles and a mutual passion for books no one reads anymore, Thomas Mann’s Magic Mountain especially. And now an illness from the underworld is doing its ravages.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, July 24, 2026
Heat index values as high as 105 today, the Scenic A1A Pride Committee meets, Acoustic Jam Circle At The Community Center In The Hammock, how two cartoonists see the Saudi nukes deal.
Trump’s Antifa Terrorism Threat Does Not Exist
The Trump administration anti-terrorism campaign is targeting a phantom threat. Antifa represents a decentralized ideology rather than a structured organization with central leadership or funding. Executive orders and pressuring foreign allies risks civil liberties, chills lawful speech, and distracts vital intelligence resources from genuinely lethal global terrorist networks possessing documented command structures and destructive intent.
Florida Immigration Judges Issue Record Number of Removal Orders as National Deportation Rates Surge
Since March, deportations ordered by immigration judges in Florida have increased 18 percent, according to recently released data. In June, judges issued 5,415 removal orders, a 17.6 percent increase compared to March’s 4,605 removal orders. Florida follows a national trend of an increase in deportation orders, which hit an all-time high of 79,000 in June.
Ron Long, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
Ron Long is one of three candidates for Flagler County School Board, District 4. Trevor Tucker and incumbent Christy Chong are the others. It is a non-partisan race: all registered voters regardless of party affiliation or non-party status may vote in the Aug. 18 primary.
Christy Chong, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
Incumbent Christy Chong is one of three candidates for Flagler County School Board, District 4. Trevor Tucker and incumbent Ron Long are the others. Chong has declined to participate in the Live Interview. It is a non-partisan race: all registered voters regardless of party affiliation or non-party status may vote in the Aug. 18 primary, which will decide the winner, who will be sworn-in in November.
Moms for Liberty’s Influence on School Board Races Is Not What It Was in Florida, Its Home State
Moms for Liberty’s influence has been on a long decline in its home state as the organization faced a wave of resignations, chapter dissolutions and scandals among Moms for Liberty leadership.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, July 23, 2026
The Flagler Beach City Commission meets, the trouble with Joe Manchin and his killing of the center, Model Yacht Club Races at the Pond in Palm Coast’s Central Park.
Most Americans Broadly Support Public Education for the Undocumented
When confronted with the statement, “I believe all children, regardless of immigration status, should have the right to public education,” 75.5% of all Americans agreed with the statement. Among Hispanics and Latinos, nearly 86.9% supported the policy, along with 86.7% of African Americans, 77.7% of Asians Asian Americans and 69.9% of non-Hispanic white people. In each income bracket, there was over 70% of support for free public education for all.
In 11-1 Vote, Jury Recommends Death For Jermaine Williams In Stabbing Of Wife Yolonda
A Flagler County jury this afternoon took just an hour and 38 minutes to recommend the death penalty for Jermaine Williams Sr. following his conviction for the brutal premeditated murder of his wife, Yolonda Williams. Prosecutors demonstrated four aggravating factors detailing the calculated nature of the attack and emotional victim-impact statements from family members deeply moved the courtroom, overwhelming the defense’s weak mitigating arguments during the penalty phase.
Trevor Tucker, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
Trevor Tucker is one of three candidates for Flagler County School Board, District 4. Ron Long and incumbent Christy Chong are the others. It is a non-partisan race: all registered voters regardless of party affiliation or non-party status may vote in the Aug. 18 primary.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Joint County Commission-Flagler Beach City Commission meeting on beach renourishment, the Flagler County-Palm Coast Affordable Housing Advisory Committee meets, a few words from William Shirer’s Berlin Diary of 1941 and Hannah Arendt on American imperialism.
Trump Wants Greenbacks To Be His Personal Vanity Plates
Efforts by the Trump administration to place President Donald Trump’s image and signature on United States coins and banknotes mark a significant departure from American tradition. Global currency data shows that featuring a sitting head of state on money remains an attribute almost entirely unique to hereditary monarchies.
Flagler Beach Restricts Outdoor Plastic and Metallized Party Decorations
The ordinance updates penalties, enforcement procedures, and definitions relating to littering on public and private property with new restrictions on plastic and metallized party decorations.
Jermaine Williams Stabbed His Wife 20 Times to ‘Preserve His Sense of Self As a Man,’ Expert Testifies
The penalty phase began today in the murder trial of Jermaine Williams, convicted of stabbing his wife Yolonda to death in August 2024. Prosecutors presented aggravating factors to secure a death sentence recommendation. Defense attempts to offer mitigating testimony backfired through ineffective family testimonies and a psychologist’s assessment revealing Williams murdered Yolonda to remain “the king of his family, and maintain his sense of identity.”
Rob Wood, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
Rob Wood is one of two candidates for Flagler County School Board, District 2, running against first-term incumbent Will Furry, who is not participating in the Live Interview. It is a non-partisan race: all registered voters regardless of party affiliation or non-party status may vote in the Aug. 18 primary, which will decide the winner, who will be sworn-in in November.
Will Furry, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
First-term incumbent Will Furry is one of two candidates for Flagler County School Board, District 2, running against Rob Wood. Furry has declined to answer the Live Interview’s questions. All registered voters are eligible to vote in this non-partisan race in the Aug. 18 primary. The winner will be sworn-in in November.
Former Flagler Beach Mayor Alice Baker, ‘The Gal Who Did It All’ with Kindly Resolve, Dies at 95
Former Flagler Beach Mayor Alice Baker died at age 95 in Clarkesville, Georgia. Baker spent nearly two decades as a city employee before serving as interim manager and mayor. Colleagues remembered her as a fiercely strong-willed leader who dedicated her life to protecting the community’s small-town charm, supporting local animal welfare initiatives, and listening carefully to local residents.
Florida Disaster Fund Spent More on Immigration than All 2025 Missions Combined
The DeSantis administration spent nearly two-thirds of Florida’s emergency fund last fiscal year on fighting illegal immigration, dwarfing spending for severe weather, international rescues, and other emergency missions for which the fund was created.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, July 21, 2026
The first day of the penalty phase of Jermaine Williams’s trial begins, the Palm Coast City Council meets, a World Cup recap with a bow to that halftime show.
Fox News, Home of Conspiracy Theories
Research shows that white Americans who identified as Republican, who are conservatives and who have negative views of people from other racial backgrounds are all more likely to express support for key tenets of the racist great replacement theory. Clear evidence shows that white Americans who watch Fox News are also more likely to agree with the conspiracy theory.
Sheriff’s Techno-Sleuthing Leads to Arrest of Man Who Hid Behind Thousands of Harassing Calls
A five-month Flagler County Sheriff’s Office investigation has led to the arrest of a Port Orange man who spent months harassing a Flagler County woman with thousands of phone calls and even filed a false child abuse report against her. Detectives ultimately traced the calls back to him despite his attempts to hide behind blocked and internet-based phone numbers.
Palm Coast Dog Trainer Arrested After Two Labrador Retrievers Die Inside Hot Storage Unit
Palm Coast’s Alexia V. Barquet, 21, owner of Rapidfire Retrievers LLC, a dog-training and grooming company, faces two felony aggravated animal cruelty charges after two labrador retrievers died inside a hot Bunnell storage unit she lists as the business’ address. Authorities warned Barquet in March against keeping animals inside the facility. Police officers discovered the deceased dogs following complaints of severe odors.