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She Was in Labor at a Florida Hospital. Then She Was in Zoom Court for Refusing a C-Section.

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Cherise Doyley faced a bedside judicial hearing during active labor after refusing a C-section at a Jacksonville hospital. Doctors cited uterine rupture risks, yet Doyley prioritized her autonomy and recovery concerns. The court eventually authorized emergency intervention without her consent in a case that highlights how fetal personhood policies can strip pregnant patients of constitutional rights, leading to forced medical treatments and controversial legal precedents.

Overconfidence Is How Wars Are Lost

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The United States entered the conflict with Iran suffering from extreme overconfidence fueled by the appearances of a swift victory in Venezuela. Trump dismissed risks to oil markets and ignored asymmetric lessons from the war in Ukraine. Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz using inexpensive drones to target global shipping insurance. The strategic failure echoes past mistakes in Vietnam and Afghanistan where material superiority failed against resilient adversaries.

Flagler County Secures Federal Transit Administration Approval To Access Millions In New Public Transportation Funding

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Flagler County successfully completed the Federal Transit Administration Region IV process to become an official grant recipient. This designation follows a decade of effort by local staff. The county expects annual transportation grant awards to increase by more than 50% because of this milestone. Officials must maintain strict compliance with federal regulations. This federal support aims to enhance public transportation services for the entire community.

19 Questions Regarding ICE Detention In Flagler Jail Reveal Significant Gaps In Public Information

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The Flagler County jail is one of the state’s busiest holding facilities for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, collaborating with federal agencies in the Trump administration’s sweep of undocumented migrants. FlaglerLive submitted 19 questions to the Sheriff’s Office about the agency’s participation, costs and other issues related to the collaboration with ICE. Some questions were answered, others deferred to ICE, which did not respond.

Flagler County Sheriff Participation in Federal Immigration Sweeps Raises Questions About Local Taxpayer Costs

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Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly says local taxpayers will be left bearing no burden for participation in federal immigration sweeps. Signed agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement indicate the county remains responsible for salaries, benefits, training and other costs, and neither the Sheriff’s Office nor federal agencies are providing specific financial data, including about the cost of housing migrants at the county jail as transparency remains elusive.

At Least 205 Migrants Have Been Detained at Flagler County Jail So Far This Year as Part of ICE Sweeps

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At least 205 individuals arrested as part of the Trump administration sweep of undocumented migrants have been detained at the Flagler County jail so far this year, based on a day-by-day analysis of jail bookings by FlaglerLive. Records remain heavily redacted despite state public records laws. Local deputies now act as federal agents through the 287(g) program, with significant activity continuing daily. The jail reportedly offers better conditions than federal holding centers, but verification and transparency remain difficult to impossible.

Palm Coast Council Approves $2.5 Million Purchase of Temporary Buildings to Resolve Utility Office Crisis

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Palm Coast City Council members unanimously approved spending $2.5 million from the utility fund to purchase modular buildings. This decision replaces a failing administrative facility at 2 Utility Drive. Staff members evacuated the site recently due to severe plumbing and pest issues. Leaders chose purchasing over leasing to ensure better long-term value. The city intends to repurpose or sell these structures once operations eventually relocate.

Even ‘The West Wing’ Has Polarized America

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In 2016, The Guardian’s Brian Moylan asserted that the “The West Wing” was appealing because it portrayed “a world where the political system works.” Audiences have been comfort-streaming the “The West Wing” since Trump’s first term. Interest in the series spiked after Trump’s election in 2016, and it served as an escape from the contentious 2020 campaign.

Election Officials Warn of Cost and Chaos If Federal Law Requiring Citizenship Proof of Voters Passes

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The so-called SAVE America Act, which President Donald Trump is relentlessly pushing, would create chaos for state and local elections administrators by immediately imposing several new requirements without adding funding, former North Carolina elections chief Karen Brinson Bell said on a press call Tuesday organized by Washington U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell.

Clerk of Court Tom Bexley Enthusiastic About Hiring Resigning County Administrator Heidi Petito For Senior Role

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Flagler County Administrator Heidi Petito is negotiating a senior leadership role with Clerk of Court Tom Bexley, and both are eager to make it happen, they told FlaglerLive. The move follows Petito’s announcement of her resignation from the County Commission after 23 years of service. Petito now seeks to depart before her initial July 14 date, assuming commissioners grant the exit. This new position allows Petito to remain in public service within Flagler County.

Local Governments Are Proof that Polarization Is Not Inevitable

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When it comes to national politics, Americans are fiercely divided across a range of issues, including gun control, election security and vaccines. It’s not new for Republicans and Democrats to be at odds over issues, but things have reached a point where even the idea of compromising appears to be anathema, making it more difficult to solve thorny problems. But things are much less heated at the local level. A survey of more than 1,400 local officials by the Carnegie Corporation and CivicPulse found that local governments are “largely insulated from the harshest effects of polarization.”

Palm Coast Scores Clean Financial Audit in Independent Review Of 2025 Records

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The City of Palm Coast received an unmodified audit opinion for the 2025 fiscal year. Independent auditors found no material weaknesses regarding internal controls or state and federal funding usage. The city continues its decades-long streak of receiving national awards for financial reporting excellence. Residents can access detailed budget data through the online Finance Transparency Dashboard.

Palm Coast Council Rejects Rezoning For Concrete Plant on Hargrove Grade, Opposing Heavy Industry Precedent

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The Palm Coast City Council voted 4-1 to deny a rezoning request from Hard Rock Materials today, preventing a concrete batch plant from opening in the Hargrove Grade industrial park on a 10-acre parcel Hard Rock paid $2.1 million for last year. Local business owners argued that heavy industrial operations would degrade the light industrial area. The council prioritized maintaining zoning consistency and protecting existing property interests over what would have been 20 jobs and modest tax revenue.

Florida Sheriffs Led by Polk’s Grady Judd Sharply Criticize Federal Mass Deportation Efforts

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Florida law enforcement leaders on the State Immigration Enforcement Council now advocate for a path to legal status for undocumented residents without criminal records. Council chair Grady Judd expressed concerns that federal agents are sweeping up productive individuals who contribute to the economy. The group suggests a 5-year process involving civil fines and English proficiency. This shift contrasts with previous support for aggressive deportation.

Why Trump Is Losing the War at Home

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Donald Trump entered the Iran war with historically low public support. Americans traditionally favor restraint over forced regime change, but the administration failed to prepare the public or the cabinet for significant economic sacrifices as oil price hikes are fueling domestic resentment and influential conservative voices and young male supporters feel betrayed.

Florida Gas Average Up 29 Percent In Two Weeks

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Pump prices in Florida increased 27 cents over the past week and have grown 82 cents since the on-going war with Iran began. In Palm Coast, gas on Monday was selling for $3.75 at Wawa and $3.99 at RaceTrac on State Road 100, with different stations offering $3.75, $3.79, $3.89 and $3.99 along Palm Coast Parkway, according to GasBuddy.

Hey, Congress, Anybody There?

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The Trump administration’s assault on Iran features inconsistent justifications, ranging from nuclear destruction to divine plans. Although the executive branch often sidesteps traditional declarations of war, Congress retains significant constitutional checks. By utilizing the War Powers Resolution, public oversight hearings, and the power of the purse, lawmakers can challenge presidential authority. Mounting fiscal deficits and declining public support may eventually force congressional action.

Florida Eagerly Turns Back the Clock to 1956

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Florida’s Legislature is actively rolling back diversity initiatives, voting rights, and LGBTQ+ protections. New educational mandates target perceived Marxist influences in universities and grade schools. State leaders are prohibiting local climate policies to protect industrial interests, all of it intentionally retreating toward the restrictive cultural and environmental standards of 1956.

FPL Scores Highest Profit Margin of Almost All Investor-Owned Utilities in the Country in 2025

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Florida Power and Light, which serves around 6 million customers in Florida and serves all of Flagler County, far exceeded the 13 to 15 percent average in profit margin for American investor-owned utilities, ranking atop the list in profit margin for 2025, and second on the list between 2021 and 2024. FPL’s profit margin in 2025 was 27.44 percent, followed by MidAmerivan Energy with 27.16 percent.

Saturday in Byblos:
Wendell Berry’s Celebration of Old Jack’s Crusty Life

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Wendell Berry’s 1974 novel explores the final day of Jack Beechum. The narrative drifts through decades of Kentucky history as Jack finds sanctuary in the land but remains alienated from the people on it or in his life. The prose reaches heights of elegiac beauty, occasionally descending into mawkish parody and didactic sneers as Berry maintains a tension between agrarian ideals and harsh judgment of urban progress and human failure. The novel is part of the Port William series.

This Sunshine Week, Florida Reflects Alarming National Trend of Blocking Public Access To Essential Information

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Government transparency in the United States has reached a historical low point during the second Trump administration. Florida, once a leader in open government, now exemplifies a national trend of “secrecy creep” through exorbitant fees and withheld records. Federal actions, including the firing of FOIA oversight officials and the deletion of databases, have created a culture of obfuscation that threatens the foundations of democracy.

Severe Drought Expands Across Flagler, Northern and Western Counties After 4 Months of Dry Weather

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The St. Johns River Water Management District reports significant hydrologic declines following four months of minimal rainfall. All eighteen counties recorded below-average precipitation during February. These dry conditions caused groundwater levels in the Upper Floridan aquifer to drop into the eleventh percentile. Most of the state currently faces moderate to extreme drought. Residents should follow Phase I water shortage restrictions to preserve dwindling regional water supplies during this period.

Florida Lawmakers Pass Bill To Arm University Professors

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The Florida House passed a legislative package authorizing professors and university appointees to carry firearms on campus. This measure extends the School Guardian Program to public colleges. Lawmakers resolved a dispute regarding private religious school security by focusing exclusively on higher education. The bill mandates university threat-management teams and faculty training for behavioral warning signs.

25 Years of American Stupidity in the Middle East

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Western and particularly American meddling in the Middle East represents a persistent cult of failure rooted in historical hubris. Leashed to Israel, Donald Trump is continuing the tradition by targeting Iran, a civilization far older and more resilient than the United States. The escalating stupidity is accelerating the American empire’s moral and financial bankruptcy while leaving behind a legacy of mass graves.

Flagler Beach City Commission Tables A1A Vacation Rental Project Over Alleyway Access and Design Concerns

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The Flagler Beach City Commission unanimously tabled a proposal for a three-story, eight-unit vacation rental at State Road A1A and South 17th Street. Commissioners generally favor the project. But they’re concerned about parking and the use of a dirt alleyway for primary access. Developer Ted Barnhill must now revise plans with the planning board to address traffic flow and neighborhood impact.

Florida Legislature Approves Bill Banning Student IDs and Requiring Proof of US Citizenship for All Future Voters

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The Florida Legislature approved HB 991, requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration. The bill removes student and retirement IDs as acceptable forms of identification. Although there’s no indication or proof of voter fraud beyond isolated cases, Republicans argue the measure ensures integrity. The measure will disenfranchise eligible voters lacking specific documents. The law takes effect in 2027, requiring citizenship verification through motor vehicle department records.

Data Center Secrecy Clears Florida Legislature

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The Senate on Friday voted 31-6 on a bill (SB 484) that imposes restrictions on proposed data centers, including reinforcing the ability of local governments to refuse them. But the House previously amended the measure to allow local governments to enter into non-disclosure agreements with tech companies for up to 12 months that would hide data center proposals from the public.

Meanwhile in Ukraine

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The joint U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran provides significant indirect support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Rising global oil prices, triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, bolster Russian federal revenues. Additionally, the diversion of American munitions and diplomatic attention leaves Ukraine vulnerable. However, Ukraine’s superior drone warfare capabilities offer a unique bargaining chip for maintaining critical U.S. support during this period.

Judge Sets Bond At $250,000 For Palm Coast Student Accused Of Burying Newborn In Backyard

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Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols set bond at $250,000 for 20-year-old Anne Mae Demegillo, a Palm Coast student accused of allowing her newborn to die and burying the infant. Demegillo must surrender her passport and remain in Flagler County under conditions resembling house arrest. The court noted her lack of criminal history and sloppy attempts at hiding her deed from her parents.

Iraq War’s Aftermath Was a Disaster for the US. Iran Is No Different.

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The United States risks repeating its Iraq War failures by prioritizing military destruction over political governance in Iran. While tactical objectives might be met, the resulting power vacuum typically favors well-organized domestic forces like the Revolutionary Guard rather than Western-backed exiles. Without a coherent plan for 92 million citizens, Washington’s strategy of regime change creates regional instability and fails to resolve nuclear proliferation.

Flagler School Board Tensions Flare Again as Members Reject Lauren Ramirez’s Call For Procedural Retreat

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Flagler County School Board members rejected a request from Lauren Ramirez for a retreat to discuss board procedures and parliamentary conduct. The discussion highlighted ongoing friction between members and exacerbated by a vacant fifth seat Governor Ron DeSantis has failed to fill though he’s known it would require an appointment for a year. Members argued a retreat should wait until a full board is seated following the upcoming August primary or November election.

The Persian Gulf’s Vulnerable Desalination Plants

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The escalating conflict between Iran, Israel, and the U.S. puts the Persian Gulf’s vital desalination infrastructure at extreme risk. With 100 million people dependent on these facilities, any significant damage could render the region uninhabitable. Historical precedents from the 1991 Gulf War and recent Houthi strikes highlight this vulnerability. Targeting these essential water sources would devastate regional economies and constitute a major human-rights violation.