It’s been a perplexing World Cup. Should we be watching this thing? Should we be enjoying it? Shouldn’t we be getting outraged about human rights, LGBTQ rights, the death of migrants, environmental impacts? The questions reflect back on our own prejudices and stereotypes as much as they raise legitimate questions about Qatar’s right to host the biggest sports tournament in the world.
All Else
In Local Interview, Paul Renner Repeats Baseless Claims About Drag Queens and ‘Sexualization’ Of Children
Rep. Paul Renner, the Palm Coast-based Republican just elected Speaker of the House, returned to his criticism of “drag queen storytime” today in an interview on WNZF, repeating controversial–and baseless–claims that some parents are more interested in defending drag queens than ensuring that children learn to read.
Setting Off From New North Pole, Shop With a Cop Returns Tonight, Lights Ablaze and Sirens Blaring
Tonight’s the night when the Walmart parking lot will be ablaze with the emergency lights of dozens of cop cars as they converge on the store with 119 children aboard for the annual Shop With a Cop event.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, December 2, 2022
First Friday in Flagler Beach, Community Chorus of Palm Coast’s holiday concert, City Repertory Theatre’s Holiday Treat, John McPhee’s geology, when the Senate could find a pair.
Black Twitter’s Expected Demise Would Make It Harder to Publicize Police Brutality and Discuss Racism
Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter has thrown the future of Black Twitter into question. Social media users argue that the takeover has already had an impact on the Black social media community. Multiple sources report an almost immediate spike in the use of the N-word, and Musk has also allegedly mocked Black Lives Matter in general and the group’s apparel found at Twitter’s headquarters in San Francisco, California.
Ex-Palm Coast Doctor Doesn’t Contest Civil Suit Alleging Grave Claims; Judge Sets Trial for Damages
An unusual trial for civil damages that may feature only the plaintiff is scheduled in Flagler County Circuit Court for January against former Palm Coast physician Gerard Abate in a lawsuit he did not contest, alleging he drugged and raped a woman he had met on a dating site.
In Flagler Schools, New Regime of Book Challenges Is Laborious, Subjective and Fraught With Uncertainties
Gray areas of uncertainty, anxiety, subjectivity and a gaping lack of state direction are shading the new regime of serial book challenges and book bans in the Flagler school district as the state Department of Education has yet to issue directions on library holdings.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: December 1, 2022
City Repertory Theatre’s “A Holiday Treat: A Special Night of Story and Song,” the doomsday glacier the size of Florida, Jay London returns, Bill Bryson on the horror of RVs.
Oath Keepers Convictions: The Limits of Free Speech and the Threat Posed by Militias
Far-right extremists or other hate groups can claim they are just venting or even fantasizing – both of which would be protected under the First Amendment. In the absence of any specific plan, threat or incitement, group members may never suffer legal consequences for oral or written expressions that nonetheless create fear in those who draw these groups’ ire.
Shirley Chisholm Trail, Marking Giant National Legacy, Is Dedicated Along Palm Coast’s Pine Lakes Parkway
The Shirley Chisholm Trail, the work of the Democratic Women’s Club of Flagler County, connects Chisholm’s retirement years in Palm Coast to her historic achievements as the first Black member of Congress and the first woman to run for president from a major party, among many firsts. She died in 2005.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, November 30, 2022
A banned books talk at the public library, One Night of Queen at the Auditorium, more elimination rounds at the World Cup, Mark Twain on Power, H.L. Mencken on Mark Twain.
Capital Crime: The Long, Grim History of Botched Lethal Injections
Since 1900, in states across the country, lethal injections have been more frequently botched than any of the other type of execution methods used throughout that period. This includes hanging, electrocution, the gas chamber and the firing squad – even though these approaches are not without their problems.
Critical Medical Examiner Choice for Flagler’s District Down to Chief of Palm Beach Office and One of Her Assistants
Dr. Wendolyn Sneed is the Chief medical Examiner for District 15 in Florida, which covers all of Palm Beach County. She is also Dr. Catherine Miller’s boss. Miller is an associate medical examiner. On December 6, Sneed and Miller will be vying for the same job: Chief medical Examiner for District 23, which covers Flagler, St. Johns and Putnam counties, and is one of the least visible, most consequential jobs in the criminal justice system.
Flagler County’s Scott Simon Achieves Highest Code Enforcement Certification Level in Florida
Flagler County Code Enforcement Officer Scott Simon achieved the highest certification level in the State of Florida. The certification is provided through the Florida Association of Code Enforcement (FACE).
Accused of Killing His Grandfather, Luke Ingram Now Faces 1st Degree Murder and Rape Charges
Luke Ingram, 19, previously charged with second degree murder in the death of his grandfather, Darwin Ingram, at the Ingrams’ Palm Coast home, now faces a capital felony for the killing, exposing him to the death penalty, and a charge of rape, a life felony.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, November 29, 2022
Tyler Adams was all class responding to an Iranian reporter ahead of today’s USA-Iran match, a must-win for the U.S. to avoid elimination. The Freedom Readers Club at the library takes on Eli Wiesel’s “Night.”
Seafloor Evidence from Old Hurricanes Has Oceanographers Worried
Hurricanes leave behind telltale evidence that goes back millennia. The Atlantic has experienced even stormier periods in the past than we’ve seen in recent years. That’s not good news. It tells coastal oceanographers like me that we may be significantly underestimating the threat hurricanes pose to Caribbean islands and the North American coast in the future.
Coalition Calls for Florida Legislative Committee Focused on Climate Change
More than a dozen environmental and community-based organizations are calling on the new leaders of the Florida Legislature to create a special committee to address climate change, saying that the issue is the biggest threat to the state.
Bunnell Elementary’s Principal and Assistant Principal Get Flagler Schools’ Top Administrative Honors
The 2022–23 Assistant Principal of the Year for Flagler Schools is Donelle Evensen, assistant principal at Bunnell Elementary School. And the 2022–23 Principal of the Year for Flagler Schools is her boss, Bunnell Elementary Principal Marcus Sanfilippo.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, November 28, 2022
A possible plea and disposition in the case of Robert Batie, the psychologist accused of abusing an underage patient, the Bunnell City Commission meets, a contrast with the Artemis mission.
Beaming Misogyny Around the World
Misogyny, a sexist contempt and hatred of women, aims to keep women in a lower position than men within a patriarchal society. With discrimination against women enshrined in Qatari law – which, among other things does not criminalise domestic violence or sexual assault – misogyny is being beamed through televisions internationally, via the means of the 2022 men’s football World Cup.
Florida Voters Are Willing to Save Environmental Lands. Politicians? Not So Much.
In Florida, our politicians are constantly promising more tax cuts. Yet these voters opted to tax themselves more. And they did it because they wanted to save some greenery in an ever-increasing sea of gray asphalt. Politicians aren’t getting the message.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, November 27, 2022
The Washington Post reports on Flagler and Florida’s eroding beaches, Spain and Germany in a preview of a cup final, tundra and John McPhee coming into the country.
Health Harms of Mass Shootings Are Rippling Across Communities
A growing body of research reveals that the negative effects of mass shootings spread much farther than previously understood, harming the health of local residents who were not touched directly by the violence. Mental health experts say the recognition should prompt authorities to direct more attention and resources toward preventing such events — and helping a broader group of people after they occur.
8 Billion People and the Era of the Megapolis
On November 15, a baby girl in Manila became the eight billionth person in the world. Of those 8 billion people, 60% live in a town or city. By the end of the 21st century, cities will account for 85% of Earth’s predicted 10 billion inhabitants.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, November 26, 2022
Tree-lighting ceremony in Palm Coast’s Central park, the Gamble Jam, Casablanca at 80, Saudi Arabia gets to show us whether they’re for real, Michael Kazin asks: where’s the outrage?
Retailers May See a Little More Red This Black Friday
Retailers are gearing up for another blockbuster holiday shopping season, but consumers burned by the highest inflation in a generation may have other ideas. Amazon said it is laying off 10,000 workers, one of several big companies announcing job cuts recently. Bezos even cautioned consumers to hold off on big purchases like cars, televisions and appliances to save in case of a recession in 2023.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, November 25, 2022
The Celtic Angels Christmas at Flagler Auditorium, the United States and England from Qatar at 2 p.m, Simone de Beauvoir on American shopping, Jay London returns, America’s lethal gun culture.
FDLE Continues Search for Samantha Fiddler, Missing Since 2016
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has not forgotten Samantha Fiddler, who went missing from Polk County on Nov. 19, 2016. Fiddler was 29 at the time of her disappearance.
Florida Is Turning Its Back on the New South, Embracing its Dixie-fied Past
Florida for decades was determined to leave Jim Crow behind and separate ourselves from the likes of Alabama, with leadership committed to equal justice, open government, and voting rights — however imperfectly achieved. No more. With the reelection of Ron DeSantis, and ultra-conservative victories in gerrymandered congressional districts across the state, Florida is sliding back into the mire of its Old South past.
Death and Life in Cormac McCarthy’s The Passenger
The Passenger is a book of life and liveliness. The novel’s language communicates energy, not entropy – a sense of opening up, not winding down. At its most localised, this verbal exuberance runs through individual lexical choices. There seems no word that McCarthy doesn’t know and he fans life into archaic or obscure terminology (eskers, kedge, lemniscate, uncottered and many more).
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, November 24, 2022
Can we avoid another mass shooting today? A World Cup of upsets continues today with Brazil and Portugal on the potential chopping block, Philip Roth’s American Pastoral Thanksgiving.
Ormond Beach Police Looking for Corey Gaines, 39, a Suspect in a Stabbing Wednesday
Ormond Beach police are seeking the public’s help in finding Corey Donnell Gaines, 39, a suspect in a stabbing on Nov. 23 at 102 Tomoka Avenue.
Much of Florida’s Eroding Coast is Risking Home Collapses. Why Is Construction Continuing?
There’s a disturbing trend after hurricanes, and we’re seeing it with Ian: Many damaged areas see lots of money pouring in to rebuild in the same vulnerable locations. An important question communities should be asking is, if these are already in high-risk areas, why rebuild in the same place?
Be Local Buy Local with the Holiday Gift Guide and Small Business Saturday
Just like last year, the City of Palm Coast has partnered with several local businesses to offer special promotions in the Holiday Gift Guide and on the City’s social media channels valid from November 25 through December 31. Residents may view the Holiday Gift Guide by clicking here.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, November 23, 2022
A Christmas tree lot opens, Rodney Dangerfield has us rolling on the floor, the ravages of covid misinformation, winding down before Thanksgiving.
Qatar Is ‘Sportswashing.’ Fans Don’t Really Care.
“Sportswashing” is using sport as a tool of soft power, to clean up (and distract from) a murky political or humanitarian reputation. The World Cup is a massive deal. The last one, hosted by another controversial host nation, Russia, attracted 3.5 billion viewers across the world.
Renner Takes on ‘Drag Queen Story Time’ and Social Governance in 1st Speech as House Leader
In his first speech as Florida Speaker of the House, Paul Renner focused Tuesday on bread-and-butter measures such as reducing taxes and making housing more attainable but also touched on a culture war agenda that has defined the Ron DeSantis regime in Tallahassee.
3-2 Splits Resume as New School Board Members Are Seated and Massaro Is Elected Chair
The school board’s swearing in and reorganization meeting began on a note of unity but quickly turned to muted contention in a pair of telling 3-2 votes that renew the same split the board has contended with for the past several years.
Pennington and Hansen Are Sworn-In Today as County Commission Bids Joe Mullins Beggarly Farewell
After her trouncing victories over ex-Commissioner Joe Mullins and Independent Jane Gentile-Youd, Leann Pennington today will become only the third woman ever to serve on the Flagler County Commission, and the first Republican woman to do so. Some of the commissioners gave Mullins a send-off more triumphal than the public’s.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, November 22, 2022
Leann Pennington, who defeated Joe Mullins in the primary, is sworn-in as a Flagler County Commissioner, a little jazz ensemble, a lot of World Cup, Ron White, an ironic independence day and Bill Day’s reaction to the latest hate-inspired, assault-rifled massacre.
Why It’s Time to End Child Sponsorship
The narrative we are given is that sponsoring a child in the Global South is a way to make a positive difference in their lives. However, this narrative inaccurately frames children and their families as lacking, backward, inferior, and longing for the standards of the Global North.
Palm Coast Fire Department’s Lt. Patrick Juliano Earns ‘Lest We Forget Award’
The Knights of Columbus Corpus Christi Assembly 2810 and Santa Maria Del Mar Catholic Church recognized Palm Coast Fire Lieutenant Patrick Juliano with the Tony Gasparino “Lest We Forget Award.”
Hidden Until Now, Audits Reveal Millions in Medicare Advantage Overcharges
Newly released federal audits reveal widespread overcharges and other errors in payments to Medicare Advantage health plans for seniors, with some plans overbilling the government more than $1,000 per patient a year on average. Medicare Advantage, a fast-growing alternative to original Medicare, is run primarily by major insurance companies.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, November 21, 2022
The Flagler County Commission sends off Joe Mullins ahead of his last meeting, Qatar’s human rights record, what Netflix software engineers do with your $9.99 a month.
How Same-Sex Marriage Gained Bipartisan Support
While public opinion and different state laws on abortion rights are sharply dividing the country, there’s growing indication that most people agree on another once-controversial topic – protecting same-sex marriage.
Sea Turtles Hatching on Florida Beaches Are Feeling the Heat from Warming Climate
Florida plays an outsize role in the reproduction of loggerheads. Scientists estimate 90 percent of all the Atlantic Ocean’s loggerheads lay their eggs on Florida beaches. Then the ones that hatch here come back years later to lay their own eggs. But something funky is happening on those beaches: male turtles are disappearing.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, November 20, 2022
Pianist Michael Rickman plays Beethoven and Schumann in Ormond, the World Cup kicks off at 11 a.m., Qatar’s dismal human rights record, Abdullah Al-Arian’s case for Qatar.
The Good and Bad of the World Cup
Controversy has dogged the event ever since sport’s governing body, FIFA, handed Qatar hosting duties back in 2010. In spite of the controversy, the World Cup will be the most-watched sporting event of the year. Here are quick guide of the good and bad.
Citing Orwell, Federal Judge Calls DeSantis’s ‘Stop Woke Act’ Unconstitutional Muzzling of Academic Freedom
Calling the state’s approach “positively dystopian,” a federal judge on Thursday blocked a law championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that restricts the way race-related concepts can be taught in universities. The law is “antithetical to academic freedom and has cast a leaden pall of orthodoxy over Florida’s state universities,” Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker wrote in the 139-page ruling.