Wednesday Briefing: Agronomy Lab at Buddy Taylor Middle, Felon Voting Rights, Eyes on Matthew

hurricane matthew — Hurricane Matthew as it struck Cuba Tuesday. (NOAA)

Today: Mostly cloudy with chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain 50 percent. Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening…then showers likely and slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Near steady temperature in the upper 70s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent. Details here.
Drought Index is at 259.
Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway.
Today’s document from the National Archives.
The OED’s Word of the Day: prima donna assoluta, n..
The Live Community Calendar
Today’s jail bookings.

Today’s Briefing: Quick Links

First Light
In Flagler and Palm Coast
Local Media Recap
Flagler Jail Bookings and Sheriff’s Crime Reports
In State Government
In Coming Days in Flagler, Palm Coast and Beyond
The Day’s Best Reads
Fact-Checking the Knaves
Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports
Local Road and Interstate Construction
Cultural Coda

“Is this the secret of Istanbul-that beneath its grand history, its living poverty, its outward-looking monuments, and its sublime landscapes, its poor hide the city’s soul inside a fragile web? But here we have come full circle, for anything we say about the city’s essence says more about our own lives and our own states of mind. The city has no center other than ourselves.”

–Orhan Pamuk, from “Istanbul” (2003)

In Flagler and Palm Coast:

Note: all government meetings noticed below are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated. Many can be heard or seen live through each agency’s website.

For the latest Hurricane Matthew coverage, go here.

School schedules: As of this morning, all schools in Flagler County are open today and following their regular schedule, but all sports and after-school activities, including Flagler Youth Orchestra rehearsals at Indian Trails Middle School, have been cancelled. Schools will be CLOSED Thursday and Friday.

Palm Coast Animal Control holds a hearing at 1 p.m. at City Hall in Town Center.

oliva conklin splc — The state of Education. (© FlaglerLive)

The Palm Coast Code Enforcement Board meets at 10 a.m. at city hall in Town Center.

The Palm Coast Beautification & Environmental Advisory Committee meets at 5 p.m. at city hall in Town Center to review and approve a letter to the city council regarding the Land Development Code recommendations by the advisory committee.

Agronomy Lab Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening, Buddy Taylor Middle School, originally scheduled for 4 p.m., has been cancelled.

The Flagler County Republican Club will host National Committeeman Peter Feaman, who represents Florida, along with Republican candidates who made it through the August 2016 primary. Feaman will discuss the role of committee members in relation to the local, state and national effort and provide updates on 2016 Presidential election. The final meeting before the November 8th general election will provide an opportunity to meet and greet local candidates in attendance. Open to registered Republicans, club members and their guests. Doors open at 5:30 pm. Meeting starts at 6:00 p.m. Palm Coast Community Center.

Local Media Recap:

Updated jail bookings and day and night shift incident summary reports are available here.

Matthew approaching; prepare now for possible impact, Gov. says

As Flagler Declares Emergency, Hurricane Matthew’s Track Turns to Double-Edged Sword of Uncertainty For Local Officials

Weeks Era Aftershocks: Ex-Employee Sues Elections Supervisor Lenhart Over Discrimination Claims

Flagler County reports declining unemployment, rising young adult population

Scott and Cabinet Poised for $16 Million Sensitive Land Buy, Largest in 10 Years

Carnage Embroidered in Pink Hope at Flag-Raising for Breast-Cancer Awareness

In Florida and in State Government:

Note: Some proceedings below can be followed live on the Florida Channel.

Associated Industries of Florida will hold its annual conference with speakers slated to include Gov. Rick Scott, state chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and state Republican Chairman Blaise Ingoglia. (Events start at 9 a.m., LoewsÃ‚ PortofinoÃ‚ Bay Hotel, 5601 Universal Blvd., Orlando.)

The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in four cases, including a dispute about a 2003 state law that directed Sarasota County to reimburse private hospitals for indigent care. Private hospitals went to the Supreme Court after the 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled that part of the law was unconstitutional. Justices also will hear a dispute about documents disclosed in medical-malpractice lawsuits. The case stems, in part, from a 2004 constitutional amendment that sought to ensure broad access to records held by hospitals and other providers about “adverse” medical incidents. (9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

Felon voting rights: The Financial Impact Estimating Conference will hold a workshop on a proposed constitutional amendment that would automatically restore voting rights for non-violent felons. The proposal, known as the “Voter Restoration Amendment,” could go on the 2018 ballot. (9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

President Barack Obama was expected to campaign in Miami for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. That visit has been cancelled because of Hurricane Matthew.

–Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive

In Coming Days in Palm Coast, Flagler and the Occasional Beyond:

♦ Oct. 8: Join the Friends of the Library for The People’s Choice, a musical celebration of U.S. Presidential Elections since 1788, presented by the Island Duet. This musical journey will leave you with a smile on your face and proud to be American. Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Light refreshments will be served. Starting at 2 p.m. For questions, call 386/446-6763.

jon netts priscilla netts — Jon Netts and his wife Priscilla five years ago, the day he won re-election to his last term as mayor. (© FlaglerLive)

♦ Oct. 13: “We Honor Your Honor,” a public reception, celebrates Mayor Jon Netts’ 16 years of service to Palm Coast–as a Code Board member from 2000 to 2001, a City Council member from 2001 to 2007, and as Mayor since 2007. He is term-limited. He will be replaced by Milissa Holland, his long-time protegee, come November. Fire Chief Mike Beadle will emcee the event, and Council Member Jason DeLorenzo, who is running for a county commission seat, will be the main speaker. The reception starts at 4:30 p.m., with formalities beginning at 5:15 p.m.
♦ Oct. 21: Florida’s and Flagler’s September unemployment num,bers are released at 10 a.m.
♦ Oct. 25: Entrepreneur Night at Channel Side in Palm Coast, 5:30 to 7 p.m., 1 Yacht Club Dr. At the event, you will enjoy free appetizers along with a cash bar. As always, you can expect to make many new connections and have meaningful conversations with Entrepreneurs, Investors, and folks who provide support and services to entrepreneurs. Free. RSVP here.
♦ Oct. 27: the Flagler County Chamber will host “Meet the City Managers” with Dan Davis of Bunnell, Jim Landon of Palm Coast and Larry Newsom of Flagler Beach. Each manager will provide a short update of what’s happening in their city and be available to answer questions. 8 to 9:30 a.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 55 Town Center Blvd., Palm Coast, Registration at 7:45 a.m., $20.00 for members in advance with payment. Contact Tiffany Edwards for more information, tiffany@flaglerchamber.org.
♦ Nov. 4-5: The Florida Agricultural Museum will host the seventh annual Pellicer Creek Raid on Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program will involve a number of living history groups from around the southeastern United States. Approximately 150 infantry, artillery, and cavalry troops will be demonstrating military life in Florida circa 1864. Parades will take place at noon and battles at 1 p.m. on both days of the event. During the rest of the program, the re-enactors’ historic camps will be open to the public. Admission is $5 per person. For more information, please contact the Florida Agricultural Museum at (386) 446-7630 or info@floridaagmuseum.org. The museum is located at 7900 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast.
♦ Nov. 5-6: Tommy Tant Memorial Surf Contest and Food Festival in Flagler Beach.
♦ Nov. 5: Flagler Fun Coast Bed Race, with Nov. 6 as rain date, In Flagler Beach.
♦ Nov. 29: A hearing is scheduled before Circuit Judge Scott DuPont in the case of Dunn v. Flagler County Schools, the case involving an allegation that two children were bullied and one of them was sexually assaulted by other children at a voluntary pre-kindergarten at Old Kings Elementary school in 2015. See the background story here. 1:45 p.m., Courtroom 402, Flagler County Courthouse.
♦ Feb. 6: The great violinist Itzhak Perlman opens the 2017 season of the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival with a 7:30 p.m. performance at First Baptist Church, 1600 South 8th Street in Fernandina Beach. Tickets here.

The Day’s Best Reads:

How irrelevant is the vice presidency? For nearly a fifth of U.S. history, no one held the office https://t.co/u5S7miImEA pic.twitter.com/c97FRWvrmy

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) October 5, 2016

If the Walton family of Walmart can receive billions in taxpayer subsidies, maybe it's OK for working people to get paid family leave. pic.twitter.com/Y6zmebzvuG

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) October 4, 2016

The Buzz: Obama has a message for black radio listeners in Florida https://t.co/bB2ONfxy22

— Buzz on Politics by Tampa Bay Times (@PoliticsTBTimes) October 5, 2016

The small successes—and one large failure—of the Smithsonian’s African American Museum: https://t.co/3oKjhBQ361 pic.twitter.com/5m6l7CkW7o

— Slate (@Slate) October 4, 2016

Five facts about the completion of the Trans-Siberian Railwayhttps://t.co/KaiiM8wjdI pic.twitter.com/cY7ppu4EN2

— Independent US (@IndyUSA) October 5, 2016

Fact-Checking the Knaves:

Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports

The following is an update of ongoing permitting, construction and development projects in Palm Coast, through Sept. 9 (the city administration’s full week in review is here):

Click to access development-sep-10.pdf

Road and Interstate Construction: