Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris is proposing an AI-drafted austerity resolution introducing hiring freezes, department mergers, and reduced public services to counter impending state homestead exemption tax cuts. The draft conflates self-supported enterprise funds with the city general fund, drawing skepticism from city council members and reserve from the city manager. City Attorney Marcus Duffy will format the shell proposal into an official resolution for formal council consideration later this month.
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Daily Cartoon and Briefing
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, June 11, 2026
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local
Ethics Commission Dismisses Yet One More ‘Legally Insufficient’ Complaint, This Time Against the Council’s Pontieri
In the last two years the Florida Ethics Commission has tossed out complaints against Flagler County Airport Director Roy Sieger, former Palm Coast City Manager Lauren Johnston, Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris, former Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin, former Council member Ed Danko, Bunnell Planning Board member Lynn Lafferty, and Flagler Beach City Manager Dale Martin. It added one more name today: City Council member Theresa Pontieri.
Federal Felon and Identity Thief Charged with Accosting 15-Year-Old Boy in Showers at Planet Fitness
A Daytona Beach man who pleaded guilty in a federal fraud case is accused of exposing himself to a 15-year-old boy inside a Planet Fitness locker room and attempting an unwanted interaction during a shower. The teenager later identified Craig Stevens, 34, in a photo lineup with complete confidence. Detectives charged Stevens with lewd or lascivious exhibition, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Palm Coast Council Seeks to Protect Old Matanzas Golf Course Viewshed in Perpetuity. Developer Has Other Ideas.
The Palm Coast City Council moved to tighten its Land Development Code to protect golf course viewsheds from development, specifically targeting areas around the old Matanzas Woods Golf Course for protection. There was intense resident opposition against a developer’s plan to build 39 homes on a protected tract at the old gold course when presented at a neighborhood meeting in April. The proposed code changes aim to make view protections permanent, setting up a potential legal battle over property rights.
More Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local
Palm Coast Mayor Norris Calls for ‘Austerity Budget’ as Council Grapples with Downturn and Homestead Upheaval Ahead
Palm Coast City Council members will consider an austerity budget resolution to prepare for sharp revenue losses from a proposed Florida homestead exemption amendment and this year’s slight downturn in property values. Existing city property values dropped over one percent, prompting discussions of a potential hiring freeze. Residential properties generate 90 percent of local tax revenue. Construction growth is generating enough revenue to keep the budget growing slightly.
July 3 and 4 Celebration of 250th Anniversary from Flagler Beach Parade to Palm Coast Fireworks at County Airport
Flagler County Government and the Cities of Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, and Bunnell invite all Flagler County residents and visitors to the 2026 United Flagler Community Celebration on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4, this time for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration and American independence. It’ll start with First Friday in Flagler Beach and culminate with a 15-16 minute firework show featuring thousands of shells at the county airport. All events are free.
County Commissioners Berate Some Constitutionals More Than Others Over Their Budgets as Austerity Era Begins
Flagler County constitutional officers such as the clerk of court, the sheriff and the property appraiser face a grueling budget cycle amid stalled revenues and a looming November ballot amendment to eliminate homesteaded property taxes. In an afternoon workshop today, county commissioners aggressively challenged proposed budget increases from the clerk of court and property appraiser. In response to future shortfalls, Commission Chair Leann Pennington directed the acting administrator to model sweeping 10 percent across-the-board budget cuts.
27-Year-Old Palm Coast Man Stabs a Child in His Care and Faces Aggravated Child Abuse Charge
Devroy Miller, a 27-year-old resident of Rocket Lane in Palm Coast, is at the Flagler County jail on a charge of aggravated child abuse and no bond following his alleged stabbing of a juvenile in his care. Miller is married to the juvenile’s guardian. Aggravated child abuse is a first-degree felony charge punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
Marineland Officials Stunned by an Unauthorized Attempt to Sell Private Boat Slips in the Town’s Marina for $195,000
A boater shocked Marineland town commissioners by reporting an unauthorized salesman offering to sell her a marina boat slip for $195,000. JDI Development owns six of the public marina’s boat slips, which may legally be sold. The surprise solicitation emerged just as commissioners prepared to clarify JDI Marineland’s 2009 lease.
Florida’s Bathtub Hoax on Homesteaded Taxpayers
The Florida Legislature’s proposed constitutional amendment to expand the homestead tax exemption is a hoax that claims the homesteaded are overtaxed and local governments are wasteful. The proposal, if it passes, threatens to severely cripple local government budgets, starving infrastructure, emergency medical responses, social programs, and community safety initiatives. Homeowners will ultimately absorb higher out-of-pocket costs for neglected public services. The current system already unfairly shifts tax burdens onto local businesses and renters.
As County Throws More Cold Water on 22,000-Home ‘Western Expansion,’ Developer Defends Retreat from Previous Commitments
Raydient’s plan to develop 22,000 housing units on 22,000 acres wet of U.S. 1 in Palm Coast continues to draw criticism as it did last Monday at the County Commission, and previously from members of the Palm Coast City Council. On WNZF’s Free For All Friday this morning, Mike Hahaj, the director of commercial development and operations for Raydient, addressed some of the issues in contention.
Bunnell Police Chief Brannon Completes Elite FBI National Command Leadership Course
Bunnell Police Chief David Brannon completed the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Command Course for small-agency executives. The week-long program gathered 52 law enforcement leaders to address budget constraints, staffing limitations, and public trust. Participants studied historical leadership at Mount Vernon and the Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Flagler County Man Dies After Car Rolls Into I-95 Retention Pond at Palm Coast Parkway Exit
A Flagler County man lost his life this morning when his car rolled over from the I-95 exit ramp to Palm Coast Parkway and ended up submerged and upside down in a retention pond. The man had been driving north when he took the Exit 289 ramp, apparently at high speed. The car veered off the ramp and struck a tree before ending up in the pond some 40 feet from the embankment.
NE Florida Regional Council Declares Data Centers Regional Issue on Andy Dance’s Motion, Empowering Local Governments
The Northeast Florida Regional Council unanimously voted to designate data center growth as an official regional issue on Flagler County Commissioner Andy Dance’s motion at a meeting in Jacksonville this morning. The move unlocks planning, legal, and economic resources for seven member counties and two dozen cities that are members of the council, including palm Coast and Flagler County, which are working toward a data center moratorium. Governments face challenges balancing heavy utility demands and environmental impacts against regional economic development.
Commissioner Kim Carney Accuses CFO Ingoglia of Using Flagler as ‘Campaign Crutch’ as He Peddles Unproven Claims of Waste
The Flagler County Commission directed its administration to draft an official rebuttal countering claims by CFO Blaise Ingoglia, of $59 million in local government waste. The accusations rely on a misleading formula deployed statewide as a campaign tactic as Ingoglia uses counties like Flagler as a “crutch” in his campaign, Commissioner Kim Carney said. Flagler commissioners defended budget growth, citing necessary investments, including the restoration of required emergency cash reserves.
The Live Calendar: Today in Flagler
June 2026
Jun 11 2026
Flagler Beach United Methodist Church Food Pantry
Flagler Beach United Methodist Church
Jun 11 2026
Flagler County Drug Court Convenes
Flagler County courthouse
Jun 11 2026
Northeast Florida Regional Council Board of Directors Meeting
Northeast Florida Regional Council
Jun 11 2026
Model Yacht Club Races at the Pond in Palm Coast’s Town Center
Central Park in Town Center
Jun 11 2026
Palm Coast Democratic Club Meeting
Flagler County Democratic Party HQ
Jun 11 2026
Oversight ILA Committee on School Facilities
Government Services Building
Jun 11 2026
The Circle of Light A Course in Miracles Study Group
United Methodist Church
Jun 11 2026
Flagler Beach City Commission Meeting
Flagler Beach City Hall
Jun 11 2026
Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series
Whitney Laboratory Lohman Auditorium
Jun 11 2026
‘The Battle of Shallowford,’ at Limelight Theatre
Limelight Theatre
Jun 12 2026
Free For All Fridays With Host David Ayres on WNZF
WNZF
Jun 12 2026
Coffee and Conversation with Palm Coast City Manager Michael McGlothlin
No event found!
The Conversation
Soccer or Football? Don’t Let Snobbery Be the Answer.
This disparagement of the word “soccer” is not only petty and tiresome – it is also incorrect. It ignores the roots of the sport and the development of the language of the game. Rather than making the word taboo, the football ecosystem should embrace it. “Soccer” was freely and proudly used in the British press and in public for nearly a century, until the 1980s. The British press continues to use “soccer” and “football” interchangeably to avoid repetitive writing.
Florida and Beyond
David Jolly Announces Gwen Graham as Gubernatorial Running Mate
David Jolly, the Democratic frontrunner in the Florida gubernatorial race, named former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham as his running mate during a Tallahassee press conference Wednesday, feet from the Old Capitol. He emphasized their bipartisan relationship during their time in Congress, highlighting joint work on preventing offshore oil drilling, gun reform, and veterans’ rights. Jolly served in Congress from 2014 to 2017 as a Republican, became an independent for six years, and then switched to the Democratic Party in April 2025.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Free Car Seat Safety Check at Palm Coast Fire Station 25, Community Preparedness Workshop at the Emergency Operations Center, Conversations in Democracy, Scott Pelley on his firing, democracy and dictatorship.
Why Children’s Reading Scores Aren’t Rising
There is a crowded marketplace of reading textbooks and software for schools to purchase, and it is often difficult to determine which one is better than the others. As a result, schools may end up purchasing new, expensive materials that do little to improve reading skills.
More Florida and Beyond
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, June 9, 2026
The Palm Coast City Council meets in workshop to discuss taxes and the land development code, the Flagler County School Board meets as does the county planning board, a B’TSelem report on Israeli ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Jerusalem.
5 Ways Data Centers Endanger Community and Country
The rapid expansion of data centers driven by artificial intelligence creates significant physical consequences for local communities as facilities strain electrical grids, deplete water resources and impose on neighbors persistent noise pollution and diminished air quality from backup generators. Rising demand also threatens to increase residential energy bills significantly. Sustainable planning and renewable energy adoption remain essential for mitigating these widespread public health risks.
This School District Has Received Death Threats for Standing Up for Immigrants. It’s Not Backing Down.
The Winooski School District in Vermont passed a pioneering sanctuary policy to protect its highly diverse immigrant student population from federal immigration enforcement. Led by Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria, the small district maintains its stance despite facing intense backlash, federal funding threats, and community trauma from local detentions. This controversial local policy successfully inspired a new state law mandating immigration enforcement protocols for all Vermont schools.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, June 8, 2026
The Flagler County Commission talks constitutional officer budgets, including that of the sheriff, a quick trial before Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols, Nietzsche on art, Werner Herzog talks to Anderson Cooper.
Inflation and ICE Fears Threaten Miami’s Economic Benefits from World Cup
Miami, one of the venues for the World Cup, may be hit hard as recent tourism reports indicate there will be fewer hotel reservations than anticipated due to reduced international travel confidence and a growing uncertainty related to U.S. immigration policies, geopolitical instability, tariffs and inflation.
Florida’s Budget Fails Citizens But Delivers Overdue Justice For Groveland Four
Florida lawmakers approved a $115 billion budget packed with corporate handouts, political propaganda, costly special sessions and fiscal waste on private legal fights and environmental liabilities, but at least the Legislature agreed to allocate $4 million to compensate families of the Groveland Boys. The gesture provides financial restitution to the descendants of four Black men subjected to a notorious 1949 racial injustice.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, June 7, 2026
Watermelon Festival at European Village, a suggestion to commenters everywhere from the Myth of Sisyphus, The Battle of Shallowford, a play at Limelight Theatre, a few lines from Mary Gaitskill’s “This Is Pleasure.”
Marjane Satrapi’s Masterpiece, “Persepolis,” Transformed Our Understanding of Iran
The death of Iranian-French graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi highlights her enduring contribution to international literature through her masterpiece Persepolis. Her beautifully illustrated graphic memoir humanized the complex realities of the Iranian Revolution. Satrapi offered a universally accessible language for political displacement, successfully challenging Western stereotypes. Her work balanced structural critiques of authoritarian regimes with a sharp rejection of Western cultural hypocrisy.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, June 6, 2026
The Flagler Beach All Stars hold their monthly beach clean-up starting at 9 a.m., The Battle of Shallowford, a play at Limelight Theatre, the Normandy landing and what New Yorkers were reading about that morning.
How The 1994 World Cup Rescued Soccer
The defensive, cynical play of Italia ’90 pushed FIFA to implement major rule changes ahead of the 1994 World Cup. The introduction of the backpass rule and the three-point system incentivized attacking play. These historic adjustments permanently elevated the ethical and aesthetic standards of the sport. Fans should expect high-quality, entertaining matches when the tournament returns to North America.
Florida Cabinet Prepares to Award Another $90 Million For Illegal Immigration Enforcement
Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet next week will consider approximately $90 million in grants for local law enforcement agencies throughout the state. The money will go toward a fire suppression system for a server room in Escambia County, handguns for Santa Rosa County, drones for Alachua County and “official police” patches for uniformed officers with the Auburndale Police Department.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, June 5, 2026
Free For All Fridays with Host David Ayres features the developer of the Palm Coast westward expansion and Byron Donalds, First Friday in Flagler Beach, The Battle of Shallowford, a play at Limelight Theatre, the shoot-down of Iran Air Flight 655 on the eve of Independence Day 1988.
Yet Another Botched Execution
Tennessee set out to execute Tony Carruthers on May 21, 2026, but he lived to tell about it. What happened to Carruthers is a reminder that things frequently go wrong in executions, even if in almost all cases the problem is resolved and the execution is completed. Indeed, in the past 80 years, only eight other men have had experiences like Carruthers’ and survived execution attempts.
Commentary
The World Cup Is About Cultural Exchange. But in Trump’s America?
The most culturally diverse men’s football World Cup in history is taking place in the United States at a time when foreign nationals feel less and less welcome in the country. In 2026, the US has created an unwelcome situation for potential travellers. ICE raids on suspected migrant populations have dominated the news for months. This has an impact on numbers.
No Economic Gains for U.S. Workers Where Ice Ramped Up Enforcement
In the first year of Trump’s second term, unemployment rose, hiring slowed and wage growth stagnated. The construction sector was hit particularly hard. While areas with heavier ICE enforcement saw a drop in employment among immigrants, there was no increase in either employment or wages among U.S. citizens.
Federal Flood Insurance’s Two Moral Hazards
Perverse incentives create different cycles of vulnerability across income levels. The problem with federal disaster insurance today isn’t just about subsidizing wealthier coastal homeowners – it’s equally about leaving low-income households systematically underinsured without resources to either protect themselves or leave.
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