The new Florida school prayer law lets local school districts approve policies allowing students to deliver prayers at school events, but districts aren’t likely to approve such measures for fear of costly litigation.
All Else
I’ll Have What She’s Having
In Praise of Nora Ephron
Long before she was putting words into the mouth of Tom Hanks in “Sleepless in Seattle” and fake orgasms into the mouth of Meg Ryan in “When Harry Met Sally,” Ephron was mastering the craft of learning from and telling truths about people from all walks of life as a $98-a-week cub reporter for the New York Post.
Mike Pius’s Visual Recovery and Other Flashes of Brilliance: Wire Essentials, July 2
Firefighter Mike Pius is in recovery mode, Marco Rubio stutters on the Daily Show, Britain slumps ahead of the 2012 Olympics, Kandinsky is caught on the act of drawing, on video, Chief Justice Roberts goes transcendentalist, and more.
FlaglerLive Is Moving–Again
Just as we did a year ago, FlaglerLive is moving to a new server yet again, this time a dedicated one, because readership keeps outgrowing our old accommodations. We ask for your patience over the next 72 hours. And donations.
Discover Your Treasures: Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park is the dean of Flagler County parks: a 476-acre spread on both sides of State Road A1A, rich in history and intimate paths for solitary walks or preludes to more than a kiss. A renewed look, with an image gallery, at a particular Flagler treasure.
U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Health Care Reform, a Major Victory for Obama and the Uninsured
Chief Justice John Roberts joined the left of the U.S. Supreme Court in upholding the 2010 health care reform law, including the individual mandate. The Roberts ruling narrowed the allowance under tax rules, as opposed to the commerce clause. But the entire law was upheld.
Get to Work, Governor Scott, and Implement Health Care Reform Now
Now that the most conservative Supreme Court in the history of our nation has ruled that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional, perhaps it is time to redirect a little of that negative energy used to obstruct reform toward implementing the law and solving Florida’s health care crisis, writes former Florida House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber.
In a Victory for Rick Scott, Federal Judge Clears Path to a Limited Voter Roll Purge
It is the first significant ruling in the legal battle over Gov. Scott’s effort to remove allegedly ineligible voters from the rolls. At least two other lawsuits have been filed against Florida.
Flagler’s Sheriff and Judge Candidates Rub Elbows Raw at Long NAACP Forum
The revealing moments were less in what the candidates said than in how they said it, or in how they waited to say something. The crowd of 200 was relaxed and riveted. Many of the candidates were stiff, fidgety and tense.
Florida’s Hispanics Like Obama Over Romney By Big Margin, Dimming Rubio’s VP Appeal
Hispanic voters in Florida, traditionally Republican, prefer Obama over Romney by a 56-32 margin, buttressing the president’s advantage among Independents.
Red-Light Camera Ticket Revenue:
Palm Coast, 14%, Private Company, 86%
American Traffic Solutions, which runs Palm Coast’s red-light traffic cameras, will make up to $4,250 per camera per month, while Palm Coast makes just $700. Still, the Palm Coast City Council is ready to sign a seven-year deal.
Replacing Meeker: Palm Coast Council Will Appoint Successor Rather than Hold Election
Frank Meeker’s decision to serve until November as he runs for the county commission means the Palm Coast City Council cannot hold an election to fill out the two years of his term, but will instead appoint a replacement in November.
Weldon Ryan, Reigning Flagler Artist of the Year, Exhibiting at at Bethune-Cookman
The Bethune-Cookman University Visual Arts Gallery is featuring the works of Weldon Ryan in a exhibits that opens Friday, June 29, with a free reception. Ryan is Bethune-Cookman’s new artist-in-residence and the current Flagler County Artist of the Year.
Florida Professors Still Can’t Travel to Cuba On State’s Dime; Low IQ Execution Cleared
Three Florida cases are the many the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear, which means a ban on Florida university faculty’s travel to Cuba stands, as does Florida’s authority to execute a Daytona Beach murderer with an IQ of 70.
Tropical Storm Debbie Dumps 3 to 4 Inches on Flagler, With More to Come
Tropical Storm Debbie, slowly churning across the Florida Peninsula since the weekend, isn’t done yet, with areas of Northern Florida expected to get 10 to 15 inches of rain, and some perhaps getting as much as 25 inches.
U.S. Supreme Court Invalidates Most of the Key Provisions of Arizona’s Harsh Immigration Law
The United States Supreme Court has reversed key provisions of the controversial Arizona immigrant law, invalidating Arizona’s–or any state’s–law that would have given state or local police the power to make warrantless arrests of individuals suspected of being undocumented, or “illegal.”
The Vagina Monologues Ungagged
Vagina. Uterus. “There,” writes Marry Jo Melone in a look at the Lisa Brown-GOP flap over the words. “I’ve said those dirty words, and boy, did it feel good. It’s curious what a little free speech will do. It clears the mind.”
Haley Watson Is Miss Flagler County 2012
The annual Miss Flagler County Scholarship Pageant is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. this Sunday afternoon and at the Flagler Auditorium, with Miss Junior at 5 and Miss Flagler County at 7 p.m.
When American Health Care Heads for Texas
If the Affordable Care Act is overturned, the rest of the country should take a good look at the situation in Texas, because this is what happens when you keep Medicaid enrollment as low as possible and don’t undertake insurance reforms.
Miss Flagler County Pageant 2012 Contestants, Ages 16-23
A complete, click-through chart and photo gallery of the 2012 Miss Flagler County Scholarship Pageant contestants, Ages 16-23.
Oceans on Acid: How a Greenhouse Gas May Be Taxing the Seas
The surge in worldwide emissions of carbon dioxide–a greenhouse gas–may be overtaxing oceans, which can absorb only so much of it before altering their acidification, and affecting marine life.
Miss Junior 2012 Flagler County Contestants, Ages 12-15
Another complete click-through chart and photo gallery of the 15 Miss Junior Flagler County 2012 Contestants, Ages 12-15.
Flagler’s Competing Ham Radio Clubs Mark Field Day in Flagler Beach and at EOC
June 23 is National Field Day for amateur radio people all over the country. See it in action beginning at 1 p.m. at the Flagler Beach Fire Department and at at the Flagler County Emergency Operations Center.
Little Miss Flagler County 2012 Contestants, Ages 8-11
Another complete click-through chart and photo gallery of the 18 Little Miss Flagler County 2012 Contestants, Ages 8-11.
Lord of the Flies On a School Bus: The Bullying of Karen Klein
Karen Klein is the 68-year-old school bus monitor from Greece, N.Y., cruelly bullied by seventh graders and recorded on a YouTube video that went viral. The middle schoolers are acting out the persecuting spirit that christens their daily lives.
Wire Essentials, June 22: Banning College Football, Joking About Obama’s Blackness
Last Updated: Friday, 1:57 p.m. Banning college football: a debate, the Chamber of Commerce is undefeated at the US Supreme Court, the state of poverty in America, religious freedom as a license to discriminate, heckling and joking about Obama, press freedom’s scorecard.
Neurologist David Karaffa Joins Florida Hospital Flagler as Staff Physician
Dr. David Karaffa can treat a variety of conditions including seizure disorders, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, strokes, migraine, back pain, neuropathy and more.
Little Miss Flagler County 2012 Contestants, Ages 5-7
A complete, click-through chart and photo gallery of the 15 Little Miss Flagler County 2012 Contestants, Ages 5-7.
The Live Poll: Obama-Romney
Take the poll: Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are battling for Florida’s 29 electoral votes, which are more essential to Romney than they are to Obama: Romney can’t win without them, Obama can.
Mike Pius, Firefighter Just Back from Winning Gold in Europe, Is Seriously Hurt in Wreck
Lt. Mike Pius, one of the more popular and decorated Flagler firefighter-paramedics, suffered several broken bones and may be out six months following a wreck in St. Augustine, after a truck cut through Pius’s right-of-way. Flagler Fire Chief Don Petito said the firefighter brotherhood kicked in immediately after the wreck.
Poll Pots: Floridians Like Stand Your Ground, And Like Voter Roll Purges Even More
A new Quinnipiac University poll shows Floridian voters support the Scott administration’s ineligible-voter purge by 60-35 percent, and approve the stand your ground law by a 56-37 margin.
Invoking Conspiracies and ‘Party Purity,’ Pollinger’s Opponents Proceed With Suit
Court documents show that Sheriff’s candidate Ray Stevens and county commission candidate Dennis McDonald were involved in efforts to battle John Pollinger’s qualifications as a Republican candidate for sheriff as the case against Pollinger proceeds.
Democrats Outpacing Republicans In Florida Registrations, But Not in Flagler
More Democrats than Republicans registered to vote in Florida in May, driven by women and Hispanics, but Independents continue to make the biggest gains, and in Flagler County, Republicans have widened their registration lead to a full percentage point.
Flagler Sheriff’s Sgt. Roster, Accused By His Own Men, Is Demoted Over Falsifying Records
An internal affairs investigation of Jamie Roster found he’d falsified time sheets by booking at least $8,406.26 he’d not worked for. The investigation was triggered by complaints from men under his supervision, and reveals strains and morale issues at the sheriff’s office. Roster, demoted to deputy, is appealing.
Adult and Community Education Summber B Class Registration Now
The Flagler County Schools’ Adult & Community Education Department announces the beginning of the Summer B 2012 semester of classes. Summer B Session will begin July 9, 2012. Students may register by phone from June 18 – 29 by calling (386) 597-5480. After June 29, students may register at any Adult & Community Education Center, with locations throughout Flagler County including the Belle Terre Swim & Racquet Club, 73 Patricia Drive, Palm Coast, the A1A Center in the Hammock, and Flagler Technical Institute, 1 Corporate Drive, Palm Coast.
Rodney King’s Twilight, and Anna Deavere Smith’s: Coming to Palm Coast
Rodney King was found dead at his home’s pool on June 17. Anna Deavere Smith 18 years ago wrote “Twilight,” a one-woman play that retells the story of the Rodney King riots through the voices of 37 people involved in the story. “Twilight” will be staged in Palm Coast this fall.
Uninsured, Unaware of the Health Law Meant To Help Them, or the Court Case Against It
Despite spending tremendous political capital to pass the health law, Democrats are unlikely to win many votes from the law’s future beneficiaries, most of whom live in Republican-dominated states in the South and West.
Charlie Crist’s Sexuality, and Ours
Rome burns. But the greatest issue before us is whether Charlie is gay. The rumors naturally reveal far more about those who spread them than Crist, argues Maty Jo Melone.
Ciara Glover
Little Miss Flagler County Contestant (2012)
Ciara Glover is a Little Miss Flagler County contestant in the 5 to 7 year old category of the 2012 Flagler County Pageant.
Riley Eddy
Little Miss Flagler County Contestant (2012)
Riley Eddy is a Little Miss Flagler County contestant in the 5 to 7 year old category of the 2012 Flagler County Pageant.
Emily Consiglio
Little Miss Flagler County Contestant (2012)
Emily Consiglio is a Little Miss Flagler County contestant in the 5 to 7 year old category of the 2012 Flagler County Pageant.
Claire Collins
Little Miss Flagler County Contestant (2012)
Claire Collins is a Little Miss Flagler County contestant in the 5 to 7 year old category of the 2012 Flagler County Pageant.
Jordan Hope Collier
Little Miss Flagler County Contestant (2012)
Jordan Hope Collier is a Little Miss Flagler County contestant in the 5 to 7 year old category of the 2012 Flagler County Pageant.
Nicole Swanson
Little Miss Flagler County Contestant (2012)
Nicole Swanson is a Little Miss Flagler County contestant in the 8 to 11 year old category of the 2012 Flagler County Pageant.
Anjali Lahiri
Little Miss Flagler County Contestant (2012)
Anjali Lahiri is a Little Miss Flagler County contestant in the 8 to 11 year old category of the 2012 Flagler County Pageant.
Taylor Phillips
Little Miss Flagler County Contestant (2012)
Taylor Phillips is a Little Miss Flagler County contestant in the 8 to 11 year old category of the 2012 Flagler County Pageant.
Julimar Castaner
Little Miss Flagler County Contestant (2012)
Julimar Castaner is a Little Miss Flagler County contestant in the 8 to 11 year old category of the 2012 Flagler County Pageant.
Melissa Swanson
Little Miss Flagler County Contestant (2012)
Melissa Swanson is a Little Miss Flagler County contestant in the 8 to 11 year old category of the 2012 Flagler County Pageant.
Chelsea Barney
Miss Flagler County Contestant (2012)
Chelsea Barney is a Miss Flagler County Scholarship Pageant contestant in the 16-23 year old category of the 2012 Flagler County Pageant.
Karsyn Bembry
Miss Flagler County Contestant (2012)
Karsyn Bembry is a Miss Flagler County Scholarship Pageant contestant in the 16-23 year old category of the 2012 Flagler County Pageant.