Palm Coast City Council members approved a plan converting 320 planned townhomes into 244 single-family houses within the Sawmill Branch development on US1. Council member Dave Sullivan cast the lone dissenting vote over irreparable destruction of the Revolutionary-era Hewitt Sawmill historic site due to recent construction drainage. The developer promised to investigate these preservation claims before the final vote scheduled next month.
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Daily Cartoon and Briefing
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local
Palm Coast Buys Right-Of-Way For Future Whiteview Parkway Extension Through New U-Haul Storage Facility
The Palm Coast City Council approved the first phase of a multi-phase U-Haul storage facility on U.S. 1 at Whiteview Parkway. The city also bought a right-of-way through the property for $280,000 in cash and $220,000 in impact fee credits. Appraised for $700,000, the land enables the future westward extension of Whiteview Parkway.
Palm Coast Council Approves Tax Rebates of Up to 95% To Jumpstart Stalled Town Center Commercial Development
The Palm Coast City Council approved a construction and tax-incentive program to spark commercial construction in Town Center, offering property tax rebates of up to 90 percent or more for significant investments. Town Center has fallen far short of investment and revenue expectations as the special tax district expires in 2034. Leaders excluded residential projects from the deal, prioritizing vertical density and commercial growth over single-family homes.
Historic Old Brick Road Now a Battleground Between Flagler County Preservation and Palm Coast Expansion
Flagler County commissioners are stalling a proposed joint agreement with Palm Coast and Raydient, the developer of over 20,000 homes in the so-called “westward expansion” of Palm Coast, to ensure the preservation of historic Old Brick Road. They demand significant land buffers and flyover bridges instead of at-grade crossings. This firm stance aims to protect the World War I-era Dixie Highway remnant from development. The commission envisions the road as a vehicle-free linear park for nature-tourism.
More Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local
Judge Denies Restoring Bond For Anne Mae Demegillo Following Murder Indictment In Newborn Death
Anne Mae Demegillo will remain at the Flagler County jail following a judge’s ruling against restoring a $250,000 bond, now that a grand jury indicted the 21 year old on first-degree murder charges related to her newborn’s death. The capital felony status removes her legal entitlement to pretrial release. Defense attorneys unsuccessfully argued for her freedom based on lack of flight risk. Defense attorney Aaron Delgado has replaced Michael Politis.
Former Flagler Beach Fire Chief and Historical Museum President Robbie Creal Dies at Age 75
Former Flagler Beach Fire Chief Robbie Creal died at his North 5th Street home this weekend at 75. Creal served as fire chief for 26 years before leading the Flagler Beach Historical Museum. Police discovered his body Monday during a welfare check requested by his sister. Authorities found no signs of foul play. The local community remembers him for his extensive civic and historical contributions.
Flagler County February Jobless Rate Drops To 5.8% and Labor Force Adds 500 Workers
Flagler County’s unemployment rate improved slightly to 5.8 percent in February, after a 6 percent showing in January. The local labor force grew by 500 workers. Local wages remain below state and national averages. Single-family home prices decreased from last year and cash buyers accounted for over 40 percent of recent home sales.
Calling Plan ‘Garbage,’ Theresa Pontieri Vows to Block Westward Development Unless Rayonier Pays More for Infrastructure
Palm Coast Council Member Theresa Pontieri rejected Rayonier’s Palm Coast westward expansion plan, labeling the document “absolute garbage” for adding 10,000 homes but eliminating previous developer commitments for roads and parks as taxpayers pick up the $126 million cost of a “Loop Road.” Pontieri demanded the landowner fund infrastructure improvements before a new development order is submitted to the council for approval.
Palm Coast Council Member Theresa Pontieri’s Statement on Westward Expansion Development Proposal
The full text of Palm Coast City Council member Theresa Pontieri’s statement opposing a proposed Master Planned Development order submitted by Rayonier, the Wildlight, Fla.-based company that owns the majority of the 20,000 acres slated for the western expansion.
Palm Coast’s Lindsey Isaacs, 23, Arrested in Hit-And-Run That Killed Jorge Salinas, His Wife and a Motorcyclist
The Florida Highway Patrol arrested 23-year-old Lindsey Brooke Isaacs, a resident of Palm Coast’s Integra Woods apartments, for the October hit-and-run crash on I-4 that killed Deputy Flagler County Administrator Jorge Salinas, Nancy Salinas, and Joaquin Deno, a Deltona father of five. Investigators used license plate readers to locate Isaacs’s Dodge Durango. She previously sued to recover her car before these charges were filed.
Birthright Citizenship Ruling Will Decide Whether America’s 250th Is Celebration or Curtains
A Supreme Court ruling against birthright citizenship is a dangerous stepping stone toward mass denaturalization and the erosion of individual sovereignty. That’s Trump’s endgame. Anything less than a decision demolishing the challenge would disgrace the sestercentennial anniversary we are about to celebrate.
Severely Injured Puppy Found In Flagler County Park’s Ditch Shows Signs Of Illegal Dog Fighting
A severely injured puppy was abandoned in a ditch at Shell Bluff park, suffering from deep wounds and infections consistent with illegal dog fighting. Caroline Johnson of SMART coordinated the rescue and transport to East Coast Animal Hospital, where Shelly continues her recovery and prepares for future adoption. There are no current leads on the dog’s recent history.
Palm Coast Man, 64, Arrested After Detectives Intercept Illegal Peer-To-Peer Child Abuse Downloads
Flagler County authorities arrested 58-year-old Scott Beverst for possessing child sexual abuse material after detectives intercepted illegal downloads through a public peer-to-peer network and traced the IP address to his Palm Coast house, where he lived with his parents. Beverst admitted familiarity with the dark web and specific abuse series as investigators found hundreds of files on his laptop. He remains in jail on a $250,000 bond.
School Board Cools On YMCA Pool Partnership While Considering Building Its Own, Despite Fiascoes
The Flagler County School Board is not enthusiastic about a potential partnership with Palm Coast for a shared YMCA pool, instead showing interest in the district building its own Olympic-size facility despite past management and financial failures at its own Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club. This discussion coincided with an unsolicited $1.9 million offer from Ryan Companies for surplus district land that could provide revenue for a district stake at the YMCA.
Neighbors Mobilize Against Development of 39 Houses on Previously Protected Matanzas Golf Course Tract
Palm Coast L-section residents are largely opposed to a plans to develop 39 houses on the so-called Tract 3 of the former Matanzas golf course, a tract the Palm Coast City Council had protected from development in 2021, when it approved the broader, 268-home project. Residents argue the Land Development Code protects their views. The developer is not adding new homes, but shifting them from another tract, which would be give to the city for a public park.
The Live Calendar: Today in Flagler
April 2026
Apr 22 2026
22,000 Home Western Expansion Developer’s Public Meeting
Palm Coast Community Center
Apr 23 2026
FPCHS Starlets Spring Dance at the Fitz
Flagler Auditorium/Dennis Fitzgerald Center for the Performing Arts
Apr 23 2026
Flagler Beach United Methodist Church Food Pantry
Flagler Beach United Methodist Church
Apr 23 2026
Flagler County Drug Court Convenes
Flagler County courthouse
Apr 23 2026
Model Yacht Club Races at the Pond in Palm Coast’s Town Center
Central Park in Town Center
Apr 23 2026
Palm Coast Beautification and Environmental Advisory Committee
Palm Coast City Hall
Apr 23 2026
Flagler Beach City Commission Meeting
Flagler Beach City Hall
Apr 23 2026
“The Sound of Music,” at Athens Theatre
Athens Theatre
Apr 24 2026
Free For All Fridays With Host David Ayres on WNZF
WNZF
Apr 24 2026
Scenic A1A Pride Meeting
Hammock Community Center
Apr 24 2026
Friday Blue Forum
Flagler County Democratic Party HQ
Apr 24 2026
Acoustic Jam Circle At The Community Center In The Hammock
No event found!
The Conversation
Why US Military Is Stuck Using $1 Million Missiles Against Iran’s $20,000 Drones
It may sound hard to believe, but the almost trillion-dollar U.S. military is struggling to fight cheap drones in its war with Iran. Iran has built a simple drone, the Shahed, with a motorcycle-type engine, loaded it with explosives and successfully targeted its neighbors’ cities and power plants.
Florida and Beyond
DeSantis’s AI Bill of Rights Faces Steep Opposition From Republican Leaders as Special Session Nears
Gov. DeSantis seeks to pass his AI Bill of Rights during the Florida special session starting next week but faces significant resistance from House Speaker Danny Perez and federal Republican leaders who prefer almost nonexistent national standards. The proposed legislation restricts companion chatbots for minors and mandates parental consent in schools. High fines await non-compliant companies despite the growing national Republican trend toward deregulation of artificial intelligence.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, April 21, 2026
The Palm Coast City Council meets, Echoes of Earth: Flutes in Concert, a performance by the Daytona State College music program students, Community Preparedness Workshop, Chicago’s message to ICE.
Why Plastic Recycling Is Failing Catastrophically
Despite individual efforts, plastic recycling systems are failing globally, with rates as low as 9% in the U.S. and 15% in Europe. This failure stems from systemic issues including high production costs for recycled materials, technological limitations, and unrecyclable product designs. Addressing this crisis requires a collective shift away from individual responsibility toward a circular economy focused on reduction, reuse, and better eco-design.
More Florida and Beyond
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, April 20, 2026
The Flagler County Commission meets, the East Flagler Mosquito Control District Board meets, reading Red Smith in a one-armed hash house, calming down with the Persian Santur.
AI-Generated Text Is Overwhelming Institutions and AI Detectors
Newspapers are being inundated by AI-generated letters to the editor, as are academic journals. Lawmakers are inundated with AI-generated constituent comments. Courts around the world are flooded with AI-generated filings, particularly by people representing themselves. AI conferences are flooded with AI-generated research papers. Social media is flooded with AI posts. In music, open source software, education, investigative journalism and hiring, it’s the same story.
Can Green Card Holders Be Deported for Committing a Crime? Supreme Court Hears Arguments Wednesday.
The Supreme Court will determine if immigration officials need clear evidence of a crime to treat returning green card holders as seeking admission. Muk Choi Lau challenged his removal after being paroled due to pending charges. The 2nd Circuit ruled in his favor. Now the justices must decide if the government can rely on later convictions or must prove crimes at the border.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, April 19, 2026
The Gallery of Local Art’s Bloom and Sip English Tea Party, remembering Jon Netts, “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” “The Sound of Music” at Athens Theatre, “Godspell,” Limelight Theatre.
How Spain Is Legalizing Undocumented Migrants and Powering Its Economy
With an upcoming amnesty for an estimated half a million undocumented workers, Spain is charting its own course on immigration policy, while also reinforcing its dependence on migrants to fuel economic growth.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, April 18, 2026
Job fair for prospective teachers at the GSB, Chess Meet-Up At the Flagler Beach Public Library, “The Sound of Music” at Athens Theatre, a maga version of the Beatitudes, a few words from Camus.
How Péter Magyar Liberated Hungary of Trump’s Clone
Hungarian voters have overwhelmingly rejected the 16-year rule of authoritarian strongman Viktor Orbán, which will allow the new government to roll back some of the illiberal measures introduced Orbán governments over the years. One of Magyar’s key election promises was to restore press freedom, and reform state-run media, which, under Orbán, had become a powerful tool for distributing disinformation.
DeSantis Claims There’ll Be a Special Session on Property Taxes. Just Don’t Ask Him When.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has previously indicated that he’s holding back on offering his own proposal to reduce taxes on homestead properties until the moment is “ripe” — and it doesn’t appear that’ll be anytime soon.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, April 17, 2026
The Flagler County Cultural Council meets, “Godspell” at Limelight Theatre in St. Augustine, confusing Fox News and the Washington Times with The Onion.
Cheap One-Way Attack Drones Are Upending Major Powers’ Military Supremacy
One-way attack drones represent a new era of precise mass by combining inexpensive manufacturing with sophisticated guidance systems. The weapons allow mid-tier powers like Iran to strike targets accurately at a fraction of cruise missile costs. Modern militaries must now invest in drone technology and defensive netting to survive this rapidly evolving technological landscape.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, April 16, 2026
Clay Jones on Trump’s surrender, the Marineland Town Commission meets, Story Time with Miss Kim at Flagler Beach Public Library, why the average Flagler County fourth grader writes better English than the president.
At Least One in Three 1 in 3 Households Struggle to Pay Energy Bills
Americans’ concerns about being able to afford electricity and home heating fuel are elevated since the beginning of the Iran war. But newly released nationwide data shows that even before the war began, these concerns were widespread, long-standing and getting worse faster than the data can reflect.
DeSantis Suggests Redistricting Special Session May Be Delayed
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis insisted Tuesday that a special session on congressional redistricting will take place, although maybe not beginning Monday as originally scheduled. The idea that the Legislature might delay or possibly opt not go through with congressional redistricting has picked up steam over the past week.
Commentary
From Jules Verne to Artemis II
NASA’s Artemis II mission marks a return to lunar exploration 50 years after the Apollo era. The moonshot mirrors Jules Verne’s 1865 novel by highlighting the political and economic complexities of spacefaring. Verne correctly anticipated nationalist competition and environmental consequences. Today’s mission reflects similar tensions between global unity and a race for power.
Fuel Crisis Over? Not Even Close.
A temporary ceasefire in the Iran war offers slight relief for global oil markets but damaged infrastructure in neighboring nations ensures supply remains tight for months. Long-term security requires reducing reliance on imports through electrification and high prices for diesel and jet fuel will persist despite diplomatic progress.
4 Ways the Iran War Weakened the United States
The war in Iran significantly diminished United States global standing across four distinct strategic areas. Moscow and Beijing profited from American military distraction by increasing regional influence and securing economic advantages. Trump’s unilateral actions alienated traditional NATO allies and abandoned stated national security priorities. China now assumes the role of global mediator. This conflict signals a potential end to the U.S.-led liberal international order.
Sponsored Content
OpenAI Stock Forecast: Evaluating the Long-Term Prospects in AI
Artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, offering unprecedented efficiency and innovation. Among leading AI enterprises, OpenAI has emerged as a central figure, developing transformative technologies with applications ranging from natural language processing to enterprise solutions.
The Key Causes of Financial Gaps Among Families in Flagler County
Flagler County has a cost of living score of 98.7, meaning that it is 1.3% lower than the US national average. However, the same applies to wages. An average resident’s income tends to be 7% lower compared to what people earn across the nation. On top of that, county residents face challenges associated with housing, […]