The state of Florida executed 80-year-old Dominick Anthony Occhicone Tuesday evening, making him the oldest prisoner executed in Florida’s modern history. He was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend’s parents in 1986. Occhiocone was the 12th inmate Florida to be executed this year and the second executed Tuesday, an event so rare that it hasn’t happened in Florida since 1964. Earlier in the day, Florida killed James Aren Duckett, 68, Tuesday for the 1987 rape and murder of 11-year-old Teresa McAbee.
Main Content
Daily Cartoon and Briefing
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local
School Board’s Will Furry Pushes Controversial Anti-Abortion ‘Olivia’ Video for Inclusion In Curriculum
Flagler County School Board member Will Furry requested the board review an anti-abortion fetal development video known as “Meet Baby Olivia” for local curriculum integration. Led by activist Andrew Shirvell, public commenters urged adoption despite state-level rejections. Board members are split, with concerns over medical inaccuracies, pending workshop discussions scheduled after the upcoming election.
Flagler County SNAP Recipients Drop by 22% in One Year, Mirroring Sharp Decline Across Florida
Flagler County has 22 percent fewer SNAP beneficiaries than it did a year ago. According to the Department of Children and Families, Flagler County had 13,396 food stamps clients in July 2025. The case load dropped to 10,388 in June. That is the lowest number of local residents on food assistance since September 2009, when the caseload was 10,085, and the county’s population was 35 percent smaller.
Palm Coast Council Members Push to Pause New Deputy Hirings Amid Budget Tensions Over Taxes
The Palm Coast City Council reached what looked suspiciously like a tense impasse over property tax rates, public safety funding, and municipal services at a workshop this morning. The administration outlined three budget options, but council members demanded revised scenarios setting rates at rollback or rollback plus inflation. Proposal discussions included a pause on hiring new sheriff’s deputies.
More Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local
Anna Jones, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Anna Jones is one of three Republican candidates for Flagler County Commission, District 4. She faces incumbent Leann Pennington and Drew Moss. Only registered Republicans may vote in the primary. The winner of the Republican Aug. 18 primary will still go on to the general because a write-in has filed, but the Republican who prevails is all but certain to win.
Ray Stevens Challenges Dave Sullivan Over Palm Coast City Council Seat Timing Dispute
Ray Stevens is challenging Council member Dave Sullivan over who should occupy the Palm Coast City Council District 3 seat before November. Stevens won the special election unopposed and is pursuing immediate seating under city charter provisions. Sullivan refuses to step down early, insisting appointed members must serve full terms. Stevens consulted state election officials to compel his seating, rejecting Sullivan’s assertions.
Drew Moss, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Drew Moss is one of three Republican candidates for Flagler County Commission, District 4. He faces incumbent Leann Pennington and Anna Jones. Only registered Republicans may vote in the primary. The winner of the Republican Aug. 18 primary will still go on to the general because a write-in has filed, but the Republican who prevails is all but certain to win.
38-Year-Old Palm Coast Man Arrested for Allegedly Fondling Two Children Over Several Years
Joseph D. Spector, a 38-year-old resident of Firtree Lane in Palm Coast, is at the Flagler County jail on $150,000 bond following his arrest Saturday on two second-degree felony counts of molestation of two alleged victims–formerly his stepdaughters–when they were younger than 16.
Back-to-School Help Night at Flagler Cares Wednesday
Flagler Cares, in partnership with local organizations, will host a free Back-to-School Help Night on Wednesday, July 29, from 3:00 to 6:30 p.m. at 160 Cypress Point Pkwy, Bldg. B, 3rd Floor, Suite 304, in Palm Coast. The event is free and open to the public, and families are encouraged to attend. The one-stop event is designed to help families get ready for the upcoming school year by connecting them with community resources, health screenings, and free giveaways, all in a single visit.
A Rare Florida Victory for ‘The Right To Tell People What They Don’t Want to Hear’
Judge Britt C. Grant described the DeSantis “Stop Woke Act” a breathtaking assertion of power aimed at banning unpopular ideas. Academic freedom requires open debate rather than state-mandated silence while suppressing critical discussions regarding race, gender, and history undermines the core educational mission of public universities across the state.
Flagler Beach’s Alice Baker: A Remembrance
Don Deal remembers meeting Alice Baker during the early growth of Flagler Beach in the late 1970s. Over decades, Baker served her community in numerous municipal roles, including step-in mayor and board member, while building enduring local friendships. Even after moving to Georgia, her devotion to Flagler Beach remained strong until her passing, leaving a lasting impact on her beloved coastal town.
Leann Pennington, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Incumbent Leann Pennington is one of three Republican candidates for Flagler County Commission, District 4. She faces Anna Jones and Drew Moss. Only registered Republicans may vote in the primary. The winner of the Republican Aug. 18 primary will still go on to the general because a write-in has filed, but the Republican who prevails is all but certain to win.
Bob Cuff, Palm Coast Pioneer Whose Wry Wit and Humanity Shaped Policy and Moved Friends, Dies at 75
Former Palm Coast City Councilman Bob Cuff died Wednesday at age 75 following a prolonged battle with cancer. A legal pioneer, he served 17 years as general counsel for ITT Community Development Corporation, shaping the city’s early expansion. Colleagues remembered the former attorney for his sharp intellect, dry wit, unyielding integrity, and deep dedication to authentic public service across decades of local governance.
Bob Cuff, 1950-2026
Letter from the Magic Mountain
We formed an unlikely bond over a shared disdain for local political spectacles and a mutual passion for books no one reads anymore, Thomas Mann’s Magic Mountain especially. And now an illness from the underworld is doing its ravages.
Ron Long, Flagler County School Board Candidate: The Live Interview
Ron Long is one of three candidates for Flagler County School Board, District 4. Trevor Tucker and incumbent Christy Chong are the others. It is a non-partisan race: all registered voters regardless of party affiliation or non-party status may vote in the Aug. 18 primary.
The Live Calendar: Today in Flagler
July 2026
Jul 30 2026
Flagler Beach United Methodist Church Food Pantry
Flagler Beach United Methodist Church
Jul 30 2026
Flagler County Drug Court Convenes
Flagler County courthouse
Jul 30 2026
Model Yacht Club Races at the Pond in Palm Coast’s Town Center
Central Park in Town Center
Jul 30 2026
The Circle of Light A Course in Miracles Study Group
United Methodist Church
Jul 30 2026
Beats and Eats: Live Concert and Food Trucks at the Stage in Town Center
The Stage in Town Center
Jul 31 2026
Free For All Fridays With Host David Ayres on WNZF
WNZF
Jul 31 2026
Town Center Developer v. Palm Coast Mediation
Palm Coast City Hall
Jul 31 2026
Friday Blue Forum
Flagler County Democratic Party HQ
August 2026
Aug 01 2026
Flagler Beach Farmers Market
In Front of Flagler Beach City Hall
Aug 01 2026
Flagler Beach All Stars Beach Clean-Up
Aug 01 2026
Coffee With Flagler Beach Commission Chair Scott Spradley
Law Office of Scott Spradley
Aug 01 2026
Grace Community Food Pantry on Education Way
Flagler School District Bus Depot
No event found!
The Conversation
South Dakota’s Abortion Pill Advertising Ban Is Unconstitutional
A federal court injunction blocked South Dakota’s ban on advertising abortion pills after a nonprofit legal challenge. The ruling established that restricting truthful medical information violates First Amendment protections regarding free speech and viewpoint neutrality. This legal dispute highlights a growing national conflict as states attempt to restrict telehealth services and out-of-state prescription access despite federal approval of medication abortion procedures.
Florida and Beyond
Florida Department Of Health Warns Against Prescribing Psychotropic Medications To Children And Teens
Florida health officials issued new guidelines discouraging doctors from prescribing psychotropic medications to children aged five to 17 for conditions like anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Aligning with federal Make America Healthy Again priorities, the state recommends therapy and behavioral intervention as primary treatments. Medical organizations like the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry are opposed.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, July 28, 2026
The Palm Coast City Council talks budget, the School Board has a trio of meetings, including the setting of its tentative property ax rate over which it has no control, Ric Diez, Michiko Kakutani on postmodernism.
Resurgence of Measles Signals Dangerous Decline in Public Health
Falling vaccination rates have triggered a dangerous measles resurgence across the United States. The trend threatens the nation’s 25-year elimination status and imposes massive economic burdens on the healthcare system. Measles serves as a critical proxy for overall public health capacity. Declining trust in government agencies and eroding herd immunity signal a systemic vulnerability. These cracks in our public health defense complicate efforts to manage future infectious disease threats effectively.
More Florida and Beyond
Trump Species Act Rollback Threatens More than 100 Florida Animals, Including Panthers and Manatees
More than 100 Florida species, including panthers, manatees and sea turtles, could inch closer to extinction under a set of changes to the Endangered Species Act the Trump administration rolled out this month that would force regulators to disregard damage to critical habitats. Millions of acres of Florida land would also become easier to develop if the federal rule changes survive court challenges.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, July 27, 2026
The Bunnell City Commission meets, Mme de Sévigné on the relative length of lives, Mozart’s variations, the president finds himself a new rallying cry, Kamel Daoud on dying at 100.
Why Democrats Are Clueless About Losing the Working Class
It is an open question whether reformist Democrats are really interested in understanding working-class voters on their own terms. Because working-class voters, as they tell us themselves, are not simply waiting to be activated by the right program, the right messenger, the right phrase. “Fight the oligarchy” probably isn’t going to do it.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, July 26, 2026
2026 PBA South Region Palm Coast Open at Palm Coast Lanes, Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village, Gemini takes us on an odiferous tour of the Tour de France peloton, Red Smith’s Bike Ride.
America’s Promise of Religious Freedom Has Long Clashed with Prejudice
American history demonstrates a persistent tension between constitutional guarantees of religious liberty and acts of exclusion. Early state laws often restricted civic participation to Protestants. Over time, shifting attitudes and legal changes fostered a more inclusive “Judeo-Christian” and eventually multicultural identity. Modern incidents of arson and political rhetoric suggest that the founding promise of universal religious protection remains a contested ideal.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, July 25, 2026
Bowling: 2026 PBA South Region Palm Coast Open qualifying at Palm Coast Lanes, Gamble Jam, the Saturday Flagler Beach Farmers Market, Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground.
Say What? Florida Surgeon General Suggests Measle Outbreak Could Be Tied to Abortion Opposition
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo suggested Friday that opposition to abortion could have helped fuel a measles outbreak in Florida since many cases are tied to a private Roman Catholic college where students may be opposed to the vaccine.
The Government Is Ramping Up Mass Surveillance with AI Tools
The U.S. government now purchases massive quantities of your information from commercial data brokers. The information is not subject to the same restrictions as information it collects directly. The federal government is also ramping up its abilities to directly collect data through partnerships with private tech companies. These surveillance tech partnerships are becoming entrenched, domestically and abroad, as advances in AI take surveillance to unprecedented levels.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, July 24, 2026
Heat index values as high as 105 today, the Scenic A1A Pride Committee meets, Acoustic Jam Circle At The Community Center In The Hammock, how two cartoonists see the Saudi nukes deal.
Trump’s Antifa Terrorism Threat Does Not Exist
The Trump administration anti-terrorism campaign is targeting a phantom threat. Antifa represents a decentralized ideology rather than a structured organization with central leadership or funding. Executive orders and pressuring foreign allies risks civil liberties, chills lawful speech, and distracts vital intelligence resources from genuinely lethal global terrorist networks possessing documented command structures and destructive intent.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, July 23, 2026
The Flagler Beach City Commission meets, the trouble with Joe Manchin and his killing of the center, Model Yacht Club Races at the Pond in Palm Coast’s Central Park.
Most Americans Broadly Support Public Education for the Undocumented
When confronted with the statement, “I believe all children, regardless of immigration status, should have the right to public education,” 75.5% of all Americans agreed with the statement. Among Hispanics and Latinos, nearly 86.9% supported the policy, along with 86.7% of African Americans, 77.7% of Asians Asian Americans and 69.9% of non-Hispanic white people. In each income bracket, there was over 70% of support for free public education for all.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Joint County Commission-Flagler Beach City Commission meeting on beach renourishment, the Flagler County-Palm Coast Affordable Housing Advisory Committee meets, a few words from William Shirer’s Berlin Diary of 1941 and Hannah Arendt on American imperialism.
Commentary
Trump Wants Greenbacks To Be His Personal Vanity Plates
Efforts by the Trump administration to place President Donald Trump’s image and signature on United States coins and banknotes mark a significant departure from American tradition. Global currency data shows that featuring a sitting head of state on money remains an attribute almost entirely unique to hereditary monarchies.
Fox News, Home of Conspiracy Theories
Research shows that white Americans who identified as Republican, who are conservatives and who have negative views of people from other racial backgrounds are all more likely to express support for key tenets of the racist great replacement theory. Clear evidence shows that white Americans who watch Fox News are also more likely to agree with the conspiracy theory.
Franco’s Fascist Regime’s Lessons for Today’s America
Comparisons between Trump’s and Hitler’s fascist regime are becoming common, but it may be even more fitting to compare the present moment to a less-remembered but longer-lasting fascist regime: that of Francisco Franco, dictator of Spain from 1936 until his death in 1975.