PODCAST · news
The Palm Bayer
by Thomas Gaume
Palm Bay’s trusted source for local news, analysis, and civic engagement. The Palm Bayer delivers in-depth stories, interviews, and community updates. www.thepalmbayer.com
Episodes
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1,000 Jobs Approved. The Fire Station Is Still a Pitch.
Thursday night's council meeting ran two hours and thirty-nine minutes. This narrated recap (about eight minutes, with two key moments in the meeting's own words) covers the unanimous Emerald Lakes vote, the deputy's promise that no hotel opens without the ladder truck, the city manager's public...
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This Week in Palm Bay: 251 Acres to the Oct 15 Hearing, 652 Apartments in the Pipeline, and a $57.5M Brightline Grant
This Week in Palm Bay: Episode 27 is out. Ten minutes with Buzz and Rosie on the week of October 12 through 18. The big items: Emerald Lakes sends 251 acres to the October 15 public hearing, with 652 apartments in the pipeline. The traffic number to watch: 21,845 daily trips at buildout. Council...
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Emerald Lakes East Phase I Goes to Council With Fire Mitigation Unresolved and Parkway Extension Optional
On Thursday night, the Palm Bay City Council votes on the final development plan for Emerald Lakes East Phase 1: 652 apartments, over 1.1 million square feet of commercial development, and a 400-room hotel on 251 acres east of I-95. The packet leaves three questions open: Fire Rescue’s mitigation...
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P&Z Recap: Board Recommends Emerald Lakes East Phase 1, Wawa Third Sign After 2-2 Tie
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer). On Wednesday night, the Planning and Zoning Board voted to recommend City Council approval of Emerald Lakes East Phase 1: 652 multifamily units and more than 1.1 million square feet of non-residential development on 328 acres east of I-95. The 4:31 video above…
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The Development Map Is Live: Palm Bay's Active Permits, Plotted Nightly
PALM BAY, FL — What is going up on the empty lot at the end of your street? As of today, you can answer that yourself. The Palm Bayer has launched an interactive Development Map showing Palm Bay’s active development permits on a rolling 90-day window, rebuilt every night. Search by address…
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This Week in Palm Bay: A $1.56M Consent Test, 251 Acres on the Parkway, and Registration Day
PALM BAY, FL — Council questions utility invoices before approving them, Emerald Lakes East heads to Planning and Zoning with its zoned schools underwater, and voter registration closes today. Key Takeaways: • What Happened: Council approved a $1.56M utility consent package after Kenny Johnson...
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Pipe Emergency Leads a Short Night: Palm Bay Council Recap, October 1
PALM BAY, FL — A failing 72-inch stormwater pipe, pointed questions about a $603,614 sewer invoice and a $954,329 SCADA contract, and a new compatibility standard for conditional uses. Key Takeaways: * The night’s biggest news came last, in administrative reports. * Heavy rainfall two weekends…
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Palm Bay's 251-Acre Bet: 21,845 Trips a Day, and Fire Rescue Can't Get There in Time
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — On Wednesday night, the Planning and Zoning Board decides whether to advance the largest development proposal in years: Emerald Lakes East Phase I, a 251-acre mixed-use engine on St. Johns Heritage Parkway. We audited all 399 pages of the packet. Here is what is...
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Pineapple Cove Pitches New Charter Campus at Emerald Lakes
VIERA, FL (The Palm Bayer) — Pineapple Cove Classical Academy is proposing a new K-8 charter campus at Emerald Lakes in southeast Palm Bay. But while the application promises new capacity, the network’s Lockmar campus remains locked in a four-year traffic battle that spills hundreds of cars onto...
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This Week in Palm Bay: Fiscal 2027 Opens Under Strain, County Breaks Charter Cap, Permitting Surges
PALM BAY, FL — Adopted $457.3M budget leaves a $5.18M utility hole as consent invoices arrive, Brevard overrides tax cap, and builders rush 57 filings. Key Takeaways: * What Happened: Palm Bay adopted a $457.3 million FY2027 budget at rollback but left an unhedged $5.18 million utility enterprise...
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The $1.55 Million Utility Consent Squeeze: Retroactive Sewer Invoices and Redacted SCADA Overhauls Lead Palm Bay Docket
Correction: the original version of this post carried the 60-second social short instead of the full council preview video, and the article link was not clickable. Both are fixed in this repost. Palm Bay Council faces a $603K Titusville piggyback payout for already-buried pipe. City…
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Brevard Commission Adopts $2.425B Budget, Sets Aggregate Millage 6.12% Above Rolled-Back Rate as Jail and 'Sick Building' Crises Collide
VIERA, FL, The Brevard County Commission voted 4-1 to pass a $2.425 billion budget and set an aggregate millage rate 6.12% above the rolled-back rate, driven by structural decay at the 40-year-old county jail and an unvarnished warning from Property Appraiser Dana Blickley that Government Complex...
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Palm Bay Adopts $457.3M Budget as Administration Retreats on Fees and Water Reality Hits
PALM BAY, FL — Behind a unanimous 5-0 vote and a zero-tax-increase millage, Council manager pulls three fee hikes, director lays bare a 55,280-connection utility crisis, and dais pitches corporate land swaps. * Key Takeaways: * Well 13: 12.0 ppt combined. * Well 16: 20.0 ppt combined. * Well 18:...
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Beyond Amendment 3: What Florida Lawmakers Slipped Onto Your 2026 Ballot
PALM BAY, FL — While a massive property tax fight dominates headlines, voters face a $12B rainy day fund brawl, a $31M agribusiness tax carveout, and a total citizen petition shutout. * Key Takeaways: * The Hidden Ballot: Beyond the headline-grabbing Amendment 3 property tax fight, voters face…
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Beyond Palm Bay: Brevard County's $87 Million Amendment 3 Deficit
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — We covered what Amendment 3 could do to Palm Bay. Now county records reveal the rest of your tax bill: an $87 million annual deficit, a 26% revenue collapse, and a $4 million transit match cliff. Military and overseas ballots deployed Saturday; domestic mail…
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This Week in Palm Bay: Budget Finality, 911 Dispatch Showdown, and Surveillance Grid Dismantled
PALM BAY, FL — Final FY 2027 budget hearing addresses a $5.18M enterprise deficit, frontline dispatchers challenge county consolidation, and Flock camera poles come down. Key Takeaways: • What Happened: City Council advanced negotiations to hand over 911 dispatch to the Brevard County Sheriff’s...
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Palm Bay Faces Final Budget Vote with Dead Utility Hikes Still Baked into Spending Plan
PALM BAY, FL — Two weeks after Council rejected water and sewer increases, administration brings forward a $457.3M budget that leaves a $5.18M enterprise hole unaddressed, zero new capital for police and fire, and targeted development fees. Key Takeaways: • Palm Bay Fire Rescue: Requested...
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Palm Bay Council Recap: 3-2 Coalition Directs 911 Dispatch Handover to BCSO by 2027, Denies Ascot Gas Station, and Retreats on Zoning Overhaul
PALM BAY, FL — Over fierce mayoral and veteran dissent, Jaffe, Johnson, and Langevin authorize Sheriff Wayne Ivey contract negotiations, while council kills a 16-pump Parkway fuel station. Key Takeaways: • What Happened: In a dramatic 3 to 2 roll call vote, Palm Bay City Council directed City...
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Brevard School Board Previews $100M Borrowing to Bridge $84M Cash Trough, Citing Charter School Cash Pressures
PALM BAY, FL — BPS votes on a $100M short-term loan to bridge an $84M seasonal cash trough driven by charter disbursements, ahead of a work session on public comment reform. Key Takeaways: • What: Brevard County School Board Regular Meeting (9:00 AM) and Policy 0169.1 Work Session (directly...
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Palm Bay Surrenders to Tolls: City Calls $400M Expressway Authority Takeover "Our Only Hope"
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — Mayor Rob Medina says partnering with the Central Florida Expressway Authority is the only way to pave the southern gap through the Compound, setting the stage for Brevard’s first toll highway and daily fees for local commuters. The video episode above presents our...
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The 911 Consolidation Ledger: Auditing What Palm Bay Buys and What It Surrenders
PALM BAY, FL — City Hall has unsealed the full 16-page draft Interlocal Agreement, four-year budget model, and transition exhibits for Thursday’s City Council meeting under Unfinished Business. The forensic audit reveals a ledger with two columns: eliminating medical call-transfer friction and...
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Submarine Acoustic Vet, HVAC Expert Sound Alarm as Palm Bay Sustainability Board Debates AI Data Center Restrictions
PALM BAY, FL — A packed Palm Bay City Hall saw a 22-year Navy submarine acoustics veteran and an indoor air quality specialist expose severe acoustic and environmental risks as the Sustainability Advisory Board debated a proposed Land Development Code blueprint to regulate hyperscale AI data...
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Palm Bay 911 Dispatch Consolidation: The Forensic Claims Audit
PALM BAY, FL — Palm Bay City Council re-opens the emergency communications debate with zero attached memos. Here is the forensic audit of 10 claims circulating at City Hall. Key Takeaways: • What Happened: City Clerk Terese Jones published an eleventh-hour agenda revision adding emergency...
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This Week in Palm Bay (Episode 23): Budget Millage Rollback, $15.4M Building Fund Audit, and a 148-Page Federal Surveillance Lawsuit
PALM BAY, FL — Council freezes utility hikes, an audit uncovers $15.4M in surplus permit cash, and a 148-page federal lawsuit hits City Hall. Key Takeaways: • Budget Rollback & Utility Revolt: City Council formally adopted the rolled-back operating millage rate of 6.6015 and voted to halt planned...
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Palm Bay Council Preview: No Vote on 911 Dispatch, $1.13M Western Parkway Widening, and an Appointed Board Power Shift
PALM BAY, FL — The promised 911 dispatch vote vanishes from the docket, while council advances $1.13M in Parkway widening and a quiet shift in zoning power. Key Takeaways: • Parkway Widening (Project 24PW03): Supplemental Agreement #1 allocates $430,331 to finalize engineering permitting and…
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Council Defunds Flock Surveillance in 4-1 Vote and Approves Emerald Lakes Phase II
In a decisive 4-1 vote Thursday night, the Palm Bay City Council halted the city’s automated license plate reader program. Council directed City Manager Matthew Morton to defund the Flock Safety camera contract in the upcoming municipal budget following fierce Fourth Amendment pushback from local...
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Palm Bay P&Z Board Approves Historic Variance Power Shift in Split Vote, Backs Third Gas Station at Emerson Intersection
In a landmark decision shifting decades of municipal precedent, the Palm Bay Planning and Zoning Board voted 3-1 Wednesday evening to endorse a sweeping regulatory overhaul that grants an appointed advisory body final binding approval over zoning variances for the first time in city history. The...
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Palm Bay Suspends Flock Grid: Medina Defiant Ahead of Thursday Council Debate
The City of Palm Bay officially suspended operations across its 51-camera automated license plate reader network, setting the stage for a showdown inside City Hall. Municipal administration confirmed it temporarily halted use of the pole-mounted camera network deployed by private contractor Flock...
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The New Hampshire Standard: What DeSantis Actually Means for Florida's Roadways
Listen to this article: When Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called automated license plate readers out of control, he pointed directly to New Hampshire as a statutory blueprint for Florida reform: “If you look at New Hampshire, they ban the installation of these cameras along public roads. That...
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Palm Bay Agenda Lock: Council Set to Vote on Terminating Flock Surveillance Contract
The debate over automated roadside surveillance in Palm Bay officially locked onto the City Council agenda when Item 2 under New Business was added to the docket: “Discussion of the FLOCK Automated License Plate Reader Camera System,” sponsored directly by Councilman Kenny Johnson. The agenda...
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DeSantis Awards $3.5 Million Job Growth Grant for Palm Bay Phoenix Business Park Infrastructure
Governor Ron DeSantis announced a $3.5 million state award to the City of Palm Bay on Monday, steering critical infrastructure capital into Southwest Palm Bay. Allocated through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, the funding finances major wastewater transmission infrastructure designed to…
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This Week in Palm Bay (Episode 21): Emerald Lakes Logistics Pivot, Crosswalk Hit-and-Run Investigation & 3-Tier Variance Overhaul
Rapid economic repositioning, aggressive municipal regulatory shifts, and an urgent hit-and-run criminal investigation converged on Palm Bay as the city moved into September. Across the southern corridor, Lennar Homes filed design revisions pivoting portions of the 829-acre Emerald Lakes project...
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Emerald Lakes Logistics Pivot and Wingham Propane Withdrawal Headline Palm Bay Council Docket
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — The September 3 Regular City Council Meeting marks a consequential shift in land use for the city’s southern growth corridor. While developers present routine residential lot line adjustments on the surface, deeper docket filings reveal major industrial freight...
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Palm Bay P&Z Board to Weigh Major Variance Power Shift and Third Gas Station at Emerson Intersection
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — In what would mark the first time in municipal history that an appointed board is granted final binding approval over land development relief, the Palm Bay Planning and Zoning Board convenes Wednesday evening to weigh a major decentralization of zoning authority...
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Palm Bay's Rocket Economy Problem: Who Really Benefits from the North Brevard Aerospace Boom?
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — North Brevard is building the factories. South Brevard is building the bedrooms. This geographic reality defines the current economic state of Brevard County and dictates the trajectory of the Palm Bay housing market 2026. While headlines celebrate a historic...
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Palm Bay Unhoods Flock Surveillance Network: Inside the Dragnet, the Leaked Codebase, and the Dais Showdown
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — The City of Palm Bay resumed operations of its Flock Safety automated license plate reader network on Monday morning, seventeen days after placing the 36-camera system on administrative suspension for an internal review of right-of-way pole permits. Municipal crews...
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This Week in Palm Bay (Episode 20): Primary Election Sweep, Fire Rescue Shakeup & Space Coast Boomtown Momentum
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — Decisive primary election outcomes, an abrupt executive shakeup inside Palm Bay Fire Rescue, developer-funded eminent domain proceedings, and major commercial expansions set the tempo for municipal governance across South Brevard this week. Certified canvassing...
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Palm Bay City Council Approves Eminent Domain for Parkway Extension, Backs $230M Health First Hospital Expansion
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — The Palm Bay City Council tackled major development and infrastructure decisions during a five-hour session Thursday night. Councilmembers green-lit eminent domain proceedings for the St. Johns Heritage Parkway and unanimously approved a massive expansion for the...
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Palm Bay 2026 Primary Election Results: Johnson and Jaffe Win Outright, Avoiding November Runoffs
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — Incumbents Kenny Johnson and Mike Jaffe secured outright reelection victories in Tuesday’s primary election. Final canvassing results from all 16 Palm Bay precincts confirm both candidates cleared the 50 percent charter threshold, eliminating the need for November...
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Palm Bay City Council to Consider Eminent Domain for St. Johns Heritage Parkway Connection in Developer-Funded Deal
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — The Palm Bay City Council is set to review a critical developer-funded eminent domain action to secure the missing southern link of the St. Johns Heritage Parkway. During the August 20 regular meeting, officials will consider Resolution 2026-12 alongside a binding...
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Palm Bay City Council to Consider Eminent Domain for St. Johns Heritage Parkway Connection in Developer-Funded Deal
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — The Palm Bay City Council is set to review a critical developer-funded eminent domain action to secure the missing southern link of the St. Johns Heritage Parkway. During the August 20 regular meeting, officials will consider Resolution 2026-12 alongside a binding...
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Palm Bay: 13-Year-Old Arrested After FBI Traces TikTok Mass Casualty Threat
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — An anonymous public tip to the FBI National Threat Operations Center led to the felony arrest of a 13-year-old Palm Bay middle school student. The apprehension prevented a potential mass casualty event targeting Brevard Public Schools students in August 2026. The...
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Palm Bay 2026 Candidate Readiness Assessment: Charter Knowledge, Budget Crossroads, and the Flock Camera Split
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — Municipal governance requires clear charter knowledge, fiscal discipline, and adherence to constitutional limits. The Palm Bayer submitted a 9-question Candidate Readiness Assessment to all six qualified candidates for Palm Bay City Council Seats 4 and 5. The...
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This Week in Palm Bay: City Hoods FLOCK Cameras Over Permitting Audit, Council Drops Millage to 6.6015
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — Palm Bay municipal operations shifted rapidly this week as executive leadership executed an unprecedented halt of citywide automated surveillance, City Council established aggressive tax reductions, and major healthcare and commercial permit submittals reached...
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Palm Bay Suspends Citywide Flock ALPR Network Over Roadside Crash Safety Hazards
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — City Manager Matthew Morton and Police Chief Jeff Spears issued an emergency order Friday at 11:59 AM directing the immediate suspension and physical hooding of all Flock Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras citywide. Palm Bay administrative…
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Palm Bay Council Counters $10M Demand for Majors Golf Course, Moves to Eminent Domain
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — The Palm Bay City Council convened on Thursday, August 6, 2026, with all five council members present: Mayor Rob Medina, Deputy Mayor Mike Jaffe, Councilman Kenny Johnson, Councilman Mike Hammer, and Councilman Chandler Langevin. City Manager Matthew T. Morton…
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Palm Bay P&Z Recap: $230M Hospital, Propane Plant Denied & Carport Approved (August 5, 2026)
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — The Palm Bay Planning and Zoning Board convened on Wednesday evening, August 5, 2026, delivering pivotal votes on healthcare expansion, industrial land use, and residential property code variances. Meeting at City Hall Council Chambers, board members spent nearly...
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Palm Bay Adopts FY2027 Rollback Rate With 18.3% Spending Cut, Aquatic Center Closure
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — The Palm Bay City Council moved aggressively to finalize its fiscal strategy for the upcoming year during the August 4 budget workshop. Council members adopted the FY2027 rollback tax rate and secured a $1 million budget surplus buffer. The consensus was strong...
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JTD Land Company Acquires Sun Terra Lakes for $53 Million
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — Kissimmee-based JTD Land Company has acquired the 1,100-acre Sun Terra Lakes master-planned community for $53 million. The all-cash transaction closed July 31 and was recorded by the Brevard County Clerk of Courts on August 3. The developer purchased the property...
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This Week In Palm Bay: Episode 17
PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — A $100 million luxury development has opened on Port Malabar Boulevard, while 85 Space Coast workers face layoffs this week. Palm Bay City Council and local boards are bracing for a four-night legislative sprint tackling everything from a $167.6 million hospital...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Palm Bayer have?
The Palm Bayer currently has 246 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Palm Bayer about?
Palm Bay’s trusted source for local news, analysis, and civic engagement. The Palm Bayer delivers in-depth stories, interviews, and community updates. www.thepalmbayer.com
How often does The Palm Bayer release new episodes?
The Palm Bayer publishes regularly with 246 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Palm Bayer?
You can listen to The Palm Bayer on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Palm Bayer?
The Palm Bayer is created and hosted by Thomas Gaume.
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