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Mark Lane

@twistleton.bsky.social

Freelance writer, Floridologist and card-carrying columnist.

49 Followers  |  42 Following  |  18 Posts  |  Joined: 29.10.2024  |  1.9655

Latest posts by twistleton.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Mark Lane: Troubling signs at our national parks In March, President Trump ordered the Park Service to check signs and plaques in state parks to emphasize the β€œprogress of the American people.”

Column: Park signs! They're coming after park signs. Even at my favorite 16th-century fort. www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

26.07.2025 21:23 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

scoop: Gannett is offering buyouts to its staff, per email just now from CEO Mike Reed. "...We need to adjust our organization to efficiently meet the needs of our business today...as we continue to use A.I. and leverage automation to realize efficiencies."

24.07.2025 16:17 β€” πŸ‘ 52    πŸ” 39    πŸ’¬ 13    πŸ“Œ 23
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Mark Lane: Dam it! Veto preserves a ’60s environmental mistake Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed $6.25 million that the Legislature budgeted for restoring the Ocklawaha River and dismantling the Kirkpatrick Dam.

I've been working for newspapers since the 1980s and was writing about the Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam back then. And after DeSatnis' veto, I'm still on this same topic. Will it ever end? www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

06.07.2025 12:13 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Mark Lane: Hope Florida’s media backfire The Orlando Sentinel received an unsigned cease and desist letter from the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Today's column: State's cease and desist letter sends a message: There's a story here! www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

15.06.2025 12:19 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

My twins turn 40 this year. I am not accepting it well. They are still referred to, along with the 30-something stepkids, as β€œthe kids.” Sometimes collectively as β€œthe guys.”

10.03.2025 02:30 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Mark Lane: Bikers herald special events’ seasonal surge in Daytona Beach The Daytona Beach area is now in that time of year that locals dread: The high special events season, Bike Week and spring break.

Hoo boy, special event season has arrived in Daytona with the rumble of motorcycles - www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

02.03.2025 13:21 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Mark Lane: February draws the Darwinian Gardener back to work The Darwinian Gardener mows the weeds during his favorite Florida month.

February is the Darwinian Gardener's favorite month. Now, mow those weeds! www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

23.02.2025 15:32 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Mark Lane: Herb Hiller, losing an idea guy Herb Hiller, a cycling and trail advocate and philosopher of travel, died recently at 93.

This week's column is an appreciation of Herb Hiller. He recently died at 93. www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

08.02.2025 12:47 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Mark Lane: Special session gets cool response in cold capital Gov. Ron DeSantis’ call for a special session gets a cool response from legislative leaders. Will it really tell the governor no?

Sunday's column - Tallahassee is cold this January. How cold? As cold as the legislative leadership’s reaction to the governor’s idea of holding a special session at month’s end.
www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

26.01.2025 13:06 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Mark Lane: The year Jimmy Carter shook up Florida politics In March 1976, Jimmy Carter defeated George Wallace in the Florida presidential primary and politics shifted.

Here's a column about how Jimmy Carter's 1976 win shook up Florida politics -- www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

29.12.2024 21:33 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Mark Lane: The Darwinian Gardener celebrates holiday trail-off The Darwinian Gardener looks ahead to a new year and keeps the holiday party going a little longer.

Sunday's column: The Darwinian Gardener celebrates holiday trail-off. The decorations are staying up! www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

29.12.2024 13:36 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Mark Lane: The Thermostat Police face Florida cold fronts Recent cold fronts have created challenges for these volunteer enforcers.

Sunday's column today: the Thermostat Police react to the latest Florida cold front: www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

07.12.2024 13:11 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Instagram post from Guardian US, captioned: Of the top 10 deadliest counties for cycling in the US, seven are in Florida, according to a new analysis of federal highway data.

The photo is mostly text but a photo of a Black man in a t-shirt and jeans riding a bike:

The 10 deadliest areas for US cyclists
1. Pasco county, Florida
2. Sarasota county, Florida
3. Manatee county, Florida
4. East Baton Rouge parish, Louisiana
5. Pinellas county, Florida
6. Orleans parish, Louisiana
7. Volusia county, Florida
8. San Joaquin county, California
9. Marion county, Florida
10. Hillsborough county, Florida

Instagram post from Guardian US, captioned: Of the top 10 deadliest counties for cycling in the US, seven are in Florida, according to a new analysis of federal highway data. The photo is mostly text but a photo of a Black man in a t-shirt and jeans riding a bike: The 10 deadliest areas for US cyclists 1. Pasco county, Florida 2. Sarasota county, Florida 3. Manatee county, Florida 4. East Baton Rouge parish, Louisiana 5. Pinellas county, Florida 6. Orleans parish, Louisiana 7. Volusia county, Florida 8. San Joaquin county, California 9. Marion county, Florida 10. Hillsborough county, Florida

Sometimes I beat myself up for giving up my bike since living in FL but I’ve never felt safe riding here and this confirms that. I’ve ridden all over NJ, PA, MD, NY, cities to burbs to rural areas, streets to trails and nowhere has come close to fearing for my life like here (#2 and #3).

15.02.2024 01:37 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 2
Hurricane names on window plywood

Hurricane names on window plywood

Hey Florida people, wishing you a happy End of Hurricane Season Day. www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

30.11.2024 12:41 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Fine to run for congressional seat in Daytona Beach area vacated by Waltz With Fine's upcoming March 31 resignation from his Florida Senate seat in Brevard County, a special election will be held to fill that position

Controversial #Florida Rep. Randy Fine, endorsed for Congress by Trump, lives in Melbourne Beach, which is not part of the 6th District. But members of Congress only have to live in the state they represent β€” not the specific congressional district. www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/p...

27.11.2024 17:59 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 0
Florida Legislature

Florida Legislature

Looking ahead after the Florida Legislature got itself organized -- roof-over-our-heads issues loom. www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

23.11.2024 13:26 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Column - The Darwinian Gardener is surprised to find his hurricane debris pile gone - www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

16.11.2024 15:59 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

There were better ways for getting him out Congress.

14.11.2024 00:17 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Tomorrow's column talks about the day after Election Day. www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

02.11.2024 12:45 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Early voted and just signed up for Bluesky. Last week to vote early. Here's what I wrote about the former: www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

29.10.2024 13:09 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Column: The Free State of Florida is now in the government propaganda business funded by you and me. www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

29.10.2024 13:06 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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