Mark Lane

With Fine, Mills, Volusia sure knows how to pick 'em Volusia elected not one but two representatives, Randy Fine and Cory Mills, who somehow manage to make the U.S. House look worse.

In which I apologize to the nation for my area's choices for the U.S House - www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

Will the county take the wheels off Volusia Forever? The Volusia County Council is poised to consider destructive changes to the popular Volusia Forever land-buying program.

Sunday's column: I've been writing about Volusia Forever since it was first proposed in 2000. Now it seems the County Council wants to quit setting aside natural lands and maybe even reversing some of its past land buys. www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

A Florida House committee moves along the latest book-banning bill. No exceptions for lit! Take that, Kurt Vonnegut, Toni Morrison and Margaret Atwood! Florida legislators are on to you and your pals!
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Florida voters help make Congress terrible.
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In which my column enters the AI Era and I argue with the robo-editor. www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

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 “progress 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...

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."

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

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.
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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...

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...

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...

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).

Hurricane names on window plywood

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

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 — not the specific congressional district. www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/p...

Florida Legislature

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

Column - The Darwinian Gardener is surprised to find his hurricane debris pile gone - www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

There were better ways for getting him out Congress.

Tomorrow's column talks about the day after Election Day. www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...

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...

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