Mark Lane
@twistleton.bsky.social
Freelance writer, Floridologist and card-carrying columnist.
Florida voters help make Congress terrible.
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www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
Why do Floridians continue to vote these rascals in?
U.S. Rep. Cory Mills faces ethics complaint – again. Why do Florida voters have such bad taste in their representatives?
www.news-journalonline.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Florida voters help make Congress terrible.
www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
In which my column enters the AI Era and I argue with the robo-editor. www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
November 1, 2025 at 12:25 PM
In which my column enters the AI Era and I argue with the robo-editor. www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
Column: Park signs! They're coming after park signs. Even at my favorite 16th-century fort. 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.”
www.news-journalonline.com
July 26, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Column: Park signs! They're coming after park signs. Even at my favorite 16th-century fort. www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
Reposted by Mark Lane
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."
July 24, 2025 at 4:17 PM
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."
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: 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.
www.news-journalonline.com
July 6, 2025 at 12:13 PM
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...
Today's column: State's cease and desist letter sends a message: There's a story here! 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.
www.news-journalonline.com
June 15, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Today's column: State's cease and desist letter sends a message: There's a story here! www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
Hoo boy, special event season has arrived in Daytona with the rumble of motorcycles - www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
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.
www.news-journalonline.com
March 2, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Hoo boy, special event season has arrived in Daytona with the rumble of motorcycles - www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
February is the Darwinian Gardener's favorite month. Now, mow those weeds! 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.
www.news-journalonline.com
February 23, 2025 at 3:33 PM
February is the Darwinian Gardener's favorite month. Now, mow those weeds! www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
This week's column is an appreciation of Herb Hiller. He recently died at 93. 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.
www.news-journalonline.com
February 8, 2025 at 12:47 PM
This week's column is an appreciation of Herb Hiller. He recently died at 93. www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
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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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?
www.news-journalonline.com
January 26, 2025 at 1:06 PM
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...
www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
Here's a column about how Jimmy Carter's 1976 win shook up Florida politics -- www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
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.
www.news-journalonline.com
December 29, 2024 at 9:33 PM
Here's a column about how Jimmy Carter's 1976 win shook up Florida politics -- www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
Sunday's column: The Darwinian Gardener celebrates holiday trail-off. The decorations are staying up! 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.
www.news-journalonline.com
December 29, 2024 at 1:36 PM
Sunday's column: The Darwinian Gardener celebrates holiday trail-off. The decorations are staying up! www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
Sunday's column today: the Thermostat Police react to the latest Florida cold front: 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.
www.news-journalonline.com
December 7, 2024 at 1:12 PM
Sunday's column today: the Thermostat Police react to the latest Florida cold front: www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
Reposted by Mark Lane
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).
February 15, 2024 at 1:37 AM
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).
Hey Florida people, wishing you a happy End of Hurricane Season Day. www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
November 30, 2024 at 12:41 PM
Hey Florida people, wishing you a happy End of Hurricane Season Day. www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
Reposted by Mark Lane
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...
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
www.news-journalonline.com
November 27, 2024 at 5:59 PM
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...
Looking ahead after the Florida Legislature got itself organized -- roof-over-our-heads issues loom. www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
November 23, 2024 at 1:26 PM
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...
November 16, 2024 at 3:59 PM
Column - The Darwinian Gardener is surprised to find his hurricane debris pile gone - www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
Tomorrow's column talks about the day after Election Day. www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...
November 2, 2024 at 12:45 PM
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...
October 29, 2024 at 1:09 PM
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...
www.news-journalonline.com
October 29, 2024 at 1:06 PM
Column: The Free State of Florida is now in the government propaganda business funded by you and me. www.news-journalonline.com/story/opinio...