Sitting across the table from Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz, I was struck by how often he smiled. Smiled while we talked about the challenges of finding workforce housing. Smiled while we talked about transportation issues and where to find the money to fund all this growth in new Floridians. Smi…
Seat belts have been proven to be one of the best ways to save a life in a car crash, yet many drivers and passengers don’t buckle up.
It’s graduation season, and we are saying goodbye to the Class of 2023. This is an outstanding group of students with a bright future ahead of them. I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to a few of these Super Seniors.
Disney criticized Governor DeSantis and the Republican state legislature when the Republicans chose to enact the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Ron DeSantis, in retribution, had our state government take over the Disney special taxing district. The plan was for Ron DeSantis’s hand-picked board to to…
Today, technological advances continue to be made that make our personal lives easier. Watching movies, transferring funds electronically, video conferencing and home security are just a few of the more common ways in which we have grown very accustomed to the benefits that technology provides.
Defeat feels like your heart’s collapsing in on itself. It’s far more acute than failure. We can learn from failure, pick ourselves up and take another lunge at a goal. I’m talking about giving up and benching ourselves in the final stretch.
Time is moving quickly as we near the mid-point of this year and as usual, lots of good things are happening in Clermont.
Many of our readers rely on Medicare and Social Security for their retirement. Both are going bankrupt.
“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31:10
1000 Friends of Florida is sounding the alarm on very damaging legislation at risk of becoming law: SB 540/HB 359. Local Government Comprehensive Plans sponsored by Representative Wyman Duggan, a Republican and development lawyer from Jacksonville, and Senator Nick DiCeglie, a Republican and…
Reader H. had this to say about the legislation being pushed by Gov. DeSantis that would make it easier to sue someone for defamation.
The League of Women Voters’ mission is to empower voters and defend democracy. It follows that democracy is best served by respecting Home Rule. In recent years, the legislature has taken away a number of those locally determined powers and regulations.
Proponents of a controversial bill in the Florida legislature claim that House Bill (HB) 677 and its companion bill, Senate Bill (SB) 564 will cut costs for Florida businesses. What the bill’s advocates aren’t saying: These savings would only be realized by large national retailers like Walm…
I love it when readers share their thoughts about columns I write, like this from reader H.
It doesn’t take a special degree to understand that students who are not mentally or emotionally well have a tougher time learning. Many times, students who struggle in this area have more absences, so they miss out on important instruction, and when they are in school, they may be distracte…
The night my daughter-in-law passed away, my son and granddaughters spent the night. And they haven’t left because there’s no way we’d leave them to navigate this grief alone.
I hope you are enjoying all the colors and fragrances that come with springtime in Clermont!
The Republicans in power in Tallahassee are voting to reduce your free speech rights. This Florida law makes it easier for the powerful to file SLAPP lawsuits (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) against individuals who criticize them.
The promise of each spring season gives us the hope of new life. The gospel message is about a new beginning: a new life! Eternal life! “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Jesus Christ promise…
Editor’s note: Florida Policy Institute released the following statement after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law House Bill 1, which will create a universal voucher and education savings account program.
First, a disclosure. I can write about war because I served in combat in Afghanistan. Shortly after I deployed to Afghanistan, I kept copious notes on what I observed both positive and negative. I discreetly interviewed hundreds of soldiers and mined their opinions.
Rabbi Moshe Dubinksy with wife, Chavi, and family of the South Lake Chabad recently welcomed the community to attend their celebratory 2023 community Passover Seder meal with the reading of the Haggadah to celebrate Jewish holiday traditions. Passover celebrates the exodus of Jewish people f…
Forty days! After the resurrection the Lord Jesus continued to encourage and minister to His Disciples and followers: bringing comfort, confirming His promises and building His Church.
Rejoice in the Easter message: Not only is new life promised, it is delivered through our Lord Jesus Christ. The Easter message is not about a new beginning: It is about a new life! Eternal life! “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, al…
Reader J. writes, “David, you are truly a man who is in need of wisdom, we need the smartest, best qualified people for all jobs. Qualifications should never be skin color or sexual identity. You talk like the fools in San Francisco.
In recent weeks, I have voted on or introduced legislation that makes the government more accountable to the American people, protects the retirement plans of American taxpayers and seniors and reversed policies that would make our nation less safe.
Earlier this month, student leaders from around the district gathered at Leesburg High School for S.H.I.E.L.D., a student-led leadership conference focused on Spirit, Honor, Integrity, Engagement, Leadership and Determination. They were student government representatives from all of our Lake…
The state legislature is set to loosen the requirements for carrying guns. The new law appears to allow any gun owner to carry a gun in public with little training and no permit required.
Government is big and powerful. We, individuals, are relatively weak and powerless. Only our voice and vote protect us against the big powerful government.
Misery squashes hope, the expectation of good. So, when we’re in the depths of misery, wallowing in coulda, shoulda, woulda, why do we seek more suffering by sharing it with an empathizer? Someone who revels in their pain and intensifies ours?
With the recent time change we are reminded once again about the importance of the clock. We use the counting of time in everything we do. We need to take advantage of the time that we have been given.
This is my last week and last edition in which I will be the managing editor of the Clermont News Leader. Several weeks ago I received and accepted the offer to become the managing editor of the Walterboro (SC) Press & Standard.
In addition to the regular Torah portion this week, we also read a special portion about the laws of the Red Heifer. Anyone who came into contact with a dead body would have to undergo a ritual purification process before being allowed to enter the Temple. Part of this process included being…
Shouldn’t we, as a country, stop for a moment, pat ourselves on the back, and appreciate just how far we have come?
If you are looking for a wild ride in the legal system, Florida is the place to be. Florida has taken significant steps to mitigate the effects of the state’s tort environment, specifically as it relates to the challenging property insurance marketplace.
It isn’t only basketball that can lay claim to “March Madness.” Here are some other events in our nation’s history that happened in March:
It is interesting how much Ron DeSantis and I agree on the problems with big media. Here’s Governor DeSantis in his own words.
Revitalizing our nation’s economic engine is critical to restoring the growth and prosperity our country enjoyed just a few years ago. One of the most vital investments we can make is in ensuring we can efficiently move freight and people through our transportation system. We must embrace po…
CTE Month is a public awareness campaign that takes place every February to recognize the value of Career and Technical Education and celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs across the country. With more than 75 career and professional education academies in our distri…
Simply defined, revival is “a returning to a set of priorities and values that have been proven for good.” We often pray for revival for our nation, our church and our family. We need to return to the Bible and to God for help and blessings.
Florida has regained its “distinction” as the fastest growing state in the nation. According to the Florida Department of Transportation, 60% of Florida’s projected growth is happening in 10 counties, with both Lake and Sumter counties making the list.
Reader J writes about my recent column discussing the large media companies manipulating us for profit:
Following the events at Mount Sinai, Moses sat down and began to teach the Jewish people the entire Torah. Instead of concentrating on the spiritual or esoteric aspects of the Torah, which seems like an obvious first choice after such a revelation, he began with mostly practical, civil matte…
Spending bills over the last two years will increase government spending by $10 trillion over the next 10 years. Our National Debt now exceeds $31 trillion dollars, highest levels since World War II. Interest on this debt alone will reach $1.2 trillion 10 years from now. That’s more than cur…
We Floridians are proud to be America’s fastest-growing state in population. Indeed, because we are growing the fastest, we must be the best place in America to live. People are voting with their feet by moving to Florida.
A precious hymn text was born out of great suffering. Thomas A. Dorsey (not the big band leader) had great tragedy and through it found the strength of the Lord was very precious indeed.
Well, Super Bowl LVII (that’s 57 in Latin) has come and gone, and the USFL kicks off in eight weeks. Big whoop-dee-do!
There was a lot of excitement last year when we opened Lake Pointe Academy, our newest school in quite some time, and our first K-8 school. Now, construction is moving along rapidly on our second K-8, the Aurelia Cole Academy, which is scheduled to open next school year.
