John McCain's positions on offshore drilling and same-sex couple adoptions are just the latest he's taken on sensitive issues by insisting states should make their own decisions. ...more

July 28, 2008

It shouldn't surprise anyone that voter registration in Highlands County is at an all-time high. There is a lot of unrest throughout the country, including our own county. We should take voter interest as a good sign. ...more

July 16, 2008

Some clergy think churches should divorce themselves from the wedding business. ...more

July 5, 2008

Regarding Mary Malool's recent misleading letter about gay marriage, she makes good sense until she stated, "People who are against gay marriage are trying to force their religious views on the rest of the country." I believe just the opposite is true. Marriage has historically been between one man and one woman, and although I am not religious, I believe it should remain so, for the good of this country and for the good of mankind. It is the gay minority that is trying to force society to accept a practice which is an aberration and morally questionable. ...more

June 20, 2008

AVON PARK — Norm Stephens knows that in a recessionary economy, voters aren't likely to approve any suggestion of a tax increase. And in November, there will be nine ballot issues to confuse voters, including a one-cent sales tax which that would replace school property taxes. And furthermore, the 10-mill college property tax is No. 8 on the list, after the amendments prohibiting gay marriage and illegal aliens owning land. So its chances of passing may be small. But if voters approve in November, the Legislature would be required to allow the commissioners in Highlands, Hardee and DeSoto counties to hold a election which would generate property taxes to support South Florida Community College. "It's a four-step process," said Stephens, SFCC president. "It has to be approved by 60 percent of the voters in November. That allows the Legislature to develop rules. Then the counties can place it on the ballot, and the voters would have to approve again." ...more

June 8, 2008

Proponents of Amendment 2 are deliberately misleading the public by calling it the "gay marriage" or "same-sex" marriage amendment. ...more

June 7, 2008

SEBRING — Start reading and listening, because there's a lot to learn before November. So far, nine state questions have been approved for the Nov. 4 ballot, which will also decide who will be the next president, congressman, state representatives and state senator. So get ready for a cluttered ballot. "There's always confusion on constitutional amendments," said Jennifer Davis, communications director, the Florida Department of State. And get ready for the hype, because voters will decide on gay marriage and whether illegal aliens can own land. ...more

May 17, 2008

Mildred Loving died last Friday, very quietly and with little fanfare. It should not have been that way, but it was symbolic of the way she lived. ...more

May 11, 2008

Taking up Raul Castro's invitation to speak their minds without fear of reprisal, more Cubans have begun publicly complaining and challenging government policies on everything from limits on Internet access to travel restrictions. ...more

February 7, 2008

A citizen initiative to ban gay marriage will be on the November ballot, the only one of more than 50 active petition drives that qualified Friday at the deadline for signature verification. ...more

February 2, 2008