Opinion

ICE and our own lawmakers are freezing our local economy. They aren’t making it easy for small business owners, as small businesses are having a challenging time remaining open, with several customers are too afraid to go out. (Photo/Amina Filkins, Pexels)

ICE and our own lawmakers are freezing our local economy. They aren’t making it easy for small business owners, as small businesses are having a challenging time remaining open, with several customers are too afraid to go out. (Photo/Amina Filkins, Pexels)

ICE is chilling our local economy

News Staff
Friday, May 1, 2026
By Yulian Botello — We all have heard the news about ICE raids, and the “Operation Tidal Wave” announced by Perhaps you also have heard about the confirmation that ICE agents are making hotel reservations in Central Florida, reported by WFTV.
Guest Columnist: While there’s no reversing the damage that’s been done, there are ways to move forward, changes and additions can be made as environmentally friendly as possible, and reports need to be made on environmental impacts.

Guest Columnist: While there’s no reversing the damage that’s been done, there are ways to move forward, changes and additions can be made as environmentally friendly as possible, and reports need to be made on environmental impacts.

Overtourism is destroying the natural Florida

Willianny Reyes
Thursday, April 30, 2026
As a kid growing up in South Florida, I didn’t have an annual pass to the Most Magical Place on Earth. I spent my childhood dreaming of Cinderella’s castle and meeting Mickey Mouse.
Comparing Florida students reading levels from before and after COVID-19, “the average student in Sarasota, Lake, Duval, Pasco, Palm Beach, Polk, Miami-Dade, and Osceola remains at least 80% of a grade level below 2019 levels in reading,” an Education Recovery Scorecard reported.

Comparing Florida students reading levels from before and after COVID-19, “the average student in Sarasota, Lake, Duval, Pasco, Palm Beach, Polk, Miami-Dade, and Osceola remains at least 80% of a grade level below 2019 levels in reading,” an Education Recovery Scorecard reported.

Student’s struggle to read is real

Gemma Bartlinski
Thursday, April 30, 2026
This series of op-ed pieces come to the News-Gazette through English Composition classes at Valencia College's Osceola campus. The views expressed in these editorials are student opinion and do not represent the views of Valencia College.
Chanel Steptoe is the current Administrator at Aviata at Kissimmee Gardens.

Chanel Steptoe is the current Administrator at Aviata at Kissimmee Gardens.

GUEST COLUMNIST — A Kissimmee blueprint for excellence in long term care

News Staff
Friday, April 3, 2026
By Chanel SteptoeWhen you walk into a long term care facility led by the right people, you feel it immediately. You can see it in how professionals interact with others, the warmth in how residents are greeted, and the trust that families feel in their loved one’s home.
Derrick Chubbs of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida says his organization is working hard to narrow the gap between the available benefits and the amount of help needed by Central Florida families facing hunger.

Derrick Chubbs of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida says his organization is working hard to narrow the gap between the available benefits and the amount of help needed by Central Florida families facing hunger.

GUEST COLUMNIST — Here to stay: hunger in Central Florida

Derrick Chubbs
Friday, February 27, 2026
Frank and Gloria did everything right. They took their finances seriously—saved money, earned an education, and put their kids through school. But now, retired from their careers as teachers, they find themselves struggling to stretch their income to the end of every month.
By a presidential proclamation, January has been designated as National Blood Donor Month in an effort to raise awareness about the constant demand for blood.

By a presidential proclamation, January has been designated as National Blood Donor Month in an effort to raise awareness about the constant demand for blood.

Giving blood was near and dear to his heart

Tom Germond
Thursday, January 22, 2026
If I were granted one wish for 2026 it would be that everybody who gives blood would donate one more time.That would go a long way toward preventing blood shortages.Okay, I have another wish: Allow me to donate blood and platelets again.That’s not likely to happen.
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