Gov. Rick Scott will announce Monday that Mike Carroll, who currently serves as director of the SunCoast Region Department of Children and Families, will be taking over as DCF's new secretary. Carroll will replace Interim Secretary Esther Jacobo, who took the position after former DCF Secretary David Wilkins resigned last summer following reports of the deaths of four small children with a history of involvement with child-abuse investigators.Jacobo's last day is Friday.

If Florida voters were expecting a primary debate between former Gov. Charlie Crist and former state Sen. Nan Rich, they may want to give up hope as it's seeming less and less likely the two will face off. Crist spokesman Kevin Cate took to Twitter on Friday to announce the former governor was "entirely focused" on defeating Rick Scott, which seems to imply he's got little time left over to debate Nan Rich.

On Friday, Gov. Rick Scott announced Verizon will add 350 additional jobs to the 750 announced in their Lake Mary finance center which was launched last year.

As former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., continues to ponder whether to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, the national media have made a major issue of his mother -- former first lady Barbara Bush -- saying she does not think he should enter the contest. But another member of the Republican dynasty is encouraging the former Florida governor to enter the contest: former President George H.W. Bush.

Waggish Roger Stone, one of my favorite authors, a general bon vivant and Florida political-everything, may be a little despondent about the GOP's 2016 White House prospects. My clue is this campaign button he sent me to wear. He asks, "You got anyone better?"

Gov. Rick Scott sent a letter Wednesday to Jeff Miller, chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Veterans Affairs, requesting that field hearings be held in Florida regarding allegations of neglect plaguing the federal VA facilities. The letter reads: Dear Chairman Miller:

A new poll shows U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., does not garner much support in his home state of Florida if he runs for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.

The Fuels America coalition unveiled a study on Thursday by John Dunham & Associates on how renewable fuels benefit Florida, leading to $4.4 billion, almost 20,100 jobs and $136.6 million in revenue for the state government. The report can be read here.

Appearing on Your World on Fox News on Wednesday, Gov. Rick Perry, R-Texas, weighed in on his challenge to debate Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., and offered praise to Gov. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and other Republicans governors. Perry is in New York this week, promoting Texas business climate and encouraging businesses based in the Empire State to look at relocating. I am here to give people the opportunity to relocate or expand their business to the state of Texas, Perry said.

Let's Get To Work, a group affiliated with Gov. Rick Scott, unveiled a new television ad on Thursday, hitting former Gov. Charlie Crist the favorite for the Democratic nomination despite spending most of his political life with the GOP. The ad starts on Saturday and Lets Get to Work is putting $2 million behind the buy.

After winning the Republican primary on Tuesday as he looks to replace former U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., in Congress, businessman Curt Clawson once again challenged President Barack Obama to a three-point contest. Clawson played basketball at Purdue. If by any chance you catch this clip, its time to man up and accept the Three-Point Challenge," Clawson said. My house or yours? Clawson ran an ad during the Super Bowl touching on the challenge.

On Thursday, Florida TaxWatch released a study which shows increased new home construction across the Sunshine State bodes well for the economy.

After the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Review Board refused to approve the Central Everglades Planning Project, Gov. Rick Scott has stepped in and is calling for the board to immediately reconvene and approve the project. Prior to the vote, Scott sent the U.S. Army Corps a letter urging the board to adopt CEPP.

Florida's crime rate reached a 43-year low in 2013, according to theUniform Crime Report released Wednesday by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Gov. Rick Scott joined the FDLE to announce Floridas crime rate dropped 4.7 percent compared to 2012. The total number of crimes fell 3.8 percent from last year, which translates into 27,380 fewer crimes in 2013. The number of violent crimes was also down 2.4 percent.

As he battles former Florida Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich for his partys nomination to challenge Gov. Rick Scott in November, former Gov. Charlie Crist is launching a Spanish language website. Crist is the favorite for the Democratic nomination. The website,http://www.charliecrist.com/espanol, was unveiled Wednesday.