On Friday, U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., announced Polk County Deputy Sheriff Erin Killebrew Welch, who served as an aide to U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., is joining his staff as a field director. Im thankful that Erin is joining our great team, said Ross. Her extensive knowledge of Polk and Hillsborough counties will serve my constituents from Floridas 15th Congressional District well.

Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater received warm words of praise from Gov. Rick Scott after he announced he'd be applying for presidency of Boca Raton-based Florida Atlantic University. Jeff Atwater has the experience and the skill to be an outstanding president at Florida Atlantic University, said Scott in a statement released Saturday. While the school will no doubt consider multiple, qualified, prestigious candidates for the job, FAU would be well-served to have a leader like Jeff at the helm.

Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater has his eyes on the presidency of Boca Raton-based Florida Atlantic University. On Saturday, the Palm Beach Postreported, In an email to staffers today, Atwater says he was approached' about applying for the top job at the Boca Raton-based school and decided to do so after much thought and discussion with my family." Applications for the position are due Monday when a search committee will meet to choose eight applicants to be invited for interviews Thursday and Friday.

All eyes will be on the Florida Seminoles and the Auburn Tigers as they face off in the BCS Championship game on Jan. 6, and Gov. Rick Scott is making a bet with Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley that the Noles will get the win Monday night. If FSU wins, Bentley will have to send Scott a gallon of lemonade from Toomers Drugs in Auburn, Ala. But if Auburn wins, Scott will owe Bentley a pie from Kermits Key West Key Lime Shoppe.

Jerry, Jerry! It seems the TV show host is not only a fan of putting bizarre personal drama on television but of gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, as well. According to contribution reports for the political committee Charlie Crist For Florida, Jerry Springer donated $10,000 to the committee on Dec. 31. Springer added his name to a handful of donors pledging financial support to Crist, many of whom are attorneys or law firms.

Most Americans are on board with a ban on assault weapons, according to a new poll released Thursday by Rasmussen Reports. The survey found 59 percent of likely U.S. voters think there should be a ban on the purchase of semi-automatic and assault-type weapons, while 33 percent disagree. A smaller amount -- 18 percent -- said they favor a complete ban on handguns in the United States. Forty-six percent of likely U.S. voters favor stricter gun control, but just as many (47 percent) say the United States does not need tougher anti-gun laws.

On Tuesday, the U.S. District Court issued a ruling that drug screening of welfare recipients was unconstitutional. The ruling comes as a loss to Gov. Rick Scott, who promised to enact drug tests during his 2010 campaign for governor. In 2011, Scott signed a law to drug test recipients of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, but the court issued a preliminary injunction a few months after.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services on Monday released the top nine consumer complaints filed during 2013. Were here to help consumers, said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. Floridians can call our 1-800-HELP-FLA consumer hotline to file a complaint, as well as find information about registered businesses and professionals and learn how to protect themselves from fraud and scams.

U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., has finished his stay in rehab and is back on social media again, this time posting yet another apology on his Facebook page. Radel was arrested in October for misdemeanor cocaine possession, a charge to which he later pled guilty. He was sentenced to a year of probation and opted to attend rehab, claiming he was battling alcoholism. Instead of resigning from his position, the Fort Myers congressman said he would opt for a leave of absence from Congress.

On Monday, Florida TaxWatch released a report which finds re-entry programs reduce the prison population and expenses for taxpayers in the Sunshine State. In the report, Florida TaxWatch urged the state Department of Corrections (DOC) to promote substance abuse, education, faith-based and character-based programs and to help released inmates prepare to re-enter the job market.

He's making a list and checking it twice -- and it looks like Alex Sink made the naughty list this year. In its latest mailer, the Republican Party of Florida pointed to several reasons why Sink would be getting a lump of coal for Christmas this year. Support from Barack Obama and her own support for his signature health-care plan were two of the reasons.Supporting higher taxes and higher insurance premiums were the others. The ultimate verdict from the RPOF? A lump of coal for Sink.

The brother-in-law of U.S. Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., who took a leave of absence from Congress after pleading guilty to cocaine possession, also has a history of cocaine possession, according to Lee County court records.

U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., announced on Friday that his proposal allowing disabled Americans to have tax-free savings accounts has the backing of strong majorities in Congress, with 60 senators and 323 congressmen co-sponsoring it including every single member of Floridas delegation. Crenshaw urged both chambers to pass his Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act.

Kevin Cate and his team over at Cate Communications released a Web video on Friday for the holidays -- featuring a few familiar faces from Florida politics tackling a major security threat. Best of all, every view of the video raises $1 for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network up to $1,000.