Former Florida lieutenant governor and university executive Frank Brogan is packing his bags and heading to Pennsylvania, where he's been called as the new chancellor of the State System of Higher Education. Brogan was chosen Wednesday over two other finalists after a secret search process. Brogan washired by a 15-0 vote on Wednesday by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Educations Board of Governors.

Childhood obesity is finally showing signs of decline, and Florida is one state that's seen a drop in the obesity rate from 2008 to 2011. The child obesity rate for low-income preschool-age children declined from 2008 to 2011, according to federal data. Childhood obesity had been leveling off in recent years, a generation after it began to rise, alarming physicians and public health experts and prompting public health officials to start nationwide campaigns to bring the rate down.

In a statement on Wednesday and at the state Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott showcased Floridas reduced debt. On Tuesday, Scott announced $3.5 billion in debt had been paid down by the state and pointed to glowing assessments of Floridas economy from Moodys.

A new national poll finds Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey is leading the field of Republican presidential candidates in 2016, but two favorite sons from Florida are hot on his trail while former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is a heavy favorite for the Democratic nod.

The latest Granite State poll by WMUR and the University of New Hampshire was released late on Tuesday and it shows former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with a strong lead for the Democratic nomination in New Hampshire, home of the first presidential primary.

The latest Granite State poll by WMUR and the University of New Hampshire was released late on Tuesday and it shows U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., sinking in New Hampshire, home of the first presidential primary. Rubio is expected to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. In recent months. Rubio has drawn fire from conservatives for his prominent role in supporting immigration reform.

Former Congressman Allen West took aim at President Barack Obama on Tuesday night on a host of fronts. West, a favorite of the tea party who has opened the door to a political comeback in 2016, sent an email to supporters on Tuesday night, attacking Obamas response to scandals and problems.

Former state Rep. Rachel Burgin, the executive director of Florida Right to Life, came out swinging on Tuesday against the Orlando Womens Center, an abortion provider, for giving away coupons to poor women in a crisis pregnancy so they can save money on their abortions! Burgin sent out an email late on Tuesday ripping the center for hiring the notorious Dr. James Scott Pendergraft.

Earlier this week, U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., helped launch the Bravante VI which was built by the Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Panama City for the Bravante Group. The ship will be based in Brazil, home of the Bravante Group. By creating ships for Bravante, Eastern Shipbuilding has created 300 jobs in the area and helped create more than 1,500 ancillary jobs.

Florida has reduced its debt for the third year in a row in the recently finished budget year, a state financial official told Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet on Tuesday. Florida joined other states in being mindful of how much money they borrowed after the Great Recession in 2008.Moodys Investors Service reported earlier this year that states like the Sunshine State, as well as the federal government, added to their collective debt burden in 2012 at the slowest rate in at least 20 years.

The Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF) announced on Tuesday that Theresa Antworth will be coming on board as vice president of special programs and external relations. Antworth has spent more than three decades in higher education including spending the last 17 years as director of state scholarships and grants at the Florida Department of Education.

Political consultant Roger Stone initially decided to support the push for medical marijuana in Florida, and was even happy when attorney John Morgan came forward to take the reins of People United for Medical Marijuana (PUFMM). But Stone's optimism on the push for legalizing medical marijuana in the Sunshine State dissipated once Morgan took the reins of PUFMM, and now he's accusing the organization of acting as a front for potential gubernatorial nominee Charlie Crist.

Calling for an opportunity to debate the merits of the National Security Agency (NSA), 13 congressmen from both parties, including Florida Republicans U.S. Rep. Bill Posey and U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, urged House Speaker John Boehner to bring NSA reform legislation to the House floor for a vote instead of being include in Defense appropriation measures. The letter was sent to Boehner at the end of last week.

As college football players in Gainesville and Tallahassee get ready for the upcoming season, the Florida Lottery will unveil lottery tickets next week featuring the Florida Gators and the Florida State Seminoles. On Tuesday, the Lottery announced it will launch the $50,000 Gridiron Cash scratch-off tickets next Tuesday.

Former president George W. Bush had heart surgery Tuesday tohave a stent inserted after a blockage was discovered in an artery, his spokesman said. According to a press release, the blockage was discovered during his annual physical exam at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas.