According to Glenn Greenwald, a journalist withThe Guardian newspaper, whistleblower and former contractor Edward Snowden has documents amounting to an "instruction manual" on how the National Security Agency works.

State Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, chairman of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus and sponsor of the Stand Your Ground repeal bill, issued this statement Sunday morning on the not-guilty verdict in the George Zimmerman murder trial: The tragedy of the Trayvon Martin case reflects that here in Florida gun violence has claimed too many lives. While I am disappointed with the verdict, we all must respect it and our thoughts and prayers must remain with the Martin family. This case has brought much attention to our states gun laws.

George Zimmerman has been acquitted for both second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The verdict was released late Saturday evening after nearly 16 hours of jury deliberation. Jurors had asked for clarification of manslaughter charges earlier Saturday evening.

With House Democratic Leader Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, facing term limits in 2014, a major Democratic candidate filed his paperwork to launch a bid to replace him in representing parts of Broward County.

Florida's graduation rates once sat at the bottom of the pack, but a new national report released by Education Week shows Florida's graduation rate has grown tremendously over the last decade. It's the third-largest increase in the U.S., rising from 52.5 percent in 1999 to 70.4 percent in 2009. Florida's gains were only behind Arizona and New York.

Nate Cohn over at The New Republic makes an interesting argument that Florida Republicans need to do well with Hispanics or the Sunshine State will turn from purple to blue. With Florida remaining the ultimate swing state in presidential politics, Cohn argues that if Florida becomes more blue due to Hispanic voters -- the way Nevada and New Mexico have -- there could be major consequences for the national GOP:

During the redistricting process in early 2012, then-Rep. Eric Eisnaugle bowed out of the Florida House and set his sights on 2014 instead of taking on fellow Republican Rep. Steve Precourt, R-Orlando, in the primary. With Precourt, currently serving as GOP majority leader, facing term limits in 2014, Eisnaugle is in excellent shape to return to Tallahassee to represent parts of Orange County. Eisnaugle reeled in $20,375 in the second quarter of 2013, bringing his cash on hand -- which also includes money raised during his scuddled 2012 race -- to around $139,600.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is planning to resign as early as Friday, according to an administration official. Napolitano is the first person to serve as United States secretary of Homeland Security, and has been in the position since 2009.President Barack Obama nominated Napolitano for the position in 2008. Napolitano is planning on taking a job within the university system in California. She attended Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, Calif.

Rep. Doug Broxson, R-Milton, has drawn a Republican primary challenger. Jamie Tabisz-Smith who runs the Liberty Life News site filed his paperwork to run against Broxson in next years Republican primary. Broxson represents parts of Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties. So far in the 2014 election cycle, Broxson has raised $12,300 in cash and had around $10,900 in the bank at the end of June.

National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden met with an array of human-rights groups and activists Friday atSheremetyevo International Airport, according to reports from Interfax.

Gov. Rick Scott namedDorina Sackman, an eighth-grade ESOL language arts teacher from Westridge Middle School in Orange County as2014 Macy's Teacher of the Year on Thursday at Hard Rock Live at Universal Studios in Orlando. Hundreds of teachers attended the event, which was hosted byEmmy Award-winning journalist Deborah Norville. Gov. Rick Scott; Darlene Hanes, Macys executive vice president, regional director of stores; and Florida Commissioner of Education Tony Bennett were at the event to make the announcement.

The defense began its closing arguments Friday morning in the trial of George Zimmerman, who is charged with second-degree murder in the death of teenager Trayvon Martin. The defense's closing arguments will then be followed by a one-hour rebuttal by the prosecution. After the rebuttal, the jurors will be sequestered to decide the verdict.

Following a speech earlier in the day where he suggested the Senate not pass continuing resolutions on the budget unless President Barack Obamas health care law was defunded, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., signed on as a co-sponsor to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruzs, R-Texas, bill to defund it. Cruz and Rubio are both possible contenders for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.

Gov. Rick Scott formed a tag team with Paul Levesque, the executive vice president of talent and live events for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), on Thursday to open the WWEs Global Performance Center in Orlando. Levesque, best known by wrestling fans as Triple H is the son-in-law of WWE CEO Vince McMahon. The project will bring $2.3 million in capital investment and almost 100 jobs to Central Florida.

Sunshine State News is hitting the radio airwaves on Thursday from 2:20-3 p.m. Your humble blogger will be on the Ed Dean radio show, which is hosted by one of the most feisty, informative and entertaining conservatives in Florida. It can be heard onlinehereand on two stations in Central Florida -- 89.3 on the west coast and 90.3 on the Atlantic coast.