TheFlorida Senate's Committee on Community Affairs unanimously approved two bills this morning, one greatly limiting the use of unmannedsurveillancedrones and another comprehensively overhauling Florida's ethics laws. Check out Sunshine State News' previous coverage of Sen. Joe Negron's SB 92, the Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has named St. Petersburg Police Department Sergeant Karl Lounge and St. Petersburg Police Department Officer Douglas Weaver her 2012 Law Enforcement Officers of the Year.

Gov. Rick Scott announced Wednesday that Siemens is bringing 50 new jobs as its builds a 40,000-square-foot wind service training center in Orlando, near the American headquarters of the companys energy business. The release from the governors office is the first of two expected as he is scheduled to be in Sunrise at 2 p.m. as Emerson Latin American holds a new jobs announcement.

The AP reports that Judge Debra Nelson of the 18thJudicial Circuit Court of Florida has denied a request by defendant George Zimmerman's lawyers to delay the start of his murder trial until November. The defense argued the delay was necessary because the prosecution was slow to turn over its evidence. "I don't see any of your issues to be insurmountable," Nelson said in denying Zimmerman's motion.

Conservative grassroots advocate Americans for Prosperity (AFP), in partnership with the government watchdog group Integrity Florida, announced Tuesday afternoon the release of their joint report "Enterprise Florida: Economic Development or Corporate Welfare?"

Visit Florida and the Florida Chamber Foundation have teamed to keep score of the impact of tourism on Floridas economy. The online Florida Scorecard details the monthly activity of key indicators within Floridas top industry.

Florida senators will undergo their first round of ethics training on Tuesday and Wednesday as pushed by Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville. During the training sessions in the Senate Office Building, a review of ethics guidelines will be given, with topics ranging from conflicts of interest, disclosure obligations, to lobbying and gift ban laws. Floridas Sunshine Law related to public records rules and open meeting requirements will be discussed.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has released the Final Report of her Statewide Task Force on Prescription Drug Abuse and Newborns; the report contains the task force'sfindings and policy recommendations.

The state Board of Governors has extended its deadline for applicants for board of trustee positions at Florida A&M University, Florida International University, University of Central Florida and University of South Florida. The deadline is now March 4. The USF vacancy is for a term ending Jan. 6, 2016. The vacancies at FAMU, FIU and UCF are each for a term ending Jan. 6, 2018. For information, visit http://www.flbog.edu. The "Trustee Vacancies" button is in the lower left of the page.

Backers of manufactured homes are behind a bill filed in both chambers -- Senate Bill 378 by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, and House Bill 573, by Rep. Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater -- that would require coverage from Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

Florida House Democratic Leader Perry Thurston, D-Plantation, issued the following statement responding to Secretary of State Ken Detzners recommendations to improve Floridas election laws:

Florida supervisors need more flexibility in the days and locations they can set up elections, highlights the message from Secretary of State Ken Detzner on a vast number of changes needed to improve voting in Florida. Certain unnamed supervisors failed -- Detzner charged in his review of the 2012 contest -- to prepare effectively and it reflected poorly on the entire state.

The Tallahassee Democrat reports that the Florida Department of Corrections is announcing this morning that the state's recidivism rate droppedby 4.9 percent last year, saving taxpayers $44 million.

With U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Miami, part of a bipartisan group pushing for immigration reform that provides some counter to the proposal offered by President Obama, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, is conducting a poll on his website regarding immigration. As Congress begins debate on immigration reform, do you support or oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants?