Gov. Rick Scott and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam may not have anything to worry about, but Florida politicians a few more years down the road may have a 6-foot 3-inch, 236-pound object rumbling in their way. Famed University of Florida alumnus Tim Tebow may not be getting much playing time right now with the New York Jets, but he still remains one of the most followed players.

The University of South Florida picked up two grants worth more than $1 million combined from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to research the impact of extreme weather on air and water quality. One grant of $750,000 was awarded to the universitys College of Marine Science to support the development of tools to predict future water-quality degradation associated with extreme weather events and a changing climate, according to the EPA release.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell will serve as the keynote speaker for the Republican Party of Floridas 2012 Victory Dinner this October in Orlando.

After two days of weather delays, Floridians had their last chance to watch a space shuttle depart from its shores at 7:22 a.m. Wednesday morning. However, it wont be their last chance to see one of the nations once-proud but retired shuttle fleet in the Sunshine State.

NASA managers will conduct a final weather review at 5 a.m. before giving the final go-ahead for space shuttle Endeavour to be lifted off one last time from Cape Canaveral, this time on the back of NASAs Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. A go was given Tuesday following a morning weather briefing for the shuttle to depart at 7:15 a.m. Weather has delayed the flight to California the past two days.

Gov. Rick Scott released the following statement after Fort Worth-based American Airlines notified the state of plans to reduce its Florida work force by up to 1,414 later this year:

American Airlines has advised the state Department of Economic Opportunity that 1,414 layoffs will come to its operations in Florida starting in mid-November.The notice comes as the Fort Worth-based carrier that is going through bankruptcy restricting sent layoff warning letters to more than 11,000mechanics, ground workers, clerks and airport agents companywide.

(Corrected date, to reflect a revised release from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.) The U.S. Chamber of Commerces National Chamber Foundation will host a job fair on Tuesday, Sept. 25 for military veterans and their spouses in West Palm Beach. More than 40 employees are expected to be on hand for the Hiring Our Heroes -- West Palm Beach event at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd. The three-hour event kicks off at 9 a.m.

David M. Christian, a veteran government affairs professional, has been named vice president of government affairs for the Florida Chamber of Commerce. The position, which oversees a team of 25 lobbyists, is responsible for the Chambers annual business agenda. Were pleased to add David Christian to our seasoned governmental affairs team and our effective political operations program spearheaded by Marian Johnson, David Hart, Chamber executive vice president of Government Affairs and Political Operations, stated in a release.

AARP has announced it will sponsor a series of activities in Florida prior to the Oct. 22 presidential debate at Lynn University. The idea is to bring attention to the critical concerns of 50-plus voters, specifically Social Security, Medicare and financial security. This is part of AARP's presence as a prime sponsor of the Lynn University Presidential Debate Festival and Watch Party, along with a series of on-campus, intergenerational conversations on the future of the popular, institutionalized entitlement programs.

The office of Attorney General Pam Bondi has set up a webpage to raise awareness of human trafficking in advance of her plans to appear at a summit on the impact of trafficking in Florida.

NASA has had to scrub another launch of Endeavour due to the weather.

Three cattlemen and three farmers were among Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnams seven appointments Monday to help guide Floridas new streamlined Soil and Water Conservation Council. The council is expected to provide input to the state department on legal matters relating to statewide soil and water conservation. In a release, Putman stated that the council will also allow for a more focused advisory body that is better suited to provide guidance relating to soil and water conservation issues throughout Florida.

Chip Morrison, general counsel for the Florida League of Cities, was named the municipal attorney of the year by Florida Municipal Attorneys Association. Chip has given tirelessly and unselfishly to Floridas municipal community, Don Smallwood, city attorney of Kissimmee and president of the FMAA, stated in a release. He has practiced municipal law with an integrity and humbleness that brings respect and admiration to the profession.

Gov. Rick Scott has ordered state and national flags at half-staff Tuesday outside the Brevard County Courthouse, Melbourne City Hall and the Florida Capitol for Chief Warrant Officer Brian D. Hornsby of Melbourne. Hornsby, a highly decorated U.S. Army pilot, died in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crash northeast of Kandahar in August.