After more than a year-and-a-half downward march, Floridas unemployment mark took an upward bend in July. The state Department of Economic Opportunity announced an 8.8 percent unemployment rate for July, with approximately 816,000 out of work from the work force of 9.27 million. The rate is 0.2 percent above where Florida stood in June, but still 1.8 percentage points lower than where the state was in July 2011.

With the July unemployment numbers coming out Friday, Gov. Rick Scott will be in Tampa to make a jobs announcement this morning. Scott is scheduled to be at Netpark Tampa Bay at 9 a.m., according to the governors office. The monthly jobs numbers are due at 10 a.m. Later today, Scott will be at Port Manatee for an economic round-table meeting and the groundbreaking of a giant refrigerated warehouse.

You, our readers,asked the questions; we at Sunshine got the answers! Ted Yoho's Republican nomination for Florida's newly-created 3rd Congressional District, over and against 24-year incumbent Cliff Stearns, is being called one of the greatest congressional upsets in the state's history. And this morning, he laid everything on the table in his most candid interview yet on the campaign trail.

Gov. Rick Scott and former Gov. Jeb Bush will be among panelists and moderators for the economic development series during the Republican National Convention, the Tampa Bay Host Committee announced. Others set to appear during the sessions include: former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice; former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez; U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Javier Palomarez; St. Augustine Partners President George P. Bush; Infante Zumpano Partner Daniel Diaz Leyva; and Margaret Spellings & Co. President Margaret Spellings.

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., will make his first Florida visit since being named the running mate of the Republican Partys presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Ryan will campaign in The Villages on Saturday morning, the Republican Party of Florida announced. The event is set to begin at 9:30 a.m.

John Hofmeister, retired president of Shell Oil Co. and founder of Citizens for Affordable Energy, dropped more than a few jaws Thursday morning when he declared, "I am a lifelong Democrat, but I can't and I won't vote for Barack Obama in 2012." Keynoting the Florida Energy Summit, the electric Hofmeister said, "I can't vote for the president because I've spoken to him. He told me he wants more of the same energy policies that have driven us to $4 a gallon gas. He isn't going to change course.

Will Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam be headed back to the national stage if there is a change in White House? The former U.S. congressman has been tapped for Republican presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romneys Farmers and Ranchers for Romney coalition. As Floridas agriculture commissioner, Im proud to be supporting Governor Romneys campaign to get this country moving in the right direction again, Putnam stated in a release.

Gov. Rick Scott will be in the Tampa area Friday for the groundbreaking of a giant refrigerated warehouse at Port Manatee.The port, located at the entrance to Tampa Bay, will host the groundbreaking at 2 p.m. before holding an economic round-table meeting.

Gov. Rick Scott has ordered national and state flags lowered to half-staff on Thursday outside the Brevard County Courthouse, Palm Bay City Hall and state Capitol in Tallahassee for U.S. Army Gunnery Sergeant Jonathan W. Gifford. Gifford, 34, of Palm Bay, died on July 29 while on patrol in Badghis Province, Afghanistan. Gifford, a critical skills operator approaching 15 years in the service who had completed multiple combat deployments, was assigned to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry released the following statement Wednesday on the primary results from Tuesday: "I congratulate the many Republicans across the state who were victorious in their primary contests last night. We now have a great slate of candidates heading into the general election and I am confident they will succeed again this November.

Right on schedule Wednesday afternoon, Agriculture and Consumer Services Secretary Adam Putnam welcomed the more than 500 participants to the second annual Florida Energy Summit at Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando. Putnam described some of the items on the agenda, thanked sponsors and explained why his hopes are so high for this year's program. "We passed a remarkable energy bill this last session," he said. "It isn't everything we hoped for, but we are so anxious to get your ideas on how we should move forward."

Florida House Democratic Leader-designate Perry Thurston, D-Plantation, released the following statement on Wednesday regarding the primary results and the 2013 legislative session:

On Thursday morning, Sunshine State News will be interviewing Ted Yoho, Republican nominee for Florida's newly-created 3rd Congressional District; his primary victory last night over 24-year incumbent Cliff Stearns is being called one of the worst congressional upsets in Florida's history. {Check out yesterday's election-night coverage for the background.}

House Speaker-designate Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, released the following forward-looking statement Wednesday, following Tuesdays Republican primary ele

Republican Dave Weldon, who lost his bid for U.S. Senate in Tuesday's primary to U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV, issued the following statement in defeat: