Kevin Derby, associate editor of Sunshine State News, has resigned his position at the news organization to join the Florida Chamber of Commerce ascommunications coordinator. His last day at the News will be Aug. 10. Derby has been with Sunshine State News since its inception in February 2010.

While his chances of ending up as Mitt Romneys running mate continue to dim, Marco Rubio continues to take a high-profile role in praising the presumptive Republican presidential candidate and taking aim at President Barack Obama. Rubio appeared on Kilmeade and Friends on Fox News Radio on Thursday and ripped into Obama on economic issues.

Gov. Rick Scott has ordered state and national flags lowered to half-staff on Friday outside the Seminole County Courthouse, Winter Springs City Hall and the Capitol in Tallahassee in honor of U.S. Army Specialist Brenden N. Salazar. Salazar, 20, of Chuluota, was one of two Floridians killed July 22 after their unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device in Pul-E Alam, Afghanistan. Spc. Justin L. Horsley, 21, of Palm Bay, also died in the attack.

Ron DeSantis, an attorney and veteran from the First Coast who is running in a crowded Republican primary for an open congressional seat, announced on Thursday that he had won the backing of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the Arizona law enforcement officer who has won national notice for his stances ranging from immigration to President Barack Obamas birth certificate. Arpaio pointed to DeSantis' record on immigration and military service as reasons he was backing him.

Members of the state Board of Education, holding an emergency session Thursday morning, unanimously named K-12 Chancellor Pam Stewart as the interim replacement for Gerard Robinson, who on Tuesday announced he was leaving the $275,000-a-year post to return to his family in Virginia.

Gov. Rick Scott and Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll will be on the Space Coast Thursday as part of an announcement regarding defense industry jobs coming to Cape Canaveral. A release from the governors office states the announcement will be made at 11:30 a.m. at the Tides Club at Patrick Air Force Base. Scott is also scheduled to participate in a defense contractors' round table Thursday afternoon at Brevard Community Colleges Cocoa campus.

Gov. Rick Scott released the following statement on the resignation of Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson:I appreciate Gerards service to the state of Florida and his commitment to ensuring Floridas students receive a first class education. He has been a tireless advocate for creating quality learning opportunities for all of Floridas students and he will certainly be missed. I wish Gerard the best and I know he will continue to make a positive impact on students and educators.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has appointed retired Lt. Colonel Chris Hart III, to the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame Council,State Attorney Mark Ober for the 13th Judicial District and Lakeland Police Chief Lisa Womack to the Personal Injury Protection Fraud Task Force. Hart is a business and strategic management consultant in Tampa. His term ends Dec. 31, 2015. Ober was elected atate attorney in November 2000. Chief Lisa Womack was sworn in as chief of police for the Lakeland Police Department in March 2011. Their terms will run concurrently with Bondis.

A survey of likely Florida voters released on Tuesday from Public Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with connections to prominent Democrats, shows a tight battle to control the Sunshine State with President Barack Obama barely ahead of former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, the presumptive Republican candidate -- but the poll also finds that Romney could help win the biggest swing state in the nation with the right vice presidential candidate. The poll shows Obama taking 48 percent while Romney is right on his tail with 47 percent with 5 percent remaining undecided.

Dr. Gisela Salas, the director of Division of Elections, has resigned for family commitments effective Wednesday, Secretary of State Ken Detzner informed the states supervisors of election late Monday. I want to bring to your attention the news that Dr. Gisela Salas, our director of the Division of Elections, has accepted a new position closer to her home and family in Ocala, Detzner wrote.

The past fiscal year is nearly a month old, but lottery sales figures continue to increase. With people playing Floridas games of chance already at a record clip, state economists have revised their totals for the recently completed 2011-2012 fiscal year by boosting sales another $262.3 million, according to numbers released Tuesday. The increase means the Florida lottery will send $1.35 billion toward the states Education Enhancement Trust Fund, $48 million more than what was projected earlier this month.

The state's attorney general has obtained $469,000 in restitution for nursing students deceived into enrolling in year-long classes at JLF University taught in Miami and Jamaica. The state had sued JFL and its principals in May 2011 for allegedly violating the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.

Florida will challenge the June 29 ruling by a federal judge that blocked the state from prohibiting doctors from discussing gun ownership with their patients. The Department of Health today filed an appeal to the federal court decision blocking enforcement of the Firearm Owners Privacy Act, Gov. Rick Scott announced in a statement.

Vincent A. DeGennaro, Miami VA Healthcare Systems chief of staff, was installed Saturday as the 136th president of the Florida Medical Association. DeGennaro received his medical degree from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, completed his residency in surgery at St. Vincents Hospital and Medical Center of New York, and completed a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at Lahey Clinic in Boston. He earned a master of science degree in health management from the New York University Graduate School for Public Administration.

Gov. Rick Scott released the following statement urging Floridians to support Floridas members of Team USA as they represent the Sunshine State and the United States. Whether you watch from London or from the comfort of your home, I encourage Floridians to support Floridas athletes as they compete during the coming weeks, Scott stated in a release. Floridas Olympians have dedicated many hours to prepare for competition and made many sacrifices to get to London, and we wish them the very best success.