The gap between Gov. Rick Scotts re-election effort and the currently filed 2014 gubernatorial field -- along with anyone else considering a run -- continues to widen as the organization raising money for his campaign pulled in $175,100 in the past two weeks.

Gov. Rick Scott ordered state and national flags lowered outside the Capitol in Tallahassee to half-staff on Saturday for both Petty Officer Second Class Michael J. Brodsky, of Tamarac, and Captain Bruce A. MacFarlane, of Oviedo. Scotts order also calls for flags to be lowered outside the Seminole County Courthouse and Oviedo City Hall for MacFarlane. MacFarlane died on July 6 in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. He had been assigned to the 1186th Transportation Company, 831st Transportation Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, Jacksonville, Fla.

St. Lucie County Commission Chairman Chris Dzadovsky, a Democrat from Fort Pierce, has been reinstated to office by Gov. Rick Scott. Dzadovsky was suspended from office in April after he allegedly took a pool heater from the home of his deceased ex-fianc. TCPalm.com reported the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor last week.

Florida has received $21 million in state and federal aid for those affected by Tropical Storm Debby. The Florida Emergency Management Agency reported more than 12,000 people have contacted the federal agency for aid. Among the disaster recovery effort as of July 27: 4,190 households approved for FEMA grants that assist with housing and personal property loss. $14.8 million approved for housing grants, including short-term rental assistance, home repair and replacement costs.

Florida will receive $11.4 million as part of a $151 million multistate settlement with drug wholesaler McKesson Corp. for inflating the cost of brand-name drugs used to collect money from Medicaid. Inflating pricing data that result in overpayment by the Medicaid program defrauds taxpayers, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated in a release. I am pleased we were able to recover more than $11.4 million for Florida.

In order to raise awareness of her crusade against the impact of prescription drug abuse on newborns, Attorney General Pam Bondi is seeking suggestions on how to market the effort. Bondis office announced Friday they are seeking a slogan to help the campaign. Raising awareness about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs while pregnant is a crucial component of preventing neonatal abstinence syndrome, Attorney General Pam Bondi, who chairs the Statewide Task Force on Prescription Drug Abuse and Newborns, stated in a release.

Oral arguments have been set for Aug. 8 in Leon County Court in the effort by the Southeastern Legal Foundation to block the states three Supreme Court justices up for merit retention from having their names on the November ballot. Barbara Pariente, Peggy Quince and R. Fred Lewis have already filed a motion asking a Leon County judge to block the discovery phase from starting until their motion can be heard to dismiss the lawsuit.

Miami officials said on Thursday that if the unions don't give in on $40 million in concessions, they will be forced to declare "financial urgency," an action that would allow the city to unilaterally alter contracts. According to a Reuters story, Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado was quoted as saying the declaration would be issued by the city manager because the savings are needed to balance the city's $485 million operating budget for the next fiscal year.

Federal Emergency Management Agency mitigation specialists will be in Suwannee County on Friday and Hernando County on Saturday to discuss disaster-resistant ways to repair and rebuild after Tropical Storm Debby. The specialists will attend the Smokin' on the Suwannee BBQ at 13944 48th St. in Live Oak from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturday, they will be at the Hernando County Farmers Market in Spring Hill at 2450 U.S. 19 (Commercial Way) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

House Speaker Pro Tempore John Legg, R-Port Richey, continues to gain the support of the Republican leadership for his bid for a seat in the Florida Senate. On Thursday, state Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that she was backing Legg over former Rep. Rob Wallace and security consultant John Korscak in the Republican primary on Aug. 14.

On Thursday, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) used its political action committee to back Republican candidates who are running for seats in the Florida Senate. The group did not endorse any Democrats.

More than $211 million in initially unclaimed cash and property was returned to Floridians during fiscal year 2011-2012 -- nearly 12 percent more than the previous fiscal year, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced. Last year, the Bureau of Unclaimed Property approved nearly 300,000 claims to reunite Floridians with their unclaimed property.

The governors office announced that Air Products, an Allentown, Pa., company, is expanding to Manatee County, building a 300,000-square-foot manufacturing facility that will employ 250. The international gases and chemicals supply company is expanding its liquefied natural gas heat exchanger manufacturing footprint to be close to Port Manatee, which will handle the global shipping for the business.

Marking the beginning of the end for the magazine's 79-year run as a print weekly, Newsweek owner IAC/InterActiveCorp (IACI) said Wednesday the magazine will begin transitioning to an online publication. Newsmax.com had the story Wednesday night.

Secretary of State Ken Detzner and the Florida Department of States Division of Cultural Affairs are showing off their new historic digs Thursday night in Tallahassee. A housewarming event is planned at the division's new office space at the Brokaw McDougall House from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is to feature live music by the Zach Bartholmew Trio and a traveling exhibition of Salvador Dalprints from the DalMuseum.