Using Reclaim America, a PAC that is associated with him, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., waded into the one of the most closely watched U.S. Senate battles in the nation on Monday when he backed U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass. Brown is facing a serious challenge from Democrat candidate Elizabeth Warren.

Businessman and large-animal veterinarian Ted Yoho unveiled one of the more colorful commercials of the 2012 election cycle on Monday as he continues his bid to defeat U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns in the Republican primary on Aug. 14. Yoho launched a commercial featuring pigs and men in suits -- one of them professional wrestler Dustin Runnels who is best known for his stint in the WWE as Goldust -- throwing mud at each other representing career politicians -- namely Stearns, state Sen. Steve Oelrich and Clay County Clerk of Court James Jett.

For those who believe Charlie Crist is positioning himself for a run at returning to the governors mansion, he has added some fuel to the fire after writing a critique of Gov. Rick Scotts effort to remove non-U.S. citizens from the lists of registered voters.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Friday that five members of the Tampa street gang Cross-Fletcher Hot Boys were collectively sentenced Friday to 70 years in prison plus 64 years of probation. Dijon Johnson, 25, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, to be followed by four years probation, after pleading guilty to racketeering, conspiracy, resisting officers with violence, and drug conspiracy charges.

Former Democratic state lawmaker Mandy Dawson was sentenced to six months in federal prison for tax evasion on Friday. She must turn herself in by Oct. 5 to begin serving her term, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

Gov. Rick Scott released the following statement regarding the deadly movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colo., early Friday. Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost their lives during this mornings tragic shooting in Aurora, Colorado, or were injured or otherwise affected by it.

Gov. Rick Scott has ordered state and national flags lowered to half-staff at the Hernando County Courthouse, Brooksville City Hall and the state Capitol on Monday, July 23, for U.S. ArmySpecialist Clarence Williams III. Williams, 23, of Brooksville, was one of six soldiers killed July 9 when a roadside bomb hit an armored vehicle in the Warkdak Province, Afghanistan. Willaims was assigned to the 978th Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, III Corps, Fort Bliss, Texas.

On Friday, the Associated Industries of Florida political action committee (AIFPAC) took sides in nine state Senate races, including wading into some competitive primaries.

Floridas unemployment mark held steady in June at 8.6 percent, as 9,000 new jobs were added last month according to a state report. The state mark is 2.1 percentage points lower than where Florida was a year ago at the same point. In the month of June, 9,000 more Floridians got new jobs and were able to receive a paycheck to help provide for their families, Gov. Rick Scott stated in a release.

The Florida Department of Education unveiled a Web portal designed to help students as they decide on where and what to apply for at the state's public colleges by showing what they can get out of each campus and career programs. The site doesn't included the state's public universities.

Florida is second in the nation for prescription drugs being dispensed out of doctors offices, according to a study by the Workers' Compensation Research Institute. The study claimed that 62 percent of all prescription-drug spending in Florida for injured workers was paid to physicians.

With President Barack Obama in Florida on Thursday, attorney and veteran Ron DeSantis, who is running in a crowded Republican primary for an open congressional seat stretching from outside Jacksonville south to Volusia County, unveiled a new commercial in which he bashes the president.

On Thursday, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) announced that it is backing Rep. Mike Weinstein, R-Jacksonville, in his battle against former Rep. Aaron Bean in the Republican primary for an open Florida Senate seat representing parts of the First Coast.

A disaster recovery center has opened in Taylor County for homeowners and businesses impacted by Tropical Storm Debby, with representatives on hand from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration. The center, at the Perry-Foley Airport, will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday. Anyone that sustained damage in any of the 22 Florida counties designated for federal individual disaster assistance can visit.

You know that old adage: when the economy is in the tank, tour the Everglades? Well, no, we don't either, but the lefties sure do -- I can still picture a tanned and smiling Gov. Charlie Crist with the beautiful sawgrass swaying in the breeze behind him. With new poll numbers showing perceptions of the economy in the toilet, here comes the president tossing out the Everglades card for the second time in two weeks, sending Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar for a 'Glades photo op.