Floridas top court has backed up the 1st District Court of Appeal in declaring it was unconstitutionalto force public insurance adjusters to wait 48 hours after a major storm or catastrophic event before contacting potential claimants.

Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, released the following statement on the passing of former state representative Jim Tillman, who was the House Republican leader in 1972. With the passing of former Representative Jim Tillman, Florida lost a true public servant and a loving husband and father, Cannon stated in the release.

On Thursday, the Eagle Forum PAC and conservative leader Phyllis Schlafly chose sides in one of the most interesting Republican congressional primaries in the nation when they backed U.S. Rep. Sandy Adams over U.S. Rep. John Mica. Sandy is exactly the kind of leader we need in Washington, said Schlafly in a statement. She is a fierce defender of life with a proven record as an effective conservative leader. Schlafly pointed to Adams record in Tallahassee as well as in her one term in Congress.

Bond has been set again for neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, this time at $1 million, according to Fox News. Zimmerman, who faces a second-degree murder charge in the Feb. 26 shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, was ordered back to jail last month for allegedly misleading the court about his finances when first allowed out of jail on a $150,000 bond.

Its still all going to be about jobs for Floridians, Gov. Rick Scott said Thursday when asked about how the 2012 presidential contest will shape up in the fight for votes from the Sunshine State. After discussing his continued opposition to the Affordable Care Act while on CBS This Morning on Thursday, Scott was asked about the presidential contest.

Former Gov. Buddy Roemer of Louisiana shows no signs of heading to the political sidelines despite pulling out of the presidential race in May. Roemer first set his eyes on the Republican nomination but, after being left out of the debates, he went third party as he attempted to snag the nominations with Americans Elect and the Reform Party. With Americans Elect opting not to run a presidential candidate in 2012, Roemer ended his presidential bid.

The future of barrel racing as a contest to be bet upon wasnt decided last week and hearings on the dispute will continue in August. Four days of testimony before the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings ended June 29 without any determination if Gretna Racing LLC can continue to use barrel races as pari-mutuel heats to fulfill the requirement for its quarter horse racing and poker room licenses, according to Bloodhorse.com.

With President Barack Obama focusing on two battleground states -- Ohio and Pennsylvania -- on Thursday and Friday, Republicans are countering with a pair of the leading possibilities to wind up as Mitt Romneys running mate. Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana will be taking a bus tour of the two states and looking to throw jabs at Obama. Theyll be attacking the president on the national debt in Ohio on Thursday morning before heading to a rally in Parma in the afternoon and one in Pittsburgh on Friday morning.

Rasmussen Reports releases this poll on Independence Day: To display their loyalty to the United States, Americans recite the Pledge of Allegiance, ending with the key phrase with liberty and justice for all. But just over half of Americans actually believe that to be true. That said, a lot more wouldn't live anywhere else in the world.

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is seeking to have parts of Florida designated as natural disaster areas once agricultural losses are determined from Tropical Storm Debbys June 24-27 trip across the state. The excessive rainfall, flooding, flash flooding, high winds, lightning and multiple tornados the storm inflicted caused extensive damage to both the quality and quantity of many of our crops, as well as to the grazing pastures so critical to our livestock producers, Putnam wrote U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Violations of the states Do Not Call list, people seeking contributions, and landlord-tenant issues topped the list for complaints from Floridians to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in June. More than 3,300 complaints were filed by consumers in June to the 1-800-HELP-FLA consumer hotline, during which time the department received 39,394 calls and 11,641 emails for consumer assistance and information

While he still remains a formal candidate in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas has also been focusing on his last months in Congress. Paul is not seeking re-election in November. Paul is focusing on passing his bill to audit the Federal Reserve, which made it out of committee earlier in the session and is up for a vote in the full House later in July. The Campaign for Liberty, a group of Paul supporters, highlighted a new video from Congressman Paul on Tuesday in which he talks about the issue.

U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., came out swinging against President Barack Obama on Tuesday, ripping the president over immigration. West also hammered the Supreme Court for ruling against Arizonas immigration law last week.

With Independence Day 2012 here, most Americans still strongly agree with the central tenets of the document that declared the nation's independence from Great Britain 236 years ago.

Tea Party members continue to show their support for large-animal doctor Ted Yoho in the primary for the new District 3 congressional seat. With 131 people casting ballots in a straw poll held Saturday at Olustee Park by the Lake City Tea Party, Yoho garnered 60 percent of the vote, followed by Clay County Clerk of Court Jimmy Jett at 17 percent. State Sen. Steve Oelrich, R-Gainesville, came in third with 14 percent and U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Ocala, continued to struggle with the tea party crowd, taking 9 percent of the vote.