The national news -- especially celebrity news -- takes a decidedly Florida turn. In fact, a Tallahassee turn. All of a sudden we find that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose estranged wife Mary Richardson Kennedy committed suicide Wednesday, has been dating actress Cheryl Hines, best known from the TV show Curb Your Enthusiasm.

The U.S. House on Thursday unanimously approved a bill by Rep. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, to allow the Department of Defense to work with nonfederal entities when investing in space-related infrastructure, such as launch pads and support facilities. The proposal must still find its way through the Senate. The amendment to House Resolution 4310, the National Defense Authorization Act, enables the Department of Defense to work with Space Florida and commercial firms to jointly work on ventures at Cape Canaveral and other space ports.

U.S. Congressman David Rivera, R-Miami, expressed disappointment Thursday that the State Department has granted a visa to the daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro. Mariela Castro Espin, 50, who heads Cubas government-funded National Center for Sex Education, will attend a Latin American studies conference next week in San Francisco, according to Bloomberg.

With the budgetary dances in Washington continuing, a Florida congressman has a proposal to speed things along. U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., released a Web video in which he talks about his legislation to withhold congressional pay unless a federal budget is passed.

The Republican members of the Congressional Sportsmens Caucus, headed by Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Chumuckla, and including Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, outdueled their Democrat counterparts Tuesday in the annual Congressional Shoot-Out.

The Florida towns of Naples and Jupiter named among the 15 happiest seaside towns by Coastal Living magazine. The rankings were based upon nominations from Facebook along with towns highlighted over the past 15 years and rankings on Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index covering the percentage of sunny and clear days, healthiness of beaches, commute times, walkability, school and crime ratings, education and financial security of the locals, and geographic diversity.Finally, editors were polled for each communitys coastal vibe.

Tourism increased 2.4 percent in the first quarter of the year from the same period of 2011, adding 19,200 jobs. The 1.9 percent increase in tourist-related employment brought the number of vacation- and travel-related jobs to 1,027,500, according to a release from the states tourism arm Visit Florida.

A new date has been set for the oral arguments in the states appeal of Circuit Judge Jackie Fulfords ruling that the Legislature violated the state Constitution by placing prison privatization in the 2011-2012 state budget. Due to a prior engagement on the part of the states general counsel, Jon Glogau, the arguments have been moved from June 13 to June 27.

iWorld Financial Group (iWorld) and United Defend Co., aka United Defendco (UDC), have been ordered to stop selling insurance in Florida. Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty issued an order for the two Grandville, Mich., firms to cease and desist engaging in the unauthorized and unlicensed sale of insurance. According to a release from the Office of Insurance Regulation, iWorld and UDC used Facebook and a website to offer, issue and administer errors and omissions coverage to insurance agents in Florida without a license.

The president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce has an answer to Sen. Bill Nelson's demand that a series of "TV attack ads" be taken off the air. No. Nelson, D-Fla., assailed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for airing "false" advertising that "distorts my record on Medicare and health-care reform." He cited a liberal media outlet's claim that the ad -- reciting Nelson's health-care votes -- was "pants on fire" untrue. But Florida Chamber of Commerce President Mark Wilson wasn't buying any of Nelson's spin.

Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty will testify Thursday afternoon before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity. The topic, according to a release from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, is to be the U.S. Insurance Sector: International Competitiveness and Jobs. McCarty will be speaking on behalf of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Purchasers of certain Skechers Resistance Running athletic shoes may be in line for a refund as part of a $45 million settlement between Florida, 42 other states, the Federal Trade Commission and the maker of the footwear, Skechers USA Inc. Attorney General Pam Bondis office reported Wednesday on the settlement that resolves health-related claimsthe company made in marketing its line of rocker-bottom shoes.

U.S. Rep. Connie Mack got a boost for his bid to challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November when he won heavy praise from former Gov. Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate. Campaigning in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, Romney announced that he was endorsing Mack who has been a longtime supporter of his presidential ambitions.

On Wednesday, Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies (Crossroads GPS), a conservative political group affiliated with Republican strategist Karl Rove, unveiled a new ad that will run in Florida and nine other battleground states that hammers President Barack Obamas record on economic issues.

Jeb Bush on Wednesday endorsed Chauncey Goss for the seat being vacated by Rep. Connie Mack in Floridas newly drawn 19th Congressional District. In a statement, the former governor said, "Chauncey has a clear vision to restore this nation to greatness by encouraging opportunity and individual initiative -- replacing dependence on government programs with entrepreneurship, ingenuity, hard work, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Bush added about Goss: