While he has represented North Carolina in Washington since winning a congressional seat in the 1994 election cycle and moved up to the Senate a decade later, Richard Burr has not had the high profile of some recent legislators from the Tarheel State like Jesse Helms, John Edwards and even Heath Shuler who had more success in Washington as a congressman than he ever did as quarterback for the Redskins.

From Politico on Monday comes news of President Obama's first positive paid TV ad of the 2012 campaign. It's a 60-second piece titled "Go" and it's set to run on stations across Florida early this week. Check it out below.

Gov. Rick Scott will be in West Palm Beach Monday for a ceremonial signing of House Bill 119, the revamping of the states personal injury protection auto insurance coverage. Scott signed the bill on Friday, holding a ceremony at the Florida State College, Law Enforcement Training/Criminal Justice Center in Jacksonville. The law, which goes into place July 1, is designed to slow the rapid rise of the most affordable auto insurance in Florida.

Titusville has decided to regulate the growth of Internet cafes instead of imposing a ban, which some state lawmakers have sought before legislators failed to take action on the gaming establishments in the recent regular session.

Georgia efforts to get its Port of Savannah down to 50 feet, as it competes with Florida, South Carolina and Virginia for the growing sea trade from South America and Asia, may be slowed by the Civil War.

There's something about Tallahassee. Any sense of the real world is missing up here. Take this AP story just out about the man some folks at the Capitol call "Governor MacNamara." Apparently when Steve MacNamara, Gov. Rick Scott's chief of staff, was working for Senate President Mike Haridopolos in 2010, the Senate gave a no-bid contract to Abraham Uccello for $400,000. Uccello was brought on board at Guess-Who's urging to provide technology consulting? That's right, MacNamara's. Uccello and MacNamara are ... well ... thick as ... good friends can be.

Flags have been ordered to half-staff at the Palm Beach County Courthouse, Boynton Beach City Hall and Florida's Capitol on Saturday, May 5, for U.S. Army Private First Class Michael J. Metcalf, of Boynton Beach, who died on April 22 in Paktia Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Gov. Rick Scott signed the order Friday.

The U.S. Air Forces Advance Extremely High Frequency 2 payload has been deployed following the launch of an Atlas 5 Friday from Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex-41.The $1 billion satellite is designed to provide secure wartime communications between the president and military leaders. The launch of the Atlas 5 was moved to Friday after being scrubbed Thursday due to technical reasons.

Gov. Rick Scott released the following statement Friday in response to the indictment of Richard P. Franklin on charges he stabbed to death Lake City correctional officer Sgt. Ruben Thomas at the Columbia Correctional Institution Annex on March 18. The indictment of the inmate allegedly responsible for the death of Corrections Sergeant Ruben Thomas brings his family and loved-ones one step closer to justice, Scott stated in a release.

It couldn't be more fitting. Florida Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, will deliver the commencement address for South Florida Polytechnics graduating class Monday evening at the Lakeland Centers Youkey Theatre. USFP Chancellor David Touchton said, We are pleased Senator Dockery has agreed to deliver the commencement message about doing whats right and always maintaining integrity, as the students enter the work force.

Five Florida community leaders, advocates and legal experts are set to travel to Washington, D.C., Monday for a meeting with Obama White House officials on the vacancy crisis in Americas federal courts. Floridas District Courts are reeling from four judicial emergencies, while nominees for these seats, Brian Davis, Mark Walker, and Robin Rosenbaum, wait in the wings to be confirmed.

Amy Graham, one of Gov. Rick Scotts deputy communications directors, is leaving to join former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney's presidential campaign. The 25-year-old Graham, a Port St. Lucie native and Florida State University alumna, joined Scott prior to his inauguration in 2010. She had previously worked in former Gov. Jeb Bushs press office and her resume includes time as press secretary at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Her last day with the state is today.No replacement has been announced.

A week after vetoing a bill that would have allowed universities to seek unlimited tuition hikes as a means to bolster revenue for science, technology, engineering and math degrees, Gov. Rick Scott announced the formation of a blue ribbon task force on higher education reform. Dale A. Brill, president of the Florida Chamber Foundation and a member of Florida State Universitys faculty, will head the seven-member committee. Leaders of the Senate, House and Board of Governors will each select two members.

You didn't really think political campaigns were getting warmer and fuzzier, did you? In case you need confirmation of the rising negative tone of the 2012 election season, it came this week from a Wesleyan Media Project new report. The report notes that 70 percent of TV spots aired so far for the presidential race have been negative.

The nations unemployment mark stood at 8.1 percent in April, little changed from March, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Friday. Employers added about 115,000 jobs in April, putting the number of out of work at 12.5 million, according to the federal release. The number fails to highlight an increase in those who no longer believe work is out there that fits them.