The attorney generals office has announced the law firms that will serve as co-counsel for the states claims lawsuit in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon spill: Nix Patterson & Roach LLP; Harrison, Rivard, Duncan & Buzzett; Fowler White Boggs PA; and Harrison Sale McCloy.

As the Florida Legislature faced the last hours of the session on Friday, Gov. Rick Scott released his weekly radio address and praised lawmakers for adding $1 billion to education in the budget they would be voting on later that day.

Incoming Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, has been leading redistricting in the Florida Senate and he weighed in on Friday afternoon on a state Supreme Court decision that found that eight of the 40 Senate seats his committee drew up did not pass constitutional muster.

Assailed by Muslim groups and shelved by Senate President Mike Haridopolos, an "anti-Sharia" law bill lay near death at the Florida Legislature Friday. Senate Bill 1360 would have restricted state courts from considering foreign laws in most cases. Authored by Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, the bill was identical to HB 1209, whicheasily passed the House 92-24. But Hays' bill became ensnared in a late-breaking political controversy when proponents distributed flamboyant fliers and a pamphlet decrying the alleged intrusion of Islamic law into America's courts.

Here's something cute: Remember the bill that would impose a cap on how much workers' comp doctors could charge their patients for repackaged drugs they dispense? That bogus bill originating with the insurance industry was supposed to save the state money. When a growing number of senators didn't buy the trumped-up savings as advertised, the bill got scooped into a House bill. Anything to try to save it. But listen to this:

On the last day of the 2012 session, the Florida Senate rejected the Parent Empowerment Act, more popularly known asthe Parent Trigger Act.

The Parent Empowerment Act, better known as the Parent Trigger Act, SB 1718, failed in a 20-20 vote as eight Republicans -- Charlie Dean, Nancy Detert, Paula Dockery, Mike Fasano, Alan Hays, Dennis Jones, Evelyn Lynn and Steve Oelrich -- joined Democrats in opposition to the bill Friday.

The Obama Girl was sexy. These girls are cute. The Obama Girls song grooved so much it could have been written by B.B. King or Bobby Blue Bland. These girls sing like the raciest tune theyll ever try has the word Camptown in it. Welcome to campaign music video, Santorum-style. Its already pretty crowded.

A poll from American Research Group released on Friday finds Newt Gingrich leading the pack of Republican presidential candidates in Mississippi, which holds a primary Tuesday with 40 delegates on the line. Gingrich takes 35 percent in the poll of likely primary voters, followed by Mitt Romney with 31 percent and Rick Santorum in third with 20 percent. Ron Paul places fourth with 7 percent and 7 percent remain undecided. The poll of 600 likely Mississippi Republican primary voters was taken March 7-8 and had a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.

Alabama holds its Republican presidential primary on Tuesday with 50 delegates on the line and a Rasmussen Reports poll unveiled on Friday shows it will be a tight battle. The poll of likely primary voters finds Newt Gingrich leading with 30 percent followed by Rick Santorum with 29 percent and Mitt Romney with 28 percent. Ron Paul lags far behind with 7 percent while 1 percent back other candidates and 6 percent are undecided. The poll of 750 likely Alabama Republican primary voters was taken on March 8 and had a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.

On Friday, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam cheered the House's passage of the energy bill he has been pushing in the 2012 session. With the House passing the measure 116-2, it is now on its way to Gov. Rick Scott. Two Republicans voted against the measure, Eric Eisnaugle of Orlando and Marlene O'Toole of The Villages.

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Peter Antonacci as state attorney for the 15th Judicial Circuit for Palm Beach County. Petes distinguished legal career and experience as a prosecutor in complex cases has earned him a well-deserved reputation throughout the state, Scott stated in a release. I am confident he is well-qualified to serve as state attorney for the 15th Judicial Circuit.

House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, announced on Friday that there will be a special session of the Florida Legislature later this year to focus on the redistricting maps. The Florida Supreme Court ruled on Friday that there is no problem with the maps of the new House districts -- but the Legislature will have to address the Senate proposed new lines, Cannon said. The Florida Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the Senate districts proposed by the Legislature are unconstitutional.

The Senate approved a House bill, HB 7021, Friday that addresses various issues relating to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, includiung creating a Division of Food, Nutrition and Wellness within the department, extending the deadline for the fertilizer tonnage-fee program from the end of 2022 to Dec. 31, 2027, and renaming Wounded Warrior Special Hunt Areas in state forests as Operation Outdoor Freedom Special Hunt Areas.

State employees would face the chance of being randomly drug tested once every three months under a bill, SB 1358, the Senate approved 26-14 Friday.