I imagine that most SSN readers are also National Review fans, but if you missed it today, the always-discerning Victor Hansen has an essay well worth reading about how history is playing out in world affairs -- why is Russia always autocratic? why are Germans smarter than the rest of Europe? (Hansen doesn't ask this, but why are Greeks so excitable?

Florida universities may be able to set higher tuition for students enrolled into academic programs state lawmakers hope will produce more graduates to help build the economy. The House voted 85-28 Friday for HB 7129, a comprehensive education overhaul of the states education system crafted by William Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine he after attended workshops with university leaders on the need to expand the field of science, technology, engineering and math.

The Senate voted 36-3 to name auto racing as the official sport of Florida. The bill still needs House approval before it could be steered toward the governors office. The Senate held no discussion Friday on SB 266 prior to the vote. On Thursday, a couple of senators questioned the prominence of NASCAR and other auto racing hubs throughout the state over the more participatory activities such as football, golf, baseball, tennis and fishing,

Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich is leading in Georgia, a state he represented in Congress for two decades according to a poll unveiled by Rasmussen Reports on Friday. The primary will be held on Tuesday. Gingrich leads with 38 percent followed by Mitt Romney with 26 percent. Rick Santorum places third in the Peach State with 20 percent followed by Ron Paul with 7 percent. Only 6 percent are undecided while 3 percent back other candidates.

A bill that would require up to 30 percent of state employees to submit to random drug testing once every three months -- an effort Gov. Rick Scott sought to impose after he was inaugurated last year -- wasapproved Friday in a 79-37 vote by the House. The bill would also remove provisions that currently prohibit a state agency from firing an employee for failing the test. The Senate companion bill, SB 1358, is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Budget Committee this afternoon.

Rasmussen Reports took a poll of likely Republican primary voters in Ohio on Thursday and finds -- much like another Ohio poll from Quinnipiac University released on Friday-- that its a close race between Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney in the Buckeye State.

Virginia holds its Republican presidential primary on Tuesday -- and it looks like Mitt Romney will roll to a big win in the Old Dominion according to a poll released on Friday. Romney will only face Ron Paul in Virginia as Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum did not make the ballot. According to a Roanoke College poll of likely primary voters released on Friday, Romney is easily besting Paul in Virginia taking 56 percent while the Texas congressman lags with 21 percent.

Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney are in a tight struggle, according to a new poll of Ohio which holds its primary on Tuesday.

Gov. Rick Scott and first lady Ann Scott have announced a Wellness Challenge that seeks to recognize physical education teachers. Public and private schools are invited to submit short videos, up to 10 minutes, that show fitness and nutrition practices, with the winners -- two will be named for elementary, middle and high school levels -- each receiving $2,500 for fitness equipment.

Kirk Fordham, CEO and the human face of the Everglades Foundation since 2008, has resigned to become executive director of Gill Action, a Colorado-based organization that provides funding for pro-gay political campaigns across the nation. It's a job that starts April 16. Billionaire founder of the organization Paul Tudor Jones will lead the search for a replacement for Fordham.

Republican Senate hopeful U.S. Rep. Connie Mack took aim at Democrat U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson for voting against the Blunt amendment that would have permitted employers to refuse to cover health-care costs contrary to their religious beliefs -- mainly birth-control and abortion-inducing drugs. The amendment went down on a 51-48 vote.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations released a "community tool kit" designed to counter "anti-Sharia" bills introduced in more than 20 states. CAIR said its "Securing Religious Liberty" tool kit includes "lessons learned from opposing anti-Muslim legislative efforts in Oklahoma, Tennessee and Michigan, an explanation of the legal impact of the discriminatory bills and a discussion of what Sharia is and what it is not."

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz will not be keeping a speaking engagement at a controversial Muslim organization next month. The Fort Lauderdale Democrat reportedly was scheduled to keynote a fundraising banquet of EMERGE USA on April 21. The group is headed by South Florida attorney Khurrum Wahid, who has a history of associating with organizations linked to al-Qaida and Hamas.

Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, reaffirmed the Senates stance that favors regulating, rather than banning, the existing Internet cafes and businesses that allow people to play slot machine-style games for sweepstake prizes instead of a direct cash award.

Fresh off his wins in the Arizona and Michigan primaries on Tuesday, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has taken a commanding lead over his rivals for the GOP nomination in a national poll unveiled Thursday by Rasmussen Reports.