State Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, went to court Tuesday to challenge the constitutionality of Florida's advanced nuclear cost recovery program. In a motion filed at the state Supreme Court in the case of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy v. Florida Public Service Commission, Florida Power and Light Company, and Progress Energy Florida (Case No. SC11-2465), Rehwinkel Vasilinda called the existing law "bad public policy and bad law."

In a Facebook posting Monday, U.S. Rep. Allen West said he's waiting for an apology from Afghanistan President Karzai in the aftermath of a Quran-burning episode. West wrote: "I want to extend my sincere condolences to the families of the Army colonel and major who were killed by Afghanistan security forces over this 'burning Quran' episode.

You know what Mitt Romney's biggest problem is? He just can't help the fact that he's Mitt Romney. Forget how much he likes to fire people. Forget that he doesn't care for the "very poor." Forget even that he's so supportive of the American auto industry that he owns four cars -- two of them Cadillacs. This is just priceless. On a Sunday trip to Daytona before the race, Romney was asked whether he was a big follower of NASCAR (hopefully soon to be Florida's official state sport, by the way.)

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater released the following statement regarding the Senate Rules Committee approving on Monday Senate Bill 1208, which will end the state's practice of releasing Social Security numbers -- from CFO Atwaters Bureau of Unclaimed Property -- for the purpose of locating owners of abandoned or unclaimed property. (Read the full story.)

A story published in The Daily Caller shows that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an organization known for its uncompromising animal-rights positions, killed more than 95 percent of the pets in its care in 2011.

Another poll shows its a close battle between Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum in the Michigan Republican presidential primary. Rasmussen Reports released a poll of likely primary voters which finds Romney beating Santorum by a small margin -- within the margin of error. Romney takes 38 percent followed by Santorum with 36 percent. Ron Paul is in distant third with 11 percent, just ahead of Newt Gingrich, who takes 10 percent. Five percent are undecided and 1 percent back other candidates.

Lakeland-based Publix is going to build a $188.5 million distribution center in Orlando that will employ 156 within three years, the governors office announced Monday. "It is always good news for Florida when a company expands and increases its investment here, Scott stated in a release. Publix has a well-known history as one of Floridas leading corporate citizens and contributors to our economic growth.

With the backing of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, polls show Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney appears poised to win the primary in the Grand Canyon State on Tuesday.

Republican Senate hopeful former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux continued to fire away at GOP primary rival U.S. Rep. Connie Mack. LeMieux, who called Mack the Charlie Sheen of Florida politics last week, went back to that line of attack in a Web video released on Monday with the theme of Two and a Half Macks, a clear take-off of the Two and a Half Men sitcom that Sheen used to appear in. The ad also looks to remind voters that Mack is not his father, who served in the Senate for 12 years.

Fear of escalating tension in the Middle East over Irans nuclear program is in part resulting in gas prices jumping to $3.75 a gallon, on average, across Florida -- up 7 cents from a week ago --according to AAA. Concern and fear are driving the market at this time and pushing oil prices to nearly $110 a barrel, resulting in record-breaking pump prices for this time of year, Jessica Brady, AAA spokeswoman, stated in a release.

With the state House expected to get around to bills focused on regulating or closing Internet cafes in the coming week, Palm Beach County commissioners are looking to shorten the moratorium that prevents new arcades opening.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has appointed Charlotte Danciu and Yvonne Fry, while reappointing Nancy Peek McGowen and Anne Voss, to the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. The 22-member Commission, created in 1991, makes recommendations to the governor, Cabinet and Legislature on issues that impact women. According to a release from the attorney generals office:

An unheeded call for a Bible burning at a congressional candidate's restaurant sparked a "whodunnit" exercise over the weekend. A posting on Craig's List announced there would be a Bible-burning Saturday at a restaurant owned by Republican Karen Harrington, who is seeking to oust Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fort Lauderdale. The free ad stated: "The Muslim Brotherhood of South Florida is pleased to announce our first BIBLE BURNING. All believers in the TRUE GOD ALLAH are encouraged to attend and participate."

A posting on Craig's List called for a "Bible-burning" Saturday at a restaurant owned by a South Florida congressional candidate. But the event fizzled. Targeting Republican Karen Harrington's restaurant in Pembroke Pines, the announcement stated: "The Muslim Brotherhood of South Florida is pleased to announce our first BIBLE BURNING. All believers in the TRUE GOD ALLAH are encouraged to attend and participate." The posting invited attendees to "Bring your own Bible TO BURN," and said "all believers in Allah are welcome."

Have a look at Cora Currier's doozie of a story posted Friday on ProPublica, under the headline, "Banks Colluding with Insurers to Rip Off Homeowners, Lawsuit Alleges." Currier explains, "More than 20,000 Florida homeowners can now sue Wells Fargo and an insurance company, QBE, for allegedly overcharging for insurance. More than $50 million in insurance premiums are at issue, according to American Banker."