Gov. Rick Scott has reappointed David Lawrence to the Children and Youth Cabinet. According to a release from the governors office: Lawrence, 69, of Coral Gables, is the president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation. He is reappointed for a term beginning Jan. 25, 2012, and ending Aug. 27, 2015.

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Francis Frank Mackesy, a former Jacksonville undersheriff, to the Jacksonville Aviation Authority. According to a release from the governors office: Mackesy, 53, of Jacksonville, has been the director of emergency and security training at Florida State College of Jacksonville since 2011. Previously, he was undersheriff of the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office from 1979 to 2011.

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Jacksonville resident Scott Mitchell to the Duval County Court. During his 29 years of practicing law in Duval County, Scott has handled cases reflecting a broad spectrum of the criminal justice system, Scott stated in a release. His experience in both public and private practice have given him the perspective to make decisions in an unbiased manner and according to the rule of law. According to a release from the governor's office: "Mitchell, 54, has been a sole practitioner since 2010.

Gov. Rick Scott appointed Jeanette D. Bigney and Greg Allen Tynan, both of Orlando, to the Orange County Court. According to a release from the governor's office: "Bigney, 38, has been a sole practitioner since 2005. From 2004 to 2005, she was Of Counsel with Bigney and Orth and practiced with Rigdon, Alexander and Rigdon from 2003 to 2004. "She served as an assistant state attorney with the 9th Judicial Circuit from 1999 to 2003.

Gov. Rick Scott reappointed Jean W. Anderson and Powell E. Helm to the board of Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Services. According to a release from the governor's office: "Anderson, 78, of Tallahassee, is retired. She is reappointed for a term beginning Jan. 27, 2012, and ending Sept. 30, 2015. "Helm, 57, of Bradenton, is the vice president of Helm Vault Service Inc. He is reappointed for a term beginning Jan. 27, 2012, and ending Sept. 30, 2015. "The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate."

Gov. Rick Scott has named Antonius M. DeSisto and Dr. Wayne W. Kearney to the Florida State Boxing Commission. According to a release from the governor's office: "DeSisto, 27, of Tampa, is a self-employed attorney. He succeeds Dr. Melody Jurado and is appointed for a term beginning Jan. 27, 2012, and ending Sept. 30, 2015. "Kearney, 64, of Indian Harbour Beach, is a self-employed endodontist. He is succeeding Dr. James V. Stelnicki and is appointed for a term beginning Jan. 27, 2012, and ending Sept. 20, 2015.

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Kevin S. Doyle and Matthew J. Falconer to the board of directors of Workforce Florida Inc. According to a release from the governor's office:

The ever-talkative Newt Gingrich is mum on the subject, but many of his Florida campaign ads are being bankrolled by a Las Vegas gaming mogul angling to build a casino in downtown Miami. Sheldon Adelson, owner of Las Vegas Sands, contributed $5 billion to Gingrich's Winning Our Future "super-PAC" and Adelson's wife chipped in another $5 billion in the past month. Seeking to build a destination casino in South Florida, Adelson is betting that Gingrich will continue to help push gaming across the country.

Still undecided on Florida's GOP Presidential Preference Primary? Sunshine State News brings you a special election 2012 offering: a graphic at-a-glance representation of the 2012 GOP presidential candidates -- Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum.

A poll showing Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney in a dead heat in Florida indicates that tea party sympathizers aren't necessarily locked in for the former House speaker. The 2,567 likely primary voters questioned by the Dixie Strategies/First Coast News Public Opinion Survey supported Gingrich with 35.46 percent while Romney had 35.08 percent. The poll also reported that 76 percent of its respondents had a "very positive" or "somewhat positive" view of the tea party.

Newt Gingrich will attend a presidential candidate forum Saturday in Winter Park, site of a tea party rally. The rally, one of three events by Tea Party Express today, will be held in front of Aloma Church at 1:30 p.m. The church is at 1815 State Road 436. It is also the location for the First Awake! Presidential Candidate Forum and Q&A. So far, Gingrich is the only candidate who has committed to attend.

Gov. Rick Scott suspended Boynton Beach Mayor Jose Angel Rodriguez on Friday following reports that the Palm Beach County politician was charged with allegedly using his office to obstruct an investigation into a child-abuse accusation leveled against him by his wife.

Gov. Rick Scott has accepted the resignation of Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Doug Darling, effective Jan. 31.I am incredibly grateful for Dougs 15 years of service to the state of Florida and the contributions he has provided to numerous state agencies and my office, Scott stated in a release.

The House Office of Public Information has posted the appearances of all 11 state university presidents before the House Education Committee this month: Florida State University (FSU) President Eric J. Barron. University of Florida (UF) President J. Bernard Machen.

The Fair Districts coalition has declined to attend Fridays House Redistricting Committee workshop, where Chairman Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, said he plans to discuss changes proposed by the group to the boundary lines now under review. Weatherford said Friday that he filed the changes proposed by the coalition, which was behind the voter-approved Fair Districts amendments in 2010, as a courtesy to the group.