In a record-breaking Orange Bowl performance on Wednesday night, the West Virginia Mountaineers demolished ACC champion Clemson, and caught the eye of more South Florida football recruits. West Virginia racked up 49 points in the first half to set a BCS record. By the time the final whistle blew, the Mountaineers had scored 70 points -- the most points piled up by any team in any bowl game ... ever. The final 70-33 score really wasn't that close, as shell-shocked Clemson looked like a Division II also-ran.

Former Gov. Buddy Roemer of Louisiana, focusing on New Hampshire in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination and also running for the Americans Elect nomination, came out swinging at President Barack Obamas trade policies. "'Made in America' is at the heart of my economic policy," said Roemer in a statement released late on Wednesday. "America, unlike our rivals, has no trade strategy.

Gov. Rick Scott will sit down with the editorial board of Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers -- The Stuart News, Port St. Lucie News, Vero Beach Press Journal and TCPalm.com -- at the companys Stuart office this afternoon. Scott, who will be in Martin County today to speak at the opening night of the 27th annual Everglades Coalition Conference, is scheduled to visit the Scripps office at 4:15 p.m. The meeting is scheduled for one hour.

On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Alcee L. Hastings, D-Miramar, defended President Barack Obamas recess appointment of Richard Cordray as the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Longtime Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Bob Sweat wont seek another term, the Bradenton Herald reported. A Republican, Sweat is in his 28th year in office. No one has announced for the seat that is up for election in November, the Herald reported. Read more here.

Gov. Rick Scott has signed his third death-row warrant, this one for Robert Waterhouse, who was out on lifetime parole for second-degree murder in New York when he was convicted of killing of a St. Petersburg woman, Deborah Kammerer, in 1980. Waterhouse, 65, is scheduled to be executed at Florida State Prison on Feb. 15 at 6 p.m.

Our condolences to Occupy West Palm Beach. Perhaps the smallest and soggiest arm of the national Occupy Wall Street movement got unceremoniously bounced from its home on a patch of government land in downtown West Palm Beach. And why? Because a different kind of circus -- a school for trapeze artists called The Trapeze Experience -- wanted its comfy green digs to entertain and train city folks.

If you have a comment for members of the state Supreme Court on redistricting, mail it in. Dont call. The Code of Judicial Conduct governing behavior by judges forbids the justices of the Florida Supreme Court to discuss pending cases with the public, the court posted on its website. The court is only allowed to consider arguments made in court and in documents filed by those involved in the case.

The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce has joined the ranks of those supporting the expansion of gambling in Florida. In a rare closed session, the Chamber said it 'conditionally supports' casino resorts under several conditions. Along with the referendum and local tax requirements, the Chamber said it would require casinos to fund efforts to mitigate damage caused by the new facilities, including social issues and infrastructure costs, the Miami Herald reported Wednesday.

Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, Floridas House speaker-in-waiting, as hes addressed by Governing magazine, was listed as one of the 12 state legislators to watch in 2012 by the Washington, D.C.-based magazine. The 50 state legislatures have a lot of talent, but these 12 individuals are ones to watch, the magazine states.

A conservative Internet group, NotMittRomney.com, said on Wednesday that the razor-thin result of the Iowa caucus proves the reputed GOP front-runner's weakness. "Iowa delivered Romney fewer votes this go-around than in 2008, so we cannot at all be shocked by the absolute lack of enthusiasm he's producing," said Ali Akbar, co-founder of the anti-Romney effort.

The vultures were flying around Republican presidential hopeful Gov. Rick Perry of Texas after his fifth place showing in the Iowa caucus. Perry announced that he was heading back to the Lone Star State to contemplate what to do next -- and on Wednesday he announced that he was staying in the race and would focus on South Carolina. The Palmetto State will hold its primary on Jan. 21, after New Hampshire has its say on Tuesday. And the next leg of the marathon is the Palmetto State," Perry posted on Twitter. Here we come, South Carolina!!!

On Wednesday, after a sixth place showing in the Iowa caucus, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota suspended her campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. Bachmann spoke to the media in West Des Moines on Wednesday morning and called for the repeal of the federal health-care law that President Barack Obama backed. She played down her political ambitions.

On Wednesday, the National Federation of Independent Business/Florida announced it is bringing on board longtime Florida Republican political operative Pablo Diaz to serve as the groups legislative director. Diaz had served with the Republican Party of Florida, moving up in the ranks to become deputy executive director.

Gov. Rick Scotts simple response Wednesday to a report that called for California to pull the emergency brake on funding $99 billion for a high-speed train was a sarcastic, You're kidding? Shocking! Scotts comment came while he was speaking on Trey Radels morning radio show on 92.5 FOX in Southwest Florida.