In memory of slain Lakeland police officer Arnulfo Crispin, flags have been ordered to half-staff at the Lakeland Police Department, Lakeland City Hall and the Polk County Courthouse on Dec. 27, byGov. Rick Scott on Thursday. Crispin, 25, died at Lakeland Regional Medical Center shortly before 5 a.m. Wednesday, becoming the first LPD officer fatally shot on duty in nearly 80 years, police said, according to the Lakeland Ledger.

Gov. Rick Scott and first lady Ann Scott released the following Christmas message on Thursday: The Christmas season is a time to celebrate with friends and family. It is also a time to celebrate the blessings that are bestowed upon us and the birth of our Lord," the Scotts stated in a release from the governor's office. "In the spirit of this joyous season, Ann and I want to wish all Floridians a Merry Christmas.

South Florida has again landed on the American Tort Reform Associations annual list of judicial hellholes. Areas highlighted are deemed by the association as being among the most unfair and out-of-balance in the nation.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater appeared on the Jewish Life Television show "To Life, L'Chaim," on Dec. 19 to discuss efforts to get banks to forgive wire transfer fees on reparation payments to Holocaust survivors. Atwater said about 80 percent of the banks in Florida have joined the program since the start of the year.

Sunshine State News is hitting the radio airwaves on Wednesday at 3 p.m. I will be on the Ed Dean radio show, which is hosted by one of the most feisty, informative and entertaining conservatives in Florida. It can be heard online here and on two stations in South Florida -- 89.3 on the west coast and 90.3 on the Atlantic coast.

The attorney generals rewrite of the Religious Freedom amendment proposed to go before voters in November 2012 is disappointing and voters are unlikely to understand that the effort would mandate taxpayer funding of religion, a church-state watchdog group stated Wednesday. The Americans United for Separation of Church and State, one of the parties that challenged the amendment, claimed in a release that the measure requires the government to fund religious institutions.

On Wednesday, former state House Speaker Adam Hasner, now in a crowded Republican primary field looking to take on Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, announced that he had signed a No Pork Pledge being pushed by Citizens Against Government Waste.

On Wednesday, Republican presidential hopeful former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts unveiled three big endorsements that will play well in Iowa and New Hampshire. Romney announced that he had gained the backing of former Iowa House Speaker Brent Siegrist and former New Hampshire House Speakers Harold Burns and George Roberts.

Coca-Cola Refreshments is adding 60 jobs while investing $99 million to expand its Main Street juice production facility in Auburndale, Gov. Rick Scott announced Wednesday. Coca-Colas choice of Auburndale for its expansion is a testament to the states supportive business environment and strong capabilities for serving corporate and manufacturing needs, Scott stated in a release. "Its also an outcome of our city and county partners commitment to growing Floridas manufacturing base to build a healthier economy.

The ACLU of Florida says the new language submitted by Attorney General Pam Bondi for the Religious Freedom amendment continues to mislead voters. "Whether in its original form or after today's tinkering by the attorney general, the proposal continues to mislead voters by failing to inform them of the chief purpose and actual impact of the amendment -- to virtually require taxpayer funding of religious activities of churches, mosques and synagogues," the ACLU stated in a release.

Florida GOP congressmen flailed the Democratic-led Senate on Tuesday for passing a two-month extension of payroll tax cuts. But no one mentioned that one of their own was among the "aye" votes. Sen. Marco Rubio was among a majority of Senate Republicans who voted for the two-month amendment that undercut the House's one-year authorization.

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., issued a report Tuesday detailing billions of dollars in questionable -- and arguably ridiculous -- appropriations in the latest federal budget. Among the highlights of the year:

Gov. Rick Perry of Texas is taking aim at two of his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination -- former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich -- in a new television ad hitting Iowa.

Republican presidential hopeful former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania unveiled two major endorsements on Tuesday as he looks to appeal to religious and social conservatives in order to win the Iowa caucus in two weeks. On Tuesday, former Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bob Vander Plaats, now president and CEO of the Iowa Family Leader, and Chuck Hurley, president of the Iowa Family Policy Center, announced that they were backing Santorums bid for the nomination.

On Tuesday, Republican presidential hopeful former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is still doing well in national polls but sinking in Iowa, unveiled the endorsement of Rev. Donald Wildmon, the founder and chairman of the American Family Association and American Family Radio. There are 190 AFR stations across the country. Don Wildmon has been one of the most important leaders in the country in the battle to uphold our founding principles, Gingrich said.I am humbled and honored to have his endorsement.