More Florida grown fruits and vegetables will be available to public schoolchildren next year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday approved the Florida Department of Agricultures request to oversee the School Nutrition Program in the state. The transfer, which will be reviewed, is for three years. Upon granting this waiver we would like to emphasize that school nutrition programs are an integral component of a childs overall education and must be managed effectively within the educational structure, wrote Audrey Rowe, USDA administrator.

Claiming credit for the idea, radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh embraced U.S. Rep. Ron Paul's proposal Monday to cut $1 trillion in federal spending, shut down five Cabinet-level agencies and balance the budget in three years. Limbaugh, who has repeatedly dismissed Paul as a "kook,"changed his tune on his show Monday. Listen here.

As GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann met with Arizona legislators to talk tough about illegal immigration, fellow Republican Herman Cain was up against a wall. Cain was criticized by Hispanic activists for suggesting the United States construct a 20-foot-tall electrified fence to keep out illegal immigrants. "Its going to have barbed wire on the top. Its going to be electrified. And theres going to be a sign on the other side saying, It will kill you -- Warning, Cain said Saturday.

The Fordham Institute highlighted its conference on "The Other Achievement Gap" Monday with the question: "Do high flyers maintain their altitude?" The answer, in brief, is no. Two out of five high academic achievers drop out of the elite ranks, researchers found. Yet Fordham also determined that rising "late bloomers" more than make up the difference, replenishing the ranks, and then some. Still, other questions remain: Why do high achievers fail? And what can be done to prevent attrition?

On Monday, the team behind U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas -- making his second bid for the Republican presidential nomination -- unveiled their plan to cut taxes and the size and scope of the federal government. The Plan to Restore America calls for cutting $1 trillion from the federal government in the first year of a Paul presidency. It also contains a plan which, its backers insist, will balance the federal budget in the third year of a Paul presidency.

A national CNN poll released on Monday found former Gov. Mitt Romney and businessman Herman Cain in a close battle to lead the race for the Republican presidential nomination. The poll, which was conducted by ORC International for CNN, found Romney leading the pack with 26 percent followed by Cain in second with 25 percent. Texas Gov. Rick Perry placed third with 13 percent.

Florida has joined an Arkansas effort to reverse a court ruling that will change the guidelines for managing stormwater runoff from forest roads. Attorney General Pam Bondi and her counterparts from 24 other states have backed the amicus brief in Decker v. Northwest Environmental Defense Center that was filed by Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDonald.

Signing an immigration-control pledge, GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann looks to score border-control points at CNN's "Western States" debate in Las Vegas Tuesday night. Scrambling to stay in the race, Bachmann set herself apart from the rest of the field Monday by meeting with lawmakers next door in Arizona. Under siege from illegal aliens, the border state is fighting to keep its tough immigration laws in the face of opposition by the Obama administration.

State Rep. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, has filed legislation to stop banks from charging debit card fees. The banks sold us all on the idea of a cashless society, and now that weve bought into their promise of free, easy access to our own money, they want to charge us for it, Clemens said. Anyone with a sense of decency should be outraged. House Bill 375, filed Monday, would make it unlawful to charge or impose a dormancy fee, and inactivity fee or charge, or a service fee with respect to the use or holding of a debit card by a consumer.

GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain tackles nine concerns about his 9-9-9 tax plan: Claim 1: The 9 percent sales tax, which is one third of the formula, is regressive and hurts the poor, many of whom pay no federal income taxes now.

A "long-term living assistance" program that was supposed to create 40 percent of the supposed savings of Obamacare has been quietly killed by the administration. In a letter released late Friday, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius informed congressional leaders I do not see a viable path forward for the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act.

Gov. Rick Scottis asking Facebook users to comment on his agenda for 2012. On the site -- https://www.facebook.com/scottforflorida/posts/165107716914161 --Scott has asked which of the seven initiatives "in my 2012 jobs agenda do you think will make the greatest impact to create jobs?" In his budget agenda released last week, Scott focused on seven key areas: -- Streamlining business permitting and eliminating burdensome rules and regulations.

U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney will unveil his jobs plan on the Treasure Coast Tuesday. The "Restore America Act," so named by a Facebook competition hosted by the Tequesta Republican, "will help create an environment where the private sector can grow and hire new workers," a statement from the congressman said. The bill reportedly will include business tax reform, the elimination of selected federal regulations and initiatives for increased American energy production.

Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux announced on Monday that he had won the backing of three Republican members of the Florida House of Representatives for his bid to challenge Democrat U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012. LeMieux unveiled the backing of Rep. Rachel Burgin of Riverview, Rep. Debbie Mayfield of Vero Beach and Rep. Larry Metz of Eustis.

A report card on the national Digital Learning Now! initiative has Florida tied for eighth in the country in offering "elements of high-quality digital learning." Though DLN, led by Jeb Bush and Bob Wise, has not officially released a ranking, the Fordham Institute issued an analysis, which showed: