President Barack Obama addressed the nation very late on Sunday to announce that Osama bin Laden, the architect of the 9/11 attacks, has been killed. The United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, said Obama, who offered reflections on the 9/11 attacks and the aftermath including the continued war on terror.

Four months after the University of Miami fired its coach and ended a dismal 6-loss season, the NFL is snapping up Hurricane players. Former Miami linebacker Colin McCarthy became the sixth Cane taken in the 2011 NFL Draft Saturday -- putting the "U" into a tie with LSU for having the most players selected. McCarthy, picked by the Tennessee Titans as the 109th overall selection, followed teammates who were selected Friday in either the second or third rounds.

The Senate's languishing immigration bill is reportedly undergoing political triage while it awaits its fate. Sunshine State News has learned that Republican leaders are working on amendments that would further soften the measure to make it more palatable to businesses. One possible change -- and it's a major one -- would restrict Senate Bill 2040's E-Verify employment screening requirement to public-sector hires. "That would allow the state to test it out and see how it works," a source at the Capitol said.

It emerged Friday that Dave Bitner, who was elected chairman of the Republican Party of Florida in January, was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, issued the following statement in support of Bitner and his family: "Stephanie and I today send our love and support to Republican Party of Florida Chairman Dave Bitner and his wife Wendy. Chairman Bitner is a good man and I know hes prepared for the days ahead of him.

NASA has pulled the plug on launching the space shuttle Endeavor later on Friday afternoon. Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach called off the launch due to issues with Auxiliary Power Unit 1 heaters. NASA said the launch will be postponed at least 48 hours as engineers look into the matter. UPDATE: NASA just moved it back at least 72 hours. The earliest the shuttle will take off now is 2:33 on Monday afternoon.

Jacksonville Jaguars starting QB David Garrard is probably feeling a bit uncomfortable since the team traded up to draft Blaine Gabbert in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night -- and already some fans are calling for the rookie to start next year. Despite that, Garrard will be teaming up with Republican U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw and the North Florida Chapter of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America on Sunday in the Take Steps for Crohn's and Colitis Walk in Jacksonville.

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. John Mica announced on Thursday that the U.S. Department of Transportation was sending $560,000 to improve A1A in Flagler County. In continuing support of enhancing Floridas historic scenic byways, the Federal Department of Transportation announced a grant of $560,000 that will make a significant difference in one of our states landmark roadways, said Mica.This should enhance tourism and help upgrade the aging infrastructure.

Hours before Space Shuttle Endeavor's scheduled final mission, U.S. Senate candidate George LeMieux launched an attack on Sen. Bill Nelson. "Americas leadership in manned space exploration is nearing its end and Floridians need to be mindful that the demise of the space program came on the watch of President Barack Obama and Senator Bill Nelson," LeMieux said in a statement. "Directionless, underfunded and without mission, America stands at risk to ceding its leadership in space to the Russians and Chinese.

Don't ask folks in Stuart where the jobs are that Rick Scott promised -- because they'll tell you. Six hundred of them are right there in that Treasure Coast community. Or will be within five years. And the average annual salary? $43,350. At least, that's what American Energy Innovations promised after the governor offered the company $3.945 million in incentives if it would reject an offer from North Carolina.

Former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, who is running for the Republican nomination to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, is not the only political figure from Florida condemning the Palestinian Authority joining with Hamas to form a unity government. So is Democratic U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch who was in Tel Aviv on Thursday with a bipartisan congressional delegation to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Space.com is reporting that there will be 700,000 spectators watching the space shuttle Endeavor make its final launch into orbit on Friday. If that number holds, it would mean more people will watch the launch than live in 24 of the states 28 defined urbanized areas (the Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville areas are larger).

Its kind of lost in Tallahassee as the legislative session winds down, but there is quite a bit going on in the sports world in the Sunshine State. The Miami Heat defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the NBA playoffs, while the Orlando Magic are fighting for their lives against the Atlanta Hawks. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Pittsburg Penguins in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

On Thursday, former House Majority Leader Adam Hasner tore into the Obama administrations handling of issues in the Middle East. Earlier in the week, Hasner jumped into the Republican primary field looking to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012.

Happy 253rd birthday to the president who helped grasp Florida from Spain. No, not Andrew Jackson who led the military invasion of Florida in 1818, or John Quincy Adams who met with Spanish Ambassador Luis de Onis to draft the treaty that led to American possession of the peninsula. James Monroe, who was president from 1817 until 1825, was born on April 28, 1758.

Bills designed to shore up the insurance market, prevent doctors from asking patients about gun ownership and ban taxpayer funds for abortion procedures all passed Thursday through the Florida Senate. SB 408 eliminates the requirements for private insurance companies to offer comprehensive sinkhole coverage. The bill passed in a 25-12 vote over the objections of senators who thought the bill was a sop for insurance companies that would unsettle an already shaky housing market.