It looks like law enforcement groups have placed their bet in the 2010 gubernatorial election -- and it is on Democratic nominee Alex Sink over Republican nominee Rick Scott. On Thursday, state CFO Sink became the first Democratic gubernatorial candidate since Gov. Lawton Chiles in 1994 to win the backing of the Florida Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). Sink also received the backing of the Police Benevolent Association (PBA).

A mediation in the Tea Party vs. TEA Party lawsuit is still on for Sept. 20, though the plaintiffs don't currently have an attorney. Everett Wilkinson, state director of the South Florida Tea Party and lead plaintiff in the suit, said he is "working on getting new attorneys" after the first counsel, Frank Herrera and Gustavo Sardina of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, pulled out last month.

Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running without party affiliation in the U.S. Senate election, agreed on Tuesday with Gen. David Petraeus and the Obama administration that the event being led by Gainesville-based Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks by burning Qurans will increase the dangers faced by American servicemen. Crist added that he will be keeping tabs on the event Saturday to ensure public safety.

On ABCs Good Morning America on Thursday, President Barack Obama offered strong words of condemnation against a planned event led by Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville to mark the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks by burning Qurans. Obama agreed with an assessment by Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of American forces in Afghanistan, that the event could lead to reprisals against American troops and civilians.

With the NFL regular season opening Thursday night when the New Orleans Saints host the Minnesota Vikings in a rematch of last years dramatic NFC championship battle, the sluggish economy seems to be impacting ticket sales. Eleven teams are facing possible blackouts for home games, and businesses will not be advertised.

Which will be the hotter ticket in Gainesville Saturday -- the USF-UF game or the scheduled burning of the Quran? G'ville Pastor Terry Jones is giving the Gators a run for their money with his fiery 9/11 commemoration at Dove World Outreach Center. Even President Barack Obama is opining on this one. If online traffic is any indication, news reporters will be turning out in droves for the Quran bonfire, which is scheduled between 6-9 p.m.

The Florida Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is backing Republican candidate former Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi over Democratic Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach in the race to be Floridas next attorney general.

Rep. Hazelle Rogers, D-Lauderhill, took aim at the event led by Pastor Terry Jones planned for Saturday where the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks will be marked by burning copies of the Quran. I am deeply disappointed by the news that members of a church in North Florida would even consider burning the Quran in displays of intolerance, said Rogers. I urge those individuals to reconsider their actions and statements.

Responding to a plan coming from President Barack Obama calling for an additional $50 billion in federal money to be spent on transportation projects, U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, a Florida Republican, said on Wednesday that the nation did not need yet another stimulus package.

U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, a Republican from Florida, spoke out about Iran on Wednesday and warned that other nations -- including Venezuela -- were backing that countrys nuclear ambitions. Iran continues to avoid basic inspections and stockpile enriched uranium, said Mack. These actions make it very clear that Iranremains a true threat to international stability and is determined to develop nuclear capability no matter what. And what is even more egregious is that nations such as Russia, Venezuela and Turkey continue to assist Iran in this dangerous goal.

Pointing to a Wall Street Journal article that states that some private health-care plans are going to raise their premium fees, Republican congressional candidate Karen Harrington is pointing the blame at her opponent U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Democrats in Washington who supported new federal health-care laws backed by President Barack Obama.

The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) launched an ad on Wednesday attacking Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running without party affiliation in the U.S. Senate race. The ad shows clips of a new ad from Crist and contrasts it with his comments from the past.

A panel of Republicans on the state committee from Clay and Duval counties has named Jacksonville City Councilman Daniel Davis as candidate for the seat currently held by Rep. Jennifer Carroll, R-Jacksonville, who was picked by Rick Scott as his running mate for lieutenant governor. As no other candidates besides Carroll made the ballot, Davis, as her replacement, is assured of victory in November.

Following the lead of the Obama administration and Rep. Dwight Bullard of Miami, Florida Democrats commented on the event being led by Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville to burn Qurans to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Citing a string of "combined failures," BP says it is taking the blame for the disastrous Gulf oil spill. At the same time, however, the petroleum giant referred to two partners -- Transocean and Halliburton -- as playing a role in the deadly chaos aboard the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform. An investigative report sheds light on the causes of the blowout and recommends safety measures going forward.