Former Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox, the Democratic candidate for commissioner of agriculture and consumer services, announced on Thursday that his campaign won the endorsement of the Florida International Union of Police Associations (IUPA).

Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins Jr., executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, was killed on Thursday morning when a car hit the bike he was riding in Tallahassee. Collins was the son of former Gov. LeRoy Collins who served as governor from 1955 until 1961. The younger Collins graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1956 and served for 34 years in the Navy and the Naval Reserves. He worked in real estate and finance after leaving the Navy.

On Thursday morning, Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach --locked in a tight race with Sen. Dave Aronberg of Greenacres for the Democratic nomination for attorney general --unveiled a number of proposals that he would enact if elected:fighting corruption, coordinating law-enforcement efforts, and protecting children, consumers and the environment.

Incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, said on Thursday morning that he still did not receive an answer from a letter that he had sent to Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson earlier in the month on national issues. While Haridopolos said he was flattered that people were speculating he would consider taking a shot against Nelson in 2012, he said he was focusing on his work in the Senate -- though he did not flatly rule out a run in 2012. Haridopolos said that his increased focus on national issues was a result of his continued work in the Legislature.

While U.S. Rep. Connie Mack has been gaining headlines breaking from his fellow Republicans in opposing the new immigration laws in Arizona, the Florida congressman has also criticized President Barack Obama on international issues, saying that the White House has neglected some of Americas leading allies -- namely Israel. On Wednesday, Mack offered strong words condemning recent actions from Turkey before launching an attack on Obamas foreign policy.

In a lengthy and, at times, surreal deposition, Tea Party activist Everett Wilkinson was grilled by rival TEA Party officials this month. Wilkinson, who sued the Florida TEA Party headed by Frederic O'Neal over misappropriating the "Tea" name, comes off in the 129-page deposition as a somewhat disconnected, even clueless, leader of the legal fight. Under questioning by O'Neal, an Orlando attorney, Wilkinson said he: * didn't know who is funding the lawsuit;* didn't recall signing a retainer agreement;

The U.S. Department of Labor released a report on Wednesday indicating that Florida is home to four of 11 of the cities that have the highest unemployment rates in the nation. Staffers for former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the likely Republican nominee in the U.S. Senate race, said this was due to economic policies backed by Gov. Charlie Crist --who is running in the race without party affiliation --and President Barack Obama.

Gov. Charlie Crist honored distinctly Floridian musician Jimmy Buffett with a Point of Light in recognition of the rock stars efforts in helping out in the aftermath of the oil spill, as well as his efforts to protect the environment. Buffett held a concert to draw visitors to the Gulf region earlier in the month and has been paying for some of the boats used in the cleanup.

Big win for U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Jacksonville, in Congress on Wednesday when the House passed HR 5822, an appropriations bill on veterans affairs funding and appropriations for military construction projects. The bill sends $2 million to help ensure that Mayport Naval Station in Duval County is prepared to serve as the base for a nuclear carrier; it also sends almost $75 million to expand Marine facilities on Blount Island to handle logistics for military operations overseas, including Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Rick Scott holds a 43 to 32 percent lead over Bill McCollum for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, according to a Quinnipiac University poll of likely primary voters released Thursday. In the race for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, Jeff Greene has jumped to a 33 to 23 percent lead over Kendrick Meek, with former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre at 4 percent. But both races are very much in flux, pollsters said.

At least one Florida Republican has some kind words for a U.S. District Court judge placing an injunction on parts of the Arizona immigration law: U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, who has been a vocal critic of the new measure for months.

Attorney General Bill McCollum weighed in on a federal judge issuing an injunction against parts of the new Arizona immigration law.

With U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton ordering an injunction against parts of Arizonas immigration law, health-care executive Rick Scott, the front-runner in the Republican gubernatorial primary, said the ruling was out-of-line.

Republican congressional candidate Karen Harrington launched a new ad, attacking U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz for being out of touch with her constituents -- namely on Florida lagging behind the rest of the nation when it comes to unemployment. The ad uses the congresswomans own words to make the case against her. While Harrington faces Robert Lowry and Donna Milo in the Republican primary, she is clearly taking aim at the Democratic incumbent.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton in Phoenix struck down key components of the new immigration laws in Arizona which take effect on Thursday. Bolton placed an injunction, forbidding police officers to check immigration status when making routine stops. Bolton also ordered an injunction against part of the laws which would require immigrants to retain their paperwork on them at all times.