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.

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.

Invoking conservative icon Ronald Reagan, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack sent a letter to all members of Congress on Wednesday, urging them to oppose the new immigration laws in Arizona

On Wednesday, the Associated Industries of Florida PAC endorsed both of the leading Republican candidates for governor, offering praise to both health-care executive Rick Scott and Attorney General Bill McCollum.

AIF endorsements are always based on the simple premise that the candidates endorsed are the ones whose philosophy, like ours, is for a strong and vibrant free-enterprise system, said Barney Bishop, AIF president and CEO.