Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday the appointment of Jonathan Satter to serve as the secretary of the Florida Department of Management Services (DMS). 

Just before 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Punxsutawney (puhnk-suh-TAW'-nee) Phil emerged from his burrow in Pennsylvania at sunrise and didn't see his shadow. Nearly the same series of events unfolded about 300 miles (483 kilometers) to the east, where Staten Island Chuck's handlers also revealed the same prediction.

Sen. Rick Scott announced Friday that he will travel to Puerto Rico on Sunday and Monday to discuss ongoing efforts to rebuild and recover following Hurricane Maria. Last week Scott filed an amendment to provide an additional $600 million in disaster recovery funding for Puerto Rico.

Sen. Rick Scott held a media availability Thursday to discuss Congress’ negotiations to keep the government open, secure our border, and provide adequate disaster relief funding for Florida and Puerto Rico. Scott is urging President Trump to use his end border security and find a permanent solution for DACA and TPS if Congressional Democrats refuse to act.

"What were they thinking?" asks Camille Gallo, regional press secretary of the National Republican Congressional Committee. 

South Florida Congresswomen Donna Shalala and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell were ripped apart Wednesday by the Miami Herald for posing in a picture with known Maduro and Castro sympathizer, Danny Glover. 

Really? A mic-drop after botching the National Anthem? What was Jimmy Buffet thinkng?

Pardon me if I take this moment away from Sunshine State News to join the cascade of football fans who took to Twitter Sunday to express their disgust at "Margaritaville" legend Buffet for his offensive dramatics in New Orleans before the start of the Saints-Rams football playoff 

In a Thursday morning press conference in Washington, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. offered a stern pronouncement on the ongoing dysfunction in the nation's capital. 

In addition to fighting to ensure the U.S. Coast Guard gets paid during the shutdown, Sen. Scott announced his co-sponsorship of Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind.’s ‘No Budget, No Pay’ bill. If Congress can't work together to pass a budget, Scott said, they should not be getting paid -- a key component of his 10-point plan to make Washington work for families. 

Sen. Rick Scott on Monday announced additions to senior staff for his Senate office. Jackie Schutz Zeckman was previously announced as chief of staff.

During the party’s Annual Meeting in Orlando on Saturday, Sarasota County Republican Party Chairman Joe Gruters was elected chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. Gruters defeated Charlotte County’s Bob Starr in a final margin of 192-25.

The federal government has partially shut down amid a stand-off between President Trump and Congress over border wall funding. 

White House negotiators left the Capitol late Friday, and the House and Senate adjourned without a spending deal.