Gov. Rick Scott signed a 349-page growth management bill Thursday that makes it easier for local governments to set development in motion and fast-track projects the governor hopes will put more Floridians to work quickly. It was one of Scott's campaign promises in 2010.

Scott didn't listen to environmental groups that called for a veto. They feared the law will increase urban sprawl and undo years of sound growth-management practices.

The bill reduces state scrutiny of development approvals and gives municipalities more say on how much to charge for impact fees.

Big shakeup at The New York Times brings the Gray Lady its first female executive editor, Jill Abramson. It's no surprise, but it does represent a significant and historic change.

Abramson, 57, a native New Yorker and a Pulitzer Prize winner, had been the Times' managing editor -- a newsroom leader long anticipated in this new role. She gained considerable fame when she testified in the perjury trial of Scooter Libby, United States v. Libby. She was called as a defense witness to undercut the credibility of Judith Miller.

Gov. Rick Scott signed the Sales Tax Holiday Bill on Tuesday, creating a three-day sales tax hiatus for Florida consumers in August. It provides tax breaks on clothing items up to $75 and school supplies to $15.

After a two-year layoff, the popular back-to-school sales tax break was voted back last year. This year's holiday is set for Aug. 12-14.

It's friendly wager time in the 2011 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks.

As the teams readied to suit up for Game 1 at American Airlines Arena in Miami Tuesday night, Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Texas Gov. Rick Perry took each other's bet. Scott put a Florida Key Lime pie on the Heat, Perry a case of barbecue sauce on the Mavs.

"Not even Dirk Nowitzki will be able to stop Miami from bringing home another NBA title," said Scott. "It might be warm in Texas, but there is no way the Dallas Mavericks will be able to withstand the Heat."

Nah, he doesn't really -- miss Jeb Bush, that is. As you might have imagined.

But it's catchy, I'll give Dan Gelber that. The words "I miss Jeb Bush" coming from one of Bush's fiercest opponents half-a-dozen years ago is a great way for a Democrat to jump into a blog that trashes Gov. Rick Scott.

And that's just what Gelber did in his blog post Tuesday.

Politico.com let 'er rip in a Monday story that attributed the newfound popularity of President Barack Obama in Florida not to the death of Osama bin Laden, but to the rank unpopularity of the Sunshine State's Gov. Rick Scott. Not only have Scott's ratings taken a Dumpster dive in the last month, his inverted numbers now leave him (at a 29 percent favorability rating) as the most unpopular governor in America.

The Politico piece is headlined, "Obama's Secret Weapon in Florida: Gov. Rick Scott."

Space shuttle Endeavour Commander Mark Kelly, pilot Greg Johnson and mission specialists Mike Fincke, Andrew Feustel, Greg Chamitoff and Roberto Vittori are on the last leg of their 16-day mission. The astronauts are scheduled to land at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:35 a.m. EST Wednesday, June 1.

Let's look at Democratic-leaning New Jersey, says Rasmussen Reports, home state of the next bright light in the GOP galaxy of presidential possibilities -- Chris Christie.

Here's what Rasmussen found: Both Christie and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are within single digits of President Barack Obama in hypothetical 2012 election match-ups. Believe it or not.

LeBron James did his best-player-in-the-game-thing again, scoring 28 points, Dwyane Wade added 21 and the Miami Heat eliminated the Chicago Bulls, 83-80, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals in Chicago Thursday.

James and Wade each scored 8 during a game-ending 18-3 run, as Miami obliterated a 12-point deficit to take the series. The Heat are headed back to the NBA finals for the first time since 2006. And who will they be facing? The same team they did five years ago, the Dallas Mavericks.

Florida Congressman John Mica, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said Thursday he wants to take the Northeast corridor train service away from Amtrak and instead let private investors bid to replace it with a high-speed rail service.

The Northeast corridor commuter system is Amtrak's most popular and only entirely profitable service line.