On the eve of Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnams Energy Summit in Orlando, the chief economist for the American Petroleum Industry says the need remains for the U.S. to realistically explore all its energy options without hindering the resources now in use.

API Chief Economist John Felmy, in a conference call with reporters on Friday, said the nation needs to both move forward in exploring alternative options, but at the same time meet the existing needs by considering opening resource abundant areas in the Mid and South Atlantic and the Arctic.

When the Republicans convene in Tampa later this month, a conservative group will unveil a new film featuring former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., about the American Revolution and the establishment of the U.S. Constitution.

Citizens United, best known for their successful challenge to the federal campaign laws, will launch Our Sacred Honor on Wednesday, Aug. 29 at the Citizens United Theater at Liberty Plaza in Tampa. The group is looking to distribute the movie via DVD.

Gov. Rick Scott isnt done railing against the federal government over the states inability to get access to a database expected to help identify noncitizens on the lists of registered voters in Florida.

And hes preparing the state attorney to again pursue the issue in court.

The federal government announced in July that it would at long last make the Homeland Security Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program (SAVE) database available to the state.

Madison County Commissioner and Madison City Fire Chief Alfred Junior Martin, arrested on grand theft charges on Wednesday, has been removed from elected office by Gov. Rick Scott.

He becomes the third official from Madison County, a county of nearly 20,000 along the Georgia state line, suspended from office by Scott in the past year.

No replacement for Martin, a Democrat re-elected in 2010, was immediately named.

This week, the friends of Barack Obama introduced into the political battle of 2012 the moral equivalent of poison gas.

In a couple of weeks, Judge Kevin Carroll of the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court is expected todetermine whether nurses and other state employees may proceed with their present lawsuit against the Florida Department of Corrections (DOC), or whether they will need to file an entirely new one in their long-ranging battle against privatization of prison health services.

A bulk of cash infused by Gov. Rick Scott into Port Canaverals channel will further boost the enticement of shipping goods to Florida, backers of the states seaport contend.

Just when you think Florida environmentalists can't get any further out in left field, they go and drop back against the wall. I'm talking about their latest plan to budget their causes by ballot initiative.