Two surprising new reports show that hourly pay and benefits for public-school teachers are higher than the compensation received by other government employees or similarly qualified private-sector workers.

Teachers enjoy greater average hourly compensation in wages and benefits than any other group of state and local government workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The BLS also said teachers get more than twice as much in average hourly wages and benefits as workers in private industry.

Months after lawmakers approved a measure to overrule cities and counties with get-tough gun laws, a Palm Beach County lawmaker on Tuesday introduced a bill to begin restoring some limits on where residents can carry guns.

Saying she hopes to at least generate debate, Rep. Lori Berman, D-Delray Beach, filed a proposal (HB 1087) to bar handguns from child care centers and government buildings.

WASHINGTON -- Callista Gingrich has done something she might come to regret -- succumbed to the Twitter fairy and opened the door to unwelcome scrutiny.

The Republican-led House called on the Democratic-controlled Senate to return to Capitol Hill to approve a one-year extension of the payroll tax cut.

On a party-line vote of 229-193, the House on Tuesday rejected a Senate amendment that authorized only two-month extensions of the tax cut and unemployment benefits.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid adjourned his chamber Saturday, with no plans to reconvene. If an agreement is not reached by Jan. 1, the tax cut will expire.

While Ron Paul wants America to quit its "endless wars," he's blasting away at fellow Republicans.

With two weeks to go until the Iowa caucus, three of the Republican presidential hopefuls unveiled the support of leading religious and social conservatives on Tuesday.

Christmas is a time of gratitude, as we reflect on the blessings we enjoy not only on Dec. 25 but year-round. But how often do we give thanks for our unique and extraordinary country? Do we truly know how special it is?

President Barack Obama found his way into four of the top six most-read Sunshine State News reports in 2011 and, as no surprise, they are pieces that the White House occupant probably wont be highlighting in next years re-election effort.

If Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam wades further into the state gaming issues, his focus will be on the adult arcades that are commonly referred to as Internet cafes.

That would specifically mean the eight of the approximately 1,000 strip mall arcades across the state that offer sweepstakes prizes, rather than cash, that have registered as charities with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.