While Gov. Rick Scott issued an order Monday for all flags at state buildings to fly at half-staff this week in remembrance of victims of the mass shooting in Arizona, members of Floridas congressional delegation weighed in on the tragic events.

First and foremost, I know that all of those reading this will want to say a prayer for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz. and the others killed or injured Saturday, Jan. 8, while she hosted her first town hall-style meeting of the new Congress in Tucson.

In a widely expected move, former Sen. Rod Smith was selected to lead the Florida Democratic Party on Saturday in Orlando, replacing former U.S. Rep. Karen Thurman, who has served as chairwoman for almost six years.

Rick Scott was little more than a speck in the distance, but Cole Mehone, 38, stood weighted down by his backpack at the far edge of the VIP section, straining to hear every word the newly sworn-in governor had to say. The out-of-work accountant had hitchhiked from Panama City to Tallahassee, without a ticket or money to buy one -- to see his first inauguration, yes, but more important, to honor the man he believes is going to jump-start his stalled life.

Gov. Rick Scott met Saturday with Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara to discuss expanding trade between Florida and Japan, but it was the state's high-speed rail project that most captured the focus of Maehara and the foreign press.

Medicaid patients in Florida are finding it more and more difficult to find a primary care provider. Only 5 percent of Florida physicians accept patients on Medicaid.

Rick Scott dropped the "elect" from his title this week, becoming the 45th governor of Florida and immediately getting to work, as he promised to do during his campaign repeatedly.

NEW YORK -- While sorting through the perennial lip-pursing tempest about a certain word in Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" -- the "N-word," as we now say it -- I turned for inspiration to the master himself.

"The difference between the almost-right word and the right word is ... the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning," Twain wrote.