Republicans are encountering some speed bumps on what they hope is the road to victory in the November elections. Their candidates for Republican open Senate seats in Ohio and Missouri are running no better than even in recent polls. The independent candidacy of Gov. Charlie Crist is threatening Marco Rubio's bid to hold the Republican Senate seat in Florida.

Tax breaks for Gulf coast property owners could be part of the mix in a proposed special session sparked by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill which Gov. Charlie Crist is looking to call as early as next month.

Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink pushed Crist to embrace the tax reduction plan Tuesday as the governor and Cabinet heard presentations from BP along with state environmental, wildlife and revenue officials about the effects of the massive spill.

University of South Florida scientists say they've detected "very low levels" of oil about 142 nautical miles southeast of the Deepwater Horizon wellhead, but it's not from BP.

British Petroleum Senior Vice President Bob Fryar tried to soothe frustrated members of the Florida Cabinet Tuesday with the promise of a new $25 million check for the state.

Attorney General Bill McCollums lawsuit against the federal government for new health care laws backed by President Barack Obama is getting the support of former New York Gov. George Pataki who has been active in the political fight of repealing the new laws.

If Gov. Charlie Crist thinks he can reap votes from Florida's agriculture industry, his vetoes of ag-related legislation make that a tough row to hoe.

South Florida Ponzi king Scott Rothstein places himself at the mercy of the court Wednesday, when he will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn.

Floridas newest gubernatorial candidate hit Pensacola on Tuesday to discuss the oil spill in the Gulf.

The Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster could lop $2.2 billion off Floridas still-fragile economy and cost 39,000 jobs mostly in the tourism and fisheries industry, a University of Central Florida economist predicted Monday.

Hotel and restaurant industry leaders said the first signs of that decline are emerging as the encroaching oil spill diminishes what for most had been a strong Memorial Day weekend, possibly fueled by the states television advertising campaign.