LONDON -- We Americans may have declared our independence from Britain in 1776, but there are still similar rhythms in British and American politics. Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan both came to power amid the ruins of the 1970s and restored their nations' economies and spirits in the 1980s.

Responding to questions from state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Commissioner Kevin McCarty offered a presentation to the Cabinet on Tuesday on what his office has done about two financially unstable insurance companies.

"Exclusivity" could bust Florida's Seminole gaming compact, say critics who vow to challenge the agreement at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Florida had spent more than $16 billion from the federal stimulus dollars by the end of March and is on track to spend at least $1 billion more by the end of the year, the states recovery point man said Monday.

Don Winstead, appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to oversee the collection and distribution of American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds, said nearly $20 billion in federal stimulus dollars has been awarded or expected as the state continues to reap the benefits of federal tax dollars aimed at jump-starting the national economy.

Faisal Shahzad sought to massacre scores of fellow Americans in Times Square with a bomb made of M-88 firecrackers, non-explosive fertilizer, gasoline and alarm clocks.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab tried to blow up a U.S. airliner over Detroit with a firebomb concealed in his underpants. Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan shot dead 13 fellow soldiers at Fort Hood and wounded 29.

As more political skeletons emerge from Gov. Charlie Crist's closet, one remains buried -- and fully employed -- in the Broward County Sheriff's Office.

Nearly five months after Sheriff Al Lamberti was presented pictorial evidence of his undersheriff, Tom Wheeler, kibitzing with Ponzi king Scott Rothstein, an internal investigation has yet to reach a conclusion about misconduct.

A coalition of higher education institutions in Florida is leading the pursuit of $103 million in federal money to expand broadband services to 55 state and independent colleges and 26 Florida public broadcasting stations.

Florida's executive branch hasn't made up its mind on whether to sue BP for threatening state shores with the largest crude oil spill in recent memory, but officials appear to be moving toward litigation.