THE CAPITOL, TALLAHASSEE, March 5, 2010..The most awaited news this week may be anti-climactic. For years in the late 90s and early 2000s lawmakers eagerly awaited the revenue estimating update in March, when seemingly year after year they were told that economists had underestimated just how robust the states economy was and what do you know? theres more money coming in than previously thought. Budget writers loved that and projects were routinely stuffed into the spending plan. Then came the bust.

Youve probably never met J. R. Kelly. But in the past two years, hes fought to keep your electricity bills low.

As the public counsel to the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC), Kelly represents state consumers in every case involving a request for a utility rate increase.

CRUZ GETS SIX BILLS FILED
New Rep. Janet Cruz, just elected in a special election for a Tampa area seat on Feb. 23, has filed her allotment of bills for the session. Cruz, D-Tampa, filed HB 925, creating a breast cancer early detection program, HB 1493 related to career offenders, HB 1495, which prohibits mailing or delivery of unsolicited checks, HB 1497, dealing with when officials must expunge the nonjudicial arrest records of minors, HB 1603 dealing with the Florida State Employees' Charitable Campaign. She also filed HB 1623, the "Helen Gordon Davis Equal Pay Protection Act, which would requires the state to conduct studies and provide information to employers, labor organizations and the public on how to eliminate pay disparities between men and women.

WASHINGTON -- It is said, more frequently than precisely, that the reasons the Supreme Court gives for doing whatever it does are as important as what it does. Actually, the court's reasons are what it does. Hence, the interest in the case the Supreme Court considered last week.

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, March 5, 2010....Gov. Charlie Crist should have been among friends when he gave his State of the State speech to a legislative joint session dominated by Republicans.
But by the time Crist finished defending his support for the federal economic stimulus and re-selling a gambling expansion already rejected once by Republican leaders, Crists best friends were House and Senate Democrats not the crowd he is courting in his campaign the GOPs U.S. Senate nomination.

It's quite striking to see the degree to which traditional Islam has come under ferocious attack from the anti-religious impulse in Hollywood and New York and other bohemian centers in America. It is clearly anti-Islamic religious bigotry. Take a look at just some examples over the past year alone.

In the precarious economy of the moment, a prolonged chill in Plant City can mean the difference between recovery and further financial devastation.

The agricultural industry in Florida has been devastated this year with millions in lost revenue, and strawberries have been one of the hardest hit crops.