This week, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., continued to push against Mexico produce imports, calling on the Trump administration to protect farmers in the Sunshine State, as the Trump administration looks to replace NAFTA with USMCA.  

Rubio and Buchanan rounded up senators and representatives from both sides of the aisle to call on Trade Ambassador Robert Lighthizer to protect farmers as negotiations with Mexico continue.

State lawmakers are ready for the big dance.

Siding with Gov. Ron DeSantis, a judge Thursday threw out a lawsuit filed by suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, finding the Republican governor acted within his authority when he removed the embattled law-enforcement official.

DeSantis suspended Israel shortly after taking office in January, accusing the sheriff of “neglect of duty” and “incompetence” related to two mass shootings in Broward County, including the February 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

The Florida State College at Jacksonville has chosen Illinois educator John Avendano, a man with 30 years' experience in community college education, as its sixth president.

Avendano is president and CEO of Kankakee Community College and has previously held positions such as president of the Illinois Council of Public Community College Presidents. 

The Board of Trustees' selection was unanimous. 

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has brought back his proposal for the U.S. Commerce Department to increase regulation on the international shark trade. 

Last week, Rubio teamed up with Republican U.S. Sens.  Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI, to bring back the “Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act.”

Republican Irina Vilariño has launched a bid to take on U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-Fla., in what is expected to be one of the closest congressional races in the Sunshine State next year. 

Vilariño, a businesswoman who owns restaurants, entered the race to represent all of Monroe County and parts of Miami-Dade County in Congress on Wednesday.

With the Final Four ready to battle for the NCAA basketball championship, a congressman from Florida is addressing the plight of unpaid student athletes.

U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, D-Fla., hosted a panel discussion and screened a documentary on Capitol Hill this week as he turned his attention to “the plight of unpaid student-athletes in a multi-billion-dollar athletic enterprise.”

Citing a past sexual harassment investigation at the University of Florida, Senate President Bill Galvano said Wednesday the Senate will not vote during this year’s legislative session on confirming the state’s new surgeon general.

The move could put physician Scott Rivkees, named surgeon general Monday by Gov. Ron DeSantis, in limbo for months.

The Florida Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved a $90.3 billion state spending plan for next fiscal year, despite concerns about the federal government’s failure to provide anticipated relief after Hurricane Michael.

Senate Democrats also raised alarms about mental-health funding for students and redirecting money from large teaching hospitals to for-profit facilities, but in the end, they lent their support to the budget.

“This is one of the more difficult budget years I’ve ever experienced,” Senate President Bill Galvano said.

The Business Roundtable showcased a study this week which shows that international trade supports almost 2.4 million jobs in Florida.