After 10 Glorious Years, Sunshine State News and I Are Passing the Baton

Gov. Rick Scott announced on Monday that Tim Cannon will lead the Florida Department of Corrections on an interim basis after Tim Crews resigned earlier in the day. Sec. Crews has worked hard to make Florida communities safer, and we appreciate his service to the state, Scott said. Tim Cannon has served at the Department of Corrections for over two decades, and his experience will provide the Department with the leadership necessary for keeping families and our correctional officers safe.

From her perch as chairwoman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., is not happy that talks with Iran on its nuclear program have been extended past the Monday deadline. Ros-Lehtinen called for Congress to impose new sanctions on Iran when Republicans take control of the Senate in January.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton starts out 2016 as the favorite to win the Florida primary for the Democratic presidential nomination. Gravis Marketing unveiled a new poll this past weekend showing Clinton claiming 51 percent of Florida Democrats. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., stands in distant second with 18 percent followed by Vice President Joe Biden with 12 percent. Two governors -- Martin OMalley of Maryland and Andrew Cuomo -- lag far behind. OMalley takes 4 percent and Cuomo 2 percent.

A senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said he was saddened that U.S. Defense Sec. Chuck Hagel is leaving the Obama administration. Chuck Hagel is a great patriot, Nelson said on Monday. And I believe he has been a very good secretary of defense. Im saddened that the White House was unable to keep him.