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

The Florida Commission on Ethics has dismissed two complaints against Democrat Keith Fitzgerald for a lack of legal sufficiency meaning there was no basis for the complaints. The complaints were filed as part of what the Fitzgerald campaign on Wednesday called "a smear campaign launched by incumbent Congressman Vern Buchanan and the Republican Party of Florida to distract voters from Buchanans own long record of investigations and poor ethical judgment."

Death by oxycodone dropped 17.7 percent in 2011, with overall deaths from prescription drugs down 6.37 percent, according to a state report released Thursday by Attorney General Pam Bondi and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey. The 2011 Medical Examiners Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons Report stated that drugs caused 9,135 deaths in 2011, with alcohol and prescription medicine causing more fatalities than illicit drugs.

The Florida Retail Association has endorsed former state representative Aaron Bean, a Republican from Fernandina Beach, for the Senate District 4 seat. The Florida Retail Federation is pleased to support your candidacy for the Florida State Senate, District 4, Florida Retail Federation President and CEO Rick McAllister stated in a release. We believe that you will prove to be a strong voice for the retail business community in your district, and for the state.

Associated Industries of Florida has backed Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, in the state Senate District 8 contest against Democratic challenger Frank Bruno. We were impressed by your appreciation of the free-enterprise system and support for policies that will promote a prosperous economy for all Floridians, AIF President Tom Feeney stated in a release.