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

The justices of the Supreme Court of Florida heard oral arguments Friday morning regarding an appeal by the state of a March ruling by a circuit judge overturning key elements of the Legislature's 2011 reform of the state employee retirement system. Gov. Rick Scott issued a statement on what he expects the outcome of the case to be:

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Wendy J. Giesy-Griffin to the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Giesy-Griffin, 60, of Lithia, is a retired environmental consultant who had worked with Metis Environmental Services beginning in 1996. Prior to consulting, she was an environmental administrator with the Florida Department of Transportation from 1979 to 1985 and an environmental technician and specialist with Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission from 1976 to 1979. She succeeds Hugh M. Gramling.

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Mark T. Porter as Monroe County superintendent of schools. Porter, 56, of Key West, has been the deputy superintendent of the school district. With 32 years of service in public education, Porter previously held several leadership positions within South Washington County Schools, including superintendent from 2000 to 2012. The term is through Jan. 7, 2013. Porter fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Jesus F. Jara, whom Scott had appointed to the position in August 2011.

Governor Rick Scott signed a warrant Wednesday instructing Florida Prison Warden John Palmer to carrying out of the death sentence of John Errol Ferguson on Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. Ferguson, 64, was convicted on eight counts of first degree murder and sentenced to death for his role in a 1977 Dade County home invasion in which six people were killed.