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

Dr. John H. Armstrong, M.D., has been named by Gov. Rick Scott to be Floridas surgeon general and secretary of the Florida Department of Health.

The governors office announced that Gov. Rick Scott signed four bills Friday that expand the protections available to victims of domestic and sexual violence. While Florida has a 40-year low crime rate, we must continue to protect the rights of individuals affected by crime, Scott stated in a release. This critical legislation I have signed into law shows the valuable steps Florida has made in protecting the rights of victims. HB 1355: Protection of Vulnerable Persons

A poll of likely voters by Rasmussen Reports unveiled on Friday shows that Florida should expect, once again, to be the chief battleground as President Barack Obama hopes to hold off Mitt Romney, the overwhelming favorite to be the Republican presidential nominee, in November. The poll shows Romney leading in the Sunshine State by the skin of his teeth, taking 46 percent while the Democrat incumbent is right behind him with 45 percent,and 6 percent of those surveyed support other candidates while 3 percent are not sure.

Gov. Rick Scott said he understands the concerns of the 47 counties that teamed to file a lawsuit Thursday challenging the new state Medicaid law that requires them to pay 85 percent of what the state claims are years of unpaid bills. But he wouldnt say hed put a freeze on the law as the court process plays out, when asked during an interview Friday morning on WCOA 1370 AM in Pensacola.