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

One of the state's most powerful business organizations, Associated Industries of Florida, announced Thursday it has endorsed the former Florida legislator, Republican Mike Hogan, for mayor of Jacksonville. AIF represents more than 10,000 members of the states business community, and its endorsement of Hogan is significant considering Jacksonville is where AIF was founded 91 years ago -- and where it still has a strong presence.

The budget conferences of the House and Senate got underway Wednesday, but reading between the lines of the chairman of the finance and tax conference, Gov. Rick Scott's plans for corporate and property tax cuts do not appear to be in the wings. After an initial meeting Tuesday afternoon, Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, was asked about the cuts and the confidence expressed by Gov. Scott that they will make their way into the final budget. "I continue to express confidence that I will lose 20 pounds," Gaetz said coyly.

Pope Benedict XVI named a new leader for Catholics on the First Coast on Wednesday. Cuban born Bishop Felipe de Jesus Estevez, currently serving as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Miami, was named as bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine. Estevez, who came to America during Operation Peter Pan when the American government helped bring children out of communist Cuba, replaced the retiring Bishop Victor Galeone.

Add one more name to the increasingly crowded field in the Republican primary looking to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. Dr. Mirand Sharma, who has been active in the Campaign for Liberty, has launched a bid for the Republican nod.