State lawmakers are committing to set aside funding for the University of South Florida so its researchers can go ahead with a plan to exhume bodies at the controversial, former Dozier School for Boys in Marianna.

The Florida House and Senate have agreed to put $200,000 in the state budget next year for USF anthropologists to open up the graves.

Florida is suing BP and Halliburton for more than $5 billion for damages resulting from the oil spill three years ago.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed Tuesday she tried to work out a settlement with BP and gave them an offer, but never heard back.

She said she is astonished that the oil company did not respond to her, considering the amount of damage caused by the spill.

The state will seek $5.4 billion in lost tax revenue.

Gov. Rick Scott and Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett sat down with school superintendents from across the state on Wednesday, and promptly heard their concern over legislative proposals aiming to tie teacher pay raises to classroom performance.

Such a requirement could mean teachers might not get their raise until next year, they said.

Scott reiterated his proposal to give a $2,500 pay raise to all teachers this year and not tie it to performance.

In a brief meeting with reporters Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott said he reached out to Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to let him know Florida is prepared to send law enforcement and emergency teams to help Boston. See the video below.

All flags in the state of Florida have been lowered to half staff around the state Capitol in honor of the victims of those explosions.

The blasts killed three people and hurt more than 175 on Monday.

Gov. Rick Scott says hes thinking about the people of Boston and offering to help.