On the eve of Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnams Energy Summit in Orlando, the chief economist for the American Petroleum Industry says the need remains for the U.S. to realistically explore all its energy options without hindering the resources now in use.

API Chief Economist John Felmy, in a conference call with reporters on Friday, said the nation needs to both move forward in exploring alternative options, but at the same time meet the existing needs by considering opening resource abundant areas in the Mid and South Atlantic and the Arctic.

Gov. Rick Scott isnt done railing against the federal government over the states inability to get access to a database expected to help identify noncitizens on the lists of registered voters in Florida.

And hes preparing the state attorney to again pursue the issue in court.

The federal government announced in July that it would at long last make the Homeland Security Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program (SAVE) database available to the state.

Madison County Commissioner and Madison City Fire Chief Alfred Junior Martin, arrested on grand theft charges on Wednesday, has been removed from elected office by Gov. Rick Scott.

He becomes the third official from Madison County, a county of nearly 20,000 along the Georgia state line, suspended from office by Scott in the past year.

No replacement for Martin, a Democrat re-elected in 2010, was immediately named.

A bulk of cash infused by Gov. Rick Scott into Port Canaverals channel will further boost the enticement of shipping goods to Florida, backers of the states seaport contend.

Energy experts are closely watching how the $18 billion merger of Progress Energy into Duke Energy will impact Floridas overall power grid.

Already a significant energy company in Florida, Progress Energy is now backed by the largest electric power holding company in the United States.

The future of the Crystal River nuclear power plant remains under review, while the natural gas segment is expected to continue to play a significant role in Florida.

The first of the estimated $170 million in economic impact from the Republican National Convention is already reaching that Tampa region, the group hosting the event announced.

Through contracts with businesses, the 2012 Tampa Bay Host Committee stated that they have already infused millions of dollars into the Florida economy.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who on Tuesday said she planned to attend the Republican National Convention in her hometown of Tampa but didnt know what role shed play, was named a headline speaker on Wednesday for the partys marquee event.

Attorney General Pam Bondi is adamant that there is no feud between her and legislators over Floridas share of a national mortgage servicing settlement.

But the two sides dont appear to be budging over how the money, totaling around $334 million, should be spent.

Bondi, addressing the media following the Florida Cabinet meeting in the Capitol on Tuesday, disagreed with any contention that she and legislators are fighting over the settlement.

A day after it was announced that Gov. Rick Scott would be among the speakers at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, his speech is a long way from being written.

But during an appearance on WCOA 1370-AM in Pensacola on Tuesday morning, Scott said -- as one would expect -- the topic will center on Floridas economy since he took office in 2011.