Bills in the House and Senate that would eliminate teacher tenure and reward better teachers are gaining support -- not only among the Republican-dominated House and Senate, but among teachers themselves.

Rhonda Lochiatt, a fifth-grade teacher from Volusia County, says she's excited about the Senate passage of the Student Success Act and the promising path of its counterpart in the House.

"Teachers have always wanted to be treated as professionals and this is finally our chance," said Lochiatt. "For me, this is the direction we need to go."

During a visit to Palm Beach Monday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio discussed challenges and opportunities facing small-business leaders.

For years, proponents of renewable energy have lobbied for mandates to jump-start Florida's renewable market, but one investor-owned utility (IOU) sees a solar future, voluntarily.

For years, Florida lawmakers, energy producers and consumers have been interested in developing a renewable energy policy to help wean the state off fossil fuels, but despite their efforts, meaningful renewable policy has failed to make it to the governor's desk.

This was a house party with a purpose.

A Democratic lawmaker from South Florida wants to get rid of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, more commonly known as the FCAT, but her critics fear the alternative may be worse.