As Florida courts have struggled in recent years with a flood of foreclosure cases, retired judges have played a key role in reducing backlogs.

But a pair of Pinellas County lawyers this week filed a petition in the Florida Supreme Court arguing that the heavy reliance on retired --- or, as they are known, "senior" --- judges violates the state Constitution. The document asks the Supreme Court to curb the practice in the circuit that includes Pinellas and Pasco counties and, possibly, to review the use of senior judges statewide.

Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill into law to expand protection of Florida’s environment, providing mass amounts of funding to preserve some of Florida’s largest environmental areas and waterways.

HB 989, co-sponsored by Reps. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, and Matt Caldwell, R-Fort Myers, also known as the “Legacy Florida” bill, passed through the Florida Legislature this year. The new law would set aside $200 million a year for Everglades restoration funding. On top of that, the new law will set aside up to $50 million for Florida springs and up to $5 million a year for Lake Apopka. 

James Zumwalt, a veteran who saw combat in Iraq and was awarded the Bronze Star, threw his hat in the ring on Thursday to replace U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., who is retiring from Congress.

Zumwalt launched his bid by stressing his conservative principles.

At a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., stressed the importance of the U.S. commitments to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Japan and South Korea. Rubio said the following: