Rick Scott

Both of Florida's senators are looking very strong, but not Gov. Rick Scott, according to a Quinnipiac University poll. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, has a commanding lead over three potential Republican challengers in 2012, according to the poll released on Thursday; the closest any of the challengers comes is 20 percentage points behind. When those polled were asked to pick among the three Republicans seeking that party's Senate nomination, a staggering 64% said they didn't know.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott's attempt to force drug testing on state workers has been blocked by a federal judge, the latest development in a case seen as a bellwether for similar efforts involving employees and those receiving social service or welfare benefits. On Thursday, Federal District Judge Ursula Ungaro ruled that Scott's executive order violated constitutional guarantees against unreasonable search and seizure because it “does not identify a concrete danger that must be addressed by suspicionless drug testing.”  The Miami-based judge also wrote that the order should be struck down because “the governor shows no evidence of a drug-use problem at the covered agencies.” The decision will be appealed, Scott said in a statement emailed to reporters.

A brief moment during a break Monday night in the Florida gubernatorial debate became the focus of next-day stories after one candidate accused his opponent of cheating. The debate's moderator, John King of CNN, posted video of the moment on his blog. Both candidates were being primped by makeup and hair people, and at one point, the makeup artist working on Democrat Alex Sink showed her a smart phone. Sink read something on the phone as her Republican opponent, Rick Scott, whose bald pate was being powdered, turned to CNN political editor Mark Preston.

When a rash of burglaries and other crimes broke out in and around a gated community in Sanford, Fla., residents wanted some form of protection. Someone raised the possibility of a neighborhood watch group. But only one resident seems to have  come forward for the duties: George Zimmerman. Zimmerman, 28, is the focal point for national outrage over the fatal Feb. 26 shooting of an unarmed teen, Trayvon Martin. The 17-year-old was returning from a sugar run -- he'd bought a bag of Skittles and an iced tea at a local convenience store -- and was reportedly talking on a cellphone to his girlfriend when he crossed paths with Zimmerman.

Democrat Alex Sink has conceded defeat in the race for governor in Florida, keeping the seat in Republican hands. Democrat Alex Sink has conceded defeat in the race for governor in Florida, keeping the seat in Republican hands. Rick Scott, a former healthcare executive who spent millions on his campaign, held a lead of about 1%, with all but 40 of the state's precincts reporting. Expecting losses in state races elsewhere, Democrats prized what they saw as a major pickup opportunity in the state.

When a rash of burglaries and other crimes broke out in and around a gated community in Sanford, Fla., residents wanted some form of protection. Someone raised the possibility of a neighborhood watch group. But only one resident seems to have  come forward for the duties: George Zimmerman. Zimmerman, 28, is the focal point for national outrage over the fatal Feb. 26 shooting of an unarmed teen, Trayvon Martin. The 17-year-old was returning from a sugar run -- he'd bought a bag of Skittles and an iced tea at a local convenience store -- and was reportedly talking on a cellphone to his girlfriend when he crossed paths with Zimmerman.

Since the 1960s, state and local officials in the South have been required by law to seek advance approval from the Justice Department in Washington before making changes in their election rules, a legacy of the era when blacks were denied the right to vote. But in an unusual twist, new Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, is using the pre-clearance requirement in the Voting Rights Act to stall enforcement of a voter-approved initiative that bars partisan gerrymandering. Longtime champions of voting rights are crying foul.

California bullet train supporters began angling Wednesday for a sizeable share of $2.4 billion in federal high-speed rail funding that Florida Gov. Rick Scott rejected. Scott, a Republican, told reporters he didn't believe projections for a proposed high-speed train between Orlando and Tampa and feared Florida taxpayers would end up having to subsidize the service. The Obama administration, which has made high-speed rail development a signature initiative, said after Scott's announcement that it will consider redistributing the stimulus funds to states that are proceeding with new, high-tech rail systems.

Nobody wrote you a letter this past week [Calendar Weekend, March 1]? You must be feeling like the Maytag repairman. RICK SCOTT Ventura

Both of Florida's senators are looking very strong, but not Gov. Rick Scott, according to a Quinnipiac University poll. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, has a commanding lead over three potential Republican challengers in 2012, according to the poll released on Thursday; the closest any of the challengers comes is 20 percentage points behind. When those polled were asked to pick among the three Republicans seeking that party's Senate nomination, a staggering 64% said they didn't know.

Although he hasn't officially jumped into the race, potential Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman has decided to open his national headquarters in Orlando, his advisers confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel. "This is not a Washington-based campaign and not a Washington-based candidate," Susie Wiles, a Florida political consultant who ran Rick Scott's successful gubernatorial campaign, said this morning. The former Utah governor's exploratory committee also named Nikki Jerger Lowrey, a former aide to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, as its Florida director.

California, Illinois and 13 other states, along with Amtrak, will share $2 billion in federal grants aimed at developing high-speed rail service, money that had been rejected by Florida, officials announced on Monday. The grants were announced by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in a statement. The winners were chosen from among 100 applications by 24 states, the District of Columbia and Amtrak. "The investments we're making today will help states across the country create jobs, spur economic development and boost manufacturing in their communities," LaHood stated.

Hoping Florida's loss will be their gain, Illinois and neighboring states have applied for some of the $2.43 billion in federal high-speed rail funding that became available after Florida Gov. Rick Scott scuttled plans for fast trains. That puts them in direct competition with California, which has set its sights on the same funds. The federal government recently announced that states could apply for the high-speed and intercity passenger rail funding that Florida returned. "California's application seeks funding for projects that will be the building blocks for a statewide network of rail lines linking high-speed and intercity rail lines to regional rail lines," California Gov. Jerry Brown said in a recent letter introducing the state's application.

Even if Florida's governor doesn't want federal high-speed rail money, officials from California and other states do. And they're doing all they can do snag it ? lining up at Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's door, posting appeals on his Facebook page, even bending his ear at social events. Now, the competition will really heat up. On Friday, LaHood invited states to apply for the $2.4 billion in high-speed rail money turned down by Florida Gov. Rick Scott. California is believed to stand a good chance of collecting a chunk of the money for its proposed Los Angeles-to-San Francisco line, which is expected to cost at least $43 billion.

California bullet train supporters began angling Wednesday for a sizeable share of $2.4 billion in federal high-speed rail funding that Florida Gov. Rick Scott rejected. Scott, a Republican, told reporters he didn't believe projections for a proposed high-speed train between Orlando and Tampa and feared Florida taxpayers would end up having to subsidize the service. The Obama administration, which has made high-speed rail development a signature initiative, said after Scott's announcement that it will consider redistributing the stimulus funds to states that are proceeding with new, high-tech rail systems.

Hart High Coach Rick Scott said he would consider accepting the football coaching position at Buena, although he denies he has applied for the position or been contacted by school officials. Mike Olgy resigned last month, creating the vacancy. Scott was mentioned as a candidate in a report in the Ventura Star-Free Press suggesting that Scott's ties to Ventura County would draw him to Buena, a Channel League school in Ventura.

The Laguna Beach water polo team, ranked seventh in Orange County, will forfeit three victories because of an ineligible player, Artist Coach Rick Scott said Friday. School counselors discovered that Jessie Roth, a transfer from Lake Arrowhead Rim of the World, was a fifth-year senior during credit checks, according to Scott. "We had no idea," Scott said. "I wanted to take care of this right away. Better to find out now rather than late in the season."

Since the 1960s, state and local officials in the South have been required by law to seek advance approval from the Justice Department in Washington before making changes in their election rules, a legacy of the era when blacks were denied the right to vote. But in an unusual twist, new Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, is using the pre-clearance requirement in the Voting Rights Act to stall enforcement of a voter-approved initiative that bars partisan gerrymandering. Longtime champions of voting rights are crying foul.

Democrat Alex Sink has conceded defeat in the race for governor in Florida, keeping the seat in Republican hands. Democrat Alex Sink has conceded defeat in the race for governor in Florida, keeping the seat in Republican hands. Rick Scott, a former healthcare executive who spent millions on his campaign, held a lead of about 1%, with all but 40 of the state's precincts reporting. Expecting losses in state races elsewhere, Democrats prized what they saw as a major pickup opportunity in the state.