Pinellas County real estate prospects are certainly looking up for 2013, at least according to local realtors. However, there seem to be a few small clouds in an otherwise sunny view.

Legislation to limit dog-tethering in Jacksonville took a step forward in a City Council committee Monday, once the city’s animal care chief assured he wouldn’t fine dog owners without some warning.

The council’s Rules Committee approved the bill with the agreement that a provision once marked to take effect in 2015 would instead start Oct. 1, 2014.

Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford will begin their joint Work Plan Florida Regional Tour on Wednesday, highlighting the successful completion of their legislative agenda on jobs as well as “critical investments in Florida’s future appropriated through the bi-partisan 2013-14 state budget.”

In the increasing furor over the use of Red Light Cameras, a disturbing trend is beginning to emerge.

Several municipal and local governments were discovered shortening the length of yellow lights after installing “traffic infraction detectors,” or Red Light Cameras. This alteration resulted in the length of yellow lights being set below federal guidelines.

Kevin Cate: age 29, but “49 in campaign years”; Tennessee native; Tallahassee resident; Auburn and Florida State graduate. He entered politics to “make a change. At the time, it was mainly the war in Iraq.”

Lawmakers, lobbyists and lookers-on chimed in Monday after Gov. Rick Scott signed the state’s $74.1 billion spending plan for the coming year. Some applauded the governor for making historic investments in education, ports and business development. Others, smarting after Scott vetoed $368 million in spending projects endorsed by the Legislature, were none too happy. 

Here’s a roundup of some of the comments:

Lucy Morgan, who seems to be as good as retiring from journalism as Michael Jordan was from basketball, offered this story of lobbyist Mac Stipanovich’s week of babysitting his five grandchildren.

Tim Baker has been called a ‘full-spectrum warrior’ by those that know him best because of his blend of ruthless campaign strategy/tactics, communications and policy acumen, as well as his ability to infuse an encyclopedic knowledge of election law in everything he does, explains Brian Hughes.

One of Tampa Bays’ “100 Top Places to Work” is getting a new home in St. Petersburg.

American Strategic Insurance (ASI) officially unveils its 110,000-square-foot corporate headquarters Tuesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. The new three-story headquarters is located at One ASI Way, a newly named street off Gandy Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard North.

Civic leader Darden Rice firmly believes in St. Petersburg’s potential, and she has a plan to keep “St. Pete Strong.”

28-year-old David Cardenas entered politics “with the understanding that public service was a noble cause, cherished principles required advocacy, and that one must engage to make an impact.”

But one principle he puts above politics is “respect for others, regardless of political differences, is a crucial component of functional and civil government.”

@Mdixon55

Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown is blasting Gov. Rick Scott's veto of $500,000 for Learn2Earn, one of his priority projects.

"The Governor and his team have once again let down hundreds of Jacksonville children and families," read a statement from Brown's office.

Florida TaxWatch is commending Governor Rick Scott for “removing from the state budget so many of the Budget Turkeys as identified in this year’s annual Turkey Watch Report.”

By its math, Scott vetoed more than two-thirds of the Budget Turkeys TaxWatch identified, saving taxpayers an estimated $71 million.

Sarasota resident Vickie Brill, 25, was working campaigns from the time she was old enough to walk — as in door to door — with her father.  She interned for Senator Mel Martinez on Capitol Hill during college and then as a PAC fundraiser for congressional members with Hammond and Associates. She ran Rep. Jim Boyd’s campaign; helped fundraise for Congressman Vern Buchanan and Rep. Ray Pilon; and is currently a legislative aide to Sen. Bill Galvano. 

@Mdixon55

Gov. Rick Scott Monday announced that he has slashed $368 million from lawmaker's proposed $74.5 million budget before signing the spending plan into law.

That number is up from last year when Scott vetoed $147 million from the budget, but down from his first year when he cut $615 million.