Little more than a week after the end of the legislative session, Republicans in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties head to the polls Tuesday to choose a nominee to replace the late Rep. Clay Ford who died in March.

Don’t tell my daughters: “Barbie: The Dreamhouse Experience” has landed in South Florida, opening its 10,000-square foot, first-of-its-kind doors to worldwide visitors on Wednesday.

Like many other Californians seeking to escape stifling regulation, Barbie has left Malibu for … the Sawgrass Mall in Sunrise.

A conservative group plans to examine more than 118,000 ballots and sift through voter registration records in St. Lucie County, which was the site of tabulating problems and litigation in Democrat Patrick Murphy‘s narrow congressional victory over Republican Allen West in November.

Gov. Rick Scott has until May 24 to make decisions on two high-profile bills passed in the closing days of the legislative session, reports the News Service of Florida.

Both a bill meant to avoid the snafus that plagued the November elections (HB 7013) and a measure exempting manufacturing equipment from the state sales tax (HB 7007) were presented to Scott on Thursday, giving him 15 days to decide whether to sign or veto the measures.

After Jennifer Carroll abruptly resigned from the lieutenant governor post two months ago, Gov. Rick Scott said he would wait until after the legislative session to select a replacement.

A week after the session concluded, Scott says: “I’m working on that.”

Another health care headline double-take: “Four States that Snubbed Health Care Law Gaining Jobs From It”, as reported by Kaiser Health News, describing how the federal government will be creating jobs in Florida and three other states all of whom rejected health care expansion under federal reforms.

During Florida’s 2013 Legislative Session, 63 bills were filed regarding property insurance, 45 of which specifically proposed changes to Citizens, and one of which passed. SB 1770, a 72-page bill with dozens of amendments, makes various reforms intended to return Citizens to its intended role as Florida’s “insurer of last resort”.  These reforms no doubt will impact policyholders, however according to Sen.

Why should Iowa and New Hampshire get all the attention when it comes to presidential politics?

That was the question Florida legislators were asking back in 2007, when they ignored advice from both national Republican and Democratic party leaders and moved Florida’s presidential primary date. By moving it earlier, to January 29, the idea was that presidential candidates would give more time and attention to Florida voters.

Charlie Crist, Florida’s once (and future?) governor, posted a note on his Facebook page congratulating two states for legalizing gay marriage.

@SteveRothaus

Charlie Crist, rumored to be running as a Democrat for Florida governor, has come out in favor of gay marriage.

“I most certainly support marriage equality in Florida and look forward to the day it happens here,” Crist quietly announced Wednesday night on his Facebook page, hours after Delaware became the 11th state to legalize gay marriage.

Below is a brief look at today's Florida Morning. Here is the full version.

@Mdixon55

'Veto Gun Bill' Pleas Dominate Rick Scott's Post-Session Inbox