The governor signed into law SB 186, officially turning USF's Lakeland campus into the state's first polytechnic university, not far from where Sen. J.D. Alexander owns land.

Gov. Crist sent out a mass e-mail with shout-outs to lawmakers including Alexander and Lakeland Rep. Seth McKeel "for their leadership on this issue." He also thanked Rep. Ed Homan of Temple Terrace and Sen. Carey Baker.

Crist also is expected to leave intact the $15-million in the proposed 08-09 budget that USF needs to start building a new campus for the polytechnic.