Good news for about 100,000 long-term jobless in Florida and potentially 150,000 more: They'll be able to join the rest of the country in receiving the extended unemployment benefits passed by Congress this week.

Gov. Charlie Crist on Friday issued an executive order that effectively allows unemployed Floridians who have exhausted 79 weeks of unemployment benefits to be eligible for up to 20 more weeks under the federal Extended Benefits program.