Gov. Scott seeks millions more for port projects

Gov. Rick Scott says he wants state lawmakers to approve $35 million for projects at three of Florida's ports in an effort to bring more cargo-shipping and manufacturing jobs to the state. "We should be the shipping channel for the East Coast," Scott said. "It's ours to lose." More from the Orlando Sentinel, the Tampa Bay Times and the South Florida Business Journal.

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How Florida's representatives in Congress voted - Yes or No - to stop the shutdown and raise debt limit:
HOUSE
Republicans	Democrats
Gus Bilirakis, yes	Corrine Brown, yes
Vern Buchanan, yes	Kathy Castor, yes
Ander Crenshaw, yes	Ted Deutch, yes
Ron DeSantis, no	Lois Frankel, yes
Mario Diaz-Balart, yes,	Joe Garcia, yes
John Mica, no	Alan Grayson, yes
Jeff Miller, no	Alcee Hastings, yes
Richard Nugent, no	Patrick Murphy, yes
Bill Posey, no	Debbie Wasserman Schultz, yes
Trey Radel, no	Frederica Wilson, yes
Tom Rooney, no
Dennis Ross, no
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, yes
Steve Southerland, no
Daniel Webster, yes
Ted Yoho, no
C.W. Bill Young did not vote
SENATE
Marco Rubio, R, no	Bill Nelson, D, yes

Shutdown over: How the Florida delegation voted

After an 11th-hour vote last night to reopen the Federal government and raise the debt ceiling, things should start to return to normal today as U.S. agencies get back to business, civil servants return to work, and national parks reopen. At right is a chart of how Florida's delegation voted. Also, take a quick poll on how you would have voted, here.

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Home flipping falls as prices rise

Higher prices led to fewer flipped homes across South Florida in the third quarter, a new report shows. Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties had 940 flips in July, August and September, down 8 percent from the same period a year ago, according to the RealtyTrac listing firm. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

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Florida regulators consider Duke nuclear costs

State utility regulators are considering a settlement with Duke Energy over its shuttered nuclear power plants. The state's consumer advocate recommended regulators approve the settlement because it would bring stability to rates. [Source: AP]

See also:
» Consumer Advocates Threaten Class-Action Suit If PSC Approves Duke Energy Settlement

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Avocado industry extinction feared

The Florida avocado industry faces the likelihood of being lost as a result of significant economic hits following the constant devastating effects of exotic pests and disease on avocado tree crops. Avocado growing is the state’s second-largest fruit industry. [Source: Miami Today]

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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› South Florida dentists help kids turn Halloween candy into cash for troops [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The Great Halloween Candy Buy-Back program lets South Florida kids turn candy into cash by bringing their treats to participating Broward or Palm Beach dentists who then buys the candy and donates for holiday care packages to our troops.

› Hialeah rakes in the poker chips [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The Hialeah Park poker room was flush with customers in its first full month, with pretty much a full house. The new poker room outearned its south Broward and Miami-Dade competitors, with $692,417 in September revenue.

› Regulators thump failed Florida bank over insider deals [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
At Putnam State Bank, relations with insiders were so cozy that regulators referred to it as a “good old boy” lender. Regulators shut down the Palatka bank last year and recently released examination reports that show how officials took too many risks and provided insiders with too many favorable deals.

› Miami leads nation in Medicare drug spending [Miami Herald]
Elderly Miami residents on Medicare filled more prescriptions for drugs in 2010 than seniors elsewhere in the country, and they were more than twice as likely as residents in Rochester, Minn., to fill at least one prescription for medications that have been identified as high-risk for patients over age 65.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Construction rebounds on barrier islands [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
New home construction on Southwest Florida's barrier islands hardly took a breath during the Great Recession, but the economic recovery has sparked a new burst of activity.

› Lockheed to lay off 600 across U.S. training systems business [Orlando Sentinel]
Lockheed Martin Corp. plans to hand out pink slips to about 600 workers across the country in its Mission Systems and Training division, which includes its Orlando simulation technology operation, the company said Wednesday.

› Snowbirds return early for Venice Sun Fiesta [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
When the first Venice Sun Fiesta was held in 1973, it was a chance for the community to get together before the snowbirds flocked to town. But now, organizers say, the event has hastened some snowbirds' annual southerly migration.

› Miami faces air cargo crunch, association says [Miami Today]
In the year’s first eight months, Miami International Airport’s total domestic cargo declined 4.1% and international cargo increased 0.61%, as did total cargo by 0.008% compared to the same period last year.