Parties’ divide on the economy widens

Democrat and Republican presidential candidates are set to offer voters a stark choice in 2016 about how the economy should be managed, with both sides moving toward extreme ends of the parties' platform. In this weekend's Democratic debate, candidates said they would try to rein in Wall Street, raise taxes, increase the minimum wage, expand the federal government’s role in health care. Republicans, however, are competing to repeal regulations, cut taxes, keep the current minimum wage and roll back Obamacare. [Source: Wall Street Journal]

See also:
» In presidential campaign, it’s now terrorism, not taxes
» Paris attacks become focus of 2016 race

Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida Icon: Mel Tillis

Entertainer Mel Tillis talks about life as a stutterer and other things: “My daddy stuttered a little bit, and my brother, he stuttered a little bit, and I stutter. Until I went to school, I thought that was just the way people talked.” Access full story.

Entrepreneurs use experience to teach at universities

More universities, including Rollins, the University of Florida and Florida State University, have established entrepreneur-in-residence positions. At some schools, these experienced business owners teach students who want to start a business. At others, they serve in non-teaching roles. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Florida emerges as capital for private planes

Time-starved executives have turned Florida into one of the private plane capitals of the world. By one measure, Florida is home to more business jets than any state but Texas — and the state has more private aircraft than many large nations. More from the Palm Beach Post and the Real Deal.

Retailers plan big holiday discounts

The National Retail Federation is projecting holiday spending to increase a solid 3.7 percent, or about $630.5 billion. That's an improvement over the 10-year average growth of 2.5 percent. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Supreme Court cancels December hearing on medical marijuana [AP]
The Florida Supreme Court is canceling a Dec. 8 hearing it had scheduled to consider a measure to legalize medical marijuana.

› Environmentalists concerned over solar farm in Glynn County [Florida Times-Union]
A solar farm in northern Glynn County will produce 17.6 megawatts of “green” power early next year, but ironically environmental activists are complaining.

› Florida lawmakers receptive to online fantasy sports industry [Miami Herald]
While other major states turn up the regulatory heat on the fast-growing industry, top Florida officials and regulators have been reluctant to weigh in. Instead, some powerful lawmakers who have received campaign donations from the fantasy sports lobby are trying to create a safe haven for the industry.

› Generic drug maker plans $20M Osceola facility [Orlando Sentinel]
Orlando-based generic drug maker Generic Specialties Inc. is buying up land and seeking incentive money in Osceola County to build a new facility with about $20 million invested over three years.

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› Jimmy Buffett-themed resort officially opens with the star taking the stage [Miami Herald]
The Maestro of Margaritaville took to the stage for a soggy beach-blanket blowout in Hollywood on Saturday afternoon, signaling to many who grew up and live in this humble, once-sleepy beach town that the tides have forever changed.

› Feld Entertainment to boost workforce 20% [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Feld Entertainment’s Southwest Florida payroll will rise to 600 by the end of 2016, 20 percent higher than the company's 2015 payroll, CEO Kenneth Feld told economic development boosters on Friday.

› Frank Morsani writes of business, philanthropy in memoir [Tampa Bay Times]
Seeing his name on buildings is not what made auto dealer Frank Morsani one of the Tampa Bay area's biggest philanthropists. Rather, living the American Dream is what made him want to share his good fortune.

› Traffic gridlock in Miami spurs search for transit solutions [Reuters]
With little land left to build on between the Everglades and the Atlantic Ocean, Miami developers are going vertical, converting the city from a sprawling suburbia to a dense metropolis.