Florida's business climate ranked 11th in nation, says new report

Corporate site seekers who scour the country for the best places to locate or expand businesses do love Florida, but note certain shortcomings that hold the state back. Site Selector magazine includes many factors in their rankings, such as Infrastructure, transportation, workforce initatives, corporate facility projects, total projects per capita and more. Georgia won the top slot in the overall ranking. In the Executive Survey, Florida placed 9th. See the full report here. Also read more at the Tampa Bay Times.

Florida again? In final campaign days, state may be pivotal

After a year crammed with political shocks and head-scratchers, the contenders find themselves in the final days in a most familiar swing state. That's Florida. Trump can't win without carrying Florida, so Clinton can deliver a knockout blow if she captures the state's 29 electoral votes. More from the AP, the Fort Myers News-Press, and CBS Miami.

See also:
» Is Donald Trump outflanking Hillary Clinton?
» Trump, feeling good about Florida, tells backers: ‘Pretend we’re slightly behind’
» 'Election protection' effort reports most calls from Florida voters
» Trump could win Florida, thanks to Cuban Americans

Solar advocates file suit to block 'misleading' Amendment 1

Using new information that came from a leaked audio recording, solar industry advocates on Wednesday filed two legal actions aimed at asking the Florida Supreme Court to disqualify the outcome of Amendment 1 voting. More from the AP and the Times/Herald.

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» Amendment 1: Rights of Electricity Consumers Regarding Solar Energy Choice

Duke Energy names Harry Sideris as new Florida president

Duke Energy named longtime utilities veteran Harry Sideris state president of the company’s Florida unit. Sideris was most recently senior vice president of environmental, health and safety for Duke Energy, according to a release. He succeeds Alex Glenn, who has been named senior vice president of state and federal regulatory legal support. Full statement from Duke is here.

Florida business leaders try their hand at teaching for a day

Joe Atkinson is used to speaking in public. As Well Fargo’s South Florida region president, Atkinson oversees a large team of people. But the first time Atkinson got up in front of a group of eighth graders, he didn’t quite know what to expect. [Source: Miami Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Marketing expert: Jacksonville Suns name change to Jumbo Shrimp ‘risky maneuver’ [Florida Times-Union]
The change of the franchise name from the Jacksonville Suns minor league baseball team to the Jumbo Shrimp has potential marketing implications that could prove a liability for a team that is beloved in the local market.

› One of largest cruise ships makes Port Canaveral home [Florida Today]
The Oasis of the Seas has a capacity of 5,400 passengers, based on double occupancy of its cabins, and will replace Royal Caribbean's 3,634-passenger Freedom of the Seas at Port Canaveral.

› Publix sales reach $8 billion, but stock price falls [News Release]
Publix Super Markets sales grew to $8 billion in the third quarter this year, a 2.4 percent increase from last year's $7.8 billion, but the grocer's stock prices dipped.

› Florida extends red snapper season [Trade Only Today]
Florida anglers will get an opportunity this month to enjoy an extended recreational red snapper season in state waters in the Gulf of Mexico.

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› Lake Mary-based Faro grows net income, misses analysts' predictions [Orlando Sentinel]
Lake Mary's Faro Technologies reported net income of just more than $1 million for the quarter, besting last year's earnings during the same period but missing analysts' predictions.

› Office Depot to close 300 stores over three years [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Office Depot will continue its plan to reduce its retail locations, including 300 stores nationwide over the next three years, the Boca Raton-based company said in its third-quarter earnings announcement Wednesday.
» See also: Office Depot 'recovering quickly from disruption' caused by Staples

› Miami moves to more incentives for affordable housing [Miami Today]
To face head-on the serious lack of affordable housing in the City of Miami, city commissioners are preparing to offer further incentives to developers in order to encourage construction of housing that everyone can afford.

› 10 places that prove old Destin is still alive [The Destin Log]
The “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village,” as it’s become known over the years, has quickly grown up and become a busy tourist destination, and although progress brings a wave of new development, there are still some pockets of Destin that hearken back to the good old days.