Forget presidential race, ballot propositions could decide policy in 2016

The presidential contest between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton may be dominating headlines this election cycle, but there are numerous propositions on state ballots this November, including in Florida, that together could have just as significant an effect on policy as the victor in the presidential race. More from CNBC and Curbed and see a of voter's guide to proposed amendments.

See also:
» Out-of-state groups dominate fundraising in final months of Florida's medical marijuana fight
» Florida: Meet the voters with 'incredible power' to choose America's next president
» More than $14 million being spent on Florida Senate races for TV advertising
» Florida could hit 5.2 million early voters today
» Voting groups say Florida leads in calls to elections hotline
» Florida retirees battle it out over Trump and Clinton
» U.S. boosting cyber defenses, but not police presence, for election
» Your turn: Are you voting for or against Florida's Amendment 2 - medical marijuana?

Florida's planned layoffs in October decrease 63 percent from last year

Florida employers laid off 561 workers in October compared with 1,510 a year ago, a 63 percent decrease, according to a monthly job-cut report by Challenger, Gray & Christmas. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida port is the first in the U.S. to let passengers disembark using an app

The days of saying goodbye to a cruise vacation via a long, back-to-reality customs line are coming to an end. Beginning Friday, Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades will become the first seaport in the country to offer the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) program. See the announcement from Port Everglades, here. Also find more at the Miami Herald.

Miami International Airport: Cargo Gateway to the World

On the heels of a massive program to expand and renovate Miami International Airport’s passenger facilities, airport leaders concurrently are modernizing MIA to welcome more cargo traffic than ever before. [Sponsored Report] Read the full story here.

Florida company selling ski resorts from Maine to California

A Florida-based real estate investment trust has reached an agreement to sell more than a dozen major ski resorts, and other properties, from Maine to California. [Source: AP]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› High-profile business leaders discuss South Florida's economic future at boat show [South Florida Business Journal]
Although they were surrounded by billions of dollars' worth of boats at an event that funnels nearly $1 billion annually into South Florida's economy, local business leaders weren't complacent about the region's economic future.

› USDA designates 3 counties in Florida as primary natural disaster areas [Southeast AgNet]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Alachua, Flagler and Putnam counties in Florida as primary natural disaster areas due to damage and losses caused by insufficient chill hours that occurred from Nov. 1, 2015, through March 31, 2016.

› FPL gets environmental approval for 2 more reactors at Turkey Point [News Release]
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has given an environmental approval to a potential Florida Power & Light project to build two nuclear reactors at the utility’s Turkey Point complex in South Miami-Dade County.

› Florida Institute funds Gainesville-based Biotork, LLC [Florida Institute]
The Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Public Research (the Institute) has finalized a funding agreement with BioTork, LLC, a Gainesville-based company with technology developed at the University of Florida.

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› Iconic Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlour in Dania turns 60 [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Linda Udell Zakheim hadn't been born yet when her father opened Jaxson's Ice Cream Parlour and Restaurant in 1956. As Jaxson's reaches its 60th anniversary this November, Zakheim is at the helm.

› Sarasota affordable housing project scaled back [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Harvey Vengroff's affordable housing project is being scaled back slightly as final site plans work their way through the city approval process for the property on Fruitville Road just east of of downtown.

› New photos show HBO’s ‘Ballers’ has left Miami [Miami Herald]
HBO received a tax credit of $3.8 million on expenditures of $19.2 million for the first season of “Ballers,” which was filmed in 2014. Final figures for the second season, shot in 2015, are not yet available.

› Carnival will home port a second cruise ship in Port Tampa Bay in 2018 [Tampa Bay Times]
Carnival Cruise Line will add a second ship that will sail year round from Port Tampa Bay. The Carnival Miracle will offer seven-day Caribbean cruises beginning in January 2018.