Florida debt drops again after jumping up last year

The new report shows that Florida's overall debt stood at $24.1 billion at the end of June. That's a decrease of $1.6 billion over the previous fiscal year. Florida's debt had jumped up in 2015 due primarily to money borrowed to cover the expansion of Interstate 4. [Source: AP]

About a third of insurance claims from Florida's 2016 hurricanes were denied

Nearly one out of every three people who have put in a damage claim from the two hurricanes that hit Florida this year won't receive a nickel to cover the cost, state data shows. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation released new statistics Tuesday that show hurricanes Hermine and Matthew caused a combined $824 million in insured losses. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Final price tag for Florida’s largest office building: $517 million

The final price tag for the Southeast Financial Center, the largest office building in Florida, came even larger than initially reported. When the deed was actually filed in Miami-Dade County records, it was a whopping $516.6 million. [Source: South Florida Business Journal]

Florida takes death penalty case to U.S. Supreme Court

The state plans to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit a landmark case in which justices struck down as unconstitutional Florida's death-penalty sentencing procedure because it gave too much power to judges, instead of juries. [Source: WLRN]

First Cuban migrants land in Florida since Castro's death

Thirteen Cuban migrants who arrived early Tuesday in the Florida Keys aboard a homemade boat are the first to land on U.S. soil since Fidel Castro died, U.S. authorities said, adding they're on alert amid an ongoing surge in sea crossings. [Source: AP]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Valencia could offer new bachelor's degrees in nursing, business [Orlando Sentinel]
Valencia College, traditionally been known for churning out two-year associate's degrees and its DirectConnect program into the University of Central Florida, could add two new degrees as early as January 2018.

› Tampa health care firm adds clients in Switzerland [Business Observer]
Absia, a health care consulting firm that specializes in medical tourism, telehealth and oncology initiatives, among other niches, recently added clients in Switzerland.

› Sarasota-Manatee October housing price increase surpasses state and nation [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Home prices rose faster in the Sarasota-Manatee region than the state and the nation in October. The price of single-family homes increased an average 7.9 percent in the two-county area, data provider CoreLogic reported Tuesday.

› Blue Origin huge rocket plant starts to take shape on Space Coast [Orlando Sentinel]
Billionaire entrepreneur Jeff Bezos showed off what he's up to on Florida's Space Coast on Tuesday morning. Bezos' company, Blue Origin, is set to unveil a 750,000-square-foot rocket factory by the end of next year.

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› Two of the World’s Most Unique Museums Are Found in Florida [Houstonia]
The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg contains the largest Dalí collection in America. Less than an hour away is Sarasota, former winter headquarters for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and the location of the famous mansion and museum.

› Knox Medical authorized to distribute medical pot in Florida [WESH]
Knox Medical is the fourth organization to receive authorization to distribute low-THC medical marijuana in the state of Florida. Florida's Department of Health gave the Winter Garden-based organization authorization over the weekend.

› Amazon’s secure delivery locker system is now available in Jacksonville [Florida Times-Union]
With more holiday deliveries and theft sometimes a concern when packages are left unattended, Amazon customers in Jacksonville now have a secure delivery option available.

› ‘World’s most luxurious cruise ship’ arrives in Miami [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Regent Seven Seas Cruises' newest ship — Seven Seas Explorer — is now sailing from PortMiami. Its South Florida arrival marks the North America debut of the 750-passenger, all-suite ship, which Regent is touting as the most luxurious cruise ship ever built.