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Monday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Mail voting tops 1.2 million in Florida with more than two weeks to midterm elections
More than 1.2 million Florida voters have already cast their midterm election ballots, before the candidates for governor face off in their only debate. It reflects a continuing desire by many to vote from the comfort of their homes, rather than lining up at an early voting center or Election Day polling place. Democrats, as of Sunday, were ahead of Republicans. But that doesn’t foreshadow the results and doesn’t give the Democrats reason to cheer or Republicans cause to panic. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
8 questions for DeSantis, Crist ahead of tonight’s debate
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and Democrat Charlie Crist will face off tonight in Fort Pierce at the only debate in the race for Florida governor. The hourlong broadcast begins at 7 p.m. and will be hosted by CBS12 News and broadcast on affiliated news stations in Florida. It was previously scheduled for Oct. 12 but was postponed because of Hurricane Ian. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Florida gas prices dip again
Florida drivers got a little good news at the pump last week. After price increases, the average dipped 6 cents per gallon last week. On Monday, drivers in the state are paying an average price of $3.35 per gallon. "Oil prices dropped 8% two weeks ago, then hung relatively steady last week, enabling pump prices to decline," said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins. "Drivers should see pump prices drift even lower this week. But a sudden jump at the pump is likely on November 1, when the state's gasoline tax holiday ends." More from CBS News Miami.
Despite qualms, Brevard tourism panel recommends major events grants for air show, powerboat races
An advisory panel unanimously recommended approval of Brevard County tourism "major events grants" for the Cocoa Beach Air Show in April and the Thunder on Cocoa Beach powerboat races in May. But panel members say they weren't happy with the applications submitted by the event organizers — and advised that the organizers need to do better if they want another grant in the following year. "I was extremely disappointed in the quality of the applications," said Cultural Committee member David Schillhammer. "I kept thinking: 'Where's the beef?' It was just disappointing all around." More from Florida Today.
‘One CSX’ initiative has ‘a great ending,’ the company’s new CEO says
When Joe Hinrichs was an executive at Ford Motor Co., the automaker brought in an industry outsider as CEO and implemented a mission statement of “One Team. One Plan. One Goal.” Now Hinrichs is the industry outsider brought in to run railroad company CSX Corp. as the company promotes a “One CSX” initiative to bring its nearly 22,000 employees together. “I’ve seen this movie before and it has a great ending,” Hinrichs said in an interview Oct. 21. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Out of the Box
Recycling police to inspect Jacksonville residents' bins
Jacksonville recyclers could see an “oops” tag attached to their bins next year – a calling card as part of the city’s newest initiative to educate and engage residents on good recycling habits. The tags will guide recyclers as to specifically what items in their individual bins could not be properly recycled. Assessments will occur four times throughout the year in hopes that each time, the amount of garbage in recycling will reduce.
» More from the Florida Times-Union.
Entertaiinment
Tampa Theatre and its ghosts star in ‘Ghost Brothers: Lights Out’
The paranormal investigative team known as the Ghost Brothers — stars of the “Ghost Brothers: Lights Out” television series — love two types of buildings: old ones and haunted ones. That’s why 96-year-old Tampa Theatre was on their “haunted wish list and bucket list,” Dalen Spratt said. “Of all the places people come to us about and flood our inboxes with, Tampa Theatre is near the top of that list.”
» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.
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