Florida election: Everything you need to know in one place

The midterm elections have arrived, with Florida likely to play an oversized role in the results. Florida voters on Tuesday will elect a U.S. senator, a new governor, three Cabinet members and several new members of Congress while deciding to support or approve 12 proposed changes to the state’s constitution. See who's running, where they stand on the issues, and what's at stake. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the AP.

See also:
» Florida Insiders make final predictions, pick best and worst campaigns
» How do I check if my Florida mail-in ballot was rejected, or received and accepted?
» New cybersecurity system helping to protect Florida elections from hackers
» Youth vote soars near record numbers, but college sites have lower turnout
» Justice Department to monitor voting in three Florida counties
» What does record-breaking Early Voting mean for Florida?

Florida cities among best for veterans

According to a new report from WalletHub, Tampa and Orlando placed in the top 10 "Best Places for Veterans to Live" in the nation. The report compares the 100 largest U.S. cities across 18 key metrics, ranging from share of military skill-related jobs to housing affordability to availability of VA health facilities. Hialeah ranked #1 for the lowest number of veterans in poverty. Jacksonville ranked #3 for the fewest homeless veterans per veteran population. [Source: WalletHub]

Miami is still in talks with Amazon, Mayor Gimenez says

South Florida leaders said Monday that Amazon is still in discussions about bringing high-skilled workers to Miami, despite reports in other media that might indicate otherwise. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon may be contemplating spitting the coveted second headquarters, dubbed HQ2, between two different metros. [Source: Miami Herald]

Florida Trend Publisher's Column
A focus on women

A big part of this issue focuses on women in leadership positions all across Florida — from Pensacola to Miami. Highlighting the package of stories is a profile of Judy Genshaft, president of the University of South Florida in Tampa. She will retire at the end of the academic year after holding the office for nearly two decades. Read Florida Trend Publisher Andy Corty's full column here.

West Palm Beach becoming hub for technology companies

Downtown West Palm Beach is making a name for itself in the tech world with more companies choosing South Florida over Silicon Valley. Overall employment in West Palm Beach has doubled the national average over the last six years. In that same time frame, the tech cluster has grown by 24 percent. [Source: WPTV]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Gas prices in Florida dip to seven-month low [Gainesville Sun]
Under the influence of declining crude oil prices, gas prices in Florida this week reached the lowest point since April, a seven-month low that is expected to last through year’s end, according to AAA auto club. The state average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.64, which is 28 cents less than this year’s high, and 25 cents more than at this time last year.
» See also: Tampa Bay gas prices drop again, lowest among Florida metros

› Housing permits rising, but correction is at hand in Southwest Florida, analyst says [Naples Daily News]
Housing permits are on the rise in Southwest Florida. Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties are on track to see a more than 23 percent increase in residential permits in 2018.

› Sun Hydraulics: 3Q earnings snapshot [AP]
Sun Hydraulics Corp. (SNHY) on Monday reported third-quarter net income of $11.6 million. The Sarasota, Florida-based company said it had net income of 36 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 44 cents per share.

› PSC approves utility loans to repair customer-owned equipment in the Panhandle [Florida Politics]
The Public Service Commission on Monday said OK to Florida Public Utilities’ plan to front restoration costs to the 1,100 Panhandle customers whose homes are too damaged to reconnect to the company’s grid.

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› Luxury Miami Beach condo tower will have its own park, plus full-time botanist [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Residents at an 18-story condo tower under construction in Miami Beach won’t even have to water their own plants. The luxury oceanfront project, called Eighty Seven Park, will feature a full-time botanist to tend to the plants on residential balconies.

› Free beer will be back at SeaWorld Orlando in 2019 as revenues, earnings pop [Orlando Sentinel]
Sesame Street land should open on time, and the free beer will flow again in 2019 at the Orlando theme park, SeaWorld’s interim CEO said Monday. John Reilly gave updates on what’s happening at the parks as the company posted strong financials for the third quarter in a row.

› Classy recycling: Sarasota Architectural Salvage expands [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Nearly everything Jesse White sells has had a past life. White’s business, Sarasota Architectural Salvage, mostly sells things that are salvaged locally. He has a master’s degree in environmental science and examines everything he brings in from customers and finds at estate sales and in homes with a lens of sustainability before deciding whether to bring it to his store.

› Inaugural Freedom Fest Florida draws national music acts to Hernando while celebrating veterans [Tampa Bay Times]
What better place to honor veterans than in a beautiful venue that's just a short drive from Bushnell National Cemetery? Those are the thoughts behind the inaugural Freedom Fest Florida, "Let Freedom Sing," which kicks off Nov. 10 at Florida Classic Park.