Florida is a swing state again. These battleground regions could decide the race.

When polls throughout the summer showed Democrat Joe Biden with a commanding lead in Florida over President Donald Trump, many political analysts were skeptical. Blowouts just don't happen in Florida politics. Polls show a close race between Donald Trump and Joe Biden in Florida, America's largest swing state. Here's a look at four key Florida battlegrounds that could tip the 2020 race. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

Florida sees signals of a climate-driven housing crisis

If rising seas cause America’s coastal housing market to dive — or, as many economists warn, when — the beginning might look a little like what’s happening in the tiny town of Bal Harbour, a glittering community on the northernmost tip of Miami Beach. With single-family homes selling for an average of $3.6 million, Bal Harbour epitomizes high-end Florida waterfront property. But around 2013, something started to change: The annual number of homes sales began to drop — tumbling by half by 2018 — a sign that fewer people wanted to buy. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Florida Trend Exclusive
Voting on Florida's upcoming six constitutional amendments

Florida voters will consider six amendments to the state constitution when they go to the polls next month. Each proposal requires at least 60% approval by voters. Here's a rundown of each amendment and what it would do.

Innovative manufacturing 'boot camp' sees high demand

A public-private partnership seeks struggling workers for a program created to fill some of Florida’s many open manufacturing positions. Initially focused on high school students, earlier this year, AmSkills — funded by Pasco, Pinellas and Hernando counties — created a manufacturing “boot camp” that gives adult job-seekers a chance to get a taste of what a manufacturing career would be like, in addition to guaranteeing them an interview with a local company if they successfully complete the two-week program. [Source: Business Observer]

Carnival pulls plug on November cruises from Florida

Carnival Cruise Line opted to cancel all of its November itineraries from Port Canaveral and PortMiami, the lone U.S. ports from which it plans to return to sailing once the CDC lifts its no-sail order. The cruise line had announced earlier plans to focus its efforts to sailings from the two Florida ports, but after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extended its no-sail order from Sept. 30 to Oct. 31, and the cruise line would need close to a month to ramp up operations, Carnival decided to cancel all the sailings listed for November, but has for now kept December itineraries from the two ports available. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› South Florida county looks to regulate locksmiths [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Burglars are pros at picking locks and in parts of South Florida, they can also become professional locksmiths. That’s because no one is checking if locksmiths have criminal records, says Broward Commissioner Mark Bogen, an attorney who recently found out about the lack of regulation. He realized the issue when two constituents called to complain about problems with locksmiths, including getting overcharged. Bogen now wants to pass a new law to regulate the profession in Broward.

› Florida Theatre to reopen on December 10 [WJCT]
The Florida Theatre’s management has decided it’s time to get back into the live performances business. The historic theatre in Downtown Jacksonville will reopen for its first public concert since the pandemic began on Thursday, Dec. 10, with a concert by 38 Special.

› 1st wave of COVID-19 homeless fill Central Florida shelters [Orlando Sentinel]
For months, Central Florida leaders have warned of a tidal wave of homelessness once an eviction ban expires at year’s end. But local homeless shelters are already seeing the first casualties of the COVID-19 recession show up at their doors. And many of newly homeless are single mothers or couples with young children.

› Hospitality firm HES Group planned new hotel in Midtown Miami. Now, its selling the site [Miami Herald]
When hospitality development firm HES Group purchased a Midtown Miami lot in 2012, it planned to build a hotel. Monday, the company is putting the 1.02 acre site up for bid in a direct sale or joint-venture opportunity, said Francisco Arocha, the firm’s CEO and founder.

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› Service winner: Sports exec overcomes long odds to pull off premier event [Business Observer]
In June, Stacey Allaster, a St. Petersburg resident and the U.S. Tennis Association’s chief executive of professional tennis, became the first woman to be named tournament director of the U.S. Open in the prestigious event’s 140-year history. Allaster, 56, has been a stalwart of the business side of pro tennis for decades, starting with Tennis Canada, when she was vice president of sales and marketing in the early 1990s.

› Winn-Dixie Makes a Mark on Florida [Progressive Grocer]
Southeastern Grocers has had a transformative year in 2020, making moves to become a publicly traded company and deciding to dissolve its Bi-Lo banner. When selling 62 of its Bi-Lo stores to Food Lion and another 23 stores to Alex Lee Inc. and B&T Foods, Southeastern Grocers (SEG) said this was to focus on investing in its Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie banners. Now, the Jacksonville, Florida-based retailer is opening four new Winn-Dixie stores on Nov. 11.

› Tallahassee among lowest gas prices in Florida; Delta's impact still being assessed [Tallahassee Democrat]
The effect Hurricane Delta will have on gas prices is yet to be determined even as prices at the pump dropped by about 3 cents across the Sunshine State. Florida’s average gas price is $2.16 a gallon, a drop in three cents from eight days ago. Prices are 27 cents lower than this time last year. Tallahassee is among the lowest at $2.09 a gallon.

› Pinoy brings Filipino food to St. Petersburg’s EDGE District [Tampa Bay Times]
St. Petersburg’s trendy Baum Avenue Market has undergone several transitions since opening. The popular Central Avenue hall has been home to multiple food concepts, including sushi, crepes, vegan desserts, fast-casual Indian and a raw bar, to name a few.