Election results might not be known on election night, Florida officials warn

Two election officials are warning Floridians, the news media and the rest of America that they might not get final results for the presidential contest on election night this year. “We want to ensure that everything that we produce, everything that we publish is 100% accurate,” said Marion County Supervisor of Elections Wesley Wilcox, president-elect of the Florida Supervisors of Elections Association. “We do not have the opportunity to be wrong.” Wilcox and Mark Earley, Leon County Supervisor of Elections and vice president of the trade group, held a conference call with reporters Monday about the dangers of reporting incorrect projections or early results based on incomplete vote totals. More from the Orlando Sentinel and WKMG.

Polk business license numbers remain stable despite COVID-19, economic concerns

With the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, city and county business licenses were due for renewal on Oct. 1, but the early returns don’t demonstrate a local economy teetering on the edge. According to Polk County Tax Collector Joe Tedder, 35,838 county businesses purchased or renewed their licenses by the deadline, which is up 145 from 35,693 reported in 2019. More from the Lakeland Ledger.

Ocala among first in Florida to test electric garbage trucks

Ocala is one of the first cities in Florida poised to clean up its garbage pickup, replacing diesel-powered sanitation trucks with zero-emission electric-powered vehicles. On Oct. 6, the Ocala City Council voted unanimously to move forward with the project and purchase three of the new vehicles in 2021 and two more in 2022. "I am not sure, but I have heard we are the first municipality in Florida to start using these trucks," said John King, Ocala's fleet management director. More from the Ocala Star Banner.

Thousands of renters could lose water service after COVID-19 dried up their jobs

All 3,000 people who live in a rental complex in Coral Springs could lose their water service this week because so many lost their jobs they can’t pay their rent. About the fourth of the renters at Ramblewood East are behind, and the homeowners association can’t pay the $290,000 it owes to the private water company, Royal Waterworks Inc. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Sarasota tops U.S. News Best Places to Retire list

The greater Sarasota area ranks as the top place in America to retire and the 16th best place in the country to live, according to the U.S. News & World Report Best Places to Live & Retire 2020-21 rankings, which were released Tuesday morning. Emily Brandon, senior editor for retirement at U.S. News & World Report, said that a couple things pushed Sarasota – which finished in last year’s rankings – ahead of Fort Myers. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.