Republican congressional candidate Mike Yost is an underdog to knock off veteran Democratic U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown next week, but he is going down swinging. Yost launched a new television commercial attacking Brown on a number of different issues, from ethics to unemployment.

Herman Cain wont be the only possible Republican presidential candidate coming to Northeast Florida this week. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is considering running for president in 2012, will be hitting the First Coast on Thursday. Gingrich will be speaking in Jacksonville on Thursday morning as part of his Jobs Here, Jobs Now tour. Gingrich, who was in Iowa last week, will also be speaking in Georgia and South Carolina on Thursday. South Carolina has traditionally helped winnow the Republican field after the first caucus in Iowa and the first primary in New Hampshire.

At least one possible presidential candidate will be hitting Florida hard in the final days of the election. Businessman Herman Cain will be making a dash to the First Coast on Saturday to push Republicans to get out the vote. Cain will be in Middleburg, just south of Jacksonville, which will be hosting the Florida-Georgia game on the same day.

For more on Cains possible presidential bid and his efforts in helping Florida Republicans see here.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced it was sending an additional $800 million to the Sunshine State to build a high-speed rail connection between Orlando and Tampa -- leading the states two U.S. senators to cheer. The DOT also announced it would send $8 million to Florida to start high-speed rail between Orlando and Miami.

With Republicans choosing former Rep. Rob Wallace to take the place of Jim Norman on the ballot, Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, cheered the news. Norman was removed due to campaign-finance violations.

Republican attorney general candidate Pam Bondi received the backing of the Latino Officers Association on Monday -- while her Democratic opponent, Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach, slammed her for another endorsement.

Sales of existing single-family homes in Florida dipped in September, according to a report from the Florida Association of Realtors.

There were 13,536 home sales statewide in September, a decrease of 8 percent in the year-over-year comparison. Home prices also fell compared to last year, with the median sales price standing at $133,400, down 6 percent from September 2009. Condo sales were up 10 percent from last year, but prices took a drastic hit -- the median sales price for the month was $83,400, an 18 percent slide from the same time last year.

Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty was voted in as president-elect of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners last week. His term will begin on Jan. 1, 2012. McCarty was nominated by the Ohio Director of Insurance Mary Jo Hudson, and was voted in by acclamation.

McCarty is the current NAIC vice president.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. shut down seven banks across the country on Friday, including two in Florida.

First Bank of Jacksonville and Progress Bank, based in Tampa, were shuttered by the FDIC in order to protect depositors.

Ameris Bank, in Moultrie, Ga., agreed to assume the deposits of First Bank of Jacksonville, which stood at $77.3 million as of June 30. Ameris Bank also purchased First Bank's assets, valued at $81 million as of June 30. First Bank branches will open as Ameris Bank branches Monday.

As Hank Williams Jr. used to croon, are you ready for some football?

Well, before the Dallas Cowboys host the New York Giants, gubernatorial rivals Rick Scott and Alex Sink will clash in a debate on CNN at 7 p.m. Keep an eye on Sunshine State News since well be live-blogging the debate, which should be crucial as the polls show a close race with little more than a week to go.