With Universal Studios riding high on the successes of their Simpsons and Harry Potter settings, Disney is looking to counter by doubling down on its commitment to attractions based around the "Avatar" films. Over the weekend and on Monday, Disney fans from around the world converged on Japan for the D23 Expo. At the event, Disney officials unveiled a first look at Avatar Land which will be coming to the Animal Kingdom park. While first announced in 2011, the Avatar Land is expected to open in 2017. Construction will begin next year.

Gov. Rick Scott attended theopening of a new $9 million Teledyne Oil & Gas technology center Tuesday, which will bring 100 jobs for employees seeking to design better offshore oil rigs. Teledyne Oil & Gasmanufactures electrical and fiber optic cables for oil rigs and currently employees more than 400 people in Florida. The company beganbuilding thepreviously announced 52,000-square-foot center last year next to its existing manufacturing plant in Daytona Beach.

On Monday, Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Bobby DuBose filed to run for the House seat currently held by House Democratic Leader Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale. DuBose joins a crowded Democratic primary. First elected to the Fort Lauderdale City Commission in 2009, DuBose rose to become vice mayor during 2011-2012. He won a second term in 2011. An insurance agent, DuBose was born in Fort Lauderdale.

A poll released Tuesday shows Newark Mayor Cory Booker is set to pick up a seat for Democrats and expand their majority in the U.S. Senate as New Jersey voters head to the polls on Wednesday in a special election. Quinnipiac University released a poll on Tuesday morning showing Booker taking 54 percent of likely voters while former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, the Republican candidate, trails with 40 percent. Last week, Quinnipiac had a poll showing Booker up 53 percent to 41 percent for Lonegan.

Florida TaxWatch released a study on Tuesday which finds the continued federal shutdown, especially if extended even longer, will have a negative impact on Floridas economy as tourism suffers and capital investments are at risk.

Former U.S. Rep. Allen West weighed in on Monday on Adrian Peterson, the star running back for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League (NFL), losing his 2-year-old son who was beaten to death by his mothers boyfriend.

With President Barack Obamas health care law in effect, the conservative Americans for Prosperitys (AFP) Florida chapter will be holding town hall events this month on it. The town halls launch on Tuesday in Sebring. The Obamacare exchanges are open and navigators are out encouraging people to sign up, but there are still so many unknowns about the impacts of the law, said Slade OBrien. AFPs state director in Florida. Every day I hear questions from Floridians that are unsure about the law and how it is going to affect them.

On Monday, the Republican National Committee (RNC) hammered U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., in robocalls made to her district concerning the shutdown. The RNC targeted Wasserman Schultz in her role as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Similar calls were sent to voters in Nevada, home state of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. The RNC also launched calls against three Senate Democrats who are expected to have tough contests in 2014: Mark Begich of Alaska, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Kay Hagan of North Carolina.

State Board of Education member Sally Bradshaw abruptly resigned from her position over the weekend. Bradshawsaid in a two-paragraph letter to Gov. Rick Scott on Sunday that family obligations would prevent her from serving out the remainder of her term, which was set to end in December. I appreciate your efforts to ensure that Floridas K-12 system continues to lead the nation in reform and accountability, she wrote. The resignation was effective immediately.

Rep. John Tobia, R-Melbourne Beach, has an opponent in next years Republican primary and could be facing a major threat. Tobia raised $5,000-even in the third quarter of 2013 but spent almost $5,370 during the period. So far, Tobia has raised $27,350, loaned his campaign $5,000 and spent almost $18,625.

The money is flowing into Sarasota County where two Republican candidates build up war chests as they prepare to battle it out for the Florida House seat currently held by Rep. Doug Holder, R-Sarasota. Attorney Richard DeNapoli, who served on the Florida Real Estate Commission and chaired the Broward County GOP, entered the race back in August. In most of that month and all of September, he raised almost $32,400 and loaned his campaign $150,000. DeNapoli kept most of it in the bank, spending more than $3,200.

Former U.S. Rep. Allen West celebrated Columbus Day on Monday by noting the link between Spanish exploration and their war against the Moors. Wishing visitors a Happy Politically Incorrect Columbus Day, West took to Facebook and pointed toward a link between Islamic conquest and Columbus' discovery of the New World.

Recent polls have shown Robert Sarvis, the Libertarian candidate, could break double digits in the Virginia gubernatorial race. But Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican nominee, scored a major endorsement which could burst Sarvis bubble as former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas backed the GOPs candidate. Paul ran for the presidency twice as a Republican and was the Libertarian nominee in 1988.

Florida Stop Common Core Coalition will be holding a press conference with its partnerson Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 12:15 p.m. in the front of the Hillsborough County School Board, the same day public hearings are scheduled to discuss Common Core State Standards.

Republican challenger Daniel Diaz Leyva has only been in the race a month but he already has the fundraising edge on Rep. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami. Since entering the race at the end of August, Leyva raised $65,530 in cash and spent less than $710. He also relied on more than $3,100 through in-kind donations. Rodriguez has not been able to match Leyvas strong start, raising more than $10,400 in the third quarter and spending less than $500. Since filing for re-election in January, Rodriguez has brought in around $41,40 and spent less than $770.