Has Florida's condo market finally bottomed out? After a succession of year-to-year decline, the median condominium price rose 9 percent in October compared with October 2010. The median price is now $87,800, according to data released Monday by Florida Realtors. That figure would appear to give Florida condos room to rise further, as the national median price was $163,800 in September. The Florida condo sales volume was up a healthy 12 percent to 6,132 units.

U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-West Palm Beach, on Monday morning blamed politics and partisanship, primarily from the White House, for the reported pending failure of the congressional supercommittee, officially known as the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction.

Calling child labor laws "truly stupid," GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich wants poor children to clean their schools for money. In a speech at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, the former House speaker said schools in low-income areas "should get rid of unionized janitors, have one master janitor, pay local students to take care of the school. The kids would actually do work; they'd have cash; they'd have pride in the schools. They'd begin the process of rising." CNN reported Gingrich as adding:

A poll of likely Republican primary voters unveiled by American Research Group on Monday found that former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts continued to lead in New Hampshire, home of the first presidential primary.

A survey by Forbes magazine lists Jacksonville as No. 6 in the nation for high-tech growth. Seattle was No. 1, followed by Baltimore; Columbus, Ohio; Raleigh, N.C.; and Salt Lake City. Jacksonville led the second tier of large cities, followed by Washington, D.C., and San Bernardino-Riverside Calif. Orlando placed 24th.

Gridlock at the budget supercommittee is generating movement on at least one front: The Dow tumbled more than 320 points (2.6 percent) Monday morning. The prospect of continued nonaction in Washington made stock traders decidedly bearish as Republicans on the 12-member panel aren't buying Democrats' proposed tax increases ("revenue enhancements") while Democrats won't go along with proposed GOP cuts. The committee's failure to meet today's deadline to produce $1.2 trillion in budget cuts will trigger automatic reductions in Medicaid and defense spending.

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, now making his third bid for the White House, joined more than 20 other members of Congress in signing a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction urging them to cut congressional compensation. Paul also promised to take less than $40,000 in annual salary if elected president.

Crude oil has increased on the market, but with demand for gas down, Floridians have seen prices inch down as the Thanksgiving holiday week gets underway, AAA reported. The average at the pumps across the Sunshine State stood at $3.36 this weekend, down 5 cents from a week earlier. Meanwhile, a barrel of crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange ended last week at $97.41, up $3.15 in a week.

A USA Today/Gallup poll unveiled Monday morning finds that former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich is battling former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts to lead the Republican presidential race.

Republican presidential hopeful Gov. Rick Perry of Texas is looking to appeal to conservatives fed up with Washington. In a commercial released this weekend, Perry calls himself a Washington outsider and promises Congress will balance the budget or see a pay cut.

Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, and Senate Minority Leader Nan Rich, D-Weston, released the following statements on the unemployment numbers released Friday for Florida. Haridopolos:

State Rep. Joe Abruzzo, D-Wellington, has filed a bill to counter the legislation proposed that would create a state gaming commission and allow up to three 5-star resort casinos. Abruzzos bill authorizes the governor to extend the length of the compact between the state and Florida Seminoles and allow the tribe to offer banked card games, roulette and craps.

An Orange-Osceola circuit judge, accused of inappropriate behavior withfemale co-workers, has been removed from office by the Florida Supreme Court. The states top court on Friday announced its approval of the recommendation of the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission to remove N.James Turner from his seat on the 9th Judicial Circuit for violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct.

Add Lee County to the list of Florida locations where interest is growing inexpanding the gaming options. The Southwest Florida Enterprises, the owners of Naples Fort Myers Greyhound Racing and Poker, have informed Bonita Springs officials they want to add slot machines, the Naples Daily News is reporting.

Appointments to the Big Cypress Basin board, Childrens Services Council of Broward County, district board of trustees of Pasco-Hernando Community College, board of trustees of New College of Florida, district board of trustees on Hillsborough Community College and the Florida Commission on Human Relations were made by Gov. Rick Scott during the past week. The following appointments were announced in releases from the governor's office: Scott reappointed John W. Vaughn and appointed David Farmer and Frederick Rick Barber to the Big Cypress Basin board.