After 10 Glorious Years, Sunshine State News and I Are Passing the Baton

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.

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.

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.