Things To Do In SW Florida

By Sarah Foster, Bankrate.com

Andy Challenger is the person businesses call when it’s time to let workers go. And for the past year and a half, his phone hasn’t stopped ringing.

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A third-generation outplacement consultant at Challenger, Gray & Christmas — the firm his grandfather founded in the 1960s after his own layoff — Challenger has heard a variety of reasons over the past few months for trimming headcount. Companies looking to cut staff after the pandemic-era hiring boom. Executives debating how to integrate artificial intelligence. Businesses worrying about eating the cost of higher tariffs. Firms tightening their belts in a slowing economy. read more

TALLAHASSEE — In an unusual move, the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings on Monday asked an appeals court to allow it to resume deciding Citizens Property Insurance Corp. claims disputes after a Hillsborough County circuit judge halted the process.

Lawyers for the Division of Administrative Hearings filed an emergency petition at the 2nd District Court of Appeal, arguing that Circuit Judge Melissa M. Polo overstepped her authority when she issued a temporary injunction. Polo ruled Aug. 1 that the process, which involves arbitrating disputes at the Division of Administrative Hearings, is likely unconstitutional.

Monday’s petition said Polo’s ruling has “indefinitely” put on hold all pending Citizens arbitration cases. It said 390 Citizens policyholders are awaiting resolution of disputes.

“The order thus completely shuts down the claims dispute resolution procedure authorized by the Florida Legislature, irreparably harming DOAH (the Division of Administrative Hearings), Citizens and the thousands of policyholders whose current and future claims will be in limbo unless the circuit court’s order is stayed,” said the petition filed by lawyers from the Lawson Huck Gonzalez, PLLC, law firm, including former Florida Supreme Court Justice Alan Lawson. read more

By MICHAEL CANTU

Don’t buy that new car yet. If you can wait, you’ll have new 2026 model year options that aren’t out yet. Although some models barely change, others are completely redesigned and often get the latest features and improvements. Whether you’re interested in improved fuel economy, cutting-edge technology, or maybe just fresh and distinctive styling, there’s likely a car on the horizon that you’ll be interested in. To ensure you don’t miss out on the latest and greatest, the car experts at Edmunds highlight five vehicles you should consider waiting for.

Small SUV: 2026 Toyota RAV4

America’s bestselling SUV is getting completely redesigned for the 2026 model year. Notably, the new RAV4 is going all-hybrid for 2026. Trust us, this is a good thing. The base RAV4 should get about 40 mpg for combined city/highway driving and produce a respectable 226 horsepower. Alternatively, you can get the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid. It makes a sporty 320 horsepower and can drive an estimated 50 miles on all-electric power with a fully charged battery. Toyota has also modernized the RAV4’s interior with a fresh design featuring large display screens and the brand’s latest tech. The RAV4 will be available in several trim levels, including the outdoorsy RAV4 Woodland and the new sporty GR version. read more

By STAN CHOE, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are climbing toward more records on Monday ahead of a week packed with potentially market-moving events for Wall Street.

The S&P 500 rose 1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 248 points, or 0.5%, as of 1:01 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.7% higher. All are adding to their latest all-time highs set on Friday.

Stocks also rallied in Asia ahead of a meeting on Thursday between the heads of the United States and China. The hope is that the talks could clear rising tensions between the world’s two largest economies and allow the global economy to keep motoring.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said there’s “a framework” for U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to discuss at their meeting, while Trump said, “We feel good” about working things out with China.

That’s just one of many things that will need to go right this week in order for the U.S. stock market’s tremendous, record-breaking rally to continue. The S&P 500 has shot up a stunning 37.6% since hitting a low in April, when worries about Trump’s tariffs on China and other countries were at their peak. Besides hopes for easing trade tensions, the rally has also been built on expectations for several more things to happen. read more

The Space Coast hosted its 89th orbital launch of the year with another SpaceX Starlink mission on Sunday morning.

A Falcon 9 on the Starlink 10-21 mission carrying 29 satellites lifted off at 11 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40.

The first-stage booster made its 24th flight with a recovery landing downrange on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas stationed in the Atlantic.

Falcon 9 launches 28 @Starlink satellites to orbit from pad 40 from Florida pic.twitter.com/egmVbtb4Bh

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 26, 2025

The latest batch of Starlink satellites continues to add to SpaceX’s massive constellation already in orbit.

The company recently surpassed more than 10,000 Starlink satellites launched since the first operational mission in 2019, according to data maintained by astronomer Jonathan McDowell, although only 8,700 of those remain in orbit.

Falcon 9 completes our 135th mission of the year after lifting off from pad 4E in California and delivering 28 @Starlink satellites to the constellation pic.twitter.com/PHfCYTzlYY read more