Florida’s fungal meningitis outbreak so far is centered on Ocala area – Two more cases of a rare fungal meningitis were confirmed in two women Friday at the Marion County Pain Management Center. All nine confirmed meningitis cases — including two deaths — are connected to Marion County clinics. Officials are concerned about Ocala’s prominent role in the nationwide outbreak. Tampa Bay Times

Higher education task force considers big changes, higher tuition– Gov. Rick Scott’s higher education task force has come back with proposals similar to ones the governor vetoed earlier this year. The panel has suggested things like tuition increases and higher fees for students with majors that will lead to higher-paying jobs. Its members will meet twice more before the governor receives a report Oct. 30. Tampa Bay Times

Poll: Obama holds big lead over Romney among Hispanic voters nationwide; margin much smaller in Florida  – In Florida, Mitt Romney is not far behind Barack Obama as the presidential preference of Hispanic voters. While Obama leads Romney 51-44 percent among Hispanics in Florida, the incumbent leads 66-31 percent with Hispanics across the U.S. Experts say the difference in Florida is its large population of Cuban-Americans, who prefer Romney. The Miami Herald

HPV Vaccine Does Not Alter Sexual Behavior, Study Finds – A new study shows girls vaccinated against HPV at a young age are no more likely to be sexually active than those not vaccinated while young. The researchers examined what they considered markers of sexual activity, including pregnancies, counseling on contraceptives, and testing for or diagnoses of sexually transmitted diseases. The New York Times

Roth, Shapley Win Nobel Economics Prize – Two American economists won the Nobel Prize in economics Monday. Lloyd Shapley of UCLA was recognized for his theoretical work in designing mathematical methods while Harvard’s Alvin Roth was honored for practically applying those methods to match new doctors with hospital, students with schools, and organ donors with patients. Wall Street Journal