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Friday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
State unemployment rate drops slightly
Florida's unemployment rate in April dipped to 6.2 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point from March and 1.4 percentage points lower than a year ago, state officials announced Friday. The state added 34,000 jobs over the month and almost 247,000 jobs over the year – an increase of 3.3 percent. More at the Orlando Sentinel and the Tampa Bay Times.
Red Lobster restaurant chain sold for $2.1 billion
Darden Restaurants says it will sell its Red Lobster chain to investment firm Golden Gate Capital in a $2.1 billion cash deal. The company, which also owns Olive Garden, had announced late last year that it planned to either spin off or sell Red Lobster to improve its financial performance. More at the AP.
El Niño's rise could be good news for Florida
An El Niño is brewing in the Pacific Ocean, which could wreak havoc in much of the world in the coming months. But it could be good news for Florida, where El Niño-driven winds can shear apart storms before they strengthen to hurricanes.. More at Florida Today.
See also:
» Hurricane forecast: Lucky streak will end
Florida lobbying firms collect millions in first quarter
Amid high-stakes debates about issues such as expanded gambling, legislative lobbyists raked in millions of dollars in fees during the first three months of the year, newly filed reports show. More at the Jacksonville Business Journal.
Proposed Internet access rules could hurt Miami tech community
A proposal passed Thursday by the FCC could allow companies to pay for priority access on the Internet. Miami tech startups fear the move could stymy growth but the FCC chairman says the new system contains safeguards. More at the Miami Herald.
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