SHARE:
Monday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
More than half of Florida's unemployed find jobs in less than four months
Jobs are taking less time to find in Florida, even when workers are unemployed. More than half of the state’s unemployed find jobs in less than four months, and 29 percent within five weeks, according to July data from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Five years ago, when Florida was just beginning to climb out of the recession, it took four months for only one third of job seekers to fine employment. There are two reasons it takes less time to find a job today: Solid job growth and lower unemployment (fewer people competing for the same job). [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Orbital ATK launch injects new life in long-dormant Florida launch pad
A long-dormant launch pad on the Space Coast roared back to life early Saturday morning. Orbital ATK launched a satellite for the U.S. Air Force from Launch Complex 46, which last hosted a rocket launch in 1999. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
See also:
» Space Florida congratulates Orbital ATK on success of Minotaur 4 ORS-5 launch (brief statement from state space agency)
Feds: Florida housing agency misspent grant money
An audit found that Florida's housing agency spent more than $100,000 of federal grant money meant for struggling homeowners on bonuses and perks for its employees. See the report from the Tampa Bay Times here, and read more at the AP.
Effort to restore felons’ voting rights gains momentum
A coalition of various activist groups is working to gather enough signatures to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would automatically restore voting rights for most felons — murderers and sex offenders excluded — after they complete the terms of their sentence. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
See also:
» Tampa lawyer leads campaign opposing voting rights for felons
Rep. Carlos Trujillo
Trump appoints Carlos Trujillo to U.N. post
Miami Republican Rep. Carlos Trujillo has been tapped to serve as representative to the UN general assembly. The position would make the powerful Florida House budget chief one of UN Ambassador Nikki Haley’s four deputies. [Source: Times/Herald]
› South Florida's flourishing private jet market attracts new entrants
In South Florida, land of the condo-hotel, waterfront estates and super-yachts, private jet travel is gaining appeal among well-heeled travelers who find the airlines more irksome than convenient, and who are willing to pay premiums to fly in the lap of luxury.
› Restaurants lead Central Florida's job growth
Central Florida’s restaurants have been hiring more than any other industry. The Orlando metro area has added nearly 30,000 restaurant jobs since the beginning of 2012.
› Florida private prison company settles sexual harassment lawsuit
A Boca Raton, Florida-based private prison company will pay $60,000 to a former female employee in Arizona to settle a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and retaliation.
› Tampa files eminent domain suit over parcel needed for Vinik-Cascade project
Mayor Bob Buckhorn once called the idea of filing an eminent domain lawsuit to secure a tiny piece of land for the $3 billion Water Street Tampa project "the least desirable option." At this point, however, city officials have come to see it as the only option.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
In case you missed it:
