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Thursday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida jobless applications hit another pandemic low. Is it an early sign of recovery?
New weekly applications for unemployment assistance in Florida hit another pandemic low last week, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday. Jobless claims for the week ending Aug. 29 fell from 51,647 in the week before to 39,335. The decline likely reflects several factors, including the termination of $600 in weekly federal pandemic unemployment assistance, in addition to early signs of an economic recovery. More from the Miami Herald.
Florida tops 750 Hepatitis A cases
Florida topped 750 reported hepatitis A cases during the first eight months of this year, as cases ticked up slightly in August, according to numbers posted online by the state Department of Health. As of Aug. 29, 754 cases had been reported statewide this year. That was far below the pace in 2019, when Florida had a major outbreak and totaled 3,411 cases for the year. But the 754 cases this year also were substantially more than in earlier years. More from the News Service of Florida.
Ulta speeds Jacksonville fulfillment center plans
Ulta Beauty Inc. said it is accelerating the opening of its Northwest Jacksonville e-commerce center, but didn’t say when it would start operations other than it would be this year. In its second-quarter earnings report, the Bolingbrook, Illinois-based beauty supplies company said it “continues to take actions to manage the business in response to COVID-19.” More from the Jax Daily Record.
Florida-to-Bahamas cruise line now aims for November return to sailing
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line that sails out of the Port of Palm Beach on two-night cruises to the Bahamas announced its intentions to begin operations on one of its two ships beginning Nov. 4. The line has been among the first to attempt to begin sailing again several times since the cruise industry shut down in March because of the spread of coronavirus, but has had to push back plans as the pandemic’s effects kept increasing over the summer. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
TECO Peoples Gas sets record by ranking highest in the region in J.D. Power study 8 years in a row
For the eighth consecutive year, the residential customers of TECO Peoples Gas have rated the utility highest in customer satisfaction among midsize natural gas companies in the south region segment of the J.D. Power 2020 Gas Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study. This year, Peoples Gas received the highest score in the history of the Gas Utility Residential Study and was the first to achieve the highest ranking in their segment eight years in a row. More from Florida Trend.
Out of the Box
Freefall Theatre announces upcoming drive-in performances in St. Petersburg
When the intimate Freefall Theatre closed in March because of the pandemic, staff had to get creative to figure out a way to bring audiences and programming back safely. Artistic director Eric Davis and his team decided to take advantage of the theater’s outdoor space, courtyard and parking lot and create a drive-in venue where people can watch a series of musical performances from the safety of their cars.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Sports Business
Valspar Championship at Innisbrook moves to April in 2020-21 PGA Tour schedule
The Valspar Championship, usually played in March at the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, moves to late April in the 2020-21 PGA Tour schedule released Wednesday. The tournament is scheduled for the week of April 26-May 2. Traditionally played the week after the Players Championship, it next year will be between the Zurich Classic of New Orleans (April 19-25) and the Wells Fargo Championship (May 3-9).
» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.
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