Florida's unemployment rate falls to 5.8 percent

Florida's unemployment rate fell to 5.8 percent in November, down from October's rate of 6 percent, Gov. Rick Scott said Friday morning. Florida added a sizeable 41,900 jobs over the month Compared to a year ago, the state is up by 229,900 jobs. More at the Tampa Bay Times.

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Holiday parties back in full swing, and then some

Back in 2009, when the economy was reeling, many companies scrapped their holiday parties or held scaled-back cocktail hours at the office, no spouses allowed. Seasonal soirees have been slowly ramping back up since then, but this year, the party is back on, in a big way. More at the Boston Globe.

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UF athletics receives record donation

Development Inlet Beach Tourists who travel Scenic Highway 30A in Walton County usually pass right through sleepy Inlet Beach. But that is changing quickly. “Inlet Beach has become a hotbed of development activity over the last 18 months, as has most of south Walton County,” says Mac Carpenter, the county’s planning manager. » Access full story

With the help of a record $12.5 million donation from an anonymous donor, construction on a new academic learning center for Florida athletes will begin in March. The donation is the largest individual gift to UF athletics. More at the Gainesville Sun.

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Jacksonville's One Spark ranked among world's best festivals

After only two years, Jacksonville’s One Spark crowdfunding festival is ranked among the top 300 festivals in the world. In fact, it’s in the top 25, according to Fest300 Magazine. More at the Florida Times-Union.

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A cyber-success in South Florida tech

Success stories in South Florida entrepreneurship don’t always follow the classic script of dream, launch, grow, sell and start all over again. Sometimes the founder starts out as an “accidental entrepreneur,” stays with the acquiring company and grows the team into a successful division, providing jobs that power the local economy. More at the Miami Herald.

Arts and Culture Florida Orchestra to serenade the sick with free Moffitt concert In a simple yet meaningful concert, the orchestra will visit Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa today to play a free show for patients, employees and anyone who stops by. It's the first sign of a shifting culture at the orchestra, one moving toward more community involvement. » More from the Tampa Bay Times