Monday's Daily Pulse
Florida wrestles with 500,000 job openings as 503,000 remain out of work
Florida now has about one job opening for every out-of-work resident, new state data showed Friday. The state added 35,800 private sector jobs last month, its 13th consecutive month of job growth. Yet more than 500,000 jobs remain available in Florida, despite an almost equal number of people, 503,000, saying they are out of work and looking for a job. [Source: Miami Herald ]
Florida Trend Exclusive
Publisher's column: The right direction
Since this is our annual higher education issue, I thought it would be appropriate to share my recent experience with one of Florida’s universities. As you may recall, my wife, Jessica, and I have four children — one who graduated years ago, two still enrolled at Florida Gulf Coast University and a daughter who just graduated from FGCU. Given the pandemic, we were not sure whether our daughter would get to experience a traditional graduation ceremony. However, we were thrilled to find out late this spring that FGCU would offer a hybrid ceremony that followed CDC guidelines. Given how successful this hybrid model was, it’s impossible not to wonder whether some of these new protocols might become standard operating procedures in the future. [Source: Florida Trend]
Misinformation is keeping Floridians from getting vaccinated, USF survey shows
A new survey shows Florida’s vaccination efforts are being hampered by misinformation and political polarization. University of South Florida researchers surveyed 600 residents across the state, and 36 percent of respondents said they have not yet received the coronavirus vaccine while 16 percent said they no intention of getting vaccinated in the future. The answers of those respondents reveal what researchers call the “most significant drivers of vaccine hesitancy.” [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida leads nation in number of new HIV cases
New data just released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show Florida now leads the nation in the number of new HIV cases. The CDC says that number for 2019 stood at nearly 4,400. The same report shows the Sunshine State has 23.7 cases overall per 100,000 people. That’s compared to 13.2 for all of the U.S. [Source: WJXT]
Federal judge throws out CDC’s cruise safety regulations, handing win to DeSantis
A federal judge threw out U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention safety rules for cruise companies operating in Florida during the COVID-19 pandemic Friday, handing a victory to Gov. Ron DeSantis. In a 124-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday of the Middle District of Florida said the agency’s “conditional sail order” — a framework of regulations dictating how cruises can restart in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic — can remain in place for Florida cruises only until July 18, granting DeSantis’ request for a preliminary injunction while the full case moves forward. [Source: Miami Herald]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Food costs are way up, and Tampa Bay restaurants are feeling the crunch [Tampa Bay Times]
Crispy, spicy, stick-to-your-fingers Korean-fried chicken wings — that’s the dish that put Mee Ae Wolney’s business on the map. Wolney credits those wings with helping her food truck Anju succeed, leading to her St. Petersburg restaurant of the same name. Those wings are still her top-selling item. But following a price surge on chicken — and chicken wings, in particular — Wolney is facing a conundrum: raise her prices or eat a big part of the cost herself. Taking the wings off the menu just isn’t an option.
› FPL says cyberattack threats will exist ‘forever’ [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Foreign criminals are working relentlessly to disrupt the computer networks that manage America’s energy, water and food delivery systems. Some do it to commit terrorism. Some seek cheap thrills. Others extort companies into paying millions of dollars in ransom. Eric Silagy, president and CEO of Florida Power & Light, acknowledges that threats of cyberattacks against FPL and other critical suppliers are likely to last “forever.”
› Wages rising for some as more tech workers, other high-earners move to Jacksonville [Florida Times-Union]
Salaries of people moving into Jacksonville have been rising substantially faster than incomes of people already living here, new data from the Internal Revenue Service shows. Over 10 years, the average adjusted gross income of households moving into Duval County rose 49.4 percent, reaching $58,124 on tax forms filed for 2019, according to information the IRS released last month.
› Universal Orlando looks to hire 1,000 restaurant workers [Orlando Sentinel]
Universal Orlando is hiring more than 1,000 restaurant employees for the theme park resort. Positions are full-time and part-time and include wait staff, bartenders, line cooks, cashiers, dishwashers and quick service personnel, according to a news release. Universal recently announced it was raising its starting pay to $15 an hour. There are also “numerous” culinary positions available with a starting pay rate of $15.50, Universal said, as well as Food & Beverage management roles with comprehensive benefits packages.
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› Orange Crush 'beach day' low-key, with few crowds; events in Jacksonville area quiet [Florida Times-Union]
Overcast, humid weather helped make Jacksonville’s first taste of the Orange Crush Festival damp but uneventful, with the transplanted celebration centered around Black young people unfolding quietly Saturday. “It looks like a nice day at the beach,” said Jacksonville Beach Mayor Chris Hoffman, who said uncertainty about details of the event had made preparations more difficult and frustrating.
› Tampa Bay shoppers face fireworks shortage ahead of July 4 [Tampa Bay Times]
Florida skies may not be as bright as expected this Independence Day. A national fireworks shortage has left Tampa Bay shops with fewer bottle rockets, ball shells, Roman candles and more. Local showrooms say they stocked for the busy month ahead, but are encouraging fireworks fans planning private Fourth of July celebrations to buy early. “Remember, we all deal with the same factories,” said Tampa’s Galaxy Fireworks president Sharon Hunnewell-Johnson. “So we’re all running short.”
› ‘The ministry of the unnoticed’: Eastside nonprofits band together to revitalize neighborhood [Florida Times-Union]
Cleveland Sinclair bought the blue-trimmed house on Van Buren Street on Jacksonville’s Eastside in 1972 after marrying his wife, Pauline. He saved precious funds through the decades of building a life there by doing the upkeep work on the one-story house by himself. But that came to an end when he fell off of a ladder trying to paint the front of his house and his wife saw him fall. On Thursday afternoon, he stands outside of the place he’s called home for half a century and watches as dozens of volunteers spread out across the quiet street for United Way Worldwide’s Day of Action to add a fresh coat of paint and do other exterior work on six different houses, including his.
› $13 million foundation announces new treasurer, board members [Business Observer]
The Immokalee Foundation recently announced the addition of four new members to its 2021-22 board of directors. The newly appointed treasurer is Drew Yurko, CFO of Lipman Family Farms. New board members include Katherine Ahearn, senior VP at Northern Trust Naples; Katherine “Kitty” Green, VP for advancement and foundation executive director at Florida Gulf Coast University; and Carol Joseph, former VP of organizational development at Magnum Products.