Jobless rate steady as sentiment improves

Unemployment claims in Florida remained relatively low last week, as consumer sentiment improved for a second consecutive month. The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday released a report that estimated 5,691 first-time unemployment claims were filed in Florida last week, down from a revised count of 6,109 during the week that ended June 24. Florida has averaged 5,811 claims a week since the start of the year. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Business Beat - Week of July 7th

Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.

Soaring temps and record-breaking heat signal Florida’s steamy future

It’s not just you, Florida really has gotten hotter recently. In the last fifty years, Florida has experienced a lot more heat. Days are hotter than they used to be, there are more hot days than ever and nights, in particular, are far warmer than they were last century. All of that is tracked by meticulous records from the National Weather Service and NOAA, and scientists have chalked up the majority of that change to unchecked, human-caused climate change. That change is felt all around the globe. [Source: WUSF]

New law in effect for out-of-state driver's license classes

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on Wednesday announced a list of types of driver’s licenses from Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island and Vermont that are invalid in Florida under a new law targeting undocumented immigrants. The prohibited licenses mostly offer limited driving privileges to undocumented immigrants while not being considered valid identification. More from the News Service of Florida and the Center Square.

Florida’s bald eagles rebounded after Hurricane Ian’s destruction

Despite nest destruction from Hurricane Ian, resilience proved to be the theme of the 2022-23 bald eagle nesting season, according to end-of-season data compiled by the Audubon EagleWatch program. A new report from Audubon Florida said that in the aftermath of the Category 5 Hurricane Ian in late September, EagleWatch volunteers returned to monitoring bald eagle nests as soon as possible, even as they faced significant damage to their own homes and communities. Across the state, volunteers documented 148 nests lost to the storm. [Source: WGCU]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Lakeland's Jennifer Canady chosen to be Florida House Speaker for 2028-2030 term [Lakeland Ledger]
In her first session as a Florida legislator, Rep. Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland, sponsored two of the session's most significant bills, showing that she carried the trust of the Republican leadership. Canady has now gained the support of her fellow freshman members. House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, announced Friday that Canady had been designated as House speaker for the term starting in 2028, assuming she is re-elected three more times and Republicans retain their decisive advantage in the Florida House.

› JetBlue is dumping its partnership with American Airlines to salvage its purchase of Spirit [AP]
JetBlue says it will end a partnership with American Airlines in the Northeast after losing a court fight over the deal, and will instead focus on salvaging its proposed purchase of Spirit Airlines. JetBlue Airways said Wednesday that it will not appeal a federal judge's ruling blocking the deal with American. With its decision, JetBlue said the U.S. Justice Department should reconsider its opposition to a JetBlue-Spirit combination.

› Supreme Court ruling on Colorado LGBTQ case could influence lawsuit over Jacksonville HRO [Florida Times-Union]
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling letting a business owner refuse to create wedding websites for same-sex couples could cast a long shadow over a court case challenging part of Jacksonville’s human rights ordinance. The Jacksonville lawsuit doesn’t focus on gay people, but Friday’s Supreme Court ruling about a Colorado web designer shifted boundaries on how business owners’ First Amendment rights apply to laws against discrimination.

› New Sarasota EDC president grapples with logistic challenges, celebrates wins [Business Observer]
During three of her four-plus years with the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County, Erin Silk has worked under two interim executive directors who worked to transition it into the more responsive, results-oriented organization demanded by its primary benefactor, the Sarasota County Commission. She's learned a lot in that role.

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› FIS selling controlling interest in Worldpay for $11.7 billion [Jacksonville Daily Record]
Almost four years after buying Worldpay Inc. in a $43 billion deal, Fidelity National Information Services Inc. announced an $11.7 billion deal to sell a controlling interest in it. Jacksonville-based FIS said July 6 that Chicago-based private equity firm GTCR will pay $11.7 billion to acquire 55% of Worldpay. FIS will retain the other 45% interest in the merchant payments technology company.

› Bern’s Steak House in Tampa is temporarily closed for renovations [Tampa Bay Times]
Tampa institution Bern’s Steak House temporarily closed on July 3 for renovations on the lounge and kitchen. Renovations are expected to take about two weeks. In the meantime, folks can still enjoy Bern’s fare at its sister restaurant, Haven (2208 W Morrison Ave., Tampa). Now through July 8 and July 11-15, A Taste of Bern’s at Haven offers selections inspired by the Bern’s menu, including select cuts from its aging room, steak sauces, wines from its cellar and sweets from its famous dessert room.

› Jupiter's $24.7 million town hall: A look at how the construction is going and the timeline [Palm Beach Post]
Jupiter’s new $24.7 million town hall recently hit a major milestone, when the town and contractor Kaufman Lynn Construction on June 8 celebrated the structure’s topping-off, the moment when the tallest part of a building is put in place. “The building is progressing nicely,” said Shawn Reed, Jupiter’s community relations manager.

› Feeding Northeast Florida merges with Gainesville's Bread of the Mighty food bank [Gainesville Sun]
A merger between Feeding Northeast Florida (FNEFL), a Feeding America Member food bank, and Gainesville’s Bread of the Mighty food bank was announced in a June 26 news release. The merger is expected to provide additional resources and support services across North and Central Florida.