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Thursday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
New unemployment filings in Florida fall to post-pandemic low
Newly filed applications for unemployment assistance in Florida hit a post-pandemic low last week, the U.S. Department of Labor reported. It’s an early sign that the worst of the economic pain caused by the coronavirus outbreak may have passed. Out-of-work Floridians filed 55,106 new claims for jobless assistance for the week ending Aug. 8 — a decrease of more than 23,000 from the previous week and the lowest figure since the week ending March 14. More from the Miami Herald.
Actors and Disney World reach deal after virus testing fight
Walt Disney World and the union for its actors and singers reached an agreement on Wednesday that will allow them to return to work, more than a month after they said they were locked out of the reopening of the theme park resort for publicly demanding coronavirus tests. Disney agreed to have a state-run drive-thru COVID-19 testing site for workers and the public at the Florida theme park resort. That decision encouraged Actor’s Equity Association to sign a memorandum of understanding allowing the actors, singers and stage managers to return to their jobs. More from KGMI.
Report: Hospitality economy hurting most, by far
A new report, prepared by Tourism Economics, says the leisure and hospitality sector has been the hardest hit in the coronavirus crisis. The sector initially shed nearly half of its 17 million jobs nationally at the outset of the crisis. While the situation has improved some as parts of the economy have reopened, more than 4.3 million leisure and hospitality jobs remain gone. That’s twice as many as in the next hardest-hit sector of the American economy, mining. More from Florida Politics.
Coronavirus pandemic impacted Florida real estate during second quarter of 2020
Florida’s housing market reflected the impact of coronavirus pandemic and economic turmoil in the second quarter of 2020, particularly during April and May: higher median prices and more pending inventory, but fewer closed sales and fewer new listings compared to the second quarter of 2019, according to the latest housing data from Florida Realtors. [Source: Florida Daily]
United joins airline flock to Florida despite state’s high coronavirus case numbers
The U.S. airline industry has three global airlines and two Southeast hubs, which means United starts out behind when it comes to serving Florida. United nevertheless said Wednesday it will push into Florida this winter, adding up to 28 daily non-stop flights. The carrier said it will offer non-stop service to four Florida cities — Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando and Tampa. More from Forbes.
FLORIDA FILM INDUSTRY
New Florida film industry leader thinks show biz can give state’s lagging economy a boost
Film and TV productions shut down around the country as COVID-19 spread. Film Florida, a not-for-profit trade association, has a new president who thinks shows biz productions could be a major part of Florida’s economic recovery. “When an average feature film or TV series films in a location, they spend roughly $20 million in the local community in just 3 or 4 months while hiring approximately 1,500 Floridians,” says Gail Morgan, new president of the Film Florida Board of Directors.
» More from WLRN.
LIFE AND CULTURE
Shine St. Petersburg Mural Festival announces 2020 dates
For all of the cancellations that COVID-19 has caused this year, one tradition returns with the Shine Mural Festival. The mural festival set to take place Nov. 7-14 is produced by the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance with the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. The festival will be smaller than previous years, with just 10 mural walls rather than the usual 20. And this year, the artist lineup is entirely Florida artists.
» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.
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