SHARE:
Monday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
‘They are desperate’: Schools grapple with teacher vacancies and shortage of substitutes
With record-high teacher vacancies and a shortage of substitute teachers, public schools across Florida are desperate to find and keep qualified substitutes as they also push to hire and retain full-time teachers. Florida’s public schools began the 2021-22 school year with nearly 5,000 vacancies, according to the Florida Education Association. That was the highest number since the teachers union began counting in 2016 and up about 1,500 from the pre-pandemic tally in 2019. More alarming, union leaders said, was the follow-up count they did in October. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Citizens Insurance tops 741,000 policies
The state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. continued to grow in November, adding more than 15,000 policies, according to newly released data. Citizens had 741,420 policies as of Nov. 30, up from 725,942 at the end of October. Homeowners have poured into Citizens as financially struggling private insurers have dropped policies and sought major rate increases. More from the News Service of Florida.
Gas prices dropped in Florida, but not as expected
Gas prices dipped in Florida the past week, but not as much as fuel analysts expected. According to AAA, the price per gallon in the state slipped 3 cents to average $3.27 a gallon. The auto club and fuel-industry analyst predicted prices would go down even more, but concerns over the omicron variant — and the effect on the economy — cut into those expectations. More from the Miami Herald.
Blue Spring seen as haven for struggling Florida manatees
Wildlife officials predict another grim winter ahead for the Florida manatee, but for now, Blue Spring remains a refuge for the gentle giants. “That’s really where we hope the long-term future of the population is. There’s a lot of work that has to be done to safeguard those,” said Pat Rose, executive director of Save the Manatee Club, of the spring and similar habitats throughout the state. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Tampa Bay’s GDP fell by $2.4 billion in 2020: report
Tampa Bay’s gross domestic product fell by nearly $2.4 billion in 2020, a drop tied to the coronavirus pandemic that played out in a majority of counties and metropolitan areas nationwide. In all, about 75 percent of U.S. counties saw a GDP decline last year, including six of eight in the Tampa Bay area, according to data released Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
| Trend Mention |
|
Holiday Trends
Professional holiday light installers supply cheery, convenient Christmas decor — for the right price
While some homeowners are busy putting the final touches on their holiday displays, unraveling dozens of strands of twinkle lights while juggling gift shopping and trimming the tree, others are content to pay someone else to put up the lights. Professional holiday lighting is a seasonal but growing service as families find themselves spending more time at home, some with additional spare cash on hand looking for a little extra holiday cheer—all without the hassle and labor of putting up decorations themselves.
» More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Business Profile
Hit TV series to feature Florida moving company
College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving, a Tampa-based residential and commercial logistics firm, will make its national network TV debut in the Jan. 7 episode of “Undercover Boss,” which airs at 8 p.m. on CBS. It will also be available to view on demand on the Paramount+ streaming service.
» Read more from the Business Observer.
In case you missed it:
