March 29, 2024

Thursday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 1/20/2022

State agencies grapple with worker shortage

Amid a national worker shortage, state agencies are struggling to fill vacant positions and retain employees, including those who care for some of Florida’s most vulnerable citizens. Many employees are leaving state government jobs because they’re overworked and underpaid, according to a presentation Wednesday to a Senate committee. A flood of better-paying positions in the private sector that have opened up following widespread shutdowns during the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated hiring problems, officials from several state agencies told the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee. More from the News Service of Florida.

NASA targets late February for Artemis I pad test, with launch windows open in spring

NASA has switched out the pesky parts and is gearing up to send the 322-foot-tall Artemis I rocket to Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-B for a dress rehearsal next month that would allow for a potential moon launch as early as March. Mission managers announced last week they had successfully replaced a malfunctioning engine controller for one of the four converted space shuttle program engines used to power the core stage of the Space Launch System rocket that will send the uncrewed Orion spacecraft a mission to orbit the moon and back. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Florida elections offices seeing suspected fraudulent petitions in gambling effort

Florida could be in the midst of one of the largest cases of election-related fraud in recent history. Across the state, elections supervisors say they have been sent thousands of fraudulent petition forms supporting a constitutional amendment to expand casino gaming in the state. Although the forms are supposed to reflect real Floridians voicing support for a change to the state’s constitution, many include the names of dead people or the forged signatures of real voters. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

More restaurants reopening at Disney World

Three more restaurants are scheduled to reopen soon at Walt Disney World. The trio, located inside or near company resorts, have been shuttered since the pandemic took hold in March 2020. Disney has phased in restaurant reopenings since the resort’s four-month shutdown ended in mid-July 2020. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Surfside condo collapse drives Fannie Mae to toughen loan standards on older buildings

Buying a condo in an older South Florida high-rise? For people who want to finance their deal, it’ll be getting tougher to take out a loan backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored enterprises that make mortgages available to low- to moderate-income borrowers. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Five dimensions of care in higher education

Providing academic and career support for post-secondary students isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s an organizational imperative that shows up in outcomes. Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA), which began operating more than 27 years ago, follows a student-supported model. This approach not only makes skills training and certification more accessible to a broad range of learners, but it also effectively equips and empowers graduates to excel in healthcare careers – roles for which there is a vital need throughout Florida and around the country. [Sponsored report]

Sports Business
Exploria Stadium to host U.S. Soccer World Cup qualifier

 Exploria Stadium will host the final home game of World Cup qualifying when the United States takes on Panama on March 27, U.S. Soccer announced on Wednesday. The time of kickoff will be announced at a later date, but the match will be televised nationally on FS1, UniMás and TUDN.

» More from the Orlando Sentinel.

 

Out of the Box
Fort Lauderdale’s only castle wins coveted status as historic landmark

floridaThe New River Castle, a fairy-tale landmark some feared would be torn down when a new owner took over the property, now has special protection to ensure it stays standing. In a 3-2 vote Tuesday night, the Fort Lauderdale commission designated the cherished castle as a historic landmark. Daniel Cole, an out-of-town developer who specializes in luxury homes, plans to build four townhomes near the castle but has no intention of knocking it down, his attorney says. “He’s happy to save the castle,” said Greg McAloon, Cole’s attorney.

» Read more from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

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Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices
Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices

Central Floirda chocolate shops are left with a bitter taste as cocoa prices hit an all-time high earlier this week.

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