March 28, 2024

Tuesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 10/11/2022

Florida shrimpers race to get battered fleet back to sea

The seafood industry in southwest Florida is racing against time and the elements to save what’s left of a major shrimping fleet — and a lifestyle — that was battered by Hurricane Ian. The storm’s ferocious wind and powerful surge hurled a couple dozen shrimp boats atop wharves and homes along the harbor on Estero Island. Jesse Clapham, who oversees a dozen trawlers for a large seafood company at Fort Myers Beach, is trying to get boats back to sea as quickly as possible — before their engines, winches and pulleys seize up from being out of the water. More from the AP.

Florida Army vet walking 1,000 miles to Missouri for epilepsy awareness

Ryan “ROC” O’Connor set off from Longwood on Oct. 1, walking 22 miles and reaching Mount Dora by nightfall. Ultimately, he hopes to achieve distances of 30-40 miles per day, walking as many as 100,000 steps. While his “Journey of 1,000 Miles” won’t be easy, O’Connor finds motivation to keep going when thinking of the millions of people who could benefit from additional funding and awareness of epilepsy. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Radial in Melbourne to hire nearly 200 seasonal customer care agents for holiday season

As in recent holiday seasons, Radial will soon hire nearly 200 seasonal customer care workers at the e-commerce company’s Babcock Street call center in Melbourne. In addition, Radial seeks to fill more than 1,900 virtual customer care jobs in Florida, Georgia, Colorado, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. More from the Florida Today.

Jacksonville residents face higher housing costs with rent, utilities both rising

The inflation rate in the U.S. has hovered at over 8% for months, despite efforts to fight rising costs. Whether on their JEA bills or rental agreements, at the gas pump or in the grocery store — where food inflation has risen to 11.4%, the most since 1979 — people are feeling economic pressure. The annual inflation rate was down from 8.5% in July to 8.3% in August, the lowest in four months, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. More from the Florida Times-Union.

Florida furniture store gives away everything after Hurricane Ian flooded showroom

Florida furniture store owners have donated several truckloads of furniture and 100 mattresses to residents devastated by Hurricane Ian in Port Charlotte after their showroom flooded. Stephany Richmond and her son, Morgan Richmond, of Sarasota, own six Furniture Warehouse retail locations in West Florida, including Bradenton and Ellenton. She said surviving Hurricane Ian feels a lot like “deja vu.” More from the Miami Herald.

Out of the Box
Delray Beach is moving forward with a shipping container plaza on Atlantic Avenue

Delray Beach’s “out-of-the-box” plan to drastically transform a barren lot along Atlantic Avenue into a lively destination plaza comprised of shipping containers could soon become a reality. City officials gave the green light on moving forward with the project, which would result in a new outdoor venue with restaurants, shops, a park, a play area for kids and a stage for musical events. CPZ Architects, a local firm handling the project, unveiled new design photos highlighting the plaza.

» More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

 

Profile
Johnny Crowder's startup Cope Notes helps others struggling with mental health issues

Johnny Crowder likes to say he’s a survivor first, then an entrepreneur. As a teen, he battled depression, anxiety, OCD and suicidal ideation that stemmed from growing up in an abusive home. Seeking to understand more about his own mental health, Crowder studied psychology at the University of Central Florida, where he learned about how the brain works. He became a mental health advocate and speaker for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, work he continues today. He’s also the lead singer in the metal band Prison.

» Read more from Florida Trend.

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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