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Monday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida jobless rate inches up
While remaining near historic lows, Florida’s unemployment rate ticked up in September for the second time this year. The state Department of Commerce on Friday said Florida had a 2.8 percent unemployment rate last month, up from 2.7 percent in August. The number of people considered unemployed increased by 6,000 from August to 309,000. Meanwhile, a seasonally adjusted employment total grew by 19,600 jobs. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Opinion: Florida's emerging tech sector will drive it into 21st Century
With more than 1,000 miles of beaches, world-class attractions, and regular rocket launches that propel humans into space and expand the frontier of human knowledge, tourism turned Florida from a rural backwater to a national and international economic powerhouse. While tourists advanced Florida into the 20th Century, the state’s emerging tech sector will drive it into the 21st Century. [Source: Fort Myers News-Press]
Florida energy costs are rising and unstable – What can lawmakers do about it?
Florida’s recent heatwave has broken records, with heat indexes exceeding a blistering 110 degrees in some areas – but temperatures are not the only thing soaring. This summer Floridians were faced with skyrocketing electric bills that have been leaving many families struggling financially. It wasn’t just the heat but the volatile market on fossil fuels that drove up costs. [Source: Triangle News Leader]
Florida one of the best states for tipping service workers. See why
According to a new study, Florida is ranked high among the best states for tipping. On average, the Sunshine State tips 15%. But where does our state rank among others? And why do we tip? Florida earned the third spot on the best tipping states, with Floridians tipping an average of 21.68%. [Source: Fort Myers News-Press]
DeSantis will call legislative session to pass sanctions against Iran
Gov. Ron DeSantis will call state lawmakers back to Tallahassee to pass further sanctions against Iran in the wake of Hamas’ attack on Israel this month. Florida will pass “the strongest sanctions against Iran by any state in the nation,” DeSantis Press Secretary Jeremy Redfern said in a statement Friday. The details, including the legislation and the timing, has not been determined, Redfern said. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Clearwater aquarium first to join new online zoo showcase
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is the first aquarium to join a new online animal showcase of zoos around the world called Zoolife. The Zoolife website said the list is growing but its current partners include the Toronto Zoo, the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Australia, the Orana Wildlife Park in Australia, the Northumberland Zoo in England, an unnamed butterfly sanctuary and the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary, among others.
› Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance helped bring 1,000+ jobs to Broward this year
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance helped recruit and retain 1,309 jobs in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, with health care, investment and transportation businesses among the enterprises that expanded in Broward County. Together, those companies committed to making $170 million in new capital investments in the county, the Alliance reported at its 2023 Annual Meeting.
› CSX Corp. revenue, earnings fall in the third quarter
As CSX Corp. reported lower third-quarter revenue and earnings, growth in auto shipments was a bright spot for the Jacksonville-based railroad. Unfortunately, the strike by the United Auto Workers against the three largest U.S. carmakers could slow that growth. However, CSX Chief Executive Joe Hinrichs is optimistic the labor contracts will be resolved soon.
› City of Orlando receives $1 million grant for public art
The City of Orlando has been chosen as one of eight cities across America to receive a $1 million grant to fund a public art project. The third Public Art Challenge from Bloomberg Philanthropies also awarded Atlanta, Baltimore, Honolulu, Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Salt Lake City with grant money for projects that address a range of civic issues, including public health, equity, climate change and more. More than 150 project proposals were received from 40 U.S. cities.
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