SHARE:
Monday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida’s apprenticeship program helps companies navigate a worker shortage
Florida’s unemployment rate was 3.1 percent in February for the third consecutive month. That’s higher than a year ago, but it’s still relatively very low as many companies continue to face a shortage of workers. So businesses, along with the state, are getting creative in recruiting and developing talent. Florida’s growing apprenticeship program is helping with that. More from WUSF.
Florida gas prices hit new 2024 high
Florida motorists continue to see higher prices at the pump, with the average cost of a gallon of regular unleaded up 8 cents over the past week and 21 cents over the past month. The AAA auto club said an average gallon of regular unleaded in Florida cost $3.58 on Monday, as the industry converts to a more-expensive summer gasoline blend and refineries continue scheduled maintenance. More from the News Service of Florida and Florida Politics.
What’s contributing to the physician shortage in Southwest Florida?
It’s not your imagination. It really is taking longer to see the doctor these days. A physician shortage that began pre-COVID-19 has only gotten worse post-pandemic, said Dr. Zubin Pachori, co-founder and managing partner of Premier Inpatient Partners and vice president of Collier County Medical Society, who calls it “a silent epidemic that’s not talked about enough.” More from Gulfshore Business.
As Brightline and Tri-Rail up their service games, is there a case for motorists to bid adieu to I-95?
Brightline says that since it added its new service to Orlando, it needs to add capacity to cope with a surge in passenger demand. Tri-Rail has opened its long-awaited segment to downtown Miami, is welcoming legions of young riders with bicycles, and even replaced 800 windows in its coaches so passengers will have better views of the passing scenery. Recent ridership figures from both rail lines appear to show that a growing segment of South Floridians and visitors to the region are buying into rail travel for commuting, business and pleasure. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Polk County Clerk of Court to waive fees for unpaid fines during week in April
The Polk County Clerk of Court’s Office will hold the annual Operation Green Light in April, a week in which the office waives outside collection agency fees applied to unpaid court fines. Once fees are paid, customers can proceed with the reinstatement of their driver’s license. More from the Lakeland Ledger.
| Trend Mention |
|
Transportation
After facing delays, a new free ride service is coming to Boca Raton
Boca Raton may soon have a transit service taking people to and from city destinations, all at no cost. But it’s taken some time to implement the plan — a process that some City Council members feel has dragged on too long. Under the plan, trips could be offered in downtown Boca Raton, and riders may request and track their rides through an app, similar to popular transit services such as Uber and Lyft.
» More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Research Trends
Going 'back to the future' to forecast the fate of a dead Florida coral reef
What can thousands of years of history tell us about what lies ahead for coral reef communities? A lot. In a new study, Florida Atlantic University researchers and collaborators provide geological insights into coral range expansions by reconstructing the composition of a Late Holocene-aged subfossil coral death assemblage in an unusual location in Southeast Florida and comparing it to modern reefs throughout the region.
» Read more from Phys.org.
In case you missed it:
