New weekly jobless claims spike big in Florida after Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton did more than pound the Florida peninsula Oct. 9 and 10, wreaking havoc on structures and people. It also delivered a powerful punch to the state’s employment. First-time unemployment claims for the week ending Oct. 19 saw the biggest increase for one week this year and the total number of initial jobless claims were highest this year. [Source: Florida Politics]
Business Beat - Week of October 25th
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Florida Icon: Ron Weaver
"How do you negotiate a big real estate deal? It's like eating an elephant - one bit at a time," said Weaver, founder of the charity Real Estate Lives and an advocate for affordable housing and transportation funding. He tells us: "My mom wanted me to be a minister. I wanted to be a doctor. I get to ninth grade high school chemistry and the sulfur gets me. And I’m thinking what’s next? The ministry? Or the law? Sulfur smells too much like Hell, which we lawyers really are afraid of." [Source: Florida Trend]
Python found eating deer shows they’re going after bigger prey in Florida
A 15-foot Burmese python was caught swallowing a “full-sized” deer in Southwest Florida, proving the invasive apex predators are ambushing and killing bigger prey. Burmese pythons are an invasive species in the Everglades and were introduced at some point in the mid to late 20th century. Over the last few decades, Burmese pythons have decimated local ecosystems, wiping out several mammal species. More from the Miami Herald, the Tampa Bay Times, and Live Science.
To help storm victims, Florida unveils free service that will review signed contracts for fraud
Victims of recent hurricanes in Florida who have signed contracts with public adjusters or repair contractors can have those contracts reviewed for free by attorneys working for the Florida Department of Financial Services. If any provisions of the contract are illegal, the attorneys will tell homeowners how they can cancel the contracts and avoid becoming victims of fraud. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› SpaceX Crew-8 completes record run with splashdown return off coast of Florida
The four members of the SpaceX Crew-8 mission are back on Earth after a record time in space completing their mission with a splashdown aboard the Crew Dragon Endeavour early Friday off the coast of Florida. After a nearly eight-month stay on board the International Space Station, NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt and Jeanette Epps along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin closed the hatch and undocked from the station at 5:05 p.m. Wednesday. The spacecraft then autonomously undocked and made the 34-hour trip home landing at 3:29 a.m. off the coast of Pensacola.
› Spirit conducted new merger talks with Frontier amid potential bankruptcy, reports say
The winds of merger talks and a potential bankruptcy filing are again engulfing South Florida-based Spirit Airlines as management is said to have engaged in renewed discussions about combining with a long-time suitor, Frontier Airlines, according to national reports.
› JEA recommends rate hikes for commercial and industrial
Jacksonville business owners may see a hike in basic monthly charges and usage rates for their utilities under JEA’s rate adjustment proposals for the next two fiscal years. Residents may see slight increases in their electric bills. The JEA board of directors will hear rate recommendations Tuesday, and rate scenarios can change up until late January. The board will decide on the rates in February 2025, and changes for fiscal year 2025 will go into effect in April.
› Where did Miami condo buyers go? Sales dropped nearly 20% in September
Condo sales fell by nearly 20% in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, more evidence that interest in South Florida high-rise living continues to plummet. Total existing condo sales fell by 19% in Miami-Dade compared to a year ago in September, from 1,090 deals to 883, according to the latest monthly housing report by the Miami Association of Realtors.
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› Brevard will seek Florida AG's opinion on tourism tax money for beach lifeguards
Brevard County will seek the Florida's Attorney General's Office opinion on the use of hotel tourism tax money to pay for lifeguards on Space Coast beaches, following a suggestion from the Tourism Development Council. Last month the TDC voted to seek the Attorney General's opinion on the matter before releasing the funds to pay for lifeguards. County commissioners this week voted unanimously to get the second opinion from the state.
› Famed Seltzer's steakhouse closed, St. Petersburg building sold
Harold Seltzer’s Steakhouse, which has served meals in the Tampa Bay market under two names for nearly 30 years, has closed its final restaurant. The Ross Realty Group, which represented Seltzer’s, announced Wednesday that the restaurant building at 3500 Tyrone Blvd. had been sold for $3.9 million. The buyer was Services Corporation International, a national funeral and cremation services company.
› This new luxury spot in Miami Beach could be the most exclusive night out ever
The new Harbour Club in Miami Beach has two faces: One that everyone is welcome to visit, and the other so exclusive that you need a membership to cross the threshold. Created by James Julius, formerly of The Dorchester and Annabel’s in London and ZZ’s Club in Miami’s Design District, the new hospitality destination in the Sunset Harbour neighborhood models itself after the private clubs of London.
› Disney Cruise Line fleet officially grows to 6 with delivery of Disney Treasure
Disney Cruise Line now has a fleet of six ships after taking delivery of the Florida-bound Disney Treasure at a ceremony in Eemshaven, Netherlands on Thursday. The line took possession of the 144,000-gross-ton sister ship to 2022’s Disney Wish from the Meyer Werft shipbuilding team after it completed sea trials this month in the North Sea. Its next trip will be a transatlantic voyage with an arrival at Port Canaveral expected on Nov. 12.