Florida’s November unemployment rate hits historic low

Florida’s unemployment rate dropped to a historic low of 3.1 percent in November, according to state figures released Friday. That’s a feat the state has only achieved two times in the past 40 years, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity said. The state added 12,100 jobs over the month, up less than 1 percent from October. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Orlando Sentinel.

Power-of-attorney has the power to be abused in Florida

A court-appointed guardianship is designed to protect those who can no longer make their own legal and medical decisions. Every choice those caretakers make and dollar they spend must be approved by a judge. Power-of-attorney has no such safeguards. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

After 50 years, why is spaceflight still so hard?

In the 1960s, the political will to attain the moon and fly past the Soviet Union translated to a significantly different funding curve. Huge appropriations early on meant development could proceed rapidly in the beginning, followed by gradual declines as missions were successful and objectives were achieved. In contrast, today's appropriations are relatively stable, and far smaller. [Source: Florida Today]

'Super Saturday' expected to rake in billions more than Black Friday

Even bigger than Black Friday, this past weekend's “Super Saturday” could end up being the biggest shopping day of the year. According to some predictions, it’s supposed to be $3 billion bigger. “Super Saturday” is also known as “Panic Saturday.” WINK News spoke to many shoppers in Southwest Florida who were in a rush to buy all the gifts on their Christmas list. [Source: WINK News]

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried ‘deeply disappointed’ in U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal

Fried, Florida’s only statewide elected Democrat, said she was “deeply disappointed” protections for seasonal growers were not included in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which is intended to replace the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement. The House approved the new deal, known as the USMCA, on Thursday. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› From barren to buzzworthy: Tampa and St. Pete’s downtown makeovers [Tampa Bay Times]
Ten years ago, still in the grip of the Great Recession, no one would have pegged downtown Tampa or St. Petersburg as buzzworthy. The demographics of both downtowns have radically transformed, bringing thousands of new residents. Each developed a different vibe: St. Pete celebrates it local, artsy feel while Tampa strives for the big-city atmosphere.

› Record low unemployment a boon for job-seekers in Broward and Palm Beach counties [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
With historically low unemployment in Broward and Palm Beach counties, you have more choices — and employers are offering better wages to secure your services. In November, the jobless rates in Broward and Palm Beach counties were 2.6 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively.

› Volusia tourism weathers the storm in 2019 [Daytona Beach News Journal]
After logging a record 10.2 million visitors in 2018, the tourism industry in Volusia County struggled to maintain momentum this year in the face of challenges that included a costly brush with a Labor Day hurricane and the looming prospect of a cloudier economic forecast.

› Carnival’s Mardi Gras cruise ship delivery date delayed, will now debut at Port Canaveral [Orlando Sentinel]
Carnival Cruise Line won’t be getting its new cruise ship Mardi Gras when expected, and the delay means it will now have its debut sailing out of Port Canaveral. Originally, the ship was expected to be delivered in August with its first eight sailings to begin starting Aug. 31 in Europe and New York before heading to its new home in Florida.

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› FPL to reduce power bills in 2020 as natural gas prices plummet [Palm Beach Post]
Florida Power & Light Co. says residential customers will see monthly electric bills fall by an average of $3.86 starting in January. FPL and other utilities have benefited from plummeting price of natural gas, a key energy source for power plants. The utility also says it’s reaping rewards from its investments in solar.

› Two years after Irma, reasons to give thanks: A roof over her head, no buckets at her feet [Florida Times-Union]
The Northeast Florida Long Term Recovery Organization is a collaborative network of governmental, business, faith-based and nonprofit organizations working together to help individuals and families in Duval and Nassau counties who need assistance recovering from Hurricane Irma.

› Ousted JEA CEO Aaron Zahn was ‘terminated’ by former employer in 2017, according to investor [Florida Times-Union]
John Semanik said he cautioned JEA board members about a relatively unknown business leader, Aaron Zahn, as they considered naming him the interim chief executive officer of the city-owned utility in 2018. Semanik is a major investor in BCR Environmental Inc., a company that treats bio-waste, and for eight years employed Zahn as its CEO.

› John Morgan challenges GOP leaders on minimum wage [Orlando Sentinel]
Orlando attorney John Morgan made a direct challenge to Florida Republicans on Friday over their opposition to his campaign to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 by 2026: “If you’ve got a better idea than my idea, do something.” Morgan also harshly criticized business groups for their opposition what will Amendment 2 on the 2020 ballot at a news conference at the Morgan & Morgan office in Orlando, claiming they prefer “slave labor.”