New applications dip for jobless assistance in Florida — but are economic gains slowing?

The number of new applications for jobless aid fell in Florida last week, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday — but there are already signs that the state’s impressive economic gains may be slowing. For the week ending April 17, new jobless claims fell from 24,402 to 16,212. Yet the latest figure is above the pandemic low seen earlier this month of 15,025. And the number of so-called continuing claims, or those who have filed for unemployment for at least two consecutive weeks, continues to remain above 100,000. In the latest week, continuing claims fell from 129,186 to 113,419. [Source: Miami Herald]

Business Beat - Week of April 23rd

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COVID in Florida: ‘We have a small window’ to get virus under control

Demand for COVID vaccinations is slipping in Florida, just as public health officials are noticing a worrisome trend: hospitalizations and case numbers are ticking up while a variant is spreading rapidly. The concern: Florida is missing its window to shut down the virus. “We need to up the vaccination rate quickly,” said Dr. Edwin Michael, an epidemiologist at the University of South Florida. “That’s the only way out. We need to do it fast before a mutation arises that will have consequences. We have a small window before that can occur.” [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida marijuana legalization dealt blow by Florida Supreme Court

A high profile effort to legalize marijuana was all but killed by the Florida Supreme Court Thursday. In a 5-2 decision, justices ruled a Constitutional ballot initiative by Make it Legal Florida to be “misleading.” The ruling came after Attorney General Ashley Moody asked for the Court to advise whether the potential constitutional ballot initiative would be suitable for a future ballot. [Source: Tampa Bay Times ]

Sports betting may be heading to Florida in deal agreed to by DeSantis, Seminole Tribe

As Florida’s legislative session winds down, a perennial rumor has surfaced— a sweeping gambling deal is about to be unveiled that would bring sports betting to Florida. Closed-door talks have been ongoing about an elusive agreement involving players in Florida’s complicated gambling landscape. Getting to the finish line, though, will involve jumping numerous political and legal hurdles, and the waning days of Florida’s legislative sessions often abound with speculation that a gambling deal is ready to be approved. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Miami Herald.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida House overwhelmingly approves consumer privacy bill [AP]
The Florida House resoundingly approved a consumer privacy bill on Wednesday, giving the public an opportunity to regain ownership of the personal data collected by companies and the right to sue companies for mishandling information in a marketplace where consumers themselves have become lucrative commodities.

› Earth Day features climate change efforts, including Florida mayors’ contest to cut carbon [Orlando Sentinel]
Earth Day 2021 erupted Thursday with announcements about climate change fighting, varying widely from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiling enhanced goals, U.S. truck manufacturers touting biofuels and the mayors of some of Florida’s largest cities kicking off a “friendly” competition. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor announced a contest to see who can push their communities the fastest toward a carbon-free finish line.

› Ben and Jerry’s opening scoop shop in Midtown Tampa [Tampa Bay Times]
Ben and Jerry’s is returning to Tampa Bay. The tie-dyed Vermont ice cream line will open a new “Scoop Shop” at Midtown Tampa, the developer announced on social medi. While pints of Phish Food and Cherry Garcia abound in grocery freezers across Tampa Bay, it’s been years since the area had a scoop shop. There once was a shop at St. Petersburg’s old Baywalk complex (now Sundial), and another at the University of South Florida, but those closed about a decade ago. The closest existing Scoop Shop is in Sarasota.

› Manatee deaths on the rise in Florida: Lack of seagrass could be to blame [WWSB]
More manatees have died this year in the state of Florida than all of last year. It’s looking more and more like a record will be broken. Some people have even been discovering dead manatees. Experts say a lack of seagrass is the problem and they are starving to death. They say algae blooms are causing a lot of the seagrass to disappear in some parts of the state.

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› New autism center in Cape Coral is first for Southwest Florida [Fort Myers News-Press]
The 3,900-square-foot support center, officially named the Family Initiative Lizbeth Benacquisto Autism Support Center after the former Florida Senate member, is Southwest Florida’s first facility dedicated to championing individuals with the Autism Spectrum Disorder as well as their families.

› At 22 South, a new kind of food hall takes shape in St. Petersburg [Tampa Bay Times]
When members of the Callaloo Group decided to open a food hall inside St. Petersburg’s Historic Manhattan Casino, they knew they had their work cut out for them. For one, they’d operated a different restaurant in the city-owned space before — one that didn’t quite take off as planned. Food halls are popular, but what would make theirs stand apart from others? And how could they honor the building’s legacy while fostering economic development and supporting the surrounding community?

› $9.2 million conveyor in review for Amazon in Jacksonville  [Jacksonville Daily Record]
Amazon.com’s West Jacksonville investment continues. The Seattle-based e-commerce retailer, with 12 identified but not all confirmed area locations, is building-out a sortation center in AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center. The city is reviewing a permit application for a $9.2 million project to install conveyors and sortation equipment in the 278,237-square-foot facility at 13450 Waterworks St. at southwest POW-MIA Memorial Parkway and Waterworks Street.

›Parrot Heads rejoice: Jimmy Buffett sets four outdoor concerts in Delray Beach in May [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
For many the perfect harbinger of better days ahead, Jimmy Buffett will return to live performances with four socially distanced outdoor concerts on Delray Beach’s Old School Square 8 p.m. May 13-14, 17-18. Tickets to see Jimmy Buffett with Coral Reefer Friends go on sale 10 a.m. Monday, April 26. The cure for your pandemic blues is not cheap: Pods of four seats start at $450.