Florida ended unemployment benefits early. Did people return to work?

Five months ago, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration announced it was ending $300 per week federal unemployment benefits early to spur Floridians back to jobs. “The jobs are there,” DeSantis said in May. “I’m confident, with almost half a million job openings, that people are going to be able to get a job and get back to work.” So, what happened next? Worker shortages persist. National studies show that ending the benefits early had minimal impact on job growth. And Floridians who had their benefits end say they still haven’t found work. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Florida Bar post-Surfside report calls for tougher condo rules on reserves and inspections

The report released this week proposes making it easier to dissolve condominium associations when a building falls into disrepair, requiring updated maintenance plans every five years. The recommendations also included forcing condo associations to set up borrowing options if they choose to waive current requirements for maintaining cash reserves for repairs as structures age. [Source: Miami Herald]

Florida’s economy will slow as COVID stimulus runs out, state economist warns

“As federal funds start to dry up and the stimulus effects start to pull back out, you’re going to have a decline back to normal levels,” Amy Baker, coordinator of the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research, said during a presentation Thursday to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The real gross domestic product has grown to about 4.5%, but it should taper down to about 2.5% during the next few years, Baker said. That, however, doesn’t offset a current forecast, which estimates that lawmakers will have an additional $2.6 billion to spend in general-revenue taxes, along with billions of dollars in unspent federal stimulus money, as they begin to piece together an election-year budget. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Judge denies Sarasota business from requiring customers be vaccinated against COVID-19

A Leon County circuit court judge denied a request from a Sarasota business to allow it to require customers be vaccinated, upholding a state law championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis banning “vaccine passports.” The law “assures open markets,” Judge Layne Smith wrote in his order denying the motion for temporary injunction. “Prohibiting businesses from requiring patrons to produce documentary proof of vaccination or recovery may or may not be a good idea,” the judge said. “Notwithstanding, that decision belongs solely to the legislature and is subject to approval or rejection by the voters at the ballot box.” [Source: WFLA]

'At the end of the Delta wave': Health experts optimistic as COVID cases decline in Florida

New this week, the FDA vaccine advisory panel unanimously recommended booster shots for the single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine, as the fight to keep cases down continues. “We’re at the end of the Delta wave,” said Dr. Thomas Unnasch, Distinguished Professor of Public Health at USF. He says he’s “optimistic” about where we’re headed. [Source: WFTS]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Forensic accountant helps save iconic steakhouse brand [Business Observer]
In a long and distinguished career, Jerry McHale had never worked on a case like the Palm Restaurant.

› USF wants the public to weigh in as it selects a new president [WUSFSource]
Some speakers at a recent town hall want a consensus builder and problem solver, while others would prefer someone who knows both Florida's higher education and political systems.

› Moishe Mana buys more land in Miami’s Allapattah [The Real Deal]
Portion of the assemblage was in contract to a different buyer until pandemic

› Physicians Regional Healthcare System taking over Landmark Hospital in North Naples [Naples News]
Physicians Regional Healthcare System is expanding its bed capacity and its orthopedic surgery program.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Governor candidate Crist calls for full marijuana legalization [WJXT]
Democratic U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, a candidate for governor of Florida, said Thursday he supports full marijuana legalization in the state and wants to expunge all existing charges and sentences for misdemeanor and third-degree felony marijuana possession.

› FSU awarded $12.8 million NIH to diversify early career researchers [Tallahassee Democrat]
A team of Florida State University researchers from the College of Nursing, College of Medicine and College of Arts & Sciences has received a $12.8 million National Institutes of Health grant to build a diverse community of early career researchers committed to improving mental health and chronic disease prevention and management.

› Health clubs want you back. Here’s what they’re offering. [South Florida SunSentinel]
Health club chains are pedaling hard to woo pandemic-weary consumers back to the gym.