Jobless claims close to pre-pandemic levels

Heading into Thanksgiving and the holiday shopping rush, Florida had its lowest four-week run of new unemployment claims since before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the number of claims nationally, driven by strong job growth amid pre-holiday consumer spending, hit a five-decade low. The U.S. Department of Labor on Wednesday estimated 5,343 first-time unemployment claims were filed in Florida during the week that ended Nov. 20, putting the average during the past four weeks at 6,045 claims. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Despite judge’s ruling on Seminole Tribe’s sports betting, you can still place bets  

A federal district court judge late Wednesday rejected the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s request to put a temporary hold on the ruling invalidating the tribe’s online sports betting operation, leaving the games in legal limbo. Although the sports betting operation was declared unlawful, the tribe has continued to operate its online betting app. [Source: MIami Herald]

Column: Small businesses empower Florida’s future

In today’s economy, local businesses create nearly three out of four new jobs and contribute roughly 44 percent of the state’s entire GDP. During July of this year, Florida jumped from the 17th largest economy in the world to the 15th largest. And this past month, Florida’s job growth rate was three times faster than the country. [Source: Florida Times-Union]

On (board) with the shows: Cruise entertainment returns with new offerings

This fall marks the long-awaited return of Broadway. For many theater fans, this means the return of old favorites like “Wicked,” “The Phantom of the Opera” and “The Lion King.” For some companies, the reopening means the premiere of brand-new shows — such as “Six” and “Flying Over Sunset” — that were forced to close before their opening night due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But Broadway isn’t the only industry celebrating the return of live entertainment with new shows. [Source: Orlndo Sentinel]

South Florida luring first massive crypto ‘mining’ operation

Miami-Dade may soon be getting its first industrial Bitcoin mining facility operation. The city of Homestead is in talks to welcome a $15 million Bitcoin mining plant with thousands of computers that would use 10 megawatts of power — the equivalent to demand from at least 2,000 homes. [Source: Miami Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida man’s big Disney collection, born in Orlando, now headed for auction block [Orlando Sentinel]
Joel Magee, noted appraiser of toys, memorabilia and theme-park relics, is getting rid of his Disney collection. It’s a big deal, literally. Workers needed two weeks to move the items from his West Palm Beach house into five semis. Eventually, the Disney goods — ranging from name tags to retired ride vehicles — will be auctioned off, but they may pop up in exhibitions across the country before then.

› Six degrees of John Ringling: Tracing the roots of Sarasota’s arts and culture explosion [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
In the wake of Sarasota County’s centennial celebration, it is a good time to explore part of what has made the area so appealing to visitors and residents – the arts and culture that blossomed in the community. Without them, Sarasota might be just another beachfront community. You might consider this list Six Degrees of John Ringling, because most of the growth in the arts occurred because he brought the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus to Sarasota for its winter quarters.

› After pandemic hiatus, Miami Art Week returns with ‘an explosion’ of local art and artists [Miami Herald]
Californian Jared McGriff trained as an architect, got an MBA and worked in Bay Area tech. When the inveterate sketcher realized a few years ago that his true calling was making art, though, he made an unusual decision: He moved to Miami. It was an against-the-grain call. For years, homegrown Miami painters, sculptors, photographers and conceptual artists complained they had to decamp for New York or L.A. to make a name for themselves, not to mention a living. 

› Shoppers, vendors turn out in droves for St. Petersburg’s Shopapalooza [Tampa Bay Times]
The festival, a large-scale Small Business Saturday event in St. Petersburg, returned this weekend after being canceled last year due to the pandemic. And this time, Shopapalooza was bigger than ever. In 2019 — the last time the event was hosted — there were 225 vendors. This year, Shopapalooza came back with more than 300 vendors, said Ester Venouziou, event organizer and founder of LocalShops1, a local business directory.

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› Here’s what it takes to transport a NOAA satellite to from Colorado to Florida [Florida Today]
The unmistakable roar of four jet engines broke the dead-of-night silence at Kennedy Space Center earlier this month, marking the arrival of a massive Air Force transport at the landing facility once used for space shuttles. But this red-eye flight from Buckley Space Force Base near Denver, Colorado, had more than just a few dozen passengers onboard.

› For women working in Tampa Bay’s craft beer industry, there’s progress amid struggle [Tampa Bay Times]
They describe a culture in which male colleagues and customers often don’t see them as equals. Many say they have been overlooked or discredited because of their gender. Some detail instances of sexual harassment and misconduct. Many of the women acknowledge there has been progress in the industry in recent years, especially at breweries that have made equality and inclusion a priority. The future of Florida craft beer is female, they’ll say. But getting here has been anything but easy.

› Jacksonville City Council special election: What you need to know [Florida Times-Union ]
A special election for City Council will determine who fills the seat left vacant by the death of Tommy Hazouri. The race is for an at-large seat so any registered voter residing in Duval County can cast a vote. Jacksonville has a "jungle primary" where candidates of all party affiliations face off so all voters, regardless of party registration, can vote in the at-large race.

› Ice cream shop to open in food-focused hotel [Business Observer]
Chill Bros. Ice Cream is opening a new shop. The local ice cream maker is opening Dec. 3 in the Epicurean Hotel at 1207 S. Howard Ave. The company already has two other shops in the area — Ybor City and South Tampa. Chill Bros. is run by the Chillura family — Patton, Maximilian, Hadley and Nash — who make their all-natural ice cream from scratch.