Improved jobless rate leads to scaled-back benefits

Floridians laid off in the new year will get seven fewer weeks of unemployment benefits because the state’s jobless rate improved in 2021. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity on Tuesday announced that a formula used to determine the maximum number of weeks of benefits will revert from a pandemic-boosted 19 weeks to 12 weeks. [Source: News Service of Florida]

2021: A year to remember in Florida politics

Typically, odd-numbered years offer little political excitement, but 2021 was anything but typical.  Across the state, Governor Ron DeSantis battled local districts over mask mandates and vaccinations, calling a special session to block efforts by employers to keep their workers safe by requiring vaccinations. And critics argue the Republican-controlled Legislature during its session continued to take the side of big business over the will of voters by overturning the election results in Key West, which had voted to protect the environment by limiting the number of massive cruise ships which can dock in their port.[Source: CBS Miami]

Florida Trend Exclusive

Florida company introduces digital feature allowing consumers to buy directly from sellers

Fast, a Tampa-based e-commerce checkout-service firm, has introduced a feature that allows consumers to buy directly from sellers who use Fast’s online and mobile platforms while avoiding logins or online shopping carts. Someone reading an online article about a coffee maker, for instance, might find a Fast link button somewhere in the article. Click it — and you’ve bought the coffee maker. [Source: Florida Trend]

Florida hospitals start feeling impact of omicron surge. How bad will it be?

As Florida enters another COVID-19 surge, many are wondering whether to expect a repeat of last summer’s delta wave, when patients gasped for breath in packed intensive care units and daily death counts topped 400. The initial evidence, based on hospitalization data and interviews with experts, appears to point toward no. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Short-staffed Central Florida businesses brace for busy New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is almost here, and lots of people are heading into Central Florida for two big college football bowl games. For many companies, all of the business is a mixed blessing. Tornatore's Cafe & Pizzeria in College Park is known for its personal service. But now, it's very personal. "We are out working the counter doing everything we can to keep the place afloat," Denny Tornatore, owner of Tornatore's Cafe & Pizzeria in College Park, said. The owner said they have the customers. But they don't have the staff. [Source: WESH]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Derelict boats a growing issue in Northwest Florida [WEAR]
Derelict or abandoned boats are a growing problem not only in Northwest Florida but across the state. Florida Fish and Wildlife consider some of the vessels a danger to not only the environment, but also boats on the waterways.

› Top Sarasota-Manatee store openings in 2021 [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Last year was a tough one for brick-and-mortar retailers, marked by shutdowns, corporate bankruptcies and stressed workers. Despite the pandemic pushing a large part of the public toward buying online, retailers persevered and found new ways to adapt their in-store models for 2021 and beyond.

› Disney’s Golden Oak, Shaq’s estate dominate list of 10 most expensive Orlando estates that sold in 2021 [Orlando Sentinel ]
Orange County’s luxury residential scene demanded some high prices in 2021. Low-interest rates and elaborate marketing campaigns with flashy home showing parties and prop Lamborghinis set the stage for an extremely hot year in the luxury real estate market. Wealthy buyers were enchanted by Disney World’s Golden Oak community and drawn to the homes of professional athletes and local developers.

› ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ just moved to Miami. He’s already fitting in like a local [Miami Herald]
As everyone still believes Miami is the promised land, we keep getting flashy new residents by the droves. The latest addition to the 305? The Wolf of Wall Street, aka Jordan Belfort. Belfort, who recently eloped in Las Vegas with his third wife, Argentine model Cristina Invernizzi, has set down stakes in the Magic City from Los Angeles, according to a release from his publicist.

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› Accused of refusing aid to disabled kids, a Florida agency responded – by hiring a PR guru [Miami Herald]
Dan Bookhout was accustomed to fighting over almost everything in his dealings with Florida’s Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association, the program underwriting care for his severely disabled daughter, Arwen. The program’s “no, no, no culture,” he said, was “exhausting.” 

› Orlando virtual restaurants grow with Robert Earl’s TikTok Kitchen, Tijuana Flats’ Smack Wings [Orlando Sentinel]
Orlando restaurateur Robert Earl plans to offer eateries a chance to serve a delivery-only menu based on trends from the popular short video app TikTok in 2022, just the latest twist in the growing virtual restaurant trend. Virtual restaurants offer menus that existing restaurants can add with different names on delivery apps such as Uber Eats without the expense of additional physical space for a new business.

› Hooters parent company changes its name [Tampa Bay Times]
The Clearwater-based company that owns and operates Hooters restaurants is changing its name. Hooters Management Corporation is now known as HMC Hospitality Group, according to a media release. HMC Hospitality Group operates 22 Hooters restaurants and 5 Hoots locations in Tampa Bay and Chicago. The first Hooters restaurant opened in 1983 in Clearwater.

› COVID hits Miami-Dade’s garbage department, and some cans left uncollected in driveways [Miami Herald]
A surge of COVID-19 cases sweeping through Miami-Dade County is colliding with the regular spike in garbage after the Christmas holidays, leaving some full trash cans on driveways as the county’s sanitation department struggles with staff shortages this week.