Florida

Florida jobless rate dips in June

Published

2 years ago

July 22, 2022

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Regardless of elevated issues about layoffs and a looming recession, Florida’s unemployment price dipped in June.

The state Division of Financial Alternative on Friday launched a report that mentioned the June price was 2.8 p.c, down from a revised 2.9 p.c in Could. The June quantity represented 303,000 Floridians unemployed in a workforce of 10.633 million.

The June price was a lower from 4.8 p.c in June 2021, when 499,000 individuals have been out of labor.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ workplace seized on the brand new price, saying Florida’s labor drive has grown by 2.8 p.c over the previous yr in comparison with the nationwide price of 1.8 p.c.

“Regardless of Biden administration insurance policies which have produced document inflation, skyrocketing gasoline costs, and slowing nationwide GDP (gross home product), Florida continues to outpace the nation with sturdy job progress and an growing labor drive,” DeSantis mentioned in a information launch.

The discharge additionally mentioned the state’s labor drive was up by 40,000 individuals previously month, a rise of 0.4 p.c, whereas the nationwide labor drive shrunk by 353,000 in the identical time, a 0.2 percentage-point discount.

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The nationwide unemployment price has hovered round 3.6 p.c since March, after it was 5.9 p.c in June 2021.

DeSantis, who’s extensively considered as a possible 2024 Republican presidential candidate, has warned for months a few potential recession.

Whereas Florida’s unemployment price has decreased, the weekly common of individuals submitting first-time jobless claims jumped from 3,984 over 4 weeks in March to six,813 in the course of the previous 4 weeks.

Additionally, for example, Tropicana final week suggested the state that it could lay off 27 individuals round Sept. 13 from a Fort Pierce plant due to the drop in orange manufacturing throughout Florida.

“Given these unlucky and unexpected enterprise circumstances, the way forward for the fruit processing operations on the Fort Pierce plant is very unsure, and this closure is anticipated to be everlasting,” the corporate wrote to the Division of Financial Alternative.

Additionally, CapTel Service Specialists, which offers captioning providers to individuals with listening to loss, suggested the state on Wednesday it expects in September to completely let go 243 staff in Orlando and 104 staff in Tampa, because it begins to supply “a brand new expertise that gives clients with a alternative of receiving captions by way of a fully-automated” system.

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Florida’s 10 main employment sectors are up in jobs from final yr, however the June report confirmed a month-to-month decline of two,400 development jobs, 2,200 authorities jobs and 600 information-technology jobs.

However state economists pointed to positives.

Jobs within the leisure and hospitality fields, which nonetheless have floor to get better after large losses early within the COVID-19 pandemic, had the most important acquire in June at 12,100 new jobs, adopted by schooling and well being providers which grew by 7,800 positions.

The state’s labor drive was up 339,000 individuals from pre-pandemic ranges, however has seen will increase in individuals quitting jobs for 15 consecutive months.

Adrienne Johnston, chief economist for the Division of Financial Alternative mentioned that folks voluntarily exiting jobs signifies “people are extra optimistic about their skill to seek out work in the event that they go away their present job.”

“Because the labor drive expands, and the pool of individuals experiencing persistent unemployment shrinks, voluntary transitions will naturally are inclined to develop as a share of unemployment,” Johnston mentioned.

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Florida was certainly one of 10 states to document unemployment price declines in June and certainly one of 20 with charges beneath the nationwide mark, based on the U.S. Division of Labor.

Missouri had the largest drop, a 0.3 percentage-point discount, to 2.8 p.c. Minnesota has the bottom unemployment price at 1.8 p.c.

The District of Columbia had the very best unemployment price, 5.5 p.c, adopted by New Mexico at 4.9 p.c.

Throughout Florida, the very best unemployment price was in rural Hendry County at 5.3 p.c, adopted by Highlands County at 4.6 p.c. The bottom price was 1.9 p.c in Monroe County, which incorporates the Florida Keys. Miami-Dade County was subsequent lowest at 2.2 p.c, and St. Johns County was at 2.3 p.c.

The statewide price is seasonally adjusted, whereas the county charges will not be.

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Florida

Early look at Florida State football’s season opener opponent Georgia Tech

Published

2 hours ago

July 4, 2024

Press Room

Early look at Florida State football’s season opener opponent Georgia Tech

Before you renew your passport and book your flight to Dublin, Ireland, lets take a dive in Florida State’s football ACC opponent Georgia Tech.

The 2024 football season is only about a month away.

Florida State football will soon start fall camp to prepare for its season opener against Georgia Tech in the annual Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland, at Aviva Stadium.

The game is set for Aug. 24 at noon EST on ESPN.

It is the second time two ACC teams face off in Dublin. For FSU, it will be the first time in program history that Seminoles participate in an international game.

Georgia Tech will be the second time it has played at Aviva Stadium. The last time the Yellow Jackets played in Ireland was in 2016, when they lost to Boston College, 17-16.

The ACC opener can set the bar for either side.

FSU is coming off a 13-1 season, missing the College Football Playoff. Its only loss was to Georgia in the Capital One Orange Bowl.

This season will be a clean slate for Mike Norvell, who is entering his fifth season as head coach of the Seminoles.

So, what does Georgia Tech look like? We take an early look.

Who is Georgia Tech’s head coach

Brent Key will be entering his second season with Georgia Tech. In his first year, the Yellow Jackets went 7-6 (5-3 in the ACC).

FSU-GT all-time record

15-11-1, FSU

Last meeting between FSU and Georgia Tech

FSU defeated Georgia Tech 41-16 in the last meeting on Oct. 29, 2022.

Georgia Tech’s top players

Offense:

QB Haynes King (2,842 passing yards, 27 TDs, 737 rushing yards, 10 TDs), RB Jamal Haynes (174 carries, 1,059 yards, 7 TDs), OG Joe Fusile

Defense:

DL Zeek Biggers (40 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 INT), LB Kyle Efford (81 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT)

Georgia Tech’s key losses, additions

Key losses:

S Jaylon King, DL Eddie Kelly,

Key additions:

TE Ryland Goede, TE Jackson Hawes, OL Keylan Rutledge, DL Thomas Gore, DL Jordan van den Berg, DE Romello Height, DB Warren Burrell, DB Syeed Gibbs,

Remember former FSU QB and Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke?

Of course, FSU fans certainly remember Weinke.

Weinke is in his third year as Georgia Tech’s quarterbacks coach, his second year as the Yellow Jackets’ co-offensive coordinator and his first year as Tech’s assistant head coach.

As a player, Weinke won the 2000 Heisman Trophy as a quarterback at FSU and led the Seminoles to a national championship in 1999. He went on to be selected in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft and enjoyed a seven-year career with the Carolina Panthers (2001-06) and San Francisco 49ers (2007)

Outlook on Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech was young last season but with great potential.

The Yellow Jackets played in tight ballgames and can open the season with an ACC upset. For the Seminoles, it will be an opportunity to pick up where they left off and make a statement as playoff contenders.

Florida State Seminoles 2024 Football Schedule

Aug. 24 vs. Georgia Tech *Dublin, Ireland at 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Sept. 2 vs. Boston College at 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Sept. 14 vs. Memphis
Sept. 21 vs. California
Sept. 28 at SMU
Oct. 5 vs. Clemson
Oct. 18 at Duke
Oct. 26 at (U) Miami
Nov. 2 vs. North Carolina
Nov. 9 at Notre Dame
Nov. 23 vs. Charleston Southern
Nov. 30: Florida
Dec. 7: ACC Championship

BOLD = ACC

* = Neutral Site

Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.

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Florida

You’re a Grand Old Flag – Bonita Springs Florida Weekly

Published

9 hours ago

July 4, 2024

Press Room

You’re a Grand Old Flag – Bonita Springs Florida Weekly

July 4th is here and it’s time to be patriotic, if only for a day. It’s time to celebrate being an American, proud of our country with all of its faults.

Independence Day marks the beginning – the day in 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress. It marks the beginning of freedom with all of its benefits and responsibilities, the beginning of a grand journey.

And it’s a day with important symbols, things like the Pledge of Allegiance, the American flag and the National Anthem.

Last week, I attended a meeting that started, as always, with the Pledge of Allegiance: “… to the flag … and to the republic for which it stands…” We tend to just mouth the words; it’s almost a reflex. Something at the beginning of meetings to get out of the way.

The symbol of the flag, the Star-Spangled Banner, is more substantive. It’s celebrated with statues (the flag planting on Iwo Jima) and paintings (Betsy Ross sewing the flag). Although the history is uncertain, we know that a flag design similar to the one used today was approved by the Continental Congress in 1777.

TRECKER

Today the flag is ubiquitous. It flies on homes, in yards, and on public and private buildings. And it’s apolitical. Both parties embrace it. Jasper Johns made a living painting different versions of it. Today the flag finds its way onto coins, stamps, tee shirts, even tattoos.

Then there’s the National Anthem. It, too, is everywhere. It’s sung before convention openings and sporting events, and it’s played whenever athletes win gold medals. I always expect to see a flyover right after “ … and the land of the free, and the home of the brave.” Unlike the flag, the anthem leaves room for interpretation. My wife always cringes when a vocalist jazzes it up.

The pledge, the flag, the anthem. They’re symbols and they’re important. But there’s more to patriotism than that.

Do woke masses on the left care less about their country than traditionalists on the right? I doubt it. Is the soccer team that disses the National Anthem less patriotic than we old-timers who revere the music? Not really. They just have a different vision of the country. Are the political lefties who want bigger government and more spending less patriotic than those on the right who want smaller government and less debt? Not at all. They just see patriotism in a different way. They pay their taxes and supply soldiers to fight just like the rest of us.

As the economists say, patriotism is fungible.

If you want the old-fashioned version, you should hearken back to the early 1900s when music made Americans proud of their heritage. George M. Cohan, the first “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” was an early practitioner. Few remember the names of his wonderful Broadway shows, but many over a certain age remember his music: “Give My Regards to Broadway,” “Over There,” “Harrigan,” “Forty-five Minutes from Broadway” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag.”

Memories fade. I don’t remember what I had for breakfast today, but I’ll never forget the first time I heard the Cohan lyrics.

“You’re a grand old flag,
“You’re a high-flying flag
“And forever in peace may you wave.

“You’re the emblem of
“The land I love,
“The home of the free and the brave.

“Ev’ry heart beats true
“’neath the red, white and blue,
“Where there’s never a boast or brag.

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
“Keep your eye on the Grand Old Flag.”

Happy Fourth of July!

Dave Trecker is a chemist and retired Pfizer executive living in Florida.

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