Florida January jobless rate at 2.6 percent

With service-related jobs topping employment gains, Florida’s unemployment rate dipped slightly as 2023 began. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity on Monday released a report showing the January jobless rate at 2.6 percent, down from a revised rate of 2.7 percent in December and down from 3.5 percent in January 2022. An estimated 286,000 Floridians qualified as out of work in January from a workforce of 10.855 million. The workforce grew by 15,000 from December and by 259,000 from January 2022. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Michael Yaworsky confirmed by Florida Cabinet as new insurance commissioner

With little comment, state Cabinet members Monday signed off on Gov. Ron DeSantis’ selection of Michael Yaworsky to serve as Florida insurance commissioner amid soaring rates for property insurance in the state. Yaworsky, who became interim commissioner last month, is a former vice chairman of the Florida Gaming Control Commission. He succeeds David Altmaier, who had been insurance commissioner since 2016 before stepping down in December. Yaworksy takes over the job amid an insurance crisis that has led to double- and sometimes triple-digit rate increases for homeowners and many small insurers becoming insolvent or leaving the state. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Gas prices are changing in Florida. How the spring driving season affects your wallet

With two of every five Floridians planning to hit the road for a spring vacation, gasoline prices have started to increase. The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas Monday in Florida was $3.31, up 9 cents over the past week, with the highest averages in South Florida and the lowest in the Panhandle. Prices nationally have been on the rise since the start of the month and averaged $3.47 on Monday. More from the News Service of Florida and the Miami Herald.

Trulieve tops $30 million in Florida pot initiative

The medical-cannabis company Trulieve contributed another $5 million last month to a ballot initiative aimed at legalizing recreational use of marijuana, bringing its total contributions to $30.5 million, according to a newly filed finance report. As of Feb. 28, Trulieve had provided all but $124.58 of the money raised by the political committee Smart & Safe Florida. The committee had spent $30.19 million, with almost all of the spending related to petition gathering and verification needed to get on the 2024 ballot. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Can Florida survive climate change? Here’s what the Aspen Ideas: Climate conference had to say

Some of the most pivotal climate-change questions — and potential solutions — focus on Florida. The Sunshine State, with its low elevation and 825 miles of shoreline, make it one of the planet’s most vulnerable locations for both sea-level rise and intensified weather events. So the state took center stage during the second annual Aspen Ideas: Climate conference, calling attention to some of the latest advancements: Wind and wave simulators that help make crucial findings about storms. Concrete hexagonal tubes that cities place off shore to help break up storm surge. A new housing development that withstands hurricanes — without losing power or internet. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Pasco won’t get that expanded scalloping season after all [Tampa Bay Times]
Scallop lovers may be disappointed. Despite a push from Pasco County and tourism officials, there will not be a longer scallop season this summer and that doesn’t sit well with everyone. But state officials say its for the long-term good of the scallop population.

› Orlando foreclosure activity climbed in February despite nationwide decrease [Orlando Business Journal]
More foreclosures began in Orlando and across Florida last month, despite a drop-off in foreclosure activity across the U.S. Metro Orlando foreclosure filings in February climbed 23% month over month to 371, while foreclosure filings dropped 3% nationwide, according to a March report by real estate data company Attom Data Solutions LLC.

› Famed national outdoor recreation retail store coming to Sarasota-Manatee [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Outdoor and recreation lovers will have a new option for their adventure needs this fall with the opening of outdoor retail giant REI Co-op in Sarasota's University Town Center Mall. Washington-based REI announced the opening of a 25,000-square-foot store Monday, 10 years after the company opened its first Florida location in Jacksonville.

› Jacksonville sees annual job growth in almost all sectors [Jacksonville Daily Record]
Jacksonville’s unemployment rate rose in January, a normal seasonal trend after workers hired for the holiday season are let go. However, Northeast Florida continues to see strong job growth, with almost every private industry sector reporting increased payrolls in the past year. The unemployment rate in the Jacksonville metropolitan area of Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties rose from a revised 2.2% in December to 2.5% in January, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity reported March 13.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Racing fans flock to Gainesville for 54th annual Gatornationals [Gainesville Sun]
Some call it “the roar,” while others say it's “the scream.” But for D.R. Chapman, the sound of revving Top Fuel dragsters washing over the Gainesville Raceway is “the thunder.” Pressed up against the fence just feet away from the explosive machines, Chapman’s felt the thunder quake in his chest for the past 11 years. He and four of his friends trek to Gainesville from West Palm for a taste of what 135,000 fans flock to every year — the smoke, the speed and, above all, the sound.

› Guy Fieri puts South Florida restaurants under the ‘Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives’ spotlight [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
South Florida restaurants are once again in Fieri’s culinary crosshairs, and he’s spotlighting five Broward and Palm Beach County eateries on “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives,” which kicked off its newest season on March 3. Fieri’s long-running travelogue series — which has saluted the comfort-food ingenuity of beloved pit-stops across the United States for almost two decades — lately seems to be stuck on the Sunshine State.

› Developer to provide update on $300M affordable housing project [Business Observer]
The developers behind a major affordable housing program in Tampa are holding a community event Tuesday to outline the plans for the new community to residents. The Related Group, along with the city officials, are showcasing Rome Yard, a mixed-use project along the West Tampa riverfront. The $300 million project is a joint venture between Related and the Tampa Housing Authority and the city of Tampa.

› The Miami-Dade Youth Fair is back. Is your stomach ready for the rides and weird food? [Miami Herald]
It’s fair time again in South Florida. The Miami-Dade County Youth Fair opens Thursday, March, 16, with the usual array of midway rides, exhibitions, concerts and, of course, freaky food. And about that food. You can make a complete meal out of what’s new on the menu this year. Main course: Miami Cuban Funnel Cake Sandwich. Drink: Pickle lemonade. Side: Pickle fries with cheese, bacon and ranch. Dessert: Fried milkshake.