Things To Do In SW Florida

TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s unemployment rate held at 3.7% in July, with a state economist saying demand remains high for workers.

“The number of job openings is up from the same point in the year before,” Jimmy Heckman, chief of workforce statistics and economic research at the Florida Department of Commerce, said Friday. “So, we are really seeing strong demand for labor, which will give opportunities to unemployed Floridians.”

The unemployment rate also was 3.7% in April, May and June. A monthly report released Friday by the Department of Commerce said 417,000 people qualified as unemployed in July, up 2,000 from June. The labor force increased by 3,000 to 11.196 million.

Florida’s jobless rate in July 2024 was 3.4%. The number of unemployed people increased by 35,000 from July 2024 to last month, while the labor force grew by 25,000, according to the Department of Commerce report.

Private-sector employment increased by 5,700 in July, after dropping by 21,000 jobs in June. Heckman said while “that’s something that we’re watching,” no industries have showed sharp declines. read more

Exterior signs for the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. People who have been living in this extended stay Howard Johnson Hotel were notified that they have until Monday to vacate the premises, as the building is unsafe. The owner of the building collected rent checks – about $250 for the week – the day before everyone got evicted. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Notice to vacate at the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. People who have been living in this extended stay Howard Johnson Hotel were notified that they have until Monday to vacate the premises, as the building is unsafe. The owner of the building collected rent checks – about $250 for the week – the day before everyone got evicted. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Open hotel room, with no door lock at the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) An empty pool at the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. People staying at the hotel were told to vacate the premises by Monday, as the building is unsafe. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Roxie Streeter, who has been staying at the hotel for the last couple of weeks, talks to the media about the situation — Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. People who have been living in this extended stay Howard Johnson Hotel were notified that they have until Monday to vacate the premises, as the building is unsafe. The owner of the building collected rent checks – about $250 for the week – the day before everyone got evicted. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Notice to vacate at the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. People who have been living in this extended stay Howard Johnson Hotel were notified that they have until Monday to vacate the premises, as the building is unsafe. The owner of the building collected rent checks – about $250 for the week – the day before everyone got evicted. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Garbage piles up in the hallways of the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. People who have been living in this extended stay Howard Johnson Hotel were notified that they have until Monday to vacate the premises, as the building is unsafe. The owner of the building collected rent checks – about $250 for the week – the day before everyone got evicted. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Exterior signs for the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. People who have been living in this extended stay Howard Johnson Hotel were notified that they have until Monday to vacate the premises, as the building is unsafe. The owner of the building collected rent checks – about $250 for the week – the day before everyone got evicted. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Two tourists from Mexico who had reservations at the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025, try to arrange alternate accommodations. They booked their stay online. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Laundry room at the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. People who have been living in this extended stay Howard Johnson Hotel were notified that they have until Monday to vacate the premises, as the building is unsafe. The owner of the building collected rent checks – about $250 for the week – the day before everyone got evicted. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Exterior signs for the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. People who have been living in this extended stay Howard Johnson Hotel were notified that they have until Monday to vacate the premises, as the building is unsafe. The owner of the building collected rent checks – about $250 for the week – the day before everyone got evicted. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Brian Postlewait of the Homeless Services Network, talks to the media outside the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. People who have been living in this extended stay Howard Johnson Hotel were notified that they have until Monday to vacate the premises, as the building is unsafe. The owner of the building collected rent checks – about $250 for the week – the day before everyone got evicted. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) HoJo poster on the lobby windows of the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. People who have been living in this extended stay Howard Johnson Hotel were notified that they have until Monday to vacate the premises, as the building is unsafe. The owner of the building collected rent checks – about $250 for the week – the day before everyone got evicted. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Hotel resident Michelle shows a photo of $1000 in cash that she paid at to the front desk of the hotel earlier this week, to stay there for the next four weeks — Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. People who have been living in this extended stay Howard Johnson Hotel were notified that they have until Monday to vacate the premises, as the building is unsafe. The owner of the building collected rent checks – about $250 for the week – the day before everyone got evicted. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida vehicle arrives at the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. People who have been living in this extended stay Howard Johnson Hotel were notified that they have until Monday to vacate the premises, as the building is unsafe. The owner of the building collected rent checks – about $250 for the week – the day before everyone got evicted. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Missing fire extinguishers at the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. People who have been living in this extended stay Howard Johnson Hotel were notified that they have until Monday to vacate the premises, as the building is unsafe. The owner of the building collected rent checks – about $250 for the week – the day before everyone got evicted. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, and other agencies help residents of the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. People who have been living in this extended stay Howard Johnson Hotel were notified that they have until Monday to vacate the premises, as the building is unsafe. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Fallen light post and the exterior sign for the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. People who have been living in this extended stay Howard Johnson Hotel were notified that they have until Monday to vacate the premises, as the building is unsafe. The owner of the building collected rent checks – about $250 for the week – the day before everyone got evicted. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, and other agencies help residents of the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. People who have been living in this extended stay Howard Johnson Hotel were notified that they have until Monday to vacate the premises, as the building is unsafe. The owner of the building collected rent checks – about $250 for the week – the day before everyone got evicted. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, and other agencies help residents of the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. People who have been living in this extended stay Howard Johnson Hotel were notified that they have until Monday to vacate the premises, as the building is unsafe. The owner of the building collected rent checks – about $250 for the week – the day before everyone got evicted. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando Police officers lock up the automated door to the lobby of the Howard Johnson by Wyndham hotel at 5858 International Drive, on Friday, August 15, 2025. People who have been living in this extended stay Howard Johnson Hotel were notified that they have until Monday to vacate the premises, as the building is unsafe. The owner of the building collected rent checks – about $250 for the week – the day before everyone got evicted. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)

By DÁNICA COTO and RIO YAMAT

VEGA BAJA, Puerto Rico (AP) — Tourists slipped into borrowed red polyester vests from the Puerto Rico supermarket where Bad Bunny once worked, grinning as they posed for photographs in the superstar’s old uniform.

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They listened intently as his former boss recalled how he loved classic salsa songs. “He always liked going to the parking lot to gather the shopping carts because it seemed that he felt free there and would sing,” said Delza Vélez, the head of HR at Econo, the supermarket.

In 2016, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio quit that job, leaving Vélez a note. Two years later, he launched his first album — and the singer known as Bad Bunny stepped into stardom. read more

By STAN CHOE, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are edging back from record levels on Friday, led by drops for technology companies, but Wall Street is still heading toward the finish of another winning week.

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The S&P 500 slipped 0.4% from the all-time high it set the day before, though it remains on track for its fourth winning week in the last five. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 52 points, or 0.1%, after flirting in the morning with its own record, which was set in December. The Nasdaq composite was down 0.6%, as of 11:45 a.m. Eastern time. read more

By Lauren Schwahn, NerdWallet

A six-figure salary used to be the benchmark of wealth and success. But now, it’s not uncommon for high earners to feel financially stretched.

That raises the question: What does it actually take to be rich? We asked a few six-figure earners to share their thoughts.

“Rich” is subjective

For many high earners, being rich isn’t about hitting some magic number, driving a flashy car or buying a mansion. It’s about living the lifestyle you want without giving money a second thought.

Rob Bacharach, a certified financial planner near Charlotte, North Carolina, says being rich means having the freedom to spend without incurring debt. Wealth traditionally comes from building assets, he says, but having the time to do as you please while still covering your bills can make you rich, too.

A high income doesn’t always guarantee those circumstances.

“I work with a few young surgeons. They are mid-30s, they make over $1 million per year, they live in large houses, but their net worth is negative $1 million between mortgages and student loans,” Bacharach says. “These individuals are not rich.” read more