Things To Do In SW Florida

By MATT OTT, Associated Press Business Writer

U.S. applications for unemployment benefits jumped to their highest level in two months last week but remain low relative to historical standards.

Jobless claim applications climbed by 17,000 to 242,000 for the week of Dec. 7, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s significantly more than the 220,000 analysts were forecasting and yet another data point that reflects a cooling labor market.

This week’s report also showed that continuing claims, the total number of Americans collecting jobless benefits, rose by 15,000 to 1.89 million for the week of Nov. 30.

The four-week average of weekly claims, which softens some of the week-to-week volatility, rose by nearly 6,000 to 224,250.

Weekly applications for jobless benefits are considered a proxy for U.S. layoffs.

While the job markets has shown some cracks recently, it remains broadly healthy and has held up better than many experts predicted considering that interest rates have been elevated in recent years. The Federal Reserve instituted a flurry of rate increases in 2022 and into 2023 to try to suppress the four-decade high inflation that took hold when the U.S. economy rebounded from the brief but sharp pandemic recession. read more

Now that we’re about midway through the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, let’s take stock and do some math. Yes, we’re updating the leaderboard for the celebrity narrators for Candlelight Processional, a centerpiece of the holiday season at Walt Disney World.

There’s been a little bit of movement at the top, and we’re left with a three-way tie in the category of Most Years Reading for Candlelight.

Absent from this year’s lineup is singer Steven Curtis Chapman, while actor Gary Sinise did not participate last year. So they each have 13 years of duty. Actor Neil Patrick Harris is on the list for both ‘23 and ‘24, bringing him to a total of 13 as well.

Call them co-captains of the Candlelight, if you will.

Just one level back, with 12 processionals proceeded over, are Marlee Matlin, who read last year but not this year, and Whoopi Goldberg, who returned this season after taking last year off. Edward James Olmos is the only other figure in double figures. When he reads on Christmas Eve this year (and Christmas Day and Boxing Day), it will be his 11th go-round. read more

By MICHELLE L. PRICE and COLLEEN LONG

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump used his image as a successful New York businessman to become a celebrity, a reality television star and eventually the president. Now, he finally will get to revel in one of the most visible symbols of success in the city when he rings the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday.

Walt Disney World has announced the first batch of singers who are slated to appear in Garden Rocks, the concert series that’s part of the upcoming Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.

Seven acts, each appearing for two days at the park’s America Gardens Theatre, have been announced so far for the 2025 event, which is scheduled to run from March 5 through June 2.

Performers, subject to change, scheduled for March include:

• March 7-8: Tommy DeCarlo (former lead singer of Boston).

• March 9-10: Air Supply — 50th Anniversary Celebration.

• March 14-15: Blue October.

• March 16-17: Rick Springfield.

• March 21-22: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone.

• March 23-24: 38 Special.

• March 28-29: Jason Scheff, longtime Chicago singer/bassist.

The concerts are included with regular Epcot admission. Menus for the festival’s outdoor kitchens and the topiary lineups have not yet been announced.

The 2025 event will mark the milestone 30th Flower & Garden festival.  The park is currently in the midst of the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, which ends Dec. 30. The Epcot International Festival of the Arts — including its Disney on Broadway concert series — is scheduled for Jan. 17-Feb. 24. Dates for next year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival have not yet been announced. read more

By KELVIN CHAN

TikTok has challenged a Canadian government order to shut down the Chinese video-sharing app’s business operations in the country that was imposed over national security concerns.