Things To Do In SW Florida

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hiring by America’s employers picked up a bit in August from July’s tepid pace, and the unemployment rate dipped for the first time since March in a sign that the job market may be cooling but remains sturdy.

Employers added a modest 142,000 jobs, up from a scant 89,000 in July, the Labor Department said Friday. The unemployment rate ticked down to 4.2% from 4.3%, which had been the highest level in nearly three years. Hiring in June and July, though, was revised sharply down by a combined 86,000. July’s job gain was the smallest since the pandemic.

“The labor market is weakening,” said Eugenio Aleman, chief economist at Raymond James Financial. “It is not falling apart, but it is weakening.”

The cooling jobs figures underscore why the Federal Reserve is set to cut its key interest rate when it next meets Sept. 17-18, with inflation falling steadily back to its target of 2%. Still, the August jobs data raises the question of how large a rate cut the Fed will announce. It could decide to reduce its benchmark rate by a typical quarter-point or by a larger-than-usual half-point. In the coming months, the policymakers will also decide how much and how fast to cut rates at their subsequent meetings. read more

By JILL COLVIN, ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON and JOSH BOAK, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump suggested to business leaders Thursday that his plans to increase tariffs on foreign imports would solve seemingly unrelated challenges such as the rising cost of child care in the U.S.

The GOP presidential nominee promised to lead what he called a “national economic renaissance” by increasing tariffs, slashing regulations to boost energy production and drastically cutting government spending as well as corporate taxes for companies that produce in the U.S.

Trump was asked at his appearance before the Economic Club of New York about his plans to drive down child care costs to help more women join the workforce.

“Child care is child care, it’s something you have to have in this country. You have to have it,” he said. Then, he said his plans to tax imports from foreign nations at higher levels would “take care” of such problems.

“We’re going to be taking in trillions of dollars, and as much as child care is talked about as being expensive, it’s — relatively speaking — not very expensive, compared to the kind of numbers we’ll be taking in,” he said. read more

TALLAHASSEE — It would take years, possibly decades.

But Florida is looking at the possibility of adding nuclear power.

After state lawmakers this year required a study on the feasibility of expanding the use of nuclear energy, Florida Public Service Commission staff members Thursday met with experts and electric-industry officials to discuss what is known as “advanced” nuclear technology.

Myriad questions remain about issues such as costs and regulations. Also, future nuclear might not look like past nuclear. While advanced technology could include large nuclear plants, it also could involve small reactors that might be used by the military or industries.

It’s not just Florida studying the issue. The Biden administration said in May it was forming a working group as part of a goal of “delivering an efficient and cost-effective deployment of clean, reliable nuclear energy and ensuring that learnings translate to cost savings for future construction and deployment.” Also other states have been looking at advanced nuclear technology. read more

Demolition is underway at Griffin Park, the Orlando Housing Authority’s first and oldest housing community, marking the first step of plans to revitalize the historic community.

Plans are to transform it into new mixed-income housing tucked further away from the noise and pollution of Interstate 4.

Opened in 1941, Griffin Park has 23 buildings and sits on nine acres nestled between I-4 and the East-West Expressway. The community has been recognized by the National Register of Historic Places since 1996.

As part of the project, two buildings — one of which includes the management office for the community — will be preserved for historic purposes.

Orlando Housing Authority CEO Vivian Bryant, who gathered with others at the site Thursday for the demolition, said there’s no timeline yet for building new housing and that it’s contingent upon community input.

“In terms of rebuilding, we’ll work with the community, city and history museum to come up with a plan for what the new structures will look like and what the design will be,” she said. “Then we’ll go after financing to build.” read more

Boards of directors

Steve Langley, City of Mount Dora electric utility director, was elected as vice president of the Florida Municipal Electric Association board of directors.

Education

Jodi Long was appointed vice president for academic affairs at Daytona State College.

Real estate

Joshua A. Harris was appointed senior vice president at Winter Park-based CrossMarc Services LLC.

Joey Blakley was hired as senior director at Cushman & Wakefield and will be based in the firm’s Orlando office.

Other

Aminah Harris was appointed as president of Elevation Scholars, Orlando.

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