1st-time jobless claims up by most since October

Florida last week had the largest number of first-time jobless claims since early October, as the state is set to release a December unemployment report on Friday.

The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday estimated 6,781 initial jobless applications were filed last week in Florida, up from 6,078 during the week that ended Jan. 6. Last week’s total was the most new claims since 6,790 were submitted during the week that ended Oct. 7.

The state has averaged 5,607 claims during the past four weeks, with that average skewed by decreases during holiday-shortened weeks. Since the start of October, the weekly average stands at 5,803.

Florida had a 2.9 percent unemployment rate in November, with an estimated 324,000 people out of work from a labor force of 11.19 million. The national unemployment rate in December was 3.7 percent.

FHP: Man arrested after going 140 mph onS

A Sarasota man was arrested for allegedly driving 140 miles per hour on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

According to arrest records, Omar Lewis, a 23-year-old from Jamaica and living in Sarasota, was driving southbound toward Manatee County on the Skyway Bridge in a black BMW sedan near the north rest area when a Florida Highway Patrol officer pace-clocked the vehicle hitting speeds of 140-150 miles per hour.

The speed limit on the bridge is 65 miles per hour.

The incident happened at approximately 2:50 a.m. Wednesday, court records show. Lewis was arrested and held on a $500 bond in the Pinellas County Jail. The bond was paid Thursday, according to court records.

“The vehicle changed lanes and went around other motorists, to include a fuel tanker truck, with no regard for their safety,” the arrest report read.

Lewis was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to the court document.

“(Lewis) had two adult passengers in the vehicle and stated he was trying to get them home for work in the morning,” the arrest report said. “Due to the dangerous driving and wanton disregard for the others, (Lewis) was arrested for reckless driving.”