Fed Unemployment Benefits End In FL + Brevard Pastors Arrested

Good Morning. My name is Carlos Hernandez and I am back to update you on the latest happening in the Orlando area.

In this issue, you’ll learn about two pastors and a church member arrested in the Capitol Hill riot investigation, layoffs coming to Frontier Communications, unemployment benefits in Florida, and more. Now, let’s get started.

Today’s weather: The high is 88 and the low is 75. The chance of rain is 40%.

Here are the top 5 stories happening around Orlando:

1. Father and Son pastors of Global Outreach Ministries in Melbourne were arrested along with another church member in connection to the January 6th Capitol Hill riots by the Justice Department, bringing the total arrested in Brevard County to 6. (Click Orlando)

2. Frontier Communications will lay off 107 people in Central Florida between August 17-31, according to a state notice. Positions impacted include sales and customer service. (Orlando Business Journal)

3. Florida will stop paying federal unemployment benefits this weekend. The benefits will continue until at least September in dozens of other states. Floridians will max out benefits from now on at $275 per week in state benefits, which equates to about $6.87 per hour and is among the lowest payouts in the country. (Orlando Sentinel)

4. A controversial new Florida law signed by Governor DeSantis will allow nursing home facilities to hire less experienced employees to supplement the work of nursing assistants. It was meant to be a temporary solution to a nursing shortage and is now permanent. (Tampa Bay Times)

5. A 94-acre historic Hungerford site in Eatonville is up for sale by Orange County Public Schools. They hope to create a mixed-use development hub with retail, office, and residential use. (Orlando Weekly)

Today in Orlando:

• The Hive: A Makerspace at Orlando Science Center. (9 a.m.)
• Pride Paddle Parade on Lake Ivanhoe. (9 a.m.)
• Butterfly Gardens for Central Florida at Harry P. Leu Gardens. (9:30 a.m.)
• The BLACK Market Pop-up Shop at Absolute Excellence Preparatory Academy. A community pop-up shop, highlighting businesses owned and operated by Black professionals. (10 a.m.)
• Brunch on Saturday at City Pub. (11:30 a.m.)
• Kids Classes at Salsa Heat Dance Studio. (11 a.m.)
• Summerween at Ivanhoe Village. (11 a.m.)
• Lake Nona's Great American Weekend. (4 p.m.)

Orlando Patch Notebook:

• At least 159 are now missing in the South Florida condo collapse as the death toll climbs to over 4.
• President Biden signed the bill on Friday designating Pulse a national memorial.
• Hopper analyzed travel around the country and found Orlando is the cheapest travel destination based on airfare and hotel rates.
• Red Lobster CEO Kim Lopdrop is retiring.
• Orlando Pride signed English defender Amy Turner, who previously played for Manchester United.

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That's all for today. I will be back tomorrow with the latest happening in Orlando. My inbox is open if you have any tips to send or want to reach out: orlando@patch.com.

-Carlos Hernandez

About me: I have lived in Florida since 1999 and covered the Orlando area for nearly 10 years, mainly with a focus on food through my blog at CarlosEats.com.