Good Morning, Sunland
It's Tuesday! Let's jump right in.
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In today's newsletter:
📊 St. Lucie County unemployment ticked up to 5.3% in June, ahead of Amazon layoffs in September
🔨 Blue Collar Big Dollar's August session still open with free trades training Aug 31 through Sept 4
📈 Florida among measles hot spots with 141 cases through July, up from 8 in 2025
📵 Cellphone bans don't boost test scores but improve well-being and reduce phone use
🛝 Florida recess law mandates 20 minutes daily free-play for grades K-5
Alright, let's jump right in!
Ja'Min Devon
Founder, Sunland News
🟠 Main Squeeze: St. Lucie County unemployment ticked up to 5.3% in June
The most recent unemployment numbers for St. Lucie County are in. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED, the county's unemployment rate for June 2026 sits at 5.3%, up 0.2 points from May 📊.
How this year has trended:
📅 January 2026: 5.7% (high point for the year)
📅 February 2026: 5.6%
📅 March 2026: 5.1%
📅 April 2026: 5.3%
📅 May 2026: 5.1%
📅 June 2026: 5.3%
For context, June 2025 was 4.6% and the long term average for the county going back to 1990 is 8.45%, so we are still well below historic norms.
Next release date: September 2nd, which will be the first data point that could begin to reflect the Amazon layoffs hitting in September 📅.
🥳 Out-of-Towner: Events Worth the Drive!
🎸 Cold Beers & Country Cheers with The RJ Preston Band, Uncle Mick's Bar & Grill, Jupiter. Saturday, 8:30PM. Details
🎪 Meltdowns Debut at Double Roads Tavern, Jupiter. Thursday, 5PM. Details
🏍️ Splish Splash Day IV, Space Coast Harley-Davidson, Palm Bay. Saturday, 11AM to 4PM, free family-friendly event. Details
🛍️ Gather & Grow Market, 695 Lynbrook Rd NW, Palm Bay. Saturday, 10AM. Details
🎨 Art After Dark at the Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach. Friday, 5PM. Details
🐢 Free Ranger-Led Tour of the Turkey Creek Sanctuary, Palm Bay. Sunday, 10AM, free. Details
🎨 Landscapes & Legends, The Scott Center at Holy Trinity, Melbourne. Saturday, 7PM. Details
Send More Events Here
💧 The Last Drop: Kindergarten Readiness, Foreclosures, Job Recovery, Palm Beach Improv
📈 Florida among measles hot spots – Florida logged 141 measles cases through July 2026, up from 8 in all of 2025. Seven states (Florida, South Carolina, Utah, Texas, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Arizona) account for over 84% of national cases, shattering last year's record. CDC data
📵 Cellphone bans don't boost test scores – Schools locking away phones boost student well-being and cut phone use, but a National Bureau of Economic Research study found no average impact on test scores, attendance, or in-class attention. Study
🛝 Florida recess law mandates 20 minutes daily – Florida requires 20 minutes daily free-play recess through grade 5, part of national wave. Nearly half of U.S. states now mandate recess or physical activity. Research ties unstructured play to better classroom motivation, behavior, attendance, and reduced stress. Research
📷 Palm Bay suspends Flock camera system – Palm Bay suspended its 16-camera license plate reader network after permitting review found cameras may not have been properly permitted or installed. Details
🛒 Publix reports strong earnings despite Aldi competition – Publix reported year-over-year gains in revenue and net earnings for first half of 2026. Second-quarter sales hit $15.7 billion (up 1%), net earnings up 20.5% to $1.7 billion. Chain opened 12 new Florida stores in first seven months. Report
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