Friday's Daily Pulse | 1/15/2021 Florida’s unemployment claims more than triple to highest level since August Applications for jobless aid in Florida unexpectedly soared last week, the U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday — a sign that the economic misery wrought by the coronavirus pandemic continues. For the week ending Jan. 9, new applications for unemployment assistance tripled from 24,697 to 75,444. So-called continuing claims, or the number of filers receiving assistance for at least two straight weeks, climbed from 129,575 to 155,097. More from the Miami Herald and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Florida to begin statewide appointment system for vaccine Florida’s director of emergency management said Thursday that a statewide appointment system for COVID vaccinations should be ready within weeks, bringing order to the chaos marking Florida's rollout of vaccines to its most vulnerable residents. Director Jared Moskowitz described plans for the online portal in an appearance before a legislative house committee holding hearings on the pandemic in Tallahassee. More from the AP and WKMG.