Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 3-29-16 Edition

Local
Tampa’s Unemployment
Tampa International Airport Unveils New Train Designs
According to sources the Tampa metro area has added 39,400 private sector jobs over the year and dropped its un- employment rate in February to 4.5%. Statewide unemploy- ment in February fell to 4.9% from 5% in January, an 8-year low. The United States unem- ployment rate also was 4.9% in February.
The creation of nearly 40,000 jobs in Tampa, and cutting taxes more than 55 times since 2010 is working, according to Governor Rick Scott.
Tampa also continues to lead the state in job openings in high-paying STEM (science Technology, engineering and
Math) occupations which means more Floridians have the opportunity to start ca- reers and provide for their families.
The largest gains in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clear- water Metropolitan Statistical Area were professional and business services with 12,400 new jobs, and education and health services with 9,100 new jobs. This area continues to be first among the state metro areas in job demand for Febru- ary with 50,570 job openings.
Broken down by county, Hillsborough County’s unem- ployment rate was 4.3% in February, compared to 5.2% a year ago.
By late 2017, Tampa visi- tors to Tampa International Airport will be traveling to and from the main terminal and their gates on roseate spoonbills and bald eagles.
Airport officials unveiled the look for the new auto- mated people mover train last week, revealing that each car will be wrapped in a large image of a native Central Florida bird or seasonal visi- tor. Inside, guests riding the 1.4-mile train will learn about the birds through edu- cational videos.
Airport CEO Joe Lopano has also announced a two-week naming contest for the new driverless train, expected to go into service in late 2017. Those who want to cast a ballot can visit tam- paairport.com to choose from four names: Gulf Glider Sky Connect, Jet Stream, or Florida Flier.
Thetrainisapartofa$1 billion master plan upgrade and renovations taking place at the airport and scheduled for completion in late 2017. The airport is also building a
There is a contest to name the train for this TIA people mover.
Rate Drops
Tampa Couple Die During Brussels Attack
new consolidated rental car facility to free up more park- ing connected to the termi- nal, bringing in 65 new restaurants and building an outside terrace. It is also re- vamping the shuttle lobbies passengers use to get to each air side.
The $417 million train will carry airport guests from the economy parking garage to the terminal or from the terminal to the new consoli- dated rental car center now under construction, or back to economy parking.
Twelve cars for the train are now being built by Mit- subishi in Japan. Lopano said the new system will be the best people moving sys-
tem at any airport in the United States, and among the best in the world.
Cars will pick up and drop as many as 55 passen- gers with their luggage every two minutes.
Other birds featured on the train cars include the white ibis, the black skim- mer, the white pelican, a winter visitor here, and the great egret. The airport worked with Tampa Audubon Society to choose birds that best represent this area.
The first people mover in the country was built for Tampa International Airport when the terminal opened in 1971.
A Tampa couple, missing since Tuesday’s terror attacks in Brussels, has been identi- fied as victims of the bomb- ings at the Brussels airport, a source reported Saturday evening.
Justin Shults, 30, and his wife Stephanie Shults, 29, had not been seen since Tuesday.
A source reported that Stephanie Shults’ employer Mars, Inc., said in a Facebook post Saturday evening that her family had confirmed that she and her husband died in the bombings at the Brussels air- port.
Justin Shults’ employer, Clarcor, had confirmed earlier Saturday that he died in the attack.
The Shultses were killed when coordinated ISIS terror- ists detonated bombs at the Brussels airport and a subway station, Sheila Shell said in a statement.
“We have been notified by officials today that Sheila’s son, Justin Shults, died as a
JUSTIN AND STEPHANIE SHULTS
result of the bombings at the airport in Brussels, Belgium, on March 22,” she and her husband Jon Shell said.
Justin Shults and his wife were dropping off Stephanie’s mother, Car- olyn Moore at the airport when the attacks occurred.
Moore was not hurt.
“We deeply appreciate all the prayers and outpouring of concern for our family during this extraordinarily difficult time,” they added. “We would also ask everyone to kindly allow us privacy as we mourn.”
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 13