• Good news for Duval County. The adjusted unemployment rate fell from December to January. While the state reported that Duval’s jobless rate was 12.6 percent in January, the rate was closer to 10.9 percent when adjusted for the seasonal jobs lost after the December holidays, according to economics professor Paul Mason at the University of North Florida. Mason said the January rate ended up lower than December’s 11.5 percent rate. Chief economist John Godfrey at Florida Economic Associates is optimistic about job growth. “I think we will start to see gains,” he said.
• Downtown Straight Up!, Downtown Vision Inc.’s monthly second-Thursday happy hour and networking mixer is at 5 p.m. today at Lit. That’s the new lounge at 11 N. Ocean St. between East Bay and Forsyth streets.
• The 20th version of the Springing the Blues Festival is fast approaching. It’s April 9-11 at the Seawalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach.
• Look for a new restaurant at St. Johns Town Center. Whiskey River opens next month and is accepting job applications for all positions.