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Tuesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida didn't get the RNC, but the state is still a focus as convention kicks off
Republicans didn’t get to have their convention in Jacksonville as they hoped, but Florida still will be a big focus – from the speakers to the target audience - during the biggest event to date of President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign. The first day of the Republican National Convention kicked off Monday with a number of prominent Floridians set to play important roles, none bigger than Trump himself, who officially switched his residence to Palm Beach County last year. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Florida's Space Coast prepares for historic week with three possible rocket launches
It’s a historic time on the Space Coast as three launches could blast off this week. The first launch window opens on Wednesday at 2:16 a.m. The United Launch Alliance (ULA) is trying to send up a Delta 4 Heavy rocket, carrying a spy satellite for the U.S. government. Then, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled for the very next day at 7:19 p.m. If another SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket mission blasts off on Saturday, that would mean three launches in three days. [Source: Fox 35 Orlando]
Florida’s COVID-19 cases: Fewer infections, fewer deaths but more hospitalizations
Florida’s coronavirus cases continued on the downswing Monday, with the state reporting 2,258 cases, nearly 700 fewer than Sunday’s new infections and the lowest number of new infections in two months. Another positive indicator of Florida’s move in the right direction is its positivity rate for infections — hovering near 5.02%. The positivity rate reported Monday --a sign of reduced spread of the coronavirus -- reflects results processed in the past day, which is for new infections only and doesn’t count people who previously tested positive. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Seniors make up a large chunk of Florida’s gig workers
A large population of Florida seniors work part-time gigs with Uber, Postmates and other tech services to make ends meet. For many, Social Security payouts don’t cover the rising price of groceries, rent and medicine. Part-time work for apps like Instacart or Lyft offer the opportunity to get out of the house, to talk to strangers and to just drive. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Gas prices remain low as two storms target the gulf coast
Florida gas prices continue to drift lower, even as two tropical systems move toward the gulf coast. The state average price for gasoline is $2.07 per gallon, yet drivers in some Florida cities are finding prices below $2 a gallon. Nearly half of the refining capacity in the United States is located along the Gulf of Mexico, predominantly along the Texas and Louisiana coastlines. More from the Apopka Voice and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› New Orlando group will throw lifeline to entertainment workers
Orlando arts leaders are banding together to save their most important resource — the actors, singers, dancers, technicians and others who bring shows to Central Florida’s stages. “Things are getting desperate for folks,” said Janine Papin, an organizer of new aid group GOPAR — Greater Orlando Performing Arts Relief. “It’s bad out there,” echoed producer-director Kenny Howard.
› Judge rules state’s order to require schools to open is unconstitutional, ‘bullying’
Accusing the state of ignoring the Florida Constitution, a Leon County Circuit Court judge on Monday sided with teachers unions that challenged a state order mandating that schools resume in-person instruction this month amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
› Florida Keys coral reef is in critical condition
Concerned people in the Keys are coming together to study factors involved in reef ecology to counter the advance of live coral death. Live coral on the reefs is 3% to 5%. In the 1970s, coral coverage was 50% to 60%, said Kylie Smith, who’s taken the lead with Mike Goldberg to launch a program to restore reefs off Islamorada.
› Southwest Florida banks brace for challenges from coronavirus
As the economy grinds to recover from the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic, banks in Southwest Florida are facing their biggest challenge since the Great Recession. While financial institutions of all sizes will struggle in the months ahead, analysts say most of them are in strong enough condition to weather the ongoing crisis.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
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