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Tuesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Gov. Ron DeSantis extends eviction and foreclosure moratorium until Oct. 1
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced yet another extension of Florida’s moratorium on evictions and foreclosures Monday evening, pushing back its expiration that was scheduled for 12:01 a.m. Tuesday morning. DeSantis originally issued the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures on April 2, but he made modifications to it when he announced an extension at the end of July. The modified version narrowed the scope to apply only to renters and single-family homeowners “adversely affected by the COVID-19 emergency,” and opened the door for landlords and lenders to begin filing evictions or foreclosures but stated the “final action” would be halted in court. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Orlando Sentinel.
Publix eliminates one-way aisle arrows as a coronavirus rule
Publix has ended its effort to have customers go one way down aisles during the coronavirus pandemic in stores where local governments don’t require it. The Lakeland-based grocery chain of more than 1,250 grocery stores added directional floor markers early in the pandemic to keep customers apart. They were removed over the weekend. Some customers had complained at times about the company’s rule. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
For 25th anniversary, Epcot food and wine festival gets lighter and longer
The coronavirus pandemic didn’t stop Walt Disney World from celebrating the silver anniversary of the 25th annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. They changed the name slightly, lost some crowd-favorite elements and extended the run for a record number of days. This year’s festival, called Taste of Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, is without cooking demonstrations and Eat to the Beat concerts. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida Lottery releases mobile app
The Florida Lottery announced Monday that a new app is available to players. The app will let Florida lottery players scan tickets to check for winners, enter into second chance games, pick and save numbers for later retail purchase, find winning numbers, locate lottery retailers, and get the latest info on scratch-off games. The app does not accepts wagers, payments or bets. Players will still have to physically purchase tickets and games to participate. [Source: NBC-2]
New Yorkers flee for Florida and Texas as mobility surges
America’s real-estate meccas aren’t what they used to be as Covid-19 revives U.S. mobility. Far more people moved to Vermont, Idaho, Oregon and South Carolina than left during the pandemic, according to data provided to Bloomberg News by United Van Lines. On the other hand, the reverse was true for New York and New Jersey, which saw residents moving to Florida, Texas and other Sunbelt states between March and July. [Source: Bloomberg]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Orlando-based Red Lobster acquired by Thai Union and other investors
Red Lobster stakeholder Thai Union and a group of investors have acquired the rest of the Orlando-based restaurant chain from the private equity firm that bought it in 2014. San Francisco’s Golden Gate Capital, which acquired the seafood chain from Orlando’s Darden Restaurants for $2.1 billion in 2014, announced Monday it had agreed to sell the remainder of its stake to the Thailand-based seafood supplier Thai Union along with an investor group of restaurateurs and hospitality industry executives and Red Lobster management, a news release said.
› Florida DEO Chief Ken Lawson resigns months after unemployment issues
Ken Lawson, the secretary for the Florida Dept. of Economic Opportunity who came under fire as Floridians struggled to get unemployment benefits during the pandemic, is resigning. Lawson did not give a specific reason, but said his resignation, effective at the end of the day Tuesday, was "in the spirit of turning the page and moving forward."
› Flagler holds state’s first in-person jury trial since coronavirus while Orange business court goes remote
Flagler County last week held Florida’s first in-person criminal jury trial since courthouse restrictions were enacted more than five months ago in response to the coronavirus pandemic, while in Orange County, a business court judge conducted the division’s first remote non-jury trial.
› Naples developer sees post-lockdown surge of activity as trends converge
Ronto Group, a privately held Naples-based developer of luxury condo towers up and down the Gulf Coast, planned the 22-story Altura Bayshore well before the coronavirus pandemic changed life as we know it. But in retrospect, the building's design and amenities seem almost prescient.
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