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Friday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
No longer a ‘Flori-duh’ laughingstock: How Florida’s vote came in so fast
Floridians are watching this year’s election drama from the sidelines, repeatedly hitting the refresh button and waiting for votes to trickle in from battleground states. The Sunshine State bucked its reputation for voting mishaps and slow results. Other key states — Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina and Pennsylvania — will determine whether President Donald Trump or his Democratic rival Joe Biden wins the White House. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Much of South Florida, west coast, back in Eta's cone
An indecisive Tropical Depression Eta once again took a more direct aim at South Florida overnight with much of the region, and the west coast of the state, back in the forecast cone. Eta, which is expected to restrengthen into a tropical storm Friday, could reach the central Florida Keys early Monday as a 65-mph cyclone with 75 mph sustained winds. [Source: Palm Beach Post]
Florida coronavirus: 6,257 new infections — biggest increase since Sept. 1 — as resident deaths approach 17,000
Florida added 6,257 coronavirus cases Thursday, the biggest increase in daily reported infections since September 1 — to bring the cumulative statewide total to 827,380 infected. With 39 new virus fatalities reported statewide, 16,961 Florida residents are now dead. Nationwide, new confirmed cases have climbed to an all-time high of over 86,000 per day on average, in a glimpse of the worsening crisis that lies ahead for the winner of the presidential election. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Teacher saw strange bug munching a Miami Beach seagrape. It’s Florida’s latest invader
Rachel Warren, a school teacher, was taking a nature walk in North Beach with her 5-year-old daughter one morning in August when she noticed jagged edges and strange holes on the leaves of seagrape bushes along the boardwalk. But when she looked under the leaves, she saw little black bugs. She didn’t know it at the time, but she had just discovered the latest invasive species in Florida: a glossy black insect known as the black bean bug. Originally from Asia, the bugs probably arrived recently, and may pose a threat to local crops including sugar cane, hemp and beans, which are the bug’s preferred host plant. [Source: Miami Herald]
SeaWorld reports 81 percent drop in attendance
SeaWorld’s 12 theme parks, including Tampa’s Busch Gardens, suffered a $79 million loss as the company reported that attendance dropped 81 percent in its third quarter. There were a couple of bright spots, though. SeaWorld interim CEO Marc Swanson said in a conference call with investors on Thursday that attendance at the parks improved at times during the quarter, and in-park spending increased. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Tampa’s The Hall on Franklin will close next month
Tampa’s first food hall is closing next month. The Hall on Franklin will close on Dec. 15, the hall’s founder Jamal Wilson confirmed Wednesday night. “We have made the decision to close the original Hall location on Franklin Street and move forward to open a Hall in Midtown and our new site in St. Petersburg,” Wilson said in an email.
› ‘Shark Tank’ hears Volusia couple’s chainsaw carving knife pitch
A Volusia County couple will make an appearance on Friday’s “Shark Tank” episode. DeBary residents Kim and Lance Burney will pitch their chainsaw-inspired electric knife Mighty Carver to the sharks on the ABC show. While the husband-and-wife duo has been selling the Mighty Carver for about two years, several people encouraged the Burneys to apply for “Shark Tank.”
› Stein Mart leaving the landscape
Workers were removing Stein Mart’s name Nov. 5 from the Southbank headquarters building it anchored. The bankrupt Jacksonville-based fashion retailer is liquidating its headquarters inventory. Stein Mart Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Aug. 12.
› Florida families may take long-term care residents home for the holidays, state says
Florida residents of nursing homes and assisted-living facilities may go home with family members or friends for the holidays this year, according to loosened coronavirus restrictions outlined by the state Agency for Health Care Administration. In an email sent to long-term care facilities Wednesday night, the agency also clarified visitation rules announced two weeks ago by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
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