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Friday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Retail and dining in Florida dips as concerns over COVID-19 surge grows
The rise of the delta variant is putting a damper on shopping trends in Florida. Sales from shopping and restaurants nationally dropped 1.1 percent in July from the previous month, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s latest report Tuesday. While shopping is still up compared to the beginning of the year, that spike is beginning to slow. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Business Beat - Week of August 20th
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Domestic travel to Florida shows rebound
Travelers to Florida in the second quarter of this year have been counted, and data shows not only a 220% rebound from last year’s lockdown spiral but also a bump from 2019’s numbers, according to VISIT FLORIDA. With 6% more domestic visitors to coming to Florida than came in 2019, Gov. Ron DeSantis seized on the count as proof his approach to handling the COVID-19 pandemic has been a success. [Source: Florida Politics]
As cybersecurity threats grow, the responsible Florida agency is crippled by vacancies
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new technology office is supposed to resolve the state’s longtime tech woes and lead the state’s defense against cybersecurity threats. A year into its inception, the office is struggling. In the last several months, the new Florida Digital Service has seen a wave of high-level departures. Top officials have left without giving notice. It’s looking for its third chief information security officer, who leads cybersecurity defense for the state’s $100 billion government, in less than a year. Half of the state’s 10-member cybersecurity response team positions are vacant. [Source: Miami Herald]
Meet the Paralympians with Florida ties competing in Tokyo
The Olympics may be over, but the competition is just getting underway for the 240 athletes who will represent Team USA at the Paralympic Games next week in Tokyo. Of the American athletes competing, several have Florida ties, including eight who will be making their Paralympic debuts. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Hillsborough County bans late-night hookah lounges
It’s last call for late-night hookah lounges in Hillsborough County. Commissioners unanimously approved a new ordinance Wednesday requiring the lounges to close at 3 a.m., mirroring the rule for bars and establishments serving alcohol. It comes after a string of violent incidents at or near hookah lounges, including a weekend in March when the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office and Tampa Police investigated separate shootings outside hookah lounges.
› COVID in the workforce: Miami-Dade police, bus operators home sick as virus spreads
Miami-Dade’s transit system is again feeling some strain from COVID-19’s spread — this time without the emergency measures that increased the cleaning of buses and decreased the number of passengers aboard. The county’s Department of Transportation and Public Works on Wednesday said 63 bus operators were home due to COVID and that a bus technician died from it Saturday.
› JEA names chief external affairs officer to complete the leadership team
JEA says its executive leadership team is now complete. The city-owned utility announced Aug. 17 it hired Laura Schepis as chief external affairs officer. Schepis will manage JEA’s government affairs, media relations, communications, environmental operations and compliance monitoring departments with a $283,254 annual salary, according to a news release.
› Mystery grocery store may come to West Melbourne inside former Office Depot storefront
An unidentified grocery store may open in West Melbourne inside the former Office Depot storefront on U.S. 192 across the street from the Melbourne Square mall main entrance. The old Office Depot is located in the Shoppes of West Melbourne, a plaza anchored by Joann and Bed, Bath & Beyond.
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